SEO Introduction

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Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Introduction

Here, we will provide a search engine optimization introduction (SEO), cover some SEO basics and how to create SEO friendly, effective websites.

To start, we’ll cover what a search engine does and how it evaluates a website. Then we’ll discuss ways which you can develop a website that performs well for both search engines and your website visitors. Once you have read through this, I recommend you review the search engine optimization overview page – SEO can be a key player in your small business internet marketing strategy.

Understanding a Search Engine

Search engines typically contain the following core components:

• Spiders: These are automated programs that download website pages.
• Crawler: A crawler follows the links on a web page.
• Indexer: Analyzes the pages downloaded by the spider and crawler
• Database, Catalog or Index: Stores all the downloaded pages
• Search Engine Software / Results Engine: Determines results for search query
• Web Server: Controls the interaction between user and “search engine”

The main difference between a browser and a spider is spiders don’t have a visual interface – they are text based and work directly with the HTML. Spiders do not read scripts or images very well, though they’re getting better. But if you choose to have a Flash only site, understand spiders will have more difficulty with a script driven site.

You can make it easier for spiders to access the content of your site by doing the following:

• Use Alt text for images – search engines can’t read text in images
• Avoid JavaScript links, or offer text based (HTML) link alternatives
• Avoid Flash links and content
• Make sure you link to all of your pages

Creating an Effective, Search Engine and User Friendly Website

Content and clarity is important for both search engines and your websites users. Your website should be designed with your users in mind. Content should be rich, informative, interesting and relevant. Google clearly states that a website should “Focus on the user and all else will follow.” If you are interested in doing some research on your own, Moz.com, formerly SEOmoz.org is a great resource for learning about search engine optimization.

For example, if you manufacture and sell a variety of widgets, your home page should cover widgets at a high level. This means the on-page elements should all very clearly reference widgets. Additional web pages or sections of your website should target the types of widgets you make and sell.

The on-page SEO elements of your site should reflect what your business does – including effective keyword selection and targeting. But in order for your website to rank well, your site should be structured so each webpage and its on-page SEO elements are synched up with your user friendly, informative content.

Your Off Page SEO is critical to the success, traffic and long term viability of your website.

Hopefully this has given you a general search engine optimization introduction. Once you understand SEO basics, or hire a resource to do it for, you are on the way to building effective websites.

Contact Marketing Practicality to learn more about our SEO marketing service or begin your SEO marketing strategy.