Top 33 SEO Interview Questions and Answers You Need to Know

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is one of the most popular techniques of digital marketing which is used to drive traffic to a website by improving its ranking in the SERPs or search engine’s result pages. For online businesses, it is an integral part of their marketing strategy and so, many organizations are looking to hire SEO professionals to achieve their business goals.

If you are preparing for a job interview for the post of SEO expert, you must be aware of the cut-throat competition due to a high demand for the position. No matter how confident you are, this set of 33 SEO-related questions and answers will help you crack the interview, maximizing your chances of success.

1. What is SEO and how many types are there?

SEO refers to Search Engine Optimization is a process of improving the position or ranking of a website or a web page  in the search engine results page by using highly searched keywords.

There are two types of SEO:

• On-Page Optimization
• Off-Page Optimization

3. Name the different tools used in SEO?

The tools used in SEO are:

• Keyword Planner

• SEMRush

• Ahrefs

• Moz

• Majestic

• Google Webmaster

• WordPress Plugins Like Yoast SEO

• Buzzsumo

• Google Analytics

4. What do you understand by the Webmaster tool?

Webmaster tool is a service provided by Google from where you can get information about backlinks, crawl errors, indexing data, search queries, CTR, etc.

5. What is the importance of using keywords or phrases in SEO?

Keywords or phrases are used by the search engines to show up the subjects over the internet when a user searches for them. Search engine first stores keywords in its database and when the search is done it then shows a suitable match.

6. What are Meta Tags?

HTML Meta tags are page data tags that are placed between the open and closing head tags in the HTML code of a document.

Meta tags are snippets of text that describe a page’s content; the meta tags don’t appear on the page itself, but only in the page’s code.

7. Name the four essential Meta tags in SEO and mention their character limits?

• Title Meta tag- 60 characters
• Description Meta tag- 150 characters
• Keyword Meta tag- 200 characters
• Robot Tag- NA

8. What is Googlebot?

GoogleBot is a type of software used by Google as a search bot for crawling & indexing a webpage.

9. Explain Black Hat SEO technique?

In SEO, Black Hat means using aggressive strategies violated by search engine guidelines in order to enhance a website’s page ranking in search engine result pages.

10. Why is Title Tag important in a website?

Title tags are important because they tell about the contents of a web page. It is only because of these tags that the search engine tells the user what is there on that page.

11. What is most important- creating content or building backlinks?

Both are equally important. Creating quality content is the first thing which is held responsible for ranking a page while building backlinks is essential for creating website authority as well as for improving the ranking.

12. What are the steps involved in optimizing a website?

The steps include evaluating the site’s current ranking quality for testing different copy styles or strategies and assessing the success of a campaign.

13. What is the most crucial factor in an SEO campaign?

Not one, but there are many factors significant to an SEO campaign that can be identified based on the specific goals of a campaign.

14. How to check whether your SEO campaign is working?

To verify whether an SEO campaign is working includes checking the website’s statistics which tell you the source of traffic.  Another way is to carry out a search based on the relevant keywords and look for the search results. The number of search results displayed will notify you whether your campaign is successful or not.

15. What is LSI?

LSI or Latent Semantic Indexing is a method used to obtain the data by relating a particular word to its closest counterparts. Like, if you are looking for something with a keyword “CAR”, it will show all the results associated with this keyword, for example, car auctions, classic cars, car race, etc.

16. What process would you follow for developing an SEO growth strategy?

As an SEO specialist, my strategy would be something like:

• Defining objectives
• Knowing the target audience
• Categorizing keywords
• Tracking data and results

17. What will you do if your SEO techniques do not work?

To start with, I’ll try to do an analysis of the problem and resolve it by taking the following steps:

• I’ll see whether it is a new project and then re-check the keywords
• I’ll also look for relevant keywords
• If the webpage or website is indexed well and still not showing up on the first 10 pages of search engine result pages, then I will modify the page text, titles, and description.

18. Explain what is PPC?

PPC is an acronym for Pay Per Click. It is a kind of advertisement campaign hosted by Google.  It is divided into two modules- CPC (Cost per click) and CPM (Cost per thousand impressions) using flat rate and bidding method respectively.

19.  What is Bounce Rate?

Bounce rate is the percentage of visitors to a website who leave the site after viewing only one page.

20. What role do social media play into an SEO strategy?

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc. help in spreading a website’s reach faster, driving maximum and quality traffic, and enables the audience to share the content in their network.

These are some of the common questions asked in the interviews for the position of SEO. However, there are others too. But when you enroll with ADM, an institute which offers digital marketing courses in Pune, you will be offered guidance and 100% job assistance whether it is about preparing for such interviews or getting exposed to a network of agencies or companies.

21) What is crawling?

Crawling refers to the process of systematically browsing and indexing the contents of web pages on the Internet. It is typically performed by automated software programs called web crawlers or spiders, which systematically traverse through the pages of a website, following links to other pages and collecting data from those pages.

