🔍 SEO & Metadata Guide

Class 17 · Mon 25 May 2026 — Prototype & Begin Website

What is SEO?

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the practice of improving your website to rank higher in search engine results. When people search for topics related to your business, you want your site to appear near the top.

Metadata: The Hidden Layer

Metadata is information about your webpage that search engines and social platforms read. It's invisible to visitors but critical for discoverability.

Key Metadata Tags

• <title> — Page title (appears in browser tab & search results)
• <meta name="description"> — 150–160 char summary shown under search result
• <meta name="keywords"> — Topics your page covers (less important now, but still used)
• <meta og:title>, <meta og:description>, <meta og:image> — Open Graph tags (control how your site looks when shared on social media)
• <meta name="viewport"> — Mobile responsiveness signal

Google My Business (GMB)

GMB is a free tool that lets you manage how your business appears on Google Search and Google Maps. It's essential for local SEO.

Why GMB Matters

• Local customers find you on Google Maps
• Your business info (address, hours, phone) appears in search results
• You can post updates, photos, and customer reviews
• Google ranks businesses with complete GMB profiles higher locally

Cross-Website Pollination (Brand Consistency)

When your brand appears consistently across multiple platforms (website, social media, Google Business, LinkedIn, etc.), search engines and users trust you more.

What to Keep Consistent

• Business name — use the exact same name everywhere
• Logo & colors — recognizable brand identity
• Bio/description — similar wording across platforms
• Contact info — same phone, email, address

Market Research in Gemini

Today we used Google Gemini to analyze market opportunities. By researching your target audience (demographics, behaviors, needs), you can:

• Understand who you're building the website for
• Find keywords they actually search for
• Create content that resonates with them
• Position your site to rank for relevant searches

Quick SEO Checklist for Your Website

• ✅ Write a unique <title> (50–60 characters)
• ✅ Write a compelling <meta description> (150–160 characters)
• ✅ Include keywords naturally in headings & content
• ✅ Add Open Graph tags for social sharing
• ✅ Make sure your site is mobile-responsive
• ✅ Link pages logically (good site structure)
• ✅ Create a Google My Business profile
• ✅ Keep brand consistent across all platforms

Class 17 · 25 May 2026 — Created by Tim Daly · Equinim College · Front End Web Development