Search Engine Basics for Web Site Owners

Being a web developer there are certain questions that I am asked frequently by web site owners. It seems there is so much misinformation or outdated information on the subject of search engines and search engine rankings these days that I decided to note here the basics for you, plain and simple. We could spend days discussing search algorithms, submission software, tools and tactics but for the day to day web site owner that does their own SEO and marketing here are some basic tips to give you a solid foundation.

TOP SEARCH ENGINES

Don't only think about Google, it's important to get listed on as many search engines as possible. Especially the top 5.

• www.google.com
• www.yahoo.com
• www.bing.com
• www.ask.com
• www.msn.com

GET LISTED

Don't just build and pray, make something happen. Build a solid foundation for search engines.

• Get your own domain for your web site. (Very important and inexpensive}
• Use good relevant keywords.
• Incorporate related text into the body of your web site.
• Make your web site attractive to search engines.
• Do Not use sneaky tricks thinking you'll improve your ranking.
• Go to each major search engine and request they index your web site.

IMPROVE YOUR LISTING

Staring at code sucks, but getting your hands dirty can really get some much wanted SE attention.

• Include keywords in the "alt" tag on your graphics.
• Get other related web sites to link to yours . (Avoid banner farms and non relevant web sites.)
• Clear out any unnecessary scripts or noise on your web site.
• Use text rather than graphics for content when possible.
• Check your web statistics to make sure search engines are visiting.
• Be vigilantly patient, a solid organic ranking doesn't happen overnight.

STAY LISTED

Now that you are up and climbing, it's time to really dial it in.

• Refresh or update your web sites content frequently.
• Don't fall for promises to list your site with 1000's of search engines.
• Check your web site for dead or outdated links and remove them.
• Learn to view and compare your web sites source code to higher ranking competitors web sites source codes.

It's not impossible to get a first page ranking on Google for some companies these days with some hard work and determination over time. If you follow a solid strategy and follow the basics I have described above you are certainly off to a good start. If you find all this to be a daunting task you can always hire a firm to perform these tasks for you. There are many reputable SEO companies but you should be aware there are also many "SEO scam" companies so always do your research before hiring a SEO firm. I like to refer people to this article Some useful questions to ask an SEO include: from Google webmaster tools to help them get started.

Lectro Host™ provides excellent Search Engine Optimization services and we evaluate each site on a case by case basis according to budget and needs to help ensure we address the most effective search engine approach. Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have about improving your small business web site's ranking across multiple search engines. Good Luck!

Brian Newsome Proprietor Lectro Host™
brian [at] lectrohost.com