The primary purpose of crawling is to create an index of all the web pages that are available on the Internet, which can be used to provide search results for users who are searching for information on a particular topic. Search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo all use web crawlers to build and maintain their search indexes.

Web crawlers typically operate by starting with a known set of web pages (usually a list of URLs) and then following links from those pages to other pages. They use various algorithms and heuristics to prioritize which pages to crawl next, and they typically limit the rate at which they access any given website to avoid overwhelming the site’s servers.

Overall, crawling is an important process for organizing and accessing the vast amount of information that is available on the web.

22) What is the crawl budget?

Crawl budget is a term used in search engine optimization (SEO) to describe the number of pages on a website that a search engine bot, such as Googlebot, is willing to crawl during a given period of time. The crawl budget is determined by several factors, including the size and authority of the website, the frequency of new content being added, and the server resources available to handle the crawling process.

Crawling every page of a website can be resource-intensive for search engines, so they allocate a certain amount of resources to each website based on their crawl budget. If a website has a high crawl budget, the search engine bot will crawl more pages on the site during each visit, which can help improve the site’s visibility in search results. If a website has a low crawl budget, the search engine bot may only crawl a portion of the pages on the site during each visit, which can limit the site’s visibility in search results.

To optimize the use of their crawl budget, website owners can take steps to improve their site’s structure, optimize their content, and reduce page load times. This can help search engine bots crawl and index their site more efficiently, resulting in better search rankings and visibility in search results.

23) What is indexing in SEO?

Indexing is the process by which a search engine collects and organizes information about web pages, in order to facilitate efficient and accurate retrieval of results when a user enters a search query.

During indexing, search engine crawlers or bots systematically explore the content on a website and collect information such as the page’s content, titles, descriptions, and metadata. The data collected is then organized and stored in a large database, called an index. This index contains a copy of the content found on each page that the search engine has crawled.

The purpose of indexing is to allow the search engine to quickly retrieve the most relevant results when a user performs a search. When a user enters a search query, the search engine retrieves results from its index based on the query’s relevance to the content and context of the indexed pages. The search engine algorithm will then rank the results based on its criteria, and display them to the user.

Optimizing your website for indexing is an important part of SEO. To ensure that your website is indexed effectively, you should make sure that your website is crawlable, use descriptive page titles and meta descriptions, provide unique and relevant content, use clear and consistent navigation, and have a well-structured website hierarchy.

24) What is the difference between crawling and indexing?

Crawling and indexing are two different processes in search engine optimization (SEO).

Crawling refers to the process by which search engine bots or spiders systematically browse through the contents of web pages on the Internet, following links to other pages and collecting data from those pages. The primary purpose of crawling is to find and collect information about the pages on a website.

Indexing, on the other hand, refers to the process of organizing and storing the information collected during the crawling process. The search engine bot or spider will analyze the content it has collected and determine the relevance and value of the pages to the user’s search query. The information is then stored in a large database, called an index, which the search engine uses to provide search results.

In other words, crawling is the process of finding and collecting information about web pages, while indexing is the process of organizing and storing that information to facilitate efficient and accurate retrieval of results when a user enters a search query.

Both crawling and indexing are important components of search engine optimization. A website must be accessible for crawling and have relevant content that is easily indexed to ensure that it appears in search results. By optimizing your website for both crawling and indexing, you can increase the likelihood of your pages appearing in search results and attracting organic traffic to your site.

25) What is the meaning of do-follow and no-follow backlinks?

In SEO, a backlink is a link from one website to another. Backlinks are an important factor in determining the quality and authority of a website, and they can have a significant impact on a website’s search engine rankings.

Do follow and no follow are two types of backlinks that differ in the way that they pass link equity or PageRank from one website to another.

A “do follow” backlink is a link that tells search engines to follow the link and give the target website credit for the backlink. This means that the backlink can pass on some of the link juice, which is a measure of the website’s authority, to the target website. Do follow backlinks are considered to be valuable because they can help improve a website’s search engine rankings.

A “no follow” backlink is a link that tells search engines not to follow the link and not to give the target website any credit for the backlink. This means that the backlink does not pass on any link juice to the target website. No follow backlinks were created to help prevent spam and low-quality content from being rewarded with high search engine rankings. They are commonly used for paid links, user-generated content, and comments on blogs or forums.

Overall, both do follow and no follow backlinks can have a role in a website’s backlink profile. While do follow backlinks are considered more valuable for SEO, a mix of both types of backlinks can help create a natural and diverse backlink profile that can help improve a website’s authority and search engine rankings.

26) What is link juice in SEO? 

In search engine optimization (SEO), link juice refers to the value or equity passed from one web page to another through hyperlinks or backlinks.

When a website links to another website, it passes on some of its authority or credibility to that website. This is known as link juice. The more high-quality and relevant links a website has pointing to it, the more link juice it receives, which can help to improve its search engine rankings.

