Search Engine Optimization Techniques
|
|
Search engine optimization is the process of increasing the amount of visitors to a website by achieving a high ranking in the search results of a search engine (i.e. Yahoo, Google, etc.). The higher a website ranks in a search, the better the chance that a website will be visited. Most Internet users will not click through multiple pages of search results, so a high ranking in a search is necessary to direct more traffic to your website.
While a top listing is not guaranteed, there are a number of small steps that you can take to improve your chances of gaining a top ranking. We recommend the following 5 basic steps to produce a more desirable search engine listing:
1. Content Writing/Keywords
We've found that content targeting seems to be the most successful strategy. Search engines are beginning to use algorithms that identify the main themes of entire websites instead of just single pages. In order to create a main theme for search engine optimization, you must identify a focused group of keywords that exist on and are relevant to the content on most pages of your website.
In practical terms, if you're writing an article, service description or sales copy for your website, focus on creating informative and interesting content, but factor in keyword phrases that are more likely to give you a better ranking with the search engines.
Key word selection can be a rather complex process as there are many different factors that come into play when search engines decide the ranking of your webpage and how well your keywords rank. You may wish to spend some time educating yourself about this process. A good rule of thumb is to choose 2 to 3 word phrases from content that appears throughout your website that you expect to have the greatest appeal to the visitors you want to attract. We suggest that you consult with other colleagues as your create your list.
2. META Tags
Meta tags are special HTML tags that provide information about a webpage, such as who created the page, how often it is updated, what the page is about, and which keywords represent the page's content. Many search engines use this information when building their indices.
Meta tags should contain your basic content terms. We recommend that you do not use too many words (less than 25) and that you do not repeat keywords as this could cause the search engines to overlook your website. You can use Overture Term Suggestion Tool http://www.content.overture.com/d/USm/adcenter/tools/index.jhtml to find the highest rated keywords.
We also offer a simple free Online Tool http://www.promotionworld.com/tools/meta.html to create your own meta tags. Once you've created your meta tags, you can use this Meta Tag Analyzer http://submitexpress.com/analyzer/to see how search engine robots analyze your web site. This data will help you to determine if your web content or meta tags need any changes. Please keep in mind that search engines avoid sites with multiple unrelated meta tags.
3. URL Submission
Once your website is complete, its time to submit your site to the search engines. We strongly recommend using Promotion World's free search engine submission tool. It's a terrific service that allows you to submit 10 URLs at a time and to receive accurate and descriptive results on the submissions. As you review the results, it's likely that you will find some failed submissions. For the failed submissions, Promotion World provides information on how to submit your site manually.
4. Site Ranking
Search engine optimization doesn't end with submitting your website to search engines. You still need to determine the popularity of your site and make any necessary changes. In order to check how your site is ranked, go to Alexa.com. If your site ranking is between 1 and 100,000, it has a solid ranking. If you are ranked over 100,000 or you're just not happy with your site ranking, a popular way to increase your ranking is to trade links to your site with other sites. This typically works because external links are the main criteria for Google's ranking and Google is being used by such powerhouses as Yahoo, AOL, Infoseek, etc.
5. Website Promotion
Your search engine optimization endeavors should always be reinforced by other forms of promotion and marketing. One way to do this is to use a newsletter to deliver useful and informative content that will drive visitors to your website. Other methods of promotion include online advertising, print advertising, a special promotion (i.e. chance to win a digital camera), surveys, and word-of-mouth promotion through friends and family.
Website promotion is a crucial part of eBusiness. Success in sales is a numbers game and without serious web traffic you will not have the numbers you need to prosper.
About The Author
Milena Sotirova is the Editor of DevStart http://www.devstart.com/. To find more articles, tips and tutorials that will help you to find the best hosting and to promote your site, visit HostReview.com http://www.hostreview.com/ and PromotionWorld.com http://www.promotionworld.com/. Discover the secrets for your guaranteed traffic increase. Send to the author your feedback at msotirova@devstart.com.
