Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the volume and quality of traffic to a web site from search engines via "natural" ("organic" or "algorithmic") search results. Usually, the earlier a site is presented in the search results, or the higher it "ranks", the more searchers will visit that site. SEO can also target different kinds of search, including image search, local search, and industry-specific vertical search engines.

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Optimizing for the Search Engines

Search engine optimization is crucial to your traffic flow. No matter what you are selling, saying or doing on your website you need people to be aware of your site if it to thrive. The best website in the world is wasted if no one knows that it is there.

If you are not listed in any of the search engines no one will be able to find you unless they type your web address (i.e. domain) into their web browser. Once you understand how to optimize your website for the search engines your site will be easier to find and the number of visitors to your website will increase over time.

Positioning your Website

Having your website listed on the first page of a search engines results will give you maximum exposure. The closer you are to the top of the page, or the higher the position you have in the search results, the greater the number of visitors you will receive.

By optimizing your website you can exercise some control over your position and where your site shows up in the search results of the search engines. You should try to optimize your website to rank somewhere in the top ten results. To do this will require long hours of hard work and you must learn how to optimize your website to make this happen.

Optimization of web page keywords and content

First focus on your keywords and keyword density but don't sacrifice your message. Write your content like you were writing to a friend. Let your creativity take over and write from your heart. Focus on what you want to say and don't worry about optimizing your web page content until you are completely satisfied with your message.

Once you have nailed down your content then utilize the meta tags keywords, description and title. Use your keywords when naming your pages and also for paragraph headings. Not all search engines operate exactly the same. But, if you follow the optimization tips outlined below you will do just fine on most of them.

Best keyword positions

In the filename - Include keywords in the filename of each page that best describes the content of the web page.
The page title - It is important to have a page title (i.e. header) that includes your keywords. Again, be sure to emphasize the content of your web page.
First paragraph of your web page - Be sure to include your keywords in the first paragraph of each web page. Some webmasters say that you should include your keywords into the last paragraph as well.

Optimization tips

Are your keywords in your title tags?
Are your keywords in your content?
Do your keywords accurately describe the theme or subject of your page?
What words will users type into search engines to find your website?
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.)
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.)
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.
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.)
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.)
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.

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, news group postings, web directories and links from other sites. Many times, these alternative forms are far more effective draws than are search engines. Here is a brief tutorial on website promotion.

ROR/RSS Sitemap Generator

For starters be sure to add a ROR/RSS sitemap to your root directory to help the search engines classify your site. This type of sitemap is easy for the search engines to use when classifying your website. XML Sitemaps provides free sitemap generation.

HTML Sitemap

Another important page on your website is a text only HTML sitemap. Although an ROR/RSS sitemap is important for classifying your website with the search engines the content of your site is better expressed by an HTML sitemap. This is where the human visitors will look to find your content.

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