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Types of SEO

Types of SEO group search optimisation work into on-page, off-page, and technical SEO, with specialisations for local, international, ecommerce, image, and video goals.

If you focus only on content or only on links while neglecting technical foundations, you are missing the point of SEO types.

Key points

  • Start with technical SEO: without crawlability and indexing, no other type matters.
  • On-page SEO is the foundation for relevance; off-page SEO builds authority.
  • Local SEO only matters if you serve a geographic area; skip it otherwise.
  • Ecommerce SEO requires product and category page optimisation, not just blog content.
  • International SEO needs hreflang tags and country-specific content, not just translation.

An online store's two-phase SEO strategy

An online store spent six months on on-page SEO, rewriting product descriptions and meta tags. Rankings barely moved, with only 12% traffic growth. After building 47 backlinks through guest posts and local citations over three months, organic traffic jumped 140%. The lesson: off page seo services are not optional for competitive niches; they are the difference between stagnation and growth.

Three core types of SEO work

  • On-page SEO Covers optimisations made directly on a webpage, such as content, headings, metadata, and keyword relevance to match search intent.
  • Off-page SEO Focuses on signals outside your site, especially backlinks, brand mentions, and other authority-building actions that build trust and credibility with search engines.
  • Technical SEO Covers crawlability, indexing, site structure, speed, and other backend factors that help search engines access and understand your pages.

Four specialisations that extend SEO

  • Local SEO Targets searches tied to a geographic area and is important for businesses serving nearby customers, like restaurants or plumbers.
  • International SEO Helps sites target users in different countries or languages with hreflang tags, country-specific content, and proper URL structures for international seo audiences.
  • Ecommerce SEO Focuses on product and category pages to improve visibility and drive sales, often requiring structured data, reviews, and product descriptions.
  • Image and Video SEO Optimises non-text assets for image and video search results, using proper filenames, alt text, transcriptions, and structured data to boost visibility.

Three common mistakes when using SEO types

  • Treating types as silos Treating SEO types as separate silos instead of overlapping disciplines makes you miss the full picture of what affects rankings.
  • Neglecting technical foundations Focusing only on content or links while neglecting technical foundations means your site may not be crawlable or indexable at all.
  • Assuming all types apply equally Instead, prioritise by business model and audience; a local bakery does not need international SEO services, but an online store does.

Common questions

How many types of SEO are there?

There is no fixed number; the most common framework lists three core types and several specialisations.

How many types of SEO in digital marketing?

Digital marketing often references the same three core types: on-page, off-page, and technical SEO.

How many types of SEO techniques are there?

The term 'SEO techniques' often refers to the same three core types: on-page, off-page, and technical SEO.

Sources

  1. Google Search Central Official documentation on SEO fundamentals
  2. Search Engine Land Guide explaining SEO types and categories
  3. Ahrefs Blog Detailed article on types of SEO with examples
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