The amount of link juice that is passed from one web page to another depends on several factors, including the authority and relevance of the linking page, the anchor text used in the link, and the number of other links on the page.

Link juice is not a tangible thing, but rather a metaphor used to describe the value or equity that is passed from one web page to another through links. It is important to note that link juice is not a fixed or static value, but can change over time as the linking and linked pages change.

Overall, link juice is an important concept in SEO because it helps to explain how backlinks work and why they are important. By building high-quality backlinks and passing on link juice to your website, you can help to improve its search engine rankings and drive more organic traffic to your site.

27) How to find out the authority of a website?

There are several ways to find out the authority of a website, including:

Check the domain authority (DA) and page authority (PA) scores: Domain authority and page authority are metrics developed by Moz that provide a measure of a website’s authority and credibility. A higher DA or PA score typically indicates that the website has a stronger backlink profile and is more likely to rank higher in search engine results. You can check the DA and PA scores of a website using Moz’s Link Explorer tool.

Check the Trust Flow and Citation Flow scores: Trust Flow and Citation Flow are metrics developed by Majestic that measure the quality and quantity of links pointing to a website. A higher Trust Flow score indicates that the website has more high-quality links pointing to it, while a higher Citation Flow score indicates that the website has more links in general. You can check the Trust Flow and Citation Flow scores of a website using Majestic’s Site Explorer tool.

Check the Alexa Rank: The Alexa Rank is a metric developed by Alexa that provides a measure of a website’s popularity and traffic. A lower Alexa Rank typically indicates that the website is more popular and receives more traffic. You can check the Alexa Rank of a website using Alexa’s Site Overview tool.

Check the backlink profile: You can also manually check the backlink profile of a website using tools such as Ahrefs or SEMrush. By analyzing the number and quality of the backlinks pointing to a website, you can get an idea of its authority and credibility.

It’s important to keep in mind that no single metric can provide a complete picture of a website’s authority and credibility. It’s best to use a combination of metrics and analysis to get a more accurate understanding of a website’s authority.

28) What are the best methods of link building?

Link building is an essential aspect of SEO, and there are several methods for building high-quality links to your website. Here are some of the best methods of link-building:

Guest blogging: Writing high-quality, informative articles for other websites in your industry or niche can help you get links back to your website. Make sure the websites you choose to guest post on have a good reputation and are relevant to your industry.

Broken link building: This involves finding broken links on other websites and reaching out to the webmaster to suggest a replacement link, which could be to your website. This can help you build links while also helping other website owners fix their broken links.

Infographics: Creating and promoting high-quality infographics can be a great way to attract links from other websites. Infographics are easy to share and can be a valuable source of information for other websites.

Skyscraper technique: This involves finding high-performing content in your industry or niche and creating even better content that is more informative, up-to-date, or comprehensive. Then, you can reach out to websites that have linked to the original content and suggest they link to your new and improved content instead.

Resource pages: Many websites have resource pages that link to other helpful websites in their industry or niche. Reach out to website owners and suggest that they add a link to your website if you think it would be helpful for their audience.

Social media: Sharing your content on social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook can help you attract links from other websites. If your content is high-quality and informative, other users may share it on their own websites, social media, or blogs.

Overall, the key to successful link-building is to focus on creating high-quality, informative content that is relevant to your audience and industry. By following these best practices and putting in the effort to build relationships with other website owners, you can build a strong and diverse backlink profile that can help improve your website’s search engine rankings and drive more organic traffic to your site.

29) What is HARO in Off-Page SEO?

HARO (Help a Reporter Out) is a platform used in off-page SEO that connects journalists with sources who can provide expert insights or quotes for their articles. HARO is a tool that can be used to gain backlinks and improve the authority of a website.

Here’s how it works:

Journalists submit requests for sources on HARO, detailing the type of sources they need and the topic of their article.

Subscribers who are interested in providing their expertise can respond to these requests with relevant information or quotes.

If the journalist selects your response, your quote or information may be included in their article with a backlink to your website.

By providing valuable insights and quotes to journalists, you can earn high-quality backlinks from reputable websites, which can improve your website’s search engine rankings and visibility.

30) How is guest posting useful in SEO?

Guest posting is a popular strategy in SEO that involves creating content for other websites in your industry or niche. By creating high-quality content and placing it on relevant websites, guest posting can be a powerful tool for improving your search engine rankings and driving traffic to your website.

Here are some ways in which guest posting can be useful in SEO:

Building backlinks: Guest posting allows you to include backlinks to your own website within the content you create. These backlinks can help to increase the authority and trust of your website in the eyes of search engines like Google.

Expanding your reach: By creating content for other websites, you can reach new audiences and attract new visitors to your website. This can help to increase your brand awareness and grow your online presence.

Establishing your authority: Guest posting allows you to showcase your expertise and knowledge in your industry or niche. By providing valuable insights and information, you can establish yourself as a thought leader and gain credibility with your target audience.

