Although the concept of search engine optimization — the process of making a site and its content highly relevant for both search engines and searchers — can be somewhat complex, there are a number of basic techniques you can use to improve your organic search results. Keep the following in mind when trying to achieve top rankings for your Web site as part of a niche marketing plan:

• Add meta tags. Meta tags are simple lines of code at the top of your Web page that tell search engines about your page. Include a title tag, keyword tag, description tag, and robots tag on each page.

• Create and update your site map. Developing a site map is a simple way of giving search engines the information they need to trawl your entire Web site. There are plenty of free software packages on the Web that can help you generate a site map. Once you create one, submit it to Google and Yahoo.

• Ensure that all navigation is in HTML. All too often navigational items are in the form of JavaScript. Even though navigation technically still works in this format, it’s not optimized. Create your navigation in HTML to enhance internal links throughout your Web site.

• Use Flash content sparingly. Some webmasters like to use Flash because of the presentation, but if your focus is on search results, you’ll want to use it minimally, and only after your site has been reviewed with basic search engine optimization in mind.

• Place keywords in your page content. Search engines scan your Web site and Web pages for keywords. Shoot for a keyword density of between two and eight percent. Google likes your page to be at the lower end of this scale and Yahoo at the upper end.

• Submit your Web site to search engine directories. It’s always a good idea to let large search engine directories know that you’re out there. Submit your Web site URL to directories like Google, Yahoo, and the Open Directory Project (dmoz.org).

• Build links to your Web site. Consider building a link exchange program, or create one-way links to your site using articles or forum posts. All major search engines look at how many other sites are linking to your site when rating your site’s value.

• Stay the course. Good optimization takes time. People expect to see results immediately. You may very well see improvements in a short period, but reaching the No. 1 position takes time. Be patient.

— Michael Fleischner, author of The Webmaster’s Book of Secrets (webmastersbookofsecrets.com)

Permalink: http://www.fuelnet.com/?p=468