Search Engine Optimization, commonly referred to as SEO, is the process of optimizing, or configuring a website or webpage for natural search engine indexing and ranking. On page seo is basically configurations that are made on the webpage or website itself. On page seo generally deals with such areas as optimizing the title tag, the anchor tags text, the meta keyword tag, the meta description tag, and the contents in such a way that the search engine can read the source code and content of the webpage or website, and know whether or not it is relevant to what the user is searching for. In other words optimized the webpage or website is, the easier it is for search engines to find it.
Search engines use algorithms (code) to match the word or key phrases, often referred to as "keywords" or "keyphrases", that a user types into the search field with the webpages, files and websites that it has stored knowledge of. These algorithms look for specific data and attempt to return the best match for what it thinks the user is searching for. Given a search engine such as Google, this process happens millions of times a day in seconds.
Some of the specific data the search engines are looking for falls into two primary parts. These parts are known as "on page" seo and "off page" seo.
On page seo is basically configurations that are made on the webpage or website itself. On page seo generally deals with such areas as optimizing the title tag, the anchor tags text, the meta keyword tag, the meta description tag, and the contents in such a way that the search engine can read the source code and content of the webpage or website, and know whether or not it is relevant to what the user is searching for.
Off page seo is basically seo actions that are performed outside the realm of the webpage or website itself. Search engines use algorithms (code) to match the word or key phrases, often referred to as "keywords" or "keyphrases", that a user types into the search field with the webpages, files and websites that it has stored knowledge of. These algorithms look for specific data and attempt to return the best match for what it thinks the user is searching for. Given a search engine such as Google, this process happens millions of times a day in seconds.Off page seo is the task of obtaining inbound links from other websites or webpages that are themselves optimized and well ranked for the same keywords or keyphrases. When the search engines detect that there are inbound links to your webpage that have similar topics to your website or webpages theme, they will use this data during the analysis to help determine relevancy to the users search.
Note that there are other things that can be done to optimize a website or webpage that are not mentioned here that are beyond the scope of this introduction. Also, note that the list is every changing in terms of what it includes and level of importance.
Finally, the ultimate goal of the search engines is to provide relevant results to the users original query. Applying the factors listed here while writing naturally flowing but relevant content for websites or webpages is SEO - Serach Engine Optimization.
Usually the owner or designer of the website is the person designated to drive traffic to the site. The chief ingredient in generating traffic is the search engine. Of coarse, you can use advertising, but it's going to cost you. Using the search engines to generate targeted (interested in your product) traffic is the least expensive method known.
Unfortunately, many website owners do not understand the importance of search engine visibility, which leads to traffic. They place more importance on producing a "pretty" website. Not that this is bad, but it is really secondary to search engine placement. Hopefully, the following list of common mistakes, made by many website owners, will help you generate more targeted traffic to your site...after all, isn't that what you want.
1. Not using keywords effectively. This is probably one of the most critical area of site design. Choose the right keywords and potential customers will find your site. Use the wrong ones and your site will see little, if any, traffic.
2. Repeating the same keywords. When you use the same keywords over and over again (called keyword stacking) the search engines may downgrade (or skip) the page or site.
3. Robbing pages from other websites. How many times have you heard or read that "this is the Internet and it's ok" to steal icons and text from websites to use on your site. Don't do it. Its one thing to learn from others who have been there and another to outright copy their work. The search engines are very smart and usually detect page duplication. They may even prevent you from ever being listed by them.
4. Using keywords that are not related to your website. Many unethical website owners try to gain search engine visibility by using keywords that have nothing at all to do with their website. They place unrelated keywords in a page (such as "sex", the name of a known celebrity, the hot search topic of the day, etc.) inside a meta tag for a page. The keyword doesn't have anything to do with the page topic. However, since the keyword is popular, they think this will boost their visibility. This technique is considered spam by the search engines and may cause the page (or sometimes the whole site) to be removed from the search engine listing.
5. Keyword stuffing. Somewhat like keyword stacking listed above, this means to assign multiple keywords to the description of a graphic or layer that appears on your website by using the "alt=" HTML parameter. If the search engines find that this text does not really describe the graphic or layer it will be considered spam.
6. Relying on hidden text. You might be inclined to think that if you cannot see it, it doesn't hurt. Wrong.... Do not try to hide your keywords or keyword phrases by making them invisible. For example, some unethical designers my set the keywords to the same color as the background of the web page; thereby, making it invisible.
7. Relying on tiny text. This is another version of the item above (relying on hidden text). Do not try to hide your keywords or keyword phrases by making them tiny. Setting the text size of the keywords so small that it can barely be seen does this.
8. Assuming all search engines are the same. Many people assume that each search engine plays by the same rules. This is not so. Each has their own rule base and is subject to change anytime they so desire. Make it a point to learn what each major search engine requires for high visibility.
9. Using free web hosting. Do not use free web hosting if you are really serious about increasing site traffic via search engine visibility. Many times the search engines will eliminate content from these free hosts.
10. Forgetting to check for missing web page elements. Make sure to check every page in your website for completeness, like missing links, graphics, etc. There are sites on the web that will do this for free.
This is just a few of the methods and techniques that you should avoid. Do not give in to the temptation that these methods will work for you. They will do more harm than good for your website.
Not only will you spend weeks of wasted effort, you may have your site banned from the search engines forever. Invest a little time to learn the proper techniques for increasing search engine visibility and your net traffic will increase.
Both Prem Bahadur & John Neyman are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.