Search engine optimization, SEO, is a technique used to enhance a websites ranking in the search engines. Every online business owner’s desire is to be able to get their business website onto the first pages within the search engines’ search results page. Achieving this allows significant traffic, from the search engines, to be driven to their online business website at no cost. The fight to be found on the first page of search engines such as Google, Yahoo and MSN are very competitive, and many factor are involved.
There are many different factors that contribute to search engine optimization. These are outlined below:
1. Relevant Keywords
Keywords refer to the words (or phrases of words) that people type into the search box when making a search for their topic of interest. Choosing the right keywords for your business website is very important and a little research and brainstorming is necessary for the optimization of your website. Some tips for you when researching your keywords are:
- Choose keywords that are relevant to your website
- Choose keywords that people are actually searching for
- Choose keywords that are not too highly competitive
- Make use of long-tail keywords
2. The < TITLE > Tag
One of the most important, yet overlooked, factors affecting the optimization of a website is the < title > tag and the use of your keywords in it. The title tag is one of the first and highest priority factors that the search engines look for when scanning your website. This title tag is also displayed in the search engine results page and should therefore be eye-catching, as well as, relevant to your business website.
3. Content
Search engines value information and quality content. They have, what are call “spiders” that crawl your website. Optimizing your website by writing a few paragraphs on your home page, and subpages, using the chosen keywords will help tell the spiders what your website is about. In addition, it is also important for website owners to update their content on a regular basis as search engines prefer fresh information.
4. Easy Site Navigation
The spiders that crawl your website usually do so in an orderly fashion, from top to bottom, left to right. It is therefore important to incorporate a simple design into your business website, which makes navigation for online customers, as well as these search engine spiders, to use. Looks and flashy graphics will not be beneficial in the eyes of the search engines, and may even harm your website optimization.
5. Keyword Density
Keyword density is the percentage of times your chosen keyword or phrase appears on a web page in comparison to the total number of words on the page. It is important to make sure your keywords appear multiple times on your webpage. It is recommended that a keyword density of 2-5 % is adequate. That means, your keyword should appear at least twice per 100 words. Remember though not to repeat your keywords too much as this may be considered spamming.
6. Backlinks
Once your page is optimized you need to create and build as many high quality backlinks to link back to your business website. These links hold greater weight if they are from relevant websites. A good way to provide your business website with backlinks is to approach other businesses in your niche, visit related forums and blogs, or write some articles about your business for other websites to learn more about you.
Overall, Search Engine Optimization is a technique worth learning. Even though it can be time consuming, the results are rewarding and long term. More importantly, search engine optimization provide online home business websites with free targeted traffic. |
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