|
|
|
Created & Maintained by Empower! CMS Web Sites
Host2Sell Web Hosting | Emarketing Workshops | Site SEO Review | FREE NewsletterThe Ultimate Free Google Ranking Tool
The first months my website was online, I was constantly checking the search engines to see if my site was listed under the keywords that I was targeting. And always with the same negative results.The truth is that the keywords that you are targeting are often not showing your site the first months at all on the first 200 search listings. OK,if you try to get your site listed for hoooohjgaagga or something like that, it could get you a first place in no time. But who wants to target that keyword?In fact, I get a lot more traffic from keywords that I haven't thought of using as a keyword in the first place. One tool that I have found online can easily show you the keywords that your site is ranking well for.<...(related: Search Engine Optimization)
Your Top Search Rankings At Yahoo & Msn Search Are Worthless
It seems I now do this rant every single year when traffic statistics are discussed in web industry news. Last week I posted to my Reality SEO blog tha...(related: Search Engine Optimization)
Search Engine Ranking... Oh, The Mystery!
Rankings, Rankings, Rankings!How do you get your website ranked well by the search engines? Well, it isn't as hard as you think, but it may not be as simple either. It takes patience and an ongoing commitment to making search-engine ranking a long-term investment in your website. You will need to give it time and energy ? it isn't a quick fix.One caveat before I dive into this: If you are a company that is working on attracting local customers, there are many other incredibly effective offline marketing tools to DRIVE people to your website. So, what if you really want to work on search-engine ranking f...(related: Search Engine Optimization)
Seo And Google Indexing - Why It Requires A Complex Blend Of Skills
If it was easy, everybody would be doing it. Getting a company's name and p...(related: Search Engine Optimization)
Surviving The Search Wars ? Local Directories
The pursuit of online information has become an increasingly dynamic and competitive marketplace during the past three years. Global heavyweights such as www.google.com, www.yahoo.com, and www.msn.com are backed by massive resources, making it nearly impossible for new companies to even attempt to compete. It would seem for new start directories it is alm...(related: Search Engine Optimization)
Optimze Your Web Site On A Shoe String Budget
Let me start off by saying I'm not a marketing guru or work for a fortune 500 advertising company. I don't even have a marketing background. But if you don't have money to blow on optimizing your site, then listen up.Search engine optimization guidelines are more mysteriou...(related: Search Engine Optimization)
Google Bring Deskbar Search To Windows Desktop. Now Any Website Can Take Advantage Of This
Google's premier of desktop search proves that the desktop is an extremely valuable marketing real estate. Google, which holds about 75% of the Internet search market, just introduced "Deskbar" ? a small desktop application that allows users to search Google directly from their desktops. Google currently rules the Internet, but positioning themselves on the desktop gives them the power to rule not only the Internet, but also the entire personal computer.Unlike other interactive marketing avenues, such as website and email, the desktop is virtually free of advertisements and promotional materials. The desktop is competitor free and just waiting to be claimed.The advantages of desktop search are not limited to Google and their major search engine competitors though. Any website with search technolog...(related: Search Engine Optimization)
How To Get One Way Backlinks
Don't be fooled into believing that all backlinks are created equal because their not! Why, you may ask? It's no secret that many webmasters trade links left, and right, for the benefit of a higher ranking in the search results, but search engines have caught on to this technique, and are very aware that this is major threat to the relevance of the search results.Search engines such as Google have took steps in an effort to prevent this from becoming major problem by placing more importance on one way backlinks. So, how do you get one way backlinks to yo...(related: Search Engine Optimization)
Opinion ? Search Engine Success
This article is actually the summary to a book soon to be released by the author, titled "Guaranteed Website Success". Opinions are quite often controversial. Such is the nature of this one.There a many opinions and conclusions being expressed by so called "experts" at this time. We can't turn a blind eye to all this information but nothing will replace our own logic and powers of observation. I would like to take a minute to summarize and express m...(related: Search Engine Optimization)
Black Hat Seo And The Sneaky Redirect
Are shades of grey SEO really Black Hat SEO?Black hat SEO is a strategy which gets a web page or entire site banned from a search engine.A shade of grey is when you use a black hat strategy but your site has not been banned yet. Remember the acronym for YET: You're Entitled Too!There are many different opinions on the subject of Search Engine Optimization. Many folks will deliver advice which will work to get you top 10 rankings but what is really the difference between Black Hat SEO and White Hat SEO?There has been many good attempts to define Black Hat SEO. All are relevant and an example can be found at
site-map - Copyright © 2006 Empower! Web Design | All Rights Reserved. | Search Engine Optimization