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Search Engine Optimisation: The Basics
Search Engine Optimisation: The Basics
In this article, Michael Quinn, online marketing expert and owner of Beauty Finder explains SEO and the many myths surrounding it.
Search Engine Optimisation: (SEO)
If you are like me, you will be getting your fair share of email spam regarding SEO. Beware of companies gauranteeing you page 1 results, whilst some may with a lot of effort be able to assist, this is impossible to predict as the methods search engines rank your site change regularly. There are also companies who may use black hat techniques to trick search engines for artificially trick search engines into higher placement, which could ultimately means your website could get banned altogether, so be careful if you are going to outsource this work and ask for references from previous clients.
The key consideration since I started designing websites some 15 years ago is to ensure your website includes good quality content. The saying "CONTENT IS KING" was used back then and still holds true today. If you provide good quality content on your website, you will attract visitors and if written correctly search engines. By keeping your website fresh and regularly adding content, search engines and visitors will return.
SEO should not be an after-thought and part of your website design. A large number of graphic designers do not consider building a search engine friendly website, and whilst the graphics may look terrific, your website will remain dormant if this work has not been carried out.
SEO can be split into 2 areas; On Page and Off Page
Your website content should be optimised. Here are some key considerations to include;
1. Suitable domain name with at least one keyword or location specific
2. Include a sitemap; A page on your website with links to all your pages
3. Consider page names, so if you have a page for waxing treatments, then the page url should
be yoursitename.co.uk/waxing-treatments (not some obsure name like ?php.14 etc)
4. Metatags completed for each page (Title, description and keyword) as well as heading tags added for your page content.
5. Ensure your page content contains the keywords for the page, so in example for waxing treatments, the page should have the heading waxing treatments and this should be included in the body text, and these keywords should be emboldened.
6. Use flash sparingly on your website, as not search engine friendly, or friendly for mobile devices
7. Add a blog to your website and regularly update with news and include links to key areas of your website.
8. Submit your website sitemap to Google/ Yahoo/ Bing etc
9. Install Google Analaytics on your website so you can measure success and monitor improvements in traffic andwhich keywords are generating the most traffic.
Off-Page (External to your website)
Once your "on-page work is completed, you should consider off-page factors which are primarily getting links to your website;
1. This includes obtaining links from high quality websites such as Beauty Finder.
2. Write articles and post on articles websites or forums with links back to your website.
3. Setup Face book/ Twitter/ YouTube accounts and regularly link back to your website.
If you have the time, the majority of this work can be completed in your own time, alternatively you can get assistance if needed.
