To me, i understand Ranking in Just two easy ways: Build Links and Write unique contents
When i say build links: It means the presence of your site links on other blogs which you can easily archive via guest posting, Profile links, Directory submissions, Commenting, Link exchange etc.....
Then when I say write unique contents: It means Keywords research and Keywords placement
if only you can understand the above in one fold then you will find ranking easy:
SEO(Search engine optimization) Is not something you pay someone to do. instead you can only pay people to render certain SEO services since search optimization have various branches e.g Google search Console, Broken links, Building Links, Writing SEO articles etc...
If someone say i can help you set your Blog SEO: There's nothing Unique than Setting up Yoast Plugin and search console , submitting sitemaps which everyone can do easily. But does SEO really end there? (NO NO NO)
SEO is practical: That means you will explore it on every single post you write while the normal Search console and Sitemap settings are only First stage and Root to SEO. Without them no way and even with them minus the practices (still no way) (Pay him to learn SEO practices but don't pay him to set SEO for you unless you're a total newbie who don't like to work instead you want it done)
So what are the SEO practices aside link building:? i hear someone ask that now.
Figure out the keywords that are easy to rank in your niche: This won't be easy for newbies as it takes alot of understanding ( after that find related keywords around the post you want to write) Now start writing while you strategically embed your keywords in your write-ups to maintain good readability.
I only want to wake your brain this evening: (my advice is) Do more research on SEO than you do to how to make money online (this is 2019) SEO is money In the internet world.
Credit: Kennedy Prosper