I was so excited when I got my own domain and I knew that in order for my web site to appear on the first page of the search results in the major search engines I would have to optimize my site.
I had no knowledge of html or Search Engine Optimization strategies, yet in three months I managed to get my site to a Google Page Rank of 4 as well as achieve top positions in the search results for a number of my keywords.
When I first looked at my source code it was like trying to read a foreign language. You can view your source code by opening your site in your browser, right click on the actual web site and from the menu that appears click on View Source. A Notepad window will open showing you the source code that miraculously transforms into your website when viewed in IE (Internet Explorer) or other browser.
This fascinated me and to try and figure out how all this worked I would have my site open in my browser and the source code open in Notepad and select to study, for example, the first paragraph, then I would locate that paragraph in the source code to find out how this was written. Then I would do the same for an image to see how that was written. Gradually I was able to translate the source code into an understandable language.
Obviously to make actual changes to your site, you do need to access your web space in your hosting account and I would strongly advise you to make a backup of your site before you make any changes, as this will allow you to go back to your original site if you make a mistake. Believe me when I say it is extremely easy to make a mistake with html, just leave out an inverted comma or a greater than sign and your site can go haywire or a link will simply just not work!! I would also advise you not to work on your html if you are tired, as it does require concentration.
I spent some time viewing videos that taught me basic html and I then felt I knew enough to be able to start making changes to my site as well as optimizing it for the search engines. As long as you have a backup of your site prior to making any changes, you will not break out in a cold sweat when your site opens up looking like somebody has scrambled the source code! This has happened to me and it only takes a couple of very minor errors to throw the site into total disarray.
The way I was working of course was not the ideal route to take and it was incredibly time consuming, but being a newbie I knew no better but I was determined to learn. This all changed when I came across an incredible e-book entitled Search Engine Optimization Made Easy. I followed this easy step-by-step guide and I put literally everything in the e-book into practice and at the next Google PR update my site was rewarded with a PR4. Optimizing my site is now ongoing as I am continually fine tuning and adding more content to my site to increase my rank in the search engine results and by doing this my knowledge and confidence grow and the errors decrease!
I certainly am no html expert and tend to work with the copy and paste method. I do not use an html editor I work with the html in Notebook. So my next step is to learn how to use an editor as I am sure it will speed things up even further and make it much easier to correct errors.
Being able to optimize your site does not require that you be a SEO expert, I have proven that newbies can do it too! I think a lot of people tend to avoid it due to fear of messing up their site, but as long as you have a backup there is nothing to fear.
There are great advantages to optimizing your web site as you will hugely increase your presence on the internet, attract organic traffic, which is targeted and free, and ultimately generate more web income.
Related Articles
Web Design & Search Engine Optimization (seo) 101 - the Basics
By: Daniel Yi | 03/07/2008 | Web Design
What to look for when designing websites and how to optimize for search engines.
SEO ROI & the Conversion Rate Dilemma
By: Jerry Bader | 20/02/2008 | SEO
What do legitimate search engine optimization firms charge? Like most things involving the Web, prices are all over the place but if the price is extremely low you can be assured that the quality of the service will match the price.
If you do a search for SEO pricing from reliable search engine firms you will find that although prices vary greatly fees of $2,500 per month on an annual contract ($30,000 per year) are not uncommon. Of course some firms will charge less and others will charge a g
The Semantic Web and its importance to website promotion
By: Peter Elmer | 23/07/2006 | SEO
The Semantic Web is meant to be the successor to the web we all use and love today. Its architect is no other than the creator of the web, Tim Berners-Lee. The idea behind the Semantic Web is making it easy for machines to understand a site's content. Web development languages today, i.e., HTML, are designed for making content easily readable by people. It is very hard for software agents to extract the semantics (or meaning) of a website since no such information can be encoded by webmasters using HTML or any other popular web development technology used today.
How To Construct A Web-Video Advertisement That Works
By: Jerry Bader | 22/12/2006 | Marketing
Motivate and Persuade Your Audience
More money is wasted on advertising than other business function. Small and mid-sized businesses in particular throw money at advertising in a vain attempt to establish themselves in the marketplace. However, there is hope that the democratizing nature of the Web environment can even the playing...
