Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Basics
What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)? (In English, please!)
SEO is a process of creating, monitoring and maintaining "optimal" - or the best possible code and content in your site to improve its search results in engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing. Social media sites (such as FaceBook, LinkedIn, MySpace, and others), blogs, video sites, live feeds and other user-driven, interactive media are a driving force in optimization efforts and search results. By integrating coding, relevant and appropriate content and media, we can help you to improve your site's search results.
Some basic components of SEO include the use of important keywords and phrases. These involve properly constructed title tags, description tags, keyword tags and more. Keyword research and strategic copy writing will enhance your site's ability to draw the right visitors, but it does not do the job alone.
Incoming links, outbound links and anchor text (the words used to make the link) can each play a role in a search engine's determination of relevancy and popularity of a site. But ultimately, you must develop good content for both human readers and search engines to be successful in improving traffic, popularity and page listing results.
Search engines have unique algorithms that determine the value, or weight, placed on various factor that determine how a page is listed in search results. There are many factors including search (key) terms, relevancy, popularity, the user's history and more. These search algorithms are modified frequently. Google currently has approximately a 65% share of search traffic - making its algorithm changes a major factor in SEO efforts, but several other search engines are significant players, too.
As Google and others are integrating and improving personalized search results, it is more important than ever to ensure that sound SEO practices are applied well.
How Will My Site be Optimized Initially?
When By His Design creates or redesigns a web site, we partner with you to achieve the best possible results. This means that in addition to our own keyword research and experience, we will also ask you for key words, phrases and other items that have value in your particular business or industry. We pull from our knowledge and experience, your knowledge and available research to determine the best words, phrases, and make recommendations for appropriate content for your web site.
We also encourage you to take an active role in some form of social media and provide key online directory submission assistance for your business and site.
After launch, it is important to monitor how your site is performing and reassess SEO efforts over time. Ongoing SEO maintenance is recommended for all sites, but particularly those which are in a highly competitive field regionally or globally.
BHD offers basic organic (natural) optimization included with new site development. Assistance with paid Search Advertising and free listing options are also available to our clients.