In brief
You do SEO in three areas: you create helpful content on the terms your target group searches for, you make sure your website is technically clean and fast, and you earn trust through recommendations from other websites. It always starts with clear goals and keyword research.
How to do SEO? Many business owners ask themselves this when their website exists but brings in hardly any enquiries. The short answer: with a plan that combines content, technology and trust. In this SEO guide we explain what search engine optimisation is, why it matters and how to proceed step by step.
What is SEO?
SEO is short for “search engine optimisation”. It covers all technical, content-related and strategic measures that help a website get found more easily in the unpaid (organic) search results. The aim is not just more traffic, but more of the right visitors who turn into customers.
In the past you could rank quickly with tricks such as stuffing in keywords or buying links. That has changed fundamentally. Today, search engines such as Google and Bing mainly assess whether a page answers the user’s question well, is trustworthy and offers a good user experience – on smartphones too. If you play by these rules, you build lasting visibility.
On top of that comes AI search: Google AI Overviews and chatbots such as ChatGPT summarise answers directly and name their sources. Websites with clear, well-structured content have a better chance of appearing there.
Why is search engine optimisation important?
When people need a product or a service, they usually search on Google first. If you do not show up there, you will not be found – no matter how good your offer is. Search engine optimisation makes sure your website is visible exactly when potential customers are actively looking for your service.
Take a locksmith in Vienna. Someone locked out at night searches for “emergency locksmith Vienna” and calls one of the first results. A well-optimised business appears in such searches without paying for every click. Unlike advertising, the visibility does not disappear as soon as the budget runs out. SEO works more slowly, but it builds lasting value for your business.
Why is it important to rank higher in search engines?
Most clicks go to the top results on the first page. Pages further back are rarely visited. Better positions therefore mean more visitors, more awareness and more enquiries. At the same time, a prominent position strengthens trust in your brand, because many users associate good rankings with competence.
How to do SEO: a guide in 8 steps
Successful SEO needs a roadmap. If you start without goals, you quickly lose time and money. The following steps build on each other and work both for doing it yourself and as a guideline for working with an agency.
1. Set goals
What should your website achieve – enquiries, calls, sales or job applications? Clear goals determine which pages and keywords have priority and how you will measure success later.
2. Research keywords
Find out which terms your target group uses to search. Think from the customer’s point of view: “have a website built in Vienna” is a different need from “how much does a website cost”. Assign exactly one page to each important term so that your pages do not compete with each other.
3. Create content that answers questions
Write for people, not for machines. Answer the main question right at the start, structure the text clearly and add examples, images and frequently asked questions. Helpful, up-to-date content is the most important foundation of any search engine optimisation.
4. Carry out on-page optimisation
Every page needs a suitable page title, a convincing meta description, a clear H1, meaningful URLs, described images and internal links. You will find a detailed checklist in our article on on-page SEO.
5. Check the technology
Your website must load quickly, work well on smartphones, be encrypted via HTTPS and be crawlable by Google. Check loading time and Core Web Vitals with PageSpeed Insights, and indexing problems in Google Search Console.
6. Strengthen local visibility
For regional businesses a complete Google Business Profile is a must. Make sure that name, address and phone number are identical everywhere, and ask satisfied customers for honest reviews.
7. Build trust and backlinks
Links from reputable, thematically relevant websites show Google that your content is worth recommending. Focus on genuine partnerships, industry directories and link-worthy content instead of bought mass links.
8. Measure and improve
Regularly evaluate which pages receive impressions and clicks and where the potential lies. Pages with many impressions and few clicks often just need a better title. SEO is an ongoing process, not a one-off task.
You would rather not do SEO yourself?
We take care of analysis, strategy and implementation – clearly explained and at a fixed price after the analysis.
DIY SEO or hire an agency?
Even if you do not carry out the optimisation yourself, it pays to know the basics. That way you can judge an agency’s work better and ask the right questions. Unprofessional search engine optimisation can cost time, money and, in the worst case, rankings – for example through bought spam links or careless URL changes.
| Criterion | DIY SEO | With an agency |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | mainly your own time | budget for the service |
| Know-how | has to be built up | available, including tools |
| Speed | alongside day-to-day business | plannable and structured |
| Suitable for | small websites, little competition | competitive markets, shops, technical issues |
When choosing an agency, look for transparency: reputable providers explain their measures, report regularly and do not guarantee specific positions. Google itself offers helpful advice on what to look out for in its SEO Starter Guide.
How Kodlogy helps with search engine optimisation
Kodlogy Technologies GmbH is a digital agency in Vienna. As an SEO agency in Vienna we start with a thorough analysis – on request as a stand-alone SEO audit in Vienna. We then develop a strategy, optimise content and technology and make sure your website is also visible in AI answers. Find out more from our GEO agency in Vienna.
If the existing website is technically outdated, a fresh start is sometimes worthwhile. In that case we plan SEO in from the very beginning so that your new site is found from day one – more under website design in Vienna.
Start with an honest assessment
Tell us about your website and your goals. We will show you where the biggest opportunities lie.
Frequently asked questions about how to do SEO
What is SEO?
SEO stands for “search engine optimisation”. It covers every measure that helps a website get found more easily in the unpaid search results. This includes content, technology, structure and recommendations from other websites.
Can I do SEO myself?
Yes, you can put the basics into practice yourself: research keywords, optimise page titles and descriptions, write helpful content and set up Google Search Console. For large websites, strong competition or technical problems, professional support saves a lot of time.
How long does it take for SEO to work?
SEO is a medium- to long-term measure. First improvements are often visible after a few weeks; clear results in competitive markets usually take several months. How fast it goes depends on the state of the website, the competition and the scope of the work.
How much does professional search engine optimisation cost?
The cost depends on the size of the website, the competition and your goals. At Kodlogy you receive a fixed price after an analysis, so you know exactly what to expect. You can find an overview on our prices and plans page.
What is the difference between on-page and off-page SEO?
On-page SEO covers all measures on your own website, such as content, titles, headings and loading time. Off-page SEO concerns signals from outside, above all backlinks and mentions of your brand. The two areas complement each other.
Can anyone guarantee first place on Google?
No. Nobody can seriously guarantee a specific position on Google, because only Google itself decides on rankings. Reputable agencies therefore do not promise positions, but transparent measures and measurable growth in visibility, visitors and enquiries.
Does SEO make sense for small businesses too?
SEO is often especially effective for small and regional businesses, because local searches such as “locksmith Vienna” show a clear intent to buy. A well-maintained Google Business Profile and a well-optimised website are a strong combination here.
What does SEO have to do with AI search such as ChatGPT?
AI systems such as Google AI Overviews or ChatGPT draw on content from the web. Well-structured pages with clear answers, facts and FAQs are more likely to be cited. This optimisation is called GEO and builds on solid SEO.
How do I measure the success of my SEO work?
Google Search Console shows impressions, clicks, click-through rate and the average position of your pages. Google Analytics adds behaviour and enquiries on the website. It is important to compare the development over several months rather than single days.