Generating traffic: By including backlinks to your own website in your guest posts, you can drive traffic back to your site. This can help to increase your website’s visibility and ultimately lead to more conversions and sales.

Overall, guest posting can be a valuable strategy in SEO when done correctly. It requires time and effort to create high-quality content and build relationships with other websites, but the benefits can be significant in terms of improving your search engine rankings and driving traffic to your website.

31) What is keyword research? How can you find low competiton keywords?

Keyword research is the process of identifying and analyzing the keywords and phrases that people use to search for information online. It is a critical part of SEO, as it helps you to understand what your target audience is searching for and how to optimize your website’s content to meet their needs.

Finding low competition keywords involves identifying relevant search terms that have relatively low levels of competition, which means that they are easier to rank for in search engine results pages (SERPs). Here are some steps you can follow to find low-competition keywords:

Identify your niche: Begin by identifying your niche or the topic area that your website or business focuses on. This will help you to narrow down your keyword research to relevant terms that are more likely to attract your target audience.

Brainstorm keywords: Make a list of potential keywords and phrases that you think people might use to search for information related to your niche. You can also use tools like Google’s Keyword Planner or other keyword research tools to generate additional ideas.

Evaluate keyword difficulty: Use a keyword research tool like Ahrefs or SEMrush to evaluate the competition level of each keyword. These tools provide a difficulty score for each keyword, based on factors like the number of websites that are currently ranking for that term and their authority.

Choose low-competition keywords: Look for keywords that have a difficulty score that is within your website’s authority range. It’s generally easier to rank for keywords with a lower difficulty score, as there is less competition.

Optimize your content: Once you have identified low-competition keywords, use them to optimize your website’s content. Make sure to include them in your page titles, headers, and throughout your content, while also keeping your content high-quality and user-focused.

Overall, finding low-competition keywords involves a combination of creativity, research, and data analysis. By using the right tools and techniques, you can identify relevant search terms that are more likely to attract your target audience and improve your website’s search engine rankings.

32) What is the actual difference between white-hat and black-hat SEO?

The difference between white hat and black hat SEO is based on the tactics and techniques used to improve a website’s search engine rankings.

White hat SEO refers to ethical and legitimate techniques that are approved by search engines and focus on creating valuable content for users. Examples of white hat SEO techniques include keyword research, on-page optimization, content creation, and building high-quality backlinks. White hat SEO is focused on long-term results and sustainable growth, and it aims to improve a website’s rankings in a way that is consistent with search engine guidelines.

Black hat SEO, on the other hand, refers to techniques that are manipulative, deceptive, and in violation of search engine guidelines. Examples of black hat SEO techniques include keyword stuffing, cloaking, buying links, and other tactics that are designed to trick search engines into ranking a website higher than it deserves. Black hat SEO is focused on short-term gains and is often associated with spammy, low-quality websites that offer little value to users.

In summary, the difference between white hat and black hat SEO comes down to the intent behind the techniques used. White hat SEO aims to improve a website’s search engine rankings in a way that is sustainable, ethical, and beneficial to users, while black hat SEO focuses on short-term gains and uses manipulative tactics that are likely to result in penalties or even a ban from search engines.

33) What all off-page activities are a part of white-hat SEO and black-hat SEO?

Off-page SEO activities are those tactics that are performed outside of your website to improve your website’s search engine rankings. The difference between white hat and black hat off-page SEO techniques is based on the tactics and methods used.

Some examples of white hat off-page SEO activities include:

1. Content Marketing: Creating and promoting high-quality content that is shareable and linkable, such as blog posts, infographics, videos, and eBooks.

2. Guest Posting: Writing and publishing quality content on other relevant websites, with a link back to your website.

3. Social Media Marketing: Building and engaging with your social media followers to increase brand awareness and drive traffic to your website.

4. Influencer Outreach: Collaborating with industry influencers to promote your brand and gain high-quality backlinks.

5. Online Reputation Management: Monitoring and managing your brand’s online reputation by responding to customer feedback and reviews.

On the other hand, some examples of black hat off-page SEO activities include:

1. Buying Links: Purchasing links from low-quality, spammy websites to artificially boost your website’s search engine rankings.

2. Link Farming: Creating a network of low-quality websites that link to each other in an effort to manipulate search engine rankings.

3. Automated Link Building: Using software or bots to create large numbers of links automatically, without regard for quality or relevance.

4. Keyword Stuffing: Repeating keywords unnaturally in content, meta tags, or other website elements, with the aim of ranking higher for those terms.

5. Cloaking: Showing different content to search engines and users in an attempt to deceive search engines and manipulate rankings.

Overall, white hat off-page SEO activities are focused on creating value for users and building long-term success, while black hat off-page SEO activities are manipulative, deceptive, and likely to result in penalties or other negative consequences.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the field of SEO is constantly evolving, and staying up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques is essential for success. Whether you’re just starting your career in SEO or are a seasoned professional, preparing for an interview can be daunting. However, by studying and understanding these top 20 SEO interview questions and answers, you’ll be well-equipped to handle any challenge that comes your way. Remember to showcase your expertise, communicate your passion for SEO, and demonstrate your ability to think creatively and strategically. With these tips in mind, you’ll be sure to impress any interviewer and land the SEO job of your dreams. Good luck!

