When you boil it down, search engine optimization (SEO) is the quest to take your website to number one status on a search engine’s results list. The goal is to boost the traffic to your website by becoming the “answer” to consumer queries through the major search engines – Google, Yahoo, MSN, AOL and Ask.com. Though each of the major search engines uses its own method of determining which websites will take the top spot on their results pages, they all rely on similar key factors.
• Domain name – Using words that your customers are likely to search for (keywords) in your URL will increase your chances of ranking high when they do.
• Duration – The longer your site has been around, the higher you’ll appear in search results.
• Content – Regularly updated, high-quality content on your website that matches up with the keywords your customers are likely to use in a search boosts your chances of being in the top spot while they are looking. Avoid keyword “stuffing” or cramming keywords into your content without making sense of them. The search engines are increasingly aware of these tactics and will avoid the sites that employ them.
• Metadata – This is behind the scenes data that allows you to describe your website with a title, description and keywords.
• Incoming links – If your site has a number of other sites pointing to it, your chances of making it to the top of list increase too. The greater of authority the website linking to you, the bigger the boost you’ll get in the search results. Websites within the .edu and .gov domains carry a lot of weight with search engines, as do as other highly ranked websites.
SEO gives you the advantage of reaching potential consumers while they are looking for you. Utilizing SEO strategies within your website design is a great way to reach customers who are ready to make a purchase. For an in-depth look at search engine optimization check out The Beginner’s Guide at seomoz.org.