Search Engine Optimization Demystified
Part 1 – The Players Search engines like Google, Yahoo, Altavista, MSN Search, and others, have become indispensable as personal and business tools for finding what we all need on the World Wide Web. As web site owners, we know that to take advantage of this reality we must optimize our web sites for search engines. However, there is a lot of confusion, misunderstanding, myth, and even fraud in this area. To demystify this topic, and provide the tools to make intelligent, well-informed decisions for our web sites, it is useful to identify the main players, understand how search engines actually work and follow the money. By understanding the motives involved, one can get a big picture understanding of the issues. In business there is no bigger motivator than money.
There are two main players in the search engine optimization field – the Search Engine companies (like Google), and the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) companies (they are numerous, no big names stand out).
Search Engine Companies:How do search engine companies (Google) make their money?Primarily with paid advertising.Why would advertisers use a search engine\’s web site to promote their product?Eyeballs… lots of them!How does a search engine company get those eyeballs?By providing a tool (the search facility) that works really well, giving reliable, useful, relevant, and current results on keyword searches. It is in the best interest of a Search Engine company to index as many sites as possible, as often as possible, and to have a ranking mechanism that will provide accurate results for key word searches on those web sites.
This bears repeating: yes Search Engines want to list your site in their index! Furthermore, they want to rank it as accurately as possible. There is no need to trick the search engines into finding or ranking your web site. In fact, several practices commonly employed to fool search engines into ranking a site higher than it should be can have quite the opposite result. Search Engine companies actively research such techniques and develop ways to counter them in the interests of maintaining the accuracy and integrity of their search results. So if the Search Engine companies want to rank your site well, why does getting good results seem so difficult and mysterious?
There are three major reasons for this: The exact ranking algorithm used by Search Engine companies is a closely guarded secret. So we, as web site owners or developers, cannot know precisely how to cater to it. In addition, different search engine companies may use different algorithms and they upgrade these algorithms regularly. The result of any web site optimization effort is always a trade off between maximizing your results for a particular set of terms and narrowing your potential scope. In other words, one cannot have both; every key word possible for your product or service, and a specific set of key words optimized to the fullest. The total amount of traffic to a web site is not solely determined by search engine optimization. Traditional marketing can significantly affect results and these would be difficult to separate from results derived from SEO. Confusing the issue further are the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Companies.
It is in the interests of the SEO company to \”appear\” to be able to increase traffic to a web site in ways not available to a web site owner and seemingly being able to exceed the capabilities of web site designers and developers. In short, keeping the methods they use as a mystery is to their advantage.
We at Back2Front – The Web Site People, have worked with clients who have opted to use SEO companies in addition to the optimization we provide as part of our management service. We have also heard reports from new clients who have tried these services before coming to us. In both scenarios we have seen that there is rarely a perception of a good return on investment. Why is this?
Web site optimization for search engines should be done as an integral part of the development of the web site. The way the site is built, coded, and written affects the results – often dramatically. Most SEO companies (since they usually do not build web sites) come in after the fact, and may have no control over how the site was built. Trying to optimize a web site with key word adjustments on a poorly built site is like trying to shore up the foundations of a building with more coats of paint.
Optimization is an ongoing process, something that should be looked at regularly as part of the management of a web site. As new competition comes online and your business develops, changes should be made to your site\’s SEO to compensate. Most SEO companies do not have the necessary long-term association with their clients to accomplish this.
Expectations of web site owners (partly driven by the SEO company\’s promises) are often unrealistic. Search engine optimization companies often charge $500 or more for their service. For this kind of money, expectations are understandably high. But know this: if an SEO company promises number one placement of your web site on Google, don\’t deal with them. Such a claim is misleading at best and down right fraudulent at worst. Just for fun you could ask them: \”number one for what search term?\” If their answer is your domain name, i.e., \”back2front.ca,\” well duh! Of course they can guarantee that! You will get that regardless, since domain names must, by definition, be unique. If they say they can get you number one for some good search terms, for example, \”web design,\” then ask, \”what do I get as compensation if I do not get number one?\” Hope they say money, because it\’s a sure bet they will be paying! Think about this: this is a company guaranteeing results from a third party they do not have any control over.
