Copyright (c) 2008 Global Web Expressions
So you finally have your great website, all ready to go with the latest coding and graphic technology. Do Yahoo and Google just pick up your site automatically? Believe it or not, no! Search engines use many tools and formulas to determine how your site appears on them. One such tool is called a "meta tag", which is embedded within your HTML documents that "rank" your site against other sites out there in the big Internet world.
Search engine optimization (SEO) sounds intimidating but it's not so bad. Here are the search engine optimization basics: SEO simply involves choosing the correct amount, type and order of words in your content and meta-tags to give you higher rankings in search engines. Yes... it is that simple! Quality content on a quality website provide the best opportunity to rank high on a search engine.
SEO is usually performed by a search engine optimization specialist, but can also be performed by even a novice web user. Knowing the resources available and practicing, make SEO achievable by anybody. What happens if you don't SEO your site? Usually, you'll find that your site will rank very low in the millions of similar sites out there! You won't be able to find your website on the first 80 pages of the search engine. You built your site so that you could share with the world how wonderful your product or service is, so it behooves you to make sure that your SEO strategy is sound and sustainable.
There is search engine optimization software available that will analyze the text of your HTML document and choose meta-tags for you. These are OK for small personal sites, but for your business, there's nothing like a real human analyzing content. There are also many services, companies and consultants out there as well. Prior to utilizing one of these, you will want to confirm that they utilize only ethical search engine practices. Some companies out there will flood their meta-tags with very common words and phrases in order to catch as much traffic as possible. Search engines can penalize your site for this and put you in a worse position than you started. Likewise, you will want to stay clear of many of the "quick fixes" like link farms and too much paid advertising.
A solid SEO strategy might include a healthy mix of paid advertising, blogging, article writing, press releases, social bookmarking, and directory submission. Utilization of these practices and quality content is your key to success.
Overall, search engine optimization is a very important step in defining your company or campaign as a serious Internet presence and force to be reckoned with. Done properly, search engine optimization can help you to compete against major companies by bringing qualified traffic and leads straight to your website. Without a SEO strategy, you are throwing the money that it cost you to develop your great site, out the window.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Youtube videos don't play on my computer, why?
By: HEMPIST69 | 23-07-2008
Actually no videos of any kind will play. The video and sound are choppy and it stops and starts every 4 to 5 seconds. I have windows xp on a new laptop. It's never played videos since I bought it 2 weeks ago. First I thought my connection to the internet wasn't strong enough but even when I am plugged in it doesn't play. Any advice?
We will boost your sales
By: Helen | 20-07-2008
Does anyone looking for a reliable and yet productive SEO company?
How do I set up my own PHYSICAL DNS??
By: Reloaded | 20-07-2008
How do I set up my own PHYSICAL DNS??
I want a physical one, as in Modem, Firewall and Server, not a virtual one.
Ending of Dr. Horrible
By: triciamcdent | 20-07-2008
What did you think of the ending of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog?
[SPOILER ALERT! Avert your eyes, if you haven't seen Act III.]
Did Penny have to die? Does Dr. Horrible belong in the Evil League of Evil? Is Joss Whedon messing with our minds?
Are there any entirely IM or VoIP -based p2p ...
By: drabsv | 18-07-2008
Are there any entirely IM or VoIP -based p2p support services? That is services like Yedda, only that the communication happens in real time, on chat or via Skype?
I know of IRC software support rooms and http://qunu.com but I am looking for something more advanced, for instance a database where you can tag yor question (without writing it, tags alone), leave your IM details, take advantage of a tag-matching system like here on Yedda and wait to be contacted on your personal IM client.
Multimap search campaign?
By: affilimate | 16-07-2008
Multimap are number 1 in google for "maps"? I'm interested to know what type of search terms they are struggling to get ranked for?
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