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Newbies Introduction To Search Engine Optimization This newbies introduction to search engine optimization (SEO) will highlight some of the main aspects of getting a website indexed and ranked highly within Google and other search engines. Although the search engines constantly change the way they index and rank sites, there are still many eternal truths that have remained. It is best to start with these truths as building blocks and then expand your strategies from there as you transition from a newbie to a veteran internet pro. What is SEO? SEO is the art of preparing a web page in a format that the search engines will be able to crawl, and understand what that page is about based on several criteria. This process involves manipulating code on the site (on page optimization) and away from the site (off page optimization). On Page Optimization On page optimization is often considered the easy part because you can control all elements of it. In order to be ranked well and for a keyword phrase that relates to your site, you need to follow this formula: 1. Keyword research - Use the free Google keyword tool and search for a keyword that is relevant to your site, has many users searching for it (and if possible) has very few web sites competing for it. 2. If you can, use this keyword phrase as your domain name. 3. Build your home page around this keyword phrase. i) In the coding of your website, use meta tags to define your title, description and keywords using your main keyword phrase in all. Although Google no longer looks at the keyword tag, Bing still does. ii) Use your keyword phrase in the title of the text on your page and in a h1 tag in the html. iii) Write your content around this phrase. Aim to keep the keyword density in the 2-3% range. So for every 100 words, your phrase should appear 2-3 times. iv) You can use bold and italics on your keyword once or twice. v) If you have images, use the keyword on the alt tag of this, especially if you have a logo. vi) Try and use links with your keyword as the anchor text of the link. vii) Use your keyword in the first sentence and last sentence of the writing. And that's essentially all you can do on your web page. In this format, it is well optimized for the search engines. Now expand your keyword list and rinse and repeat for each page you want to build. Off Page Optimization This is where the hard work really comes in. The way to get your site to have authority on the net is by virtue of the number and quality of links pointing to it, known as back links. The more links, the more the engines believe your site to have importance. You can think of each link as a confidence vote for your site. The more votes, the higher you rank. There are many different ways to get links to your site. They range from the sublime of link trading to the more simple submission of articles to websites. There have been very thick books written about linking, so you’ll need to do some research on the subject. Regardless, the best plan is to just get started and go with it. I hope you have found this newbies introduction to search engine optimization useful and enlightening and that it provides you with a starting point to investigate this rapidly growing and changing industry. It is a challenge, and it can be frustrating, but when you get it right, it is the best feeling ever. Good luck. To participate in a community of newbies learning about search engine optimization, visit NewbieUniverse.com.
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