2. What is the difference between On-page and Off-page optimization?

On-page optimization is related to the content on your website & on-page optimization can be controlled by you while Off-page optimization is related to the backlinks which are placed on other websites & off-page optimization cannot be controlled by you, anyone in this world can give back the link to your website.

3. Name the different tools used in SEO?

The tools used in SEO are:

• Keyword Planner

• SEMRush

• Ahrefs

• Moz

• Majestic

• Google Webmaster

• WordPress Plugins Like Yoast SEO

• Buzzsumo

• Google Analytics

4. What do you understand by the Webmaster tool?

Webmaster tool is a service provided by Google from where you can get information about backlinks, crawl errors, indexing data, search queries, CTR, etc.

5. What is the importance of using keywords or phrases in SEO?

Keywords or phrases are used by the search engines to show up the subjects over the internet when a user searches for them. Search engine first stores keywords in its database and when the search is done it then shows a suitable match.

6. What are Meta Tags?

HTML Meta tags are page data tags that are placed between the open and closing head tags in the HTML code of a document.

Meta tags are snippets of text that describe a page’s content; the meta tags don’t appear on the page itself, but only in the page’s code.

7. Name the four essential Meta tags in SEO and mention their character limits?

• Title Meta tag- 60 characters
• Description Meta tag- 150 characters
• Keyword Meta tag- 200 characters
• Robot Tag- NA

8. What is Googlebot?

GoogleBot is a type of software used by Google as a search bot for crawling & indexing a webpage.

9. Explain Black Hat SEO technique?

In SEO, Black Hat means using aggressive strategies violated by search engine guidelines in order to enhance a website’s page ranking in search engine result pages.

10. Why is Title Tag important in a website?

Title tags are important because they tell about the contents of a web page. It is only because of these tags that the search engine tells the user what is there on that page.

11. What is most important- creating content or building backlinks?

Both are equally important. Creating quality content is the first thing which is held responsible for ranking a page while building backlinks is essential for creating website authority as well as for improving the ranking.

12. What are the steps involved in optimizing a website?

The steps include evaluating the site’s current ranking quality for testing different copy styles or strategies and assessing the success of a campaign.

13. What is the most crucial factor in an SEO campaign?

Not one, but there are many factors significant to an SEO campaign that can be identified based on the specific goals of a campaign.

14. How to check whether your SEO campaign is working?

To verify whether an SEO campaign is working includes checking the website’s statistics which tell you the source of traffic.  Another way is to carry out a search based on the relevant keywords and look for the search results. The number of search results displayed will notify you whether your campaign is successful or not.

15. What is LSI?

LSI or Latent Semantic Indexing is a method used to obtain the data by relating a particular word to its closest counterparts. Like, if you are looking for something with a keyword “CAR”, it will show all the results associated with this keyword, for example, car auctions, classic cars, car race, etc.

16. What process would you follow for developing an SEO growth strategy?

As an SEO specialist, my strategy would be something like:

• Defining objectives
• Knowing the target audience
• Categorizing keywords
• Tracking data and results

17. What will you do if your SEO techniques do not work?

To start with, I’ll try to do an analysis of the problem and resolve it by taking the following steps:

• I’ll see whether it is a new project and then re-check the keywords
• I’ll also look for relevant keywords
• If the webpage or website is indexed well and still not showing up on the first 10 pages of search engine result pages, then I will modify the page text, titles, and description.

18. Explain what is PPC?

PPC is an acronym for Pay Per Click. It is a kind of advertisement campaign hosted by Google.  It is divided into two modules- CPC (Cost per click) and CPM (Cost per thousand impressions) using flat rate and bidding method respectively.

19.  What is Bounce Rate?

Bounce rate is the percentage of visitors to a website who leave the site after viewing only one page.

20. What role do social media play into an SEO strategy?

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc. help in spreading a website’s reach faster, driving maximum and quality traffic, and enables the audience to share the content in their network.

These are some of the common questions asked in the interviews for the position of SEO. However, there are others too. But when you enroll with ADM, an institute which offers digital marketing courses in Pune, you will be offered guidance and 100% job assistance whether it is about preparing for such interviews or getting exposed to a network of agencies or companies.

21) What is crawling?

Crawling refers to the process of systematically browsing and indexing the contents of web pages on the Internet. It is typically performed by automated software programs called web crawlers or spiders, which systematically traverse through the pages of a website, following links to other pages and collecting data from those pages.

The primary purpose of crawling is to create an index of all the web pages that are available on the Internet, which can be used to provide search results for users who are searching for information on a particular topic. Search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo all use web crawlers to build and maintain their search indexes.

