Learn SEO basics with a beginner's guide even your grandma would understand

The Complete SEO Guide for Beginners

1. What is SEO?

The process of increasing visibility in search engines through advertising.

The process of improving positions in organic search results.

The process of improving organic results and using paid ads to improve the visibility of your website.

Answer: The process of improving positions in organic search results.

 

2. What is off-page SEO?

A set of activities aimed at improving the authority of your website (mostly through getting quality backlinks).

A set of activities aimed at improving the quality of your content.

Answer: A set of activities aimed at improving the authority of your website (mostly through getting quality backlinks).

 

3. What does SERP stand for?

Search Engine Ranking Position Search

Engine Ranking Penalty

Search Engine Results Page

Answer: Search Engine Results Page

 

4. In order for a search engine to index your page, it first needs to...

make a page speed test.

rank your page.

crawl your page.

Answer: crawl your page.

 

5. Who are Google Search Quality Raters?

Google employees who evaluate actual search results and rate the quality of the ranked pages.

A specific kind of Google crawler bots that evaluate actual search results and rate the quality of the ranked pages.

Answer: Google employees who evaluate actual search results and rate the quality of the ranked pages.

 

6. When doing keyword research, what should you pay attention to besides the search volume and difficulty of the keyword?

The relevance of the keyword (by looking at the SERP).

Popularity of the keyword on social media.

The number of words in the keyword (the more the better).

Answer: The relevance of the keyword (by looking at the SERP).

 

7. What is the best way to find the search volume of a keyword?

Using Google Trends.

Using a keyword research tool.

Making an estimation based on the number of clicks in Google Search Console.

Answer: Using a keyword research tool.

 

8. What is the biggest advantage of long-tail keywords?

They are easy to find because there are so many of them.

They may result in higher engagement and conversion rates because they are more specific.

They have high search volumes.

Answer: They may result in higher engagement and conversion rates because they are more specific.

 

9. What kind of content would you create if you wanted to rank for the keyword “best ergonomic chair”?

A product page selling the most popular product in this category.

A post explaining what the term “ergonomic chair” means.

A review comparing the best ergonomic chairs on the market.

Answer: A review comparing the best ergonomic chairs on the market.

 

10. Focus keyword is…

keyword that represents the topic of your page the best.

keyword you insert into all the image captions to improve your chances to rank for it.

keyword with the highest search volume in a certain niche/topic.

Answer: keyword that represents the topic of your page the best.

 

11. How many times should you use the focus keyword in your text?

It depends on the length of the text. The optimal keyword density is around 2%.

There’s no ideal number. You should use it in the main on-page elements, but never force it.

The focus keyword should be used only once in the title tag of the page.

Answer: There’s no ideal number. You should use it in the main on-page elements, but never force it.

 

12. When it comes to LSI keywords, you should:

Try to find them and “sprinkle them” across your content to make the page more relevant.

Be aware that the term is technically incorrect and the technique is flawed because it promotes using keywords artificially.

Answer: Be aware that the term is technically incorrect and the technique is flawed because it promotes using keywords artificially.

 

13. Should you link to other websites from your post?

Yes, it is good to link to other relevant resources to add more context and value to the post.

No, linking to other websites will only send the visitors away from your site.

Answer: Yes, it is good to link to other relevant resources to add more context and value to the post.

 

14. “Content length is a ranking factor.”

True.

False.

Answer: False.

 

15. Select the correct statement:

Internal links do not improve rankings but they can help with the crawlability of your website.

Internal links can help with rankings as well as the crawlability of your website.

Answer: Internal links can help with rankings as well as the crawlability of your website.

 

16. Does mobile-first indexing mean that Google will use the mobile version of your website for indexing and ranking?

Yes.

No, it only means Google can read the mobile version of my website.

Answer: Yes.

 

17. “Having a sitemap can hurt your website performance. You shouldn’t use one unless you have thousands of pages.”

True.

False.

Answer: False.

 

18. Which one of these DOES NOT improve the mobile-friendliness of your website?

Having a responsive layout.

Having a telephone contact on the website.

Compressing the images.

Answer: Having a telephone contact on the website.

 

19. Page speed is…

a confirmed ranking factor.

not a confirmed ranking factor but an important website performance factor.

Answer: a confirmed ranking factor.

 

20. Which one of these can negatively impact your page speed:

Using too many WordPress plugins.

Implementing browser caching.

Using a Content Delivery Network

Answer: Using too many WordPress plugins.

 

21. What is alt text?

Text that informs search engines about the topic of the page.

Text used as a description of the image for visually impaired visitors and crawlers.

The visible part of a hyperlink.

Answer: Text used as a description of the image for visually impaired visitors and crawlers.

 

22. Which one of these statements about title tags IS NOT correct:

A title tag may be seen when the page is shared on social media.

A title tag should always be 50 characters or less.

Google can form a new title tag of the page to show in the search results.

Answer: A title tag should always be 50 characters or less.

 

 

23. “Google PageRank algorithm is an obsolete technology that is not used anymore.”

True.

False.

Answer: False.

 

24. Link equity is…

a term used to describe that all links have the same value from the SEO point of view.

a term used to describe the pace at which a page is getting new links.

a term used to describe authority a backlink passes onto another site.

Answer: a term used to describe authority a backlink passes onto another site.

 

25. Which statement is correct?

A nofollow link has no value whatsoever. Google ignores it.

A nofollow link can serve as a hint for Google and it can drive traffic.

A nofollow link is equally valuable as a standard link. The only difference is that it does not pass the information about anchor text.

Answer: A nofollow link can serve as a hint for Google and it can drive traffic.

 

26. What is the optimal anchor text distribution ratio?

Having approximately equal number of various anchor text types.

Nobody knows that. But you should have diverse anchor texts and avoid anchor text manipulation.

Answer: Nobody knows that. But you should have diverse anchor texts and avoid anchor text manipulation.

 

27. “The position of the backlink on the page does not play any role in SEO.”

True.

False.

Answer: False.

 

28. Is the surrounding text of a link important in SEO?

Yes, links may carry context around them.

No, the anchor text is the only thing a search engine can read when it comes to links.

Answer: Yes, links may carry context around them.

 

29. What is Google’s stand on link buying?

Google does not allow any form of link buying (unless the link is nofollow).

Google only allows link buying if the link is from a relevant website and provides additional value for the reader.

Answer: Google does not allow any form of link buying (unless the link is nofollow).

 

30. What tool would you use to find out whether Google indexed your page?

Google Search Console

Google Analytics

A rank tracker

Answer: Google Search Console

 

31. The Acquisition reports in Google Analytics will show you:

What sources does your traffic come from.

The most visited pages on your website.

Answer: What sources does your traffic come from.

 

32. What is bounce rate?

The percentage of visitors who were unable to visit your website due to technical issues (e.g. website downtime).

The percentage of visitors who left the page without any action (e.g. without visiting another page).

The percentage of visitors who used the contact form on your website.

Answer: The percentage of visitors who left the page without any action (e.g. without visiting another page).

 

33. Is SEO dead?

Yes, I want to fail this test.

Absolutely not.

Answer: Absolutely not.