Only a few years ago, SEO was a topic dealt exclusively by specialists. Nowadays, every person who wants to benefit from their website must know how positioning works and what can be achieved through it. However, SEO covers so many aspects that it is very easy to get lost in the informational jungle. Here the 80/20 rule comes in handy. What is it about and what are its advantages?

What is the 80/20 rule and how does it relate to SEO?

It's no secret that SEO can be overwhelming if you haven't spent several years studying the nuances of the issue. So you can waste time and resources on aspects that do not affect positioning. The 80/20 rule (also called the Pareto rule) allows you to focus on what is genuinely important and beneficial.

Essentially, 20% of the input invested is responsible for 80% of the results obtained. This means that there are a handful of elements to which it is worthwhile to devote your resources to significantly improve SEO. But how to find the most profitable 20%? On what to focus your attention? Here are the 5 sections that are most important in positioning.

Relevant keywords and headings

Proper SEO is based on the right keywords - without them, it would be impossible to achieve high results in the search engine. On the other hand, attention-grabbing headlines can cause a significant increase in audience. So why not combine these two measures? Not only will it have a positive impact on positioning, but it will also allow creating content that is attractive for both the algorithm and the reader.

However, you need to know how to choose the appropriate keywords. The easiest and quickest way is to use the services offered by e.g. Keyword Explorer Moz or Google AdWords Keyword Planner. They help you to find competitive phrases for your industry. They also allow you to monitor trends, so you can respond more effectively to the needs of your customers and provide them with content that will truly interest them.

After defining the keyword, it is time to use it properly in the headlines and title. It is worth remembering that phrases can be modified freely, as Google handles various forms of keywords very well. Experts also recommend optimizing the URL by simplifying it and including the keyword in it. You should also ensure that the headline has no more than 60 characters.

Optimised content

Development of optimized content should be in 20% of the SEO resources, as it is the content of the site that determines its search position. However, what is the term "optimized content" means? First of all, it excels:

• accessibility,
• uniqueness,
• high quality,
• with specific topics,
• the possibility of meeting the needs of the recipients,
• a good degree of readability.

Ultimately, the content affects how much time the recipient spends on the site. This factor is extremely important for the algorithm. If someone enters the site and then quickly leaves it, it will be a sign to Google that the content is of poor quality and the site should be lower in the search results.

The solution is to create long, engaging content. It should have at least 3000 characters, and in the case of specialist posts, it can even exceed 3000 words! The texts should also be impeccable in terms of spelling and punctuation - errors deter readers and make the company perceived as unprofessional.

External and internal linking

Linking, although seemingly an unnecessary procedure, significantly improves SEO. It also provides navigation for readers, as the links allow them to quickly go to the section that interests them. An additional benefit is that internal links also help search engines to define the structure of the site and determine which content is most relevant.

External linking has two main advantages. First, it helps Google determine what the content on the site is about - the algorithm can link it to other articles and make it available to recipients after entering the appropriate keyword. Secondly, it can improve the credibility of the texts in the eyes of the recipients, because they will be aware that the information shown on the site is supported by sources.

Engaging photographs and appropriate captions

Photos can significantly improve site conversions and SEO. They attract the attention of the audience and encourage them to read the texts on the site. However, you need to know how to use them properly.

First of all, they need to be of high quality and at the same time optimized for fast loading and mobile use. If the images are too bulky or in the wrong format, they can significantly slow down the whole website. PNG files usually load faster, and JPEG works well for compressed images. You can also use CSS plug-ins to combine your photos into one image that loads simultaneously. To further optimize the photos on your site, you should:

• Use the correct name for the file,
• Make sure that the image size supports SEO,
• Use responsive images,
• Attach captions and alternative text,
• Apply the correct alignment for text and image.

Speeding up the site

The 80/20 rule may also apply to the optimisation of site speed. This value is part of Google's ranking algorithms since 2010 and even a two-second difference between pages can increase the rejection rate. In a nutshell, it works like this - the faster the site loads, the higher the search results will be. So how do you get rid of delays?

There are several options to choose from, but they are considered to be most effective:

• switching to faster hosting,
• compression of HTML, CSS and JavaScript files,
• optimize the site code,
• use browser caching.

Summary

The 80/20 rule for SEO resolving problems works regardless of the reach of the site and the position it is currently in. It highlights areas that are worth focusing on to achieve consistently better results, and additionally reduces those aspects that are not relevant to SEO. It saves time and money that can be invested in activities that deliver results.