Web crawlers typically operate by starting with a known set of web pages (usually a list of URLs) and then following links from those pages to other pages. They use various algorithms and heuristics to prioritize which pages to crawl next, and they typically limit the rate at which they access any given website to avoid overwhelming the site’s servers.

Overall, crawling is an important process for organizing and accessing the vast amount of information that is available on the web.

22) What is the crawl budget?

Crawl budget is a term used in search engine optimization (SEO) to describe the number of pages on a website that a search engine bot, such as Googlebot, is willing to crawl during a given period of time. The crawl budget is determined by several factors, including the size and authority of the website, the frequency of new content being added, and the server resources available to handle the crawling process.

Crawling every page of a website can be resource-intensive for search engines, so they allocate a certain amount of resources to each website based on their crawl budget. If a website has a high crawl budget, the search engine bot will crawl more pages on the site during each visit, which can help improve the site’s visibility in search results. If a website has a low crawl budget, the search engine bot may only crawl a portion of the pages on the site during each visit, which can limit the site’s visibility in search results.

To optimize the use of their crawl budget, website owners can take steps to improve their site’s structure, optimize their content, and reduce page load times. This can help search engine bots crawl and index their site more efficiently, resulting in better search rankings and visibility in search results.

23) What is indexing in SEO?

Indexing is the process by which a search engine collects and organizes information about web pages, in order to facilitate efficient and accurate retrieval of results when a user enters a search query.

During indexing, search engine crawlers or bots systematically explore the content on a website and collect information such as the page’s content, titles, descriptions, and metadata. The data collected is then organized and stored in a large database, called an index. This index contains a copy of the content found on each page that the search engine has crawled.

The purpose of indexing is to allow the search engine to quickly retrieve the most relevant results when a user performs a search. When a user enters a search query, the search engine retrieves results from its index based on the query’s relevance to the content and context of the indexed pages. The search engine algorithm will then rank the results based on its criteria, and display them to the user.

Optimizing your website for indexing is an important part of SEO. To ensure that your website is indexed effectively, you should make sure that your website is crawlable, use descriptive page titles and meta descriptions, provide unique and relevant content, use clear and consistent navigation, and have a well-structured website hierarchy.

24) What is the difference between crawling and indexing?

Crawling and indexing are two different processes in search engine optimization (SEO).

Crawling refers to the process by which search engine bots or spiders systematically browse through the contents of web pages on the Internet, following links to other pages and collecting data from those pages. The primary purpose of crawling is to find and collect information about the pages on a website.

Indexing, on the other hand, refers to the process of organizing and storing the information collected during the crawling process. The search engine bot or spider will analyze the content it has collected and determine the relevance and value of the pages to the user’s search query. The information is then stored in a large database, called an index, which the search engine uses to provide search results.

In other words, crawling is the process of finding and collecting information about web pages, while indexing is the process of organizing and storing that information to facilitate efficient and accurate retrieval of results when a user enters a search query.

Both crawling and indexing are important components of search engine optimization. A website must be accessible for crawling and have relevant content that is easily indexed to ensure that it appears in search results. By optimizing your website for both crawling and indexing, you can increase the likelihood of your pages appearing in search results and attracting organic traffic to your site.

25) What is the meaning of do-follow and no-follow backlinks?

In SEO, a backlink is a link from one website to another. Backlinks are an important factor in determining the quality and authority of a website, and they can have a significant impact on a website’s search engine rankings.

Do follow and no follow are two types of backlinks that differ in the way that they pass link equity or PageRank from one website to another.

A “do follow” backlink is a link that tells search engines to follow the link and give the target website credit for the backlink. This means that the backlink can pass on some of the link juice, which is a measure of the website’s authority, to the target website. Do follow backlinks are considered to be valuable because they can help improve a website’s search engine rankings.

A “no follow” backlink is a link that tells search engines not to follow the link and not to give the target website any credit for the backlink. This means that the backlink does not pass on any link juice to the target website. No follow backlinks were created to help prevent spam and low-quality content from being rewarded with high search engine rankings. They are commonly used for paid links, user-generated content, and comments on blogs or forums.

Overall, both do follow and no follow backlinks can have a role in a website’s backlink profile. While do follow backlinks are considered more valuable for SEO, a mix of both types of backlinks can help create a natural and diverse backlink profile that can help improve a website’s authority and search engine rankings.

26) What is link juice in SEO? 

In search engine optimization (SEO), link juice refers to the value or equity passed from one web page to another through hyperlinks or backlinks.

When a website links to another website, it passes on some of its authority or credibility to that website. This is known as link juice. The more high-quality and relevant links a website has pointing to it, the more link juice it receives, which can help to improve its search engine rankings.

The amount of link juice that is passed from one web page to another depends on several factors, including the authority and relevance of the linking page, the anchor text used in the link, and the number of other links on the page.

Link juice is not a tangible thing, but rather a metaphor used to describe the value or equity that is passed from one web page to another through links. It is important to note that link juice is not a fixed or static value, but can change over time as the linking and linked pages change.