With this kind of misleading information, it is no wonder that SEO is mysterious for many people. But search engine companies like Google do make public the criteria used in their algorithms and provide basic web master guidelines for successful search engine optimization. If you are curious, go check it out… http://www.google.ca
In the second part of this 3 part series of articles I will explore how the search engines actually work. ReadSearch Engines Demystified Part 2.
www.back2front.ca
by Candace Carter, Back2Front-The Web Site People, 2009
Candace Carter is an artist, web designer, computer programmer, entrepreneur, writer, and public speaker. Candace was educated in Fine Art and Agriculture at the University of Guelph and in Computer Programming at the University of Ryerson. She worked in web development for high-tech firms Sun Microsystems, MCI-WorldCom, and Tucows until the high-tech meltdown in 2001.
Candace launched Back2Front – The Web Site People with a partner in 2002. Leveraging the power of the Internet, Back2Front’s growing team of web designers and developers work on-line, reducing environmental impact by eliminating the need for a daily commute. Back2Front is one of the most successful web site management companies in the GTA, providing long-term, fully managed web site services for a large roster of business clientele. Candace credits Back2Front?s success to an innovative business model of providing unlimited service for a flat, per-page fee.
Candace is an accomplished public speaker, with a friendly and knowledgeable style. Candace is a passionate crusader for excellence and value and it shows in her lively presentations. Candace is an expert in human/computer user interface, web design, and search engine optimization. The Back2Front team continuously conducts research, testing, and development that keep the company and Candace at the top of their field.
On February 26, 2009, Google software engineer Matt Cutts collected questions on Google Moderator and answered many of them on video. Kevin from Marseille, France asked: Will SEO still exist in 5 years?
Byron Gordon, SEO-PR, interviews Laurence otoole, Analytics SEO, on exhibiting at SES London 2010. Analytics SEO debuts their suite of online tools to help customers optimize their websites at SES London 2010. Analytics SEO has created a marketing process for SEO, and can manage multiple websites. To learn more about Analytics SEO, please visit: www.analyticsseo.com To learn more about exhibiting at SES, please visit www.searchenginestrategies.com
USA today’s Jefferson Graham interviews Google engineer Matt Cutts on how to get your site to the top of Google with 5 basic, common sense SEO tips. Matt Cutts guests on the USA TODAY Talking Tech web video show. New episodes air weekly at tech.usatoday.com
Want to have a good business search engine on the Internet to get more lucrative business deals or customers to come after you! But do not where to go or whom to approach? Now you need not to worry as Search engine optimization is here to look after your needs. Search engine optimization considers how search algorithms work and what people search for. It involves a website’s coding, presentation, and structure, as well as search engine indexing programs. Everyone wants whether they own or work for a small, medium or a large enterprise or an organization.
Search engine optimization provides a process of ensuring that a site is accessible to a search engine and has a chance of being found by the search engine, by improving the volume and quality of traffic to a website from search engines via algorithmic search results. Search engine optimization helps its clients to create higher website that is used as a marketing strategy to increase a website’s presence and relevancy. Search engine optimization targets different kinds of search, including image search, local search, and industry-specific vertical search engines. Search engine optimization spans a number of items related to the optimization a web site for better search ability by search engine spiders, higher rankings in search results listings and an overall better user experience. Search engine optimization offers the target of specific keyword phrases for each page. Search engine optimization provides that practice of comparing and analyzing top ranking websites in search results and making changes to specific pages on a website to elevate its rankings in the search results.
Search engine optimization also takes into account extraneous text on a web page, information not considered to be related to the targeted keyword phrases for the page, and overall quality of the information being presented. Search engine optimization also includes adding unique content to a site, and making sure that search engines and also appeals to the reader or browser easily index the content. The term search engine optimization refers to a