Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is that marvelous, mysterious mechanism that drives Internet users to your site when they pose a question on Google, Yahoo, MSN or any of the popular search engines. They may be looking for answers to a question or for information about a service or specific product. SEO is what makes certain their search leads to your website.
SEO uses a variety of techniques and tools to insure that when someone powers up their computer and types a keyword or question into the search box, your website will appear at the top of the list of sites pulled up. Is that important? You betcha! Studies show that most people only access sites on the first page displayed. Few ever look at the second page. And the probability that someone will view your site decreases the farther back you appear. If your site doesn’t show up until page 3 or 4 or 10, no one is ever going to see it. That’s why SEO is so important. You probably spent a bundle designing a great website, but it’s money down the drain if no one visits. SEO makes certain your website pops up at the top of the search list which, in turn, drives traffic to your site – and traffic = sales.
Here are some of the best SEO strategies for building site traffic:
- Quality content. Search engines are designed to provide unique, relevant, specific responses to each query. The more relevant and targeted your content, the more likely it is to be selected by search engine spiders and bots. If your content is also informative, interesting and engaging, site visitors are more likely to bookmark your site and return of their own accord.
- Keywords. Keywords are the golden keys that unlock the power of the Internet. SEO determines which words users most employ when searching for what you have to offer. Keyword density builds site recognition. Target the most productive keywords and use them in your domain URL and home page. Design interior pages around targeted keywords and build backlinks to these pages as well as to your home page and URL. Don’t concentrate solely on the most used keywords as these will also be the ones your competitors have targeted. Create a secondary focus on specific medium- to low-competition keywords to give yourself a search engine edge.
Coming Friday: More Site Building SEO Strategies
