2. Search Engine Optimization is one way in which you can
get your website in front of the search engines. But what
do you need to do in the Search Engine Optimization
process? And is it worth it? I will give a quick overview of
some of the factors involved and I'll let you determine for
yourself if it is worth it.
4. First and foremost, search engines look for keywords and
keyword phases in which to index your webpages. So you
must prepare each page for the search engines. Thus,
when you are writing copy for your website, keep four or
five keywords that you want to emphasize for that
webpage -- then weave the words into the copy.
5. However, don't blatantly use the keywords over and over
again -- or as they say -- use keyword stuffing -- or the
search engines will penalize you for it. And, needless to
say, your readers will click away, if the flow of the copy is
so obviously stuffed with your keywords that it
jeopardizes the quality of the copy. Quality of copy first,
keywords second.
10. Both the Title and the Description Tags should have your
most relevant keywords. Now, the keywords meta-tags is
not used by Google, but the other search engines may
utilize them. Are they important? It really depends who
you are talking too. Some say, by putting the keywords
into your webpage you are giving your competitors the
edge. Others, feel that if your competitors want to know
what keywords you are using they will find a way. (I'm of
the latter's thinking.)
12. Linking is another important factor in Search Engine
Optimization. Without proper linking -- or establishing a
linking campaign -- your great site may not be found by
the search engines. You need to find ways in which to
allow human visitors, beside yourself, to find you.
14. Inbound links -- links pointing to your website is very good
for search engine rankings, and gives more ways for
human visitors to find your website.
15. How do you get inbound links? Write articles and place
them on article directories for ezine publishers, newsletter
publishers, or bloggers to pick up.
16. Blogs is another way in which you can get one-way links to
your site. Again, that same article you wrote for the
article directories can be put in your blog and then
submitted to a Blog Directory. Just do a search on Goggle
for "Blog Directory" and you should find enough to keep
you busy.
18. An outbound link is a url that you have on your site that
points to another website. An outbound link on your site
means that you feel the link has quality content for your
readers -- and you are redirecting them to it from your
site.
19. So, what does outbound linking offer you? You can see
what an outbound link can do for another website, right?
Well, by carefully linking to other sites-- relevant sites --
you can increase your own relevancy.
20. So be careful who you link too -- because outbound links
figures into the entire ranking algorithm process -- or
restated -- your page ranking.
21. To conclude, this overview is just the tip of the iceberg
when it comes to SEO. It's not an easy task, and it is time-
comsuming. Will you see a quick return moneywise. No,
but SEO will eventually give you the money you seek, as
well as, offer you longevity. And isn't that what you want-
-longevity? I know I sure do. I would rather be the
tortoise, and not the hare -- and slowly, but methodically
move in the direction of my dream of a home career. If
you take the wrong shortcuts, you can lose your dream
and your home career. So, is SEO worth it? I think so.
How about you.