Search engine optimization (SEO) techniques

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by Crystal Watts

Created on: June 13, 2010 Last Updated: June 17, 2010

The Nuts and Bolts of using SEO

The primary focus of search engine optimization (SEO) is to improve search engine results and improve user experience. Several simple adjustments can significantly create a noticeable impact to online visibility and traffic. Whether the plan is to launch a new website or a re-design project of an existing website, now is a good time to evaluate and add improvements that will ensure the website is search engine friendly. However, without knowledge and proper application of its usage, there are potential dangers that can affect the reputation and visibility of a site; understanding the advantages and disadvantages of responsible (SEO) management save both time and money.

Meta Tags

Create and include Meta tag data for the index or home page of the site. Place Meta tag data between the HTML <head> </head> tags of the page. Meta tag data includes at the least <title>, <description>, and <keywords> that accurately reflect the context of the business, product, or service.

Page Titles

For multi-paged sites, create page titles that are unique and accurately communicate the context of the page. According to Google's recommended practices, the title page should not use default values such as untitled, page 1, or a single title tag throughout all the site's pages. This step helps search engines to distinguish that page from other pages on the site.

Page Descriptions

Create page descriptions that are unique and communicate the context of that page. Page descriptions are included in search results to provide a brief overview of the page's content. Page descriptions that are generic across multiple pages, or have no relevance to the content, is hard to find via search engine technology.

Keyword Usage

Select keywords that are relevant to the context. Envision keywords and word search strings as if you were the reader. Select keywords that identify a main idea, topic, or support facts relevant to a category. Select keywords that reference primary information within the content of the body. Ensure the top keywords are included in both the title and description data; however, do not use repeat instances of the same keywords within the keyword Meta tag. Google offers a free SEO Ranking Tool to help site owners identify which are the words and phrases that most used and offers a detailed report.

Organization and Structure

Good organization and structure are the basis for finding information easily and quickly.

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