The inescapable truth of search engine optimization (SEO) is that it is neither a clear, straightforward process, nor one that can be done quickly. Online search engines, Google in particular, are notoriously tight-lipped about how their search algorithms function. They operate inside a kind of black box, where the ranking factors they use are somewhat hidden from the public. Google does provide extensive guidance on how to best optimize your site to rank well, but the specifics of the algorithm remain a mystery.