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Search engine optimization
Search engine optimization is crucial to your traffic flow.
Having your website listed on the first page of a search engines
results will give you maximum exposure. And, the closer you are
to the top of the page the greater the number of visitors you
will receive. Thus, you should learn the basics of how to
optimize your website. Not all search engines operate exactly
the same. But, if you follow the simple outline below you will
do just fine. This will give you an overview of what most search
engines are like and what they are looking for.
Optimization tips
1. Are your keywords in your title tags? (This includes the
filename and page title)
2. Are your keywords in your content? (Especially the first and
last paragraph of each page)
3. Do your keywords accurately describe the theme or subject of
your page?
4. What words will users type into search engines to find your
website?
5. Does the page contain JavaScript? If so, how much of it
precedes content? (CSS and JavaScript is nice, but engine robots
don't have a clue as to what to do with it and often give up if
there's no content nearby.)
6. If your website is a business, have you made sure your
business address and other information is easily available on
each page? (Directories look for this when reviewing business
sites.)
7. Did you optimize several pages of your site for certain
targeted keywords? Be sure that your page titles reflect your
keywords and be sure to repeat them in the body text of the page.
8. Are there plenty of text links on your pages for robots to
follow? (They don't follow image map links or options in drop
down menus.)
9. Did you read each engine FAQ to make sure you avoid SPAMMING
their database before you submitted your URL? (FAQ's change
often, so you need to keep checking back.)
10. Do you have any web sites linking to your website? Links
from other web sites similar to your own will increase the
relevancy of your website in search engine results.
Focus on your keywords and keyword density but don't sacrifice
your message. Utilize the meta tags keywords, description and
title. Use your keywords when naming your pages.
Links from other websites
One of the biggest things that search engines look for, after
content and theme, are quality links to your website from
reputable internet addresses. Just any links won't do. They must
be roughly the same subject matter and rank well on the search
engines. This can be one of the most difficult parts of the
optimization process but if your site is interesting, full of
rich content and you keep growing your website they will come.
Website Promotion
Remember that while search engines are a primary way people look
for web sites, they are not the only way. People also find sites
through word-of-mouth, traditional advertising, the traditional
media, newsgroup postings, web directories and links from other
sites. Many times, these alternative forms are far more
effective draws than are search engines.
About the author:
Gene DeFazzio is the author and webmaster of the Rocketface(R)
Workshop. http://www.rocketface.com/
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