Search engine optimization (SEO) has grown to embrace a number of different practices including everything from enhancing the functionality of a shopping cart to optimizing copy with keywords to adding metatags to your out of context copy. The term used to simply refer to adding metatags but search engine optimization now embraces any technique that makes your web site and web copy more friendly – period.

Technically the entire business of SEO is divided into two main types – natural or organic SEO and alogorithmic SEO. The organic type results from have a natural niche to your topic that makes it easy for consumers to find you in the search engine pages. It also refers to pages that are seeded with keywords by your customers such as pinged blogs and forums. The algorithmic type of SEO refers to copy that has been optimized in some manner using keywords and metatags in order to increase search engine relevance.

So what's the difference between organic SEO and algorithmic SEO nowadays? Organic SEO tends to be easier for people to read and algorithmic is friendlier to the search engine spiders. However the idea of organic SEO is more of a buzzword. The most successful SEO appeals first to machine algorithms to increase search engine relevance and secondly to the comprehension of human visitors.

Search engine optimization is something you can do yourself with the aid of a few online gadgets or you can use a service. Often these search engine optimizers practice black hat SEO, which uses slightly unethical ways to increase your page's rankings in the search engines. It is a good idea to ask your SEO experts if they use white hat or black hat SEO as you are the one who is penalized for less than ethical practices. Sometimes all you need to accomplish your SEO needs is one talented writer who can write SEO copy for you.