Beginner Tips for Search Engine Optimization
What does it take to get your web site to the top of the search engine mountain? Is there an easy way out or does it take hard work and dedication? I got an e-mail from a Lunartics reader who wants to know:
Hi Mitch, I was wanting to know if you could give us a run-down on the basic things people should know when stepping into making our sites better for the search engines? – Sam
Ah, the art of search engine optimization (otherwise known as SEO). Here is my own three punch combination if you want to get yourself to a higher spot in the various search engines out there:
- Produce Quality Content – The key thing to remember is to put out quality articles, posts and content and not just a great amount of data into the Web. Quality over quantity wins every time.
- Get Like-Minded Sites to Link to You – Find other web sites that have the same type of content you do, and get them to link to you (and vice versa). For example, if you run a gaming site, go out and find gaming forums and blogs that will link to your content.
- Optimize That Content with a Few Simple Rules – There are a few simple rules to follow when formatting your content. Make good use of your headline tags, break your content up into easily to read paragraphs, and don’t use too many links.
Don’t Fall for SEO Scams
If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. There are a lot of “get popular quick!” or “raise yourself to the top of the search engines” scams out there, that I would take with a grain of salt. From what I have seen there is no perfect way to make the search engines like you more, and no instant solution to get to the top.
Want to learn more? Here are a few more good resources on getting started with search engine optimization:
Search Engine Watch | Search Engine Guide | SEO Chat
In conclusion, the best thing you can do for your web site if you want the search engines to be your friend and rank you at the top is to put out quality content, and get more people to link to that quality content. It is really that simple. Now it might not happen overnight, but if you work at it – and stick to your guns, you’ll make it up the ranks.
April 15th, 2009 at 4:41 am
Hello,
Great tips.
In my view, last but not the least one has to perform Site analysis for successful SEO. Without measuring the results and properly analyzing how your website is performing you cannot know if the search engine techniques are bringing positive results.
However, it generally takes around 3 – 6 months to get tangible results from an organic online advertising and marketing campaign. Measuring the results periodically will help you identify if anything is wrong in your strategy or if you need to intensify your campaign.
I strongly recommend incorporating a measurement tool such as Google Analytics to provide the tools necessary to measure your results.
April 15th, 2009 at 9:37 am
Another good method:
Go to Delicious.com and search for keywords relating to your website. See what useful tools people are bookmarking in your industry.
Think up a useful tool of your own in a similar fashion, and outsource its production at elancer.com or other online outsourcing sites.
When it’s finished and posted on your website, pay to distribute a press release on PRweb.com to announce the existence of your tool to interested parties around the world. With some luck, and if your resource is useful to people, other sites will give you permanent links.
April 19th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
There is obviously a lot to know about this. I think you made some good points in Features also.
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Interesting blog post. What would you say was the most important marketing factor?
April 26th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
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