Overall, link juice is an important concept in SEO because it helps to explain how backlinks work and why they are important. By building high-quality backlinks and passing on link juice to your website, you can help to improve its search engine rankings and drive more organic traffic to your site.

27) How to find out the authority of a website?

There are several ways to find out the authority of a website, including:

Check the domain authority (DA) and page authority (PA) scores: Domain authority and page authority are metrics developed by Moz that provide a measure of a website’s authority and credibility. A higher DA or PA score typically indicates that the website has a stronger backlink profile and is more likely to rank higher in search engine results. You can check the DA and PA scores of a website using Moz’s Link Explorer tool.

Check the Trust Flow and Citation Flow scores: Trust Flow and Citation Flow are metrics developed by Majestic that measure the quality and quantity of links pointing to a website. A higher Trust Flow score indicates that the website has more high-quality links pointing to it, while a higher Citation Flow score indicates that the website has more links in general. You can check the Trust Flow and Citation Flow scores of a website using Majestic’s Site Explorer tool.

Check the Alexa Rank: The Alexa Rank is a metric developed by Alexa that provides a measure of a website’s popularity and traffic. A lower Alexa Rank typically indicates that the website is more popular and receives more traffic. You can check the Alexa Rank of a website using Alexa’s Site Overview tool.

Check the backlink profile: You can also manually check the backlink profile of a website using tools such as Ahrefs or SEMrush. By analyzing the number and quality of the backlinks pointing to a website, you can get an idea of its authority and credibility.

It’s important to keep in mind that no single metric can provide a complete picture of a website’s authority and credibility. It’s best to use a combination of metrics and analysis to get a more accurate understanding of a website’s authority.

28) What are the best methods of link building?

Link building is an essential aspect of SEO, and there are several methods for building high-quality links to your website. Here are some of the best methods of link-building:

Guest blogging: Writing high-quality, informative articles for other websites in your industry or niche can help you get links back to your website. Make sure the websites you choose to guest post on have a good reputation and are relevant to your industry.

Broken link building: This involves finding broken links on other websites and reaching out to the webmaster to suggest a replacement link, which could be to your website. This can help you build links while also helping other website owners fix their broken links.

Infographics: Creating and promoting high-quality infographics can be a great way to attract links from other websites. Infographics are easy to share and can be a valuable source of information for other websites.

Skyscraper technique: This involves finding high-performing content in your industry or niche and creating even better content that is more informative, up-to-date, or comprehensive. Then, you can reach out to websites that have linked to the original content and suggest they link to your new and improved content instead.

Resource pages: Many websites have resource pages that link to other helpful websites in their industry or niche. Reach out to website owners and suggest that they add a link to your website if you think it would be helpful for their audience.

Social media: Sharing your content on social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook can help you attract links from other websites. If your content is high-quality and informative, other users may share it on their own websites, social media, or blogs.

Overall, the key to successful link-building is to focus on creating high-quality, informative content that is relevant to your audience and industry. By following these best practices and putting in the effort to build relationships with other website owners, you can build a strong and diverse backlink profile that can help improve your website’s search engine rankings and drive more organic traffic to your site.

29) What is HARO in Off-Page SEO?

HARO (Help a Reporter Out) is a platform used in off-page SEO that connects journalists with sources who can provide expert insights or quotes for their articles. HARO is a tool that can be used to gain backlinks and improve the authority of a website.

Here’s how it works:

Journalists submit requests for sources on HARO, detailing the type of sources they need and the topic of their article.

Subscribers who are interested in providing their expertise can respond to these requests with relevant information or quotes.

If the journalist selects your response, your quote or information may be included in their article with a backlink to your website.

By providing valuable insights and quotes to journalists, you can earn high-quality backlinks from reputable websites, which can improve your website’s search engine rankings and visibility.

30) How is guest posting useful in SEO?

Guest posting is a popular strategy in SEO that involves creating content for other websites in your industry or niche. By creating high-quality content and placing it on relevant websites, guest posting can be a powerful tool for improving your search engine rankings and driving traffic to your website.

Here are some ways in which guest posting can be useful in SEO:

Building backlinks: Guest posting allows you to include backlinks to your own website within the content you create. These backlinks can help to increase the authority and trust of your website in the eyes of search engines like Google.

Expanding your reach: By creating content for other websites, you can reach new audiences and attract new visitors to your website. This can help to increase your brand awareness and grow your online presence.

Establishing your authority: Guest posting allows you to showcase your expertise and knowledge in your industry or niche. By providing valuable insights and information, you can establish yourself as a thought leader and gain credibility with your target audience.

Generating traffic: By including backlinks to your own website in your guest posts, you can drive traffic back to your site. This can help to increase your website’s visibility and ultimately lead to more conversions and sales.

Overall, guest posting can be a valuable strategy in SEO when done correctly. It requires time and effort to create high-quality content and build relationships with other websites, but the benefits can be significant in terms of improving your search engine rankings and driving traffic to your website.

