Search Engine Optimization - SEO Articles

Search engines are better at spidering than you. Of course, you need a professional looking site, easy to navigate, appropriate content and size. And, many sites are great at displaying graphics/Flash and visually appealing sections on their sites. However, the search engines really don't care much about that. If you can give the spiders what they want, they not only will eat it up fast, but provide content-rich, relevant data to their index (database). As time, content, size and relevancy increase, you will rise up in the search engine results pages. Properly applied search engine optimization techniques will help you.

The graphic on your left shows the three (3) most important search engines to optimize for. (Ed Note: Google owns over 50% of the market today, and is growing fast every day. This includes their exposure via partners like Ask, Earthlink, DogPile, etc). For you to get elevated and relevant rankings you must get into the search engine indexes, and we recommend you start with Google. We guarantee spidering by Google in less than 3 weeks, but we take a long term approach to SEO work. We've seen as little as 3-4 months for some rankings, and as much time as 2 years for certain keywords/phrases.

We invite you to take a look at the starter list below. These are steps you can start today - and it's fairly easy and impactful. Also, please take a look at our other search related articles.

NUMBER 1: Learn the SEO concepts.

SEO tries to ensure that your web pages appear at the top of the search engines for target keyword requests. It increases brand awareness, qualified traffic and revenue. Fact: Only 1/2 of the people visiting look at the sponsored ads (PPC) and only 20% actually click. However, four (4) out of five (5) clicks - click on natural search results. Therefore SEO done right can really elevate your business and revenue. Additionally, the top 5 sites returned from any search are where the action is. Note: you should still be in the top 10 (Search Engines Results Pages (SERPS)) - it's "your goal".

NUMBER 2: Research the competition.

I'm sure you do this no matter what business you are in - whether online or not (brick and mortar). Enough said. Do it. Note: There are techniques on how to do this effectively, quickly and with high quality results. We will provide information on this in our July article ("How to blow the competition out of the search game")

NUMBER 3: Linking Strategies and Relevancy.

One of the most important things you can do is to build out your relevant linking neighborhoods. There are a number of great tools you can use to automate this, but we've found that via email and phones (yes!) -- you will establish a closer relationship with your virtual partners, and even though you may only spend an hour a day building link partners, it's well spent. Typically, only 1-2 will exchange links with you out of 8 companies called. However, let's say you get one quality link per day through the year. That's over 300 quality links that will help your relevancy, build your business and get your PR-level moved (Page Rank).

NUMBER 4: Proper HTML and Site Building.

There are many articles written on this topic. If you are not HTML-savvy, it can be a challenge. However, it's not hard to learn, and we'd be happy to show you how it's done. Again, many tools exist to help you analyze your content, HTML syntax and appropriate application of tags like <H1>, META tags, BODY content and more. You must also be aware of server-side issues, including IP numbers that may have belonged to (and still do) block listed ranges.

NUMBER 5: Meet The Search Engines.

Make sure you read the webmaster's guidelines on all the search engines, specially Google, Yahoo and MSN. They actually are very helpful, and they want you to do well, contrary to what you believe or have heard. Also, keep in mind, you have robotic search engines, algorithmic based search engines and AI-type search engines. You also must ensure listings in the directories, like DMOZ, Yahoo. Lastly, you must study and learn the PPC (pay-per-click) strategies, and also learn how to write ads, copy writing for (cash) landing pages, and have a solid sales back end process. If you have never used the AdSense programs, you may be missing out on *significant* income, but many do it incorrectly. We have seen adsense programs go from $3.00/day to over $19,000/month!

NUMBER 6: Use a proven methodology.

None of the SEO "white hat" (opposite to "black hat" - unethical) strategies are "rocket-scientists qualified" only. The key areas to keep working on are: a) keyword research, b) competitive analysis, c) analyze your own site(s), d) submit your site(s), e) monitor rankings, f) Reporting, g) link development and h) dynamic site mapping. We use this approach with all of our clients, and it is one we have learned and studied from other businesses in the SEO industry. It works.

NUMBER 7: Learn how to use the SEO tools.

Metaphor: For many home-owners, the worst thing that can happen when approaching any project, large or small - is not having your tool belt with you. Even worse, if there are tools missing from your belt after spending 5 minutes retrieving the ladder, lining it up just right, scaling it just to get to the top of the roof -- you not only feel aggravated, but stupid.

We are affiliated with some of the guru tools specialists in the industry, and have sites & software, along with our own free tools (.NET Spiders and database capture tools) that will allow you to not only get to work immediately, but you don't have to come down off the roof to get them. Here are over 150 search engine optimization tools to play with.

NUMBER 8: Relevancy, Relevancy, Relevancy? Why be "search relevant"?

The objective here is to make the search engines "see". You must always ensure that you insert unique relevant content such that the page becomes more worthy of a high ranking in the search engines. You must also make sure you adhere to Style Guide Requirements. The ultimate objective is not to make an inferior page appear superior, but to actually make it superior. Yes, you must be relevant - for any site - be it a commerce/shopping type site, to an information page about Da Vinci's life. Do not try to trick anybody, specially not the search engines. You will regret it. There are too many "sad" stories of revenues and business lost from "black hat" strategies. They appear to work for a little while, and suddenly you are gone from the listings. Be relevant and ethical.

See other Search Engine Optimization and Search Marketing Articles.

More information can be found on the corporate search engine optimization solutions page.