What Is An Authority Blog?
By: Danielle Branch | 03/06/2008 | Link Popularity
If you are looking to dominate your topic, then becoming an authority in your niche is what you want to do.
Strengthening your Website's Relationship With Keywords
By: Jason Mcelwaine | 17/09/2006 | Link Popularity
Easy ways to optimize your website for search engines.
Everyone Needs a Website!
By: Alok vats | 27/02/2008 | Web Design
Gone are those days when only well established companies and business needed a website for marketing their products. Now the world is changed with time. Today is the era of internet and websites, everything going to be hi-tech. From communication to marketing to sharing views and a hobby, everything you can get from a single website of yours.
Choose the Right Internet Marketing Services for Your Business
By: Lalita Negi | 07/04/2008 | SEO
The World Wide Web offers a plethora of options as far as Internet marketing services are concerned. Newbies, however, often find it difficult to make the right choice for their business.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Content management web sites
By: oldcodger | 21-11-2007
I've asked for advice on Joomla! but several have said to me that there are much simpler content management systems that are easy to learn and implement. So I'm stuck! I'm no tecchie - just a web-site guy who is being told that HTML is now being superceded and that content management is the way to go.So which way please?! Yours, in some desperation
CSS looks great in IE bad in Mozilla
By: webmanoffesto | 21-11-2007
Hello,I'm building a webpage http://preview.tinyurl.com/yvgbqgI need to list the (many) speakers at a conference and I will later add the titles of the talks as a sub level. This was frustrating to do because I need the list single spaced, without the annoying circle bulletsWith the CSS code===ul.sample { list-style-type: none; <!-- none = no circle, inherit = circle--> list-style-image: inherit; list-style-position: outside; <!-- inside, outside --> circle: outside; text-indent: 0em; white-space: normal; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 1;}ul.listlist { list-style-type: none; <!-- none = no circle, inherit = circle--> list-style-image: inherit; list-style-position: outside; <!-- inside, outside --> circle: outside; text-indent: 0em; white-space: normal; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;}===it looks great in IE but terrible in Firefox. How can I fix this problem? Is there an alternative within CSS? I prefer not to switch to nested tables, those are messy. But I am open to suggestions.
Best to write framework first or content, or as you go and then edit?
By: asaraink | 21-11-2007
when building a new website, do you write out your content first and then copy paste it into your Html or css, (haven't decided how to integrate), or do you lay out your framework first and then wrtie your content? There is probably an editer available that will highlight my code when I get it right, but I haven't done this in sooo long; can I get an editer for free? which one is the easiest to use?thanks
HTML frames knowledge on each other
By: DrJeckyl | 20-11-2007
Suppose I have a "frameset" HTML document which is split to two frames. Can one frame identify when the other is being reloaded with a new URL (e.g., due to clicking a link) using JavaScript or some other similar tool?Thanks
What is the source of Turkey Day tradition?
By: hershalooey | 18-11-2007
What is the history of the Thanksgiving holiday? Why do we celebrate this holiday?
Css style of a select box
By: ilana | 15-11-2007
How can I change with CSS the style of a select box (drop down)?I want to change the look of the arrow, the border, colors ets.
Q&A Powered by:
Latest SEO Articles
The Future of Online Marketing: Beckoning New Opportunities or Raising Threats?
By: Smit Mathur | 21/08/2008
With the advancement of these latest technologies, it is true that the future of online marketing beckons more opportunities. At the same time, the rising problems like fraud, copyright violations throw a big challenge to its growth. In this article, we have discussed about its pros and cons and tried to find out a possible solution.
How To Build Back Links For Your Web Business
By: Alan Largo | 21/08/2008
Marketing is essential no matter what type of business you are in, and on the internet it is essential. You do not have the benefit of drive-by or phonebook traffic as you do when you are looking at a location-based business...