31) What is keyword research? How can you find low competiton keywords?

Keyword research is the process of identifying and analyzing the keywords and phrases that people use to search for information online. It is a critical part of SEO, as it helps you to understand what your target audience is searching for and how to optimize your website’s content to meet their needs.

Finding low competition keywords involves identifying relevant search terms that have relatively low levels of competition, which means that they are easier to rank for in search engine results pages (SERPs). Here are some steps you can follow to find low-competition keywords:

Identify your niche: Begin by identifying your niche or the topic area that your website or business focuses on. This will help you to narrow down your keyword research to relevant terms that are more likely to attract your target audience.

Brainstorm keywords: Make a list of potential keywords and phrases that you think people might use to search for information related to your niche. You can also use tools like Google’s Keyword Planner or other keyword research tools to generate additional ideas.

Evaluate keyword difficulty: Use a keyword research tool like Ahrefs or SEMrush to evaluate the competition level of each keyword. These tools provide a difficulty score for each keyword, based on factors like the number of websites that are currently ranking for that term and their authority.

Choose low-competition keywords: Look for keywords that have a difficulty score that is within your website’s authority range. It’s generally easier to rank for keywords with a lower difficulty score, as there is less competition.

Optimize your content: Once you have identified low-competition keywords, use them to optimize your website’s content. Make sure to include them in your page titles, headers, and throughout your content, while also keeping your content high-quality and user-focused.

Overall, finding low-competition keywords involves a combination of creativity, research, and data analysis. By using the right tools and techniques, you can identify relevant search terms that are more likely to attract your target audience and improve your website’s search engine rankings.

32) What is the actual difference between white-hat and black-hat SEO?

The difference between white hat and black hat SEO is based on the tactics and techniques used to improve a website’s search engine rankings.

White hat SEO refers to ethical and legitimate techniques that are approved by search engines and focus on creating valuable content for users. Examples of white hat SEO techniques include keyword research, on-page optimization, content creation, and building high-quality backlinks. White hat SEO is focused on long-term results and sustainable growth, and it aims to improve a website’s rankings in a way that is consistent with search engine guidelines.

Black hat SEO, on the other hand, refers to techniques that are manipulative, deceptive, and in violation of search engine guidelines. Examples of black hat SEO techniques include keyword stuffing, cloaking, buying links, and other tactics that are designed to trick search engines into ranking a website higher than it deserves. Black hat SEO is focused on short-term gains and is often associated with spammy, low-quality websites that offer little value to users.

In summary, the difference between white hat and black hat SEO comes down to the intent behind the techniques used. White hat SEO aims to improve a website’s search engine rankings in a way that is sustainable, ethical, and beneficial to users, while black hat SEO focuses on short-term gains and uses manipulative tactics that are likely to result in penalties or even a ban from search engines.

33) What all off-page activities are a part of white-hat SEO and black-hat SEO?

Off-page SEO activities are those tactics that are performed outside of your website to improve your website’s search engine rankings. The difference between white hat and black hat off-page SEO techniques is based on the tactics and methods used.

Some examples of white hat off-page SEO activities include:

1. Content Marketing: Creating and promoting high-quality content that is shareable and linkable, such as blog posts, infographics, videos, and eBooks.

2. Guest Posting: Writing and publishing quality content on other relevant websites, with a link back to your website.

3. Social Media Marketing: Building and engaging with your social media followers to increase brand awareness and drive traffic to your website.

4. Influencer Outreach: Collaborating with industry influencers to promote your brand and gain high-quality backlinks.

5. Online Reputation Management: Monitoring and managing your brand’s online reputation by responding to customer feedback and reviews.

On the other hand, some examples of black hat off-page SEO activities include:

1. Buying Links: Purchasing links from low-quality, spammy websites to artificially boost your website’s search engine rankings.

2. Link Farming: Creating a network of low-quality websites that link to each other in an effort to manipulate search engine rankings.

3. Automated Link Building: Using software or bots to create large numbers of links automatically, without regard for quality or relevance.

4. Keyword Stuffing: Repeating keywords unnaturally in content, meta tags, or other website elements, with the aim of ranking higher for those terms.

5. Cloaking: Showing different content to search engines and users in an attempt to deceive search engines and manipulate rankings.

Overall, white hat off-page SEO activities are focused on creating value for users and building long-term success, while black hat off-page SEO activities are manipulative, deceptive, and likely to result in penalties or other negative consequences.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the field of SEO is constantly evolving, and staying up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques is essential for success. Whether you’re just starting your career in SEO or are a seasoned professional, preparing for an interview can be daunting. However, by studying and understanding these top 20 SEO interview questions and answers, you’ll be well-equipped to handle any challenge that comes your way. Remember to showcase your expertise, communicate your passion for SEO, and demonstrate your ability to think creatively and strategically. With these tips in mind, you’ll be sure to impress any interviewer and land the SEO job of your dreams. Good luck!