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Basics of
SEO
Today, even the smallest company uses the Internet as a main tool in building a
customer base and keeping in touch with their clients. This is also their most
basic way to advertise.
Generating a company web site is inexpensive and very effective, not to mention
imperative because the World Wide Web is the only medium that offers
instantaneous information access to millions of users around the globe.
Any web developer worth his salt should know about search engine optimization or
SEO.
This is vital towards building an effective web site that would receive a lot of
hits and visitors. A web site that nobody hits is useless so the challenge lies
in leading Internet users to visit your web site.
Thus, your web site needs to be "found" when users type in keywords in search
engines such as Google, Yahoo, MSN, Altavista, AOL and others.
Once a keyword that is related to the products or services that your website
offers is keyed into a search engine, a direct link to your web site should
emerge on top of the list.
You should employ search engine optimization techniques to lead traffic your
way, and get more hits that would later on lead to more profit for your company,
which is your main goal.
Here are some tips on how you can make it to the top of the list of search
engines, and use your SEO techniques to aid your web site and your company:
1. If you have an existing web site and domain, just optimize the one that you
currently run instead of purchasing a new domain.
It will take some time before your web site will appear on a particular search
engine, such as Google, so it better to use the one that you currently have
instead of switching to a new one.
2. Know who your target audience is and aim for them. If you are in the
manufacturing industry and a user types in your product in a search engine, then
you would immediately have your target right under your nose.
As soon as the user hits the Enter button or clicks on 'Search', then the person
will be lead to your web site. Make sure that your target market will get
'hooked' on your web site. Once the search engines show the link to your web
site, their job is done.
What you should do next is to make sure that your visitor will not leave your
web site without them trying out your products or services, or at least leaving
some information necessary so that you can contact them in the future for
marketing and advertising.
When hitting a particular target market, learn about their interests, location
and age to have an idea of what you can offer them in return. Also, you can
somehow link their interests to your products and services.
3. Search for the right keyword. You should be creative, persistent and variable
when looking for the keyword or keyword phrases to use in optimizing your web
site. Both Google and Yahoo suggest some tools and tips on how you can come up
with keywords that will yield results. Don't ever settle for a limited amount of
keywords. You can also vary the words and phrases that you use for each page on
your web site so that you can have more hits.
4. Consider your target market when designing your web site. The design itself
could include the general theme of the website. You should also pay attention to
smaller details such as color or font style and size. Be sure that the web site
is user-friendly and do not forget to insert helpful articles, tips, hints and
related links that can be shared to other users.
It is a nice thing to have an option to send a link or an article to a friend,
which will add more users and increase your client base. There should also be
various ways to browse through your web site, to fit each user. A person might
find it to difficult use the scroll down option so you should also provide
hyperlinks which are accessible to them.
5. Focus on the web site content. Frequently update the content of your web site
so that old and new users can find something new when looking through your site.
Make the content brief and precise. Writing a content which has more than 600
words will make the users lose interest, since most of them do not actually read
but just skim through the text. Strive to be the best and most comprehensive web
site and you will make your mark when it comes to information about the products
and services that you offer.
It helps a lot to pay attention to detail, too. Finally, keeping your web site's
content updated is a must. Spread the word about your web site and use the basic
search engine optimization techniques and you will surely gain positive results
once users visit your web site.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bob Schwartz, is the founder of Promotions Unlimited,an Internet legal directory
(CA, TX & Las Vegas ) publisher and search engine placement technology analyst.
You can contact Bob via e-mail at
seo711@gmail.com or
visit his San Diego legal directory at:
http://www.sandiegolawyerforyou.com/special.htm |