5 Beginner Tips For SEO and Your Website
When creating content for your website and taking Search Engine Optimization (SEO) into consideration, there are some basics to consider to help get your page positioned well in search results. Good content is important, but these other tips will help as well.
File Naming
File Names
When creating your web page, a simple way to improve search engine optimization for a web page is the actual name of the HTML file (web page). Simply stated, the name of your HTML file should contain your keyword or keywords if possible.
Meta Data
Title Tag
The title of a web page is most important location to place keywords within your web page's HTML. It is one of the most important design aspects of a web page with respect to organic results on search engines. Search engines consider the keywords found in the title tag to be extremely important because these are the keywords tell the search engine what your site is about. The title tag is what the search engine use as a link on the search results page. It is the first thing a potential site visitor sees before they make a decision to visit your website.
Description Tag
The meta description tag is used by many search engines as the summary description or your page as listed in the organic search results. It is the sub-headline in the organic search result and the 'teaser' for your link. In a nutshell, it helps the searcher decide whether or not the web page is relevant to their search. The title and description of a page are an important pair when it comes to organic search results.
Keywords Tag
The meta keyword tag is where you list keywords and keyword phrases that you've targeted for that specific page. There have been numerous discussions at various search engine marketing forums surrounding the use of the keywords tag and its effectiveness. The overall opinion is that the keyword tag has little to no relevance with the major search engines today. Though many people still believe that this tag is the most important tag of all and 'stuff' it full of keywords. My opinion is, put a few in the tag, walk away, and focus on creating good content.
Content
Headers
Header tags are the second most important place for your keywords on a web page. Header tags are specified with the following HTML code: H1, H2, H3, H4, H5 and H6. Generally speaking, a H1 tag is considered more important than an H2 tag, which is more H3, important than a H4 tag, and so on. It's important that the header tags look natural and is readable (makes sense) to site visitors. Putting a bunch of keywords in a header (also known as 'keyword stuffing), doesn't mean that it will 'look' and 'read' right to a visitor. Keep the header less then 8 words if possible (on, the, of, etc...don't count). Body Text
The body text tag, or main content of a web page, is the next most important area to use keywords or keyword phrases. Content refers to the visible text on your page. Web pages should have about 300 to 400 words of text with special emphasis on two or three carefully chosen keywords.
As a web page is being developed, pay close attention to which keywords or keyword phrases is used in the page titles, headers and content of the web page. Use synonyms when possible to give it more of a natural feel when reading and not a repetitive overused keyword. If it sounds 'weird' as you read it aloud, modify it so that it reads more naturally. Search engines are looking for natural, not obvious or stuffed, web pages when it comes to SEO.
Search engines also respond favorably to keywords placed within style tags such as, b, strong, i, em, and li. Never use 'invisible' text or matching font and background color text. Important keyword-rich text should be as high up on the web page as possible. Search engines index a web page's content in linear order and give priority to keywords found closest to the top of your web page. This means placing your keywords in your first headline and in the first paragraph on your page, and limiting the images and other HTML code that precedes your keyword rich text.
These simple tips should get your web site moving in the right direction...up! For the next SEO steps you should take, there are also 5 Intermediate and 5 Advanced techniques you can implement. Lastly, stay away from the 5 SEO Abuses that can get your site penalized or even banned from the search engines.
Jason Perry
Two great SEO tools which can help track the success of your web site are WebPosition 4 and Hits Link. Both which you can try for free.
