Search engine optimization (otherwise known as SEO) is not as difficult as some may make you think. Honestly, if you use a little common sense, and you learn the basics then you should have no problem at all at making the search engines fall head over heels for you. Here are 10 tips I think anybody could use to make the search engines give you a little more love.
1. Don’t overuse or “spam” the meta keywords or description with content that is not related to what is on your actual page.
2. Contact other webmasters that deliver content much like your own and get them to link back to you. The social aspect of Web popularity can not be forgotten about. Chances are if somebody like something you do – they will link to it to share with others.
3. Make sure your title tag changes depending on the page you are viewing.
4. Make good use of your headlines, and keep them in order. Your main headline should be h1, then go to h2, and then to h3. Also toss a couple (one or two) keywords in your headlines.
5. Use common sense. If you hear about an awesome SEO tip online somewhere, and it sounds kind of fishy – don’t do it. I’ve never met anybody who made it to the top of Google and said it was all thanks to his free 101 SEO dirty tricks handbook he bought of a page that looks like it was designed in 1995.
6. Create a XML sitemap and learn to keep it updated. Many content management systems offer plugins for creating them too. The best one for WordPress is Google XML Sitemaps.
7. Use relevant keywords in the content of your web page, but do not go overboard. If you try to go over the top with the keyword usage – you are often labeled by the search engines as a “keyword stuffer” and that can hurt more than help in the long run.
8. Use Google’s webmaster tools and also submit yourself to Yahoo’s site explorer. Both offer ways to submit and watch your status in those two search engines.
9. Keep tabs on the search for your web site’s name. I often search for “web hosting show” just to keep tabs on who else is showing up for that search phrase.
10. Get use out of title tags for links and anchor text for images. Use them to describe where they go and what they are though.
Be patient, your search engine rankings are not going to change in a day. As long as you are delivering good content that is relevant to your topic of choice the search engines should love you.
