So what is Search Engine Optimization?

by Kylie Short on April 14, 2007

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Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of ensuring your website is search engine friendly. After all, if the search engines can’t find you, how will your target market?

On doing a quick Google search, I found a huge number of websites and articles all proclaiming to tell all about SEO and its secrets. Well I’m here to tell you that it’s no secret at all and that you shouldn’t have to pay someone to optimize your website. In fact, with a few simple steps, you can do it yourself.

When designing your site, you will need to confirm with your designer if they will optimize the site prior to signing off the project. Be aware that most designers are just that…designers. SEO is an additional service that may require additional payment. As I mentioned before, you do not have to pay someone to optimize your site although you can do so if you wish.

The basics in SEO include:

  • the inclusion of metatags and meta keywords.

  • selecting and using keywords that relate to your site, using them in your content and meta keywords.

  • ensuring your site is content rich. Search engines can’t read images, only text, so if your site is high in images you may want to think about adding content that is rich in the use of your keywords.

  • using your keywords in labeling your ALT tags.

  • submitting your website to the major search engines.

  • listing your site on relevant, quality websites to increase your backlinks.

  • making changes to your site and your content regularly. Search engines LOVE fresh content and will keep coming back to index your site if you make changes regularly.

  • using your keywords in your title tags for each page in your website.

  • avoiding the link farms and exchanging links with ‘anyone’. All this will do is damage your potential for search engine ranking.

  • listing your web site on all your marketing materials including business cards, letterhead, invoices, your car…. the list is endless.

I know this list seems like alot of work but with time and effort you will be able to increase your search engine ranking. Once the visitor is on your site, it is up to you to ensure your copy will entice them to stay and purchase.

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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Anita Bruton April 20, 2007 at 9:56 am

Hi Kylie,

This is a first for me, but I am about to actually post a disagreement.
To be specific, this is the comment I disagree with:

“Well I’m here to tell you that it’s no secret at all and that you shouldn’t have to pay someone to optimize your website. In fact, with a few simple steps, you can do it yourself.”

I do agree that Search Engine Optimization isn’t a secret. But, there are times when you may have to pay for your Website to be optimized. You may not have the time to do it. You may not want to do it. You may not want to research keywords. You may not want to take the time to learn how to optimize your site. You may only need an hour or two a month to optimize your site, but you would prefer to spend that time on revenue generating activities. What is your time worth?

In those situations (and others) you will want to pay someone to optimize your site.

So, yes, the material is out there for those who do want to optimize their site themselves, but for others, it just may be something they have no interest in doing.

Virtually yours,

Anita Bruton

Kylie Short April 21, 2007 at 1:21 am

Hmm, Anita you bring up a good point. After all that’s what a Virtual Assistant is for. To do the tasks you don’t have time to do yourself and as we all know, time is money.

I guess the point I was trying to make, is that you don’t have to pay thousands of dollars for an optimized site IF you wish to do it yourself.

If a web site owner doesn’t want to do the SEO themselves then yes they should outsource that to someone who is experienced and can do it for them.

Thanks for bringing another perspective!

Kylie

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