Search Engine Optimization
Search Engine Optimization is an important part of having a website. If people can't find you through a search engine, what's the point of a website... really? 90% of all web surfers find what they're looking for y using search engines!
BASIC SEO:
With those client's who have me work on their website project (whether creating a site from scratch or revamping an outdated site) I include a basic SEO with the fees. This includes optimizing page titles, title tags, description tags and keyword tags. I also sneak a peek at the competitor's sites for keywords that they may be using and try to implement as much relevant keywords as I can into the client's site & keywords tags. Also included is site submission to the top 10 search engines.
Page titles are the titles of your pages... for example, hosting.html. One thing to take into consideration is using keywords in your page titles to allow search engines to find those pages quicker.
Title tags are the names of pages. For example, when you print out a page from your web browser, you'll see, on the upper left cornr of the page "Oaks Data Systems, Inc. - Dedicated Servers". This is the page title. Keywords are necessary in your title tags.
Description tags give a specific description of the web page. For example, when you do a search on Google for "wine cellars"... you'll come up with a few different sites. Here's an example of two sites; the first site has a proper title tag and description, whereas the second has an improper title and description:
| Apex Wine Cellars designs and installs the world's finest custom wine cellars. Apex is the only custom wine cellar and cellar cooling system manufacturer to ... www.apexwinecellars.com/ - 68k - Cached - Similar pages |
| ben@cellarmastersinc.com adam@cellarmastersinc.com bonnie@cellarmastersinc.com ysidro@cellarmastersinc.com. View Map & Directions. www.cellarmastersinc.com/Cellar%20Masters%20Contacts.html - 4k - Cached - Similar pages [ More results from www.cellarmastersinc.com ] |
Notice the second: Wouldn't you skip over that if you were looking for wine cellars? It doesn't describe what you're asking for. Case in point!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADVANCED SEO
I'm now going to talk about what is taken into consideration with an advanced SEO option. This option can be purchased separately from a web design project.
I look at four categories of optimizing a website.
1. Optimization - This is probably the most important section when it comes to good search engine results. Optimization is a look at how well optimized your website is using known best practices for SEO. I look at the following items:
2. Design Elements - The design of your website has a substantial impact on the usability of your site by users as well as search engines. The better your site is designed, the easier it is for users to navigate your site and allowing search engines to scan the content of your site faster. I look at the following items:
3. Accessibility - Accessibility of your site is very important for users with disabilities and automated web browsers. I look at the following items:
4. User Experience - There are many reasons why a user will leave a website. One reason is because the website fails to load in the users browser quickly. I look at the following items: