Search Engine Optimization (SEO) must be considered a process and over time you can build your ranking and traffic.This article provides 10 SEO tips that will build your search engine rank.1. Title The Title is (usually) the hyperlink provided in the search results so make sure it抯 people friendly. Put the most important keyword first, followed by the 2nd of you need to have your Company name there (branding), put it at the end.2. Meta descriptionsUse the keywords once or twice in your Meta description. It can be the text that shows up in the description area of the search engine results.3. H Tags (and proper use)Have your keywords in an H1 tag at the top of your page embedded in a good description. Not only will it help your rankings but many times the search engines will actually display it in their results.4. Keyword positioning (on the page)Have your main keywords high up in the page (the higher the better). The most valuable real estate on a web page is top left corner ?people (& engines) read left to right starting from the top.5. Number and Quality of inbound linksEach link from another web site acts like a vote of confidence ?A link implies that the site believes your site has value.However, all links are not equal. You must get links from sites that have a similar theme to yours ONLY! Anything else may actually hurt your page rank. 6. Linking Text/DescriptionWhen building a link campaign, make sure to use keywords in the link. For example, a link with click here? doesn't help you with search engines. A link such as internet Marketing? is much more effective (if that's your keyword).Also, don''t forget to use keywords in your linking description as well.For the most thorough ebook on developing a strong linking campaign read Jack Humphrey ower Linking 2: Evolution!? ([url=http://www.money-teacher.com/PL2.htm]http://www.money-teacher.com/PL2.htm[/url])7. Content is looking?Not only is quality content what people are looking for, but content is also what the search engines are looking for. Content is basically good? for the search engines.IMPORTANT: DO NOT try to trick? search engines with useless content. Not only won't this work, but it will bother potential customers. Also, while you want to mention your keyword, DO NOT keyword stuff? A too high word density will penalize you ?make it natural.8. File size Keep file size as small as possible. It will make for faster loading pages, happier visitors and the search engines like them.9. Bold & ItalicIt's good practice to highlight your keywords in your copy a few times, but don't overdo it.10. Alt tags in image linksSearch engines can read text but they can't see a pictures. Putting in Alt text for a graphic tells the search engine what it is about and also helps people who have their graphics turned off. Make sure to put your keywords in your Alt tags.Here is an example: Once your site is optimized for the search engines, you can then start submitting your site. Practice these tips and over time you will see your search engine rank increase....
I seem to have created quite a stir, on a particular SEO forum recently. In fact, rumor has it, at one point, my article, "Google's Trap, DMOZ's Nap, And Yahoo!'s Crap" was the hottest topic discussed on this particular forum.The aforementioned article was also bestowed the title of, "Worst SEO Article Ever" by someone on the forum.Why all the animus? I have no idea. Perhaps they view me as a threat to their livelihood. Whatever the reason, certain SEO's seem to be taking my articles personally. That's their problem!My articles are not aimed directly at SEO's or search engines per se. My articles are aimed at the people who utilize their services.I'm trying to get these people to realize, they can't depend solely on search engines and search engine optimization. You have to have a multi-pronged attack.I don't depend on the search engines! I never have. I refuse to play that game. My traffic comes from the dozens of articles I've written that have been picked up and published on popular web sites all over the Internet. I also get traffic via word of mouth, newsletters and ezines that my articles are published in, and a few other secret methods that I use. And you can do the same thing. You just have to get out of that search engine mindset. There are many other proven and effective ways to market your web site. Here are just a few: e-zines, newsletters, forums, online magazines, sponsor listings on other web sites, exchanging links. Here are a few offline options: magazines, direct mail, shopper newspapers, cable television, radio, flyers, hospital newsletters, card decks, trade journals and directories, bulletin boards, tabloid newspapers. Yes, I know Google and Yahoo! are the biggest, most powerful search engine and directory on the planet! Forget about them! Why? Because despite what certain corrupt SEO's may claim, they CANNOT guarantee you a top ten listing in either Google or Yahoo!No legitimate SEO would ever make that kind of guarantee in the first place. They couldn't, because they know they wouldn't be able to deliver on that promise. Now they may be able to get you to the top of the search engines with certain less popular keywords. However, what good does it do you to rank number one for keywords that nobody searches for?I want to make one thing perfectly clear, right now. I am not suggesting that all SEO's are corrupt. I don't believe that for a second. There are many fine, honest and hardworking SEO's out there, who are doing a wonderful job for their clients. I have the utmost respect for people like Jill Whalen, Bruce Clay, Robert Woodhead and many, many other fine and reputable SEO experts. These individuals don't over-hype their services or your expectations.They also have excellent rankings on the search engines. So, they definitely know what they're doing.Then, there's the other end of the spectrum--the companies that give good SEO's like the aforementioned a bad name. I'm sure you've all seen some of these headlines:"Top 10 and Top 20 Rankings Guaranteed!""Guaranteed Number 1 Ranking!""Guaranteed Top Ranking!""Top 10 Placement Guaranteed!"Well, the next time you see this kind of advertisement, make a mental note to check out that company's ranking. You'll be shocked at what you find out. Some of these companies making these outrageous claims are ranked at number 3 million. That's not an exaggeration!Now let me point out something very important to you. A company's search engine ranking doesn't always tell the whole story. I know of many companies making a nice living on the Internet that aren't ranked that highly in the search engines. You probably know a few yourself. You may even be one of those companies.However, if you're considering hiring an SEO, I think where they rank is very important. Why? Because if they aren't capable of getting their own web site a high ranking, how can they possibly achieve a high ranking for someone else? They can't!You should bear that in mind, when checking out SEO's....