The 4 Types Of SEO You Should Know About - Which One Is Best For You?

If you were to explain SEO to a layman, where would you start? 

This blog is your crash course to understanding SEO in-depth, along with the details of all 4 types of SEO. Our goal by the end of this blog is to master the concepts in the next 6-7 minutes so that you know which type is best for you!

What is SEO? 

SEO, also known as “Search Engine Optimization,” is the foundation of your work on the internet that you do to rank your business online. Let me start again: SEO helps you reach a higher rank on search engine result pages (SERPs), which is crucial for businesses to be known to their audience. 

If a person searches their query on any search engine, SEO is the backbone that gets your page to reach them first. With SEO, you can attract pure and organic traffic, stay relevant online, stay competitive and, of course, you can lead the SERP! 

Discover why SEO is essential to your digital marketing strategy. 

What Are the 4 Types of SEO in Digital Marketing?

1. On-Page SEO: 

On-page SEO involves optimization and the proper placement of keywords on the web page content and blogs. Apart from that, the use of headers, URLs, and proper sitemaps enables spiders to crawl the website easily on the internet. It all comes together to make your site rank-worthy. 

Key Elements:

• Keyword research and placement
• Engaging content creation
• Mobile-friendly design
• Optimized images with alt tags

Pros: Offers immediate visibility improvements when optimized well
Cons: Requires constant updates to stay relevant

2. Off-Page SEO: 

Off-page SEO focuses on getting local and organic backlinks to get more quality links from other quality sites to boost your website's credibility. Off-page SEO is the best way to build the credibility of your website across the internet. 

Key Elements:

• High-quality backlinks from authoritative websites
• Social media engagement
• Influencer marketing

Pros: Increases credibility and brand authority
Cons: Takes time to build a reliable backlink profile

3. Technical SEO: 

Technical SEO is the backbone of a website's functionality and focuses on staying current with a website's main aspects, such as its speed, responsiveness, and lack of mistakes that can negatively impact its ranking.

Key Elements:

• Page speed optimization
• Secure socket layer (SSL) encryption
• Proper URL structure
• Schema markup implementation

Pros: Enhances user experience and search engine crawling
Cons: Requires technical expertise for implementation

4. Local SEO: 

To succeed physically, your business requires all the benefits of local SEO, which makes organizations show up in specific location search results. 

For example, if you are a dentist in your region, to reach your audience digitally, your practice website must show up in search results whenever patients search for dental services in their local area. 

Learn in-depth about the importance of local SEO for dentists: What is local SEO for dentists?

Key Elements:

• Optimized Google My Business listing
• Location-specific keywords
• Customer reviews and ratings

Pros: Drives traffic to physical locations
Cons: Less scalable for businesses targeting wider markets

Benefits and Challenges of Different Types of SEO

On-Page SEO: A Content-Focused Approach

Benefit: Delivers faster results when content is well optimized. 

Challenge: Requires consistent updates to maintain rankings.

Off-Page SEO: Building Credibility Over Time

Benefit: Strengthens brand reputation and improves rankings.
Challenge: Results are gradual and require long-term effort.

Technical SEO: Improving User Experience

Benefit: Makes websites more user-friendly and search-engine compliant.
Challenge: Often requires technical expertise to implement.

Local SEO: Targeting Nearby Audiences

Benefit: Ideal for businesses looking to dominate local search results.
Challenge: Limited reach for national or global audiences.

Although with easier methods of visibility and ranking (paid ads and AI), the question arises if SEO is still relevant in 2025. Get the answer to your query in this blog! Is SEO worth it for businesses in 2025?

What Is the Best Type of SEO?

SEO is a strong base for establishing your business online, only when all its aspects are covered and worked on, so there might not be a single answer to what the best type of SEO is. In short, the right strategy of SEO is chosen based on the goals and target audience of your business. 

• E-commerce Businesses: Should prioritize technical and on-page SEO to enhance product pages and user experience.
• Local Service Providers: Should invest in local SEO to capture location-specific traffic.
• Content Creators: Benefit most from on-page SEO to attract readers and improve engagement.

However, the above listing does not hold 100% accuracy; the chosen strategies of businesses change frequently as per their goals. For maximum success, a combined approach involving all four types of SEO is recommended. 

The technique of SEO involves looking for ways to improve the user experience ethically and genuinely, so integrating all 4 types of SEO can boost your site’s visibility and credibility.

Choosing the Best SEO Strategy for Your Business

Developing a strong online presence requires complete knowledge of digital marketing SEO types. 

All SEO approaches, such as content optimization through on-page SEO alongside off-page tactics for establishing credibility or getting known in your region through local SEO and technical improvements for UX enhancement, operate as distinctive elements.

RUN Marketing Will Do It For You!

Why go around looking for agencies or freelancers to do your SEO? At RUN Marketing, we provide specialized SEO services that may bring your setup to the highest rankings with the right strategies and teamwork! Visit our website and consult with us today!