Three steps to search engine optimization or SEO

August 27, 9:12 AMHuntsville Home-based Business ExaminerStephanie Watson

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Search Engine Optimization often called "SEO" is the effective use of good content, linking and keywords to assist with garnering higher ranking on popular search engines such as Google for your website. Many web designers do not know anything about SEO, or they offer SEO separately from their Web Design Services. 

The thing that might confuse a person about SEO is the fact that an ugly website can get better search engine traffic than a pretty site. Another thing to remember is that SEO requires continuous study. Popular search engines such as Google often change their criteria or algorithms which can drastically alter your SEO strategy.

There are several things you can do to implement SEO on your own web site or blog.
 

1. Start with good, relevant content
 

Good relevant content will go a long way in garnering organic search engine traffic.  Good content is defined as clear, well written, properly titled and targeted articles that people want to read. Stick to content that is very niche oriented and do not spread your net too wide.
 

Make sure you use appropriate tags within the code of your site. The very best way to do this is by using  Wordpress(tm) to build your site or blog and use the many SEO plug ins that you can add to Wordpress(tm). Within your content always tell your readers what your site is for and don't make them guess about what it is you want them to do.
 

2. Add relevant and proper linking
 

This should really be before the content but start with a great domain name. The best domain name would also be a search term. There is some disagreement about whether to add dashes or not, but right now most experts are saying not to use dashes.
 

Get others to link to you. One way links are the best because it helps up your search engine ranking. One way to do this goes back to having good content. If you write a good article, and share it with others, they will in turn share it with others, who will link to you.
 

Link to articles within your own site that are relevant to new articles. Provide only relevant links that go outside your site if any at all. Ideally all links on your site will go to your own valuable content and information. If links go outside your site, they are due to networking, partnering, or affiliate income.
Submit your site to search engines and please, follow the rules provided by the site you are submitting to.
 

3.  Use Keywords
 

Keywords in meta tags these days doesn't do much good, however, using appropriate search terms with in the content of your site works wonderfully.  You can use keywords in your meta tags if you want to, just make sure they match the keywords within your content pages.  If you make your links on your site consist of common keywords that is a great way also. Always use keywords in each page title.
Finally you have to get the keywords right. You cannot just guess at proper keywords for your site. Use specific words and phrases that someone might use to search for your web site on Google. There are tools to help you determine good keywords as well. You can use Google's Webmaster Tools to help you with this.
 

If you implement just these three items your search engine ranking will go up. But no matter what you do remember that first of all your website is for human consumption. This means that your site should be pleasing to the eye, easy to access, be simple to navigate and offer relevant, readable content for the human eyes that you want to view it.