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What’s the Difference between content Optimization and SEO

The heading of this blog should ideally lead the reader to one question: What is the motive behind the exercise i.e. to say, why is one undertaking both content optimization and SEO? Obviously, getting more traffic!

From this answer, flows the next question: How do you get more traffic?

The answer to the 2^nd question is: By content optimization and SEO!

But if both are one and the same, why have two words to describe one concept/ situation?

It is when you ask the above question that you arrive at the difference between content optimization and SEO.

The difference is:

Area of difference	Content Optimization	SEO
Who is it meant to address	It addressed the site users/ visitors/ browsers	It appeals only to Search Engines
How do you attract those whom you want to attract	– By writing good generic, – authoritative content with the right set of graphics, – relevant content – content with proper back & forward linking	By using the right means and strategies which attract search engines like: – Using the right keywords – Making the site and every element therein very relevant to the search + customizing it to attract the right attention of search engine
Technical areas where they differ	Purely to do with the content of the site- whether or not search engines rank them as desired. This includes using authentic information put out in ways which attract the intended audience in large numbers.	In the case of SEO, a higher ranking can to an extent be WITHOUT CONTENT due to the following reasons: – Site configured for better mobile-phone experiences, – Increasing site access speed by deleting pictures and un-necessary duplication and thus making it light, – Making proper XML sitemaps, – Making better wire-frames of sites for better access – Getting more and relevant links
	It is finally content which finally wins over everything – including the search engines. Initially, it attracts lesser attention but with the pace picking up, SEOs also start to acknowledge.	SEO can bring the visitor to a site for the first time but cannot hold him/ her there if the content is not great. Over time, this strategy does not work
Area of commonality	Optimized content leads to better SEO ranking & easier searches	Higher the SEO raking leads to better searches which come about due to optimized content

In the end, it is the ability to get the required attention that matters. Optimising with original content is the best strategy because doing so does get you the search engine’s attention! But great content on a technically weak site has been known to have not attracted the attention they expected. A classic “Catch 22” situation this!