The 3 Essential Elements of SEO: Content, Architecture, and HTML

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a complex and ever-evolving field that requires websites to create high-quality content, structure it optimally, and keep up with the results. SEO is composed of three main components: technical SEO, on-page SEO, and off-page SEO.

Technical SEO is mainly involved in the design and development aspects. It focuses on the technical elements of a website such as page speed, mobile optimization, and indexing. Tools such as the Mobile Optimization Test can help you assess how well your site is performing.

On-page SEO is the second component and it concentrates on the content of a website. It includes factors such as content quality, keyword usage, and HTML tags. The acronym EAT stands for Experience, Authority, and Trust. Google seeks to display websites that demonstrate expertise in their field, that have authority based on a variety of factors, and that are trustworthy.

Off-page SEO is the third component and is anything that can be done outside of your website to get the highest SERP rank. This includes link building, social media engagement, and brand mentions. It's important to add value to the content you're producing in order to generate engagement from users.

A successful SEO strategy requires a comprehensive approach that considers all three components as intertwined pieces of the same puzzle. Quality content is both the precursor to rankings and a powerful aspect of any campaign size. With nearly 51% of web traffic in the world coming solely from smartphones, Google rewards mobile-friendly sites.

If you want to improve your website's ranking, it's essential to understand the three core components of SEO: technical SEO, on-page SEO, and off-page SEO. Each of these components directly relates to how Google processes and organizes websites to determine their ability to rank in search queries.