Cool Tools and Firefox Extensions for SEO Enthusiasts
By: Amy Nutt | 21/08/2008
There are so many free tools and software programs for SEO enthusiasts that it almost becomes overwhelming and difficult to grasp the 'right' tools to use in your SEO efforts. Everyone has their own personal preferences which makes this predicament even more perplexing.
Get Better Results With New York Search Engine Optimization
By: Steve Waganer | 21/08/2008
Now climb the expected heights with the help of good New York search engine optimization firms.
The Best SEO Tools To Use For Your Business
By: Alan Largo | 21/08/2008
If you want to make money online or if you want to survive as an online business, you will find that the traffic from the search engines is not something that you can do without! Tools for search engine optimization are extremely important...
Understanding the SEO Basics
By: Dan Edgar | 20/08/2008
To get the best from any SEO content provider, you need to understand the basics of SEO itself. From terminology to what method is more effective than others, even just understanding the SEO basics will help you plan ahead and know what you need from your next content requirement.
SEO Content Providers and SEO Content Writers - the Difference
By: Dan Edgar | 20/08/2008
Although they may sound similar, SEO content providers and SEO writers are actually quite different in practice. While it's true that they both provide valuable services to website owners or similar, there's actually one main area where the two are completely different - and it's in the name itself. Whereas SEO writers will generally write articles for a website or blog, SEO content providers will also look at the overall SEO of a website to maximize its SEO visibility.
Top 5 Tips to Optimize Your Web Content for SEO
By: Dan Edgar | 20/08/2008
Making sure your web content is optimized for SEO should be one of the most important factors when you are either planning a new website or maintaining an existing one. Without effective SEO (search engine optimization) you may as well not even be online, with the traffic that you'll miss out on. Therefore, these top five tips to optimize your web content for SEO will offer some guidance in this area.
More from Cynthia Minnaar
How to Turn Your Online Business Ideas Into Reality
By: Cynthia Minnaar | 19/08/2008 | Internet
The greatest ideas are most often the ones that many will find crazy when it comes to an online home business. Discover simple steps to turn your online home business idea into a reality
How to Tips for Affiliate Marketing Success
By: Cynthia Minnaar | 16/08/2008 | Internet Marketing
Have you reached the stage that you are sick of the rat? Or, perhaps you need a second income to cope with the rising costs. Affiliate Marketing could just be the route for you to take.
How To Tips For Affiliate Marketing Success
By: Cynthia Minnaar | 15/08/2008 | Affiliate Programs
Have you reached the stage that your are sick of the rat rate and having to centre your life around getting to work on time, being dictated to by a boss, joining the rush hour to get home and then repeating the process day in day out? Or, perhaps you need a second income to cope with the rising costs. Affiliate Marketing could just be the feasible route for you to take.
Ways To Start Making Money Online From Home
By: Cynthia Minnaar | 12/08/2008 | Business Opportunities
These days more people are looking for ways to start making money online from the comfort of their own home. Although it certainly does require work, it is a great feeling working from home online on the computer.
How to Start Making Money Online From Home
By: Cynthia Minnaar | 11/08/2008 | Internet
Once you start making money online you will be so glad that you stayed focused and took action on a daily basis to make your dream of making money from home come true.
Internet Marketing Training Guide for Online Business Success
By: Cynthia Minnaar | 05/08/2008 | Internet Marketing
Many people today start an online business with such great excitement and enthusiasm only to give up a few weeks later. This can be due to them not being provided with an internet marketing training guide or that they were unaware that they had to even market their business.
Making An Income From Home: Have You Considered Working Online?
By: Cynthia Minnaar | 05/08/2008 | Home Business
Most people today are finding that they have to alter their budget and their lifestyle every month in order to meet their increasing financial obligations. For many making an income from home has been a way to cope with the soaring cost of food a fuel around the world.
Making an Income From Home? Have You Considered Working Online?
By: Cynthia Minnaar | 02/08/2008 | Home Business
Most people today are finding that they have to alter their budget and their lifestyle every month in order to meet their increasing financial obligations. For many making an income from home has been a way to cope with the soaring cost of food a fuel around the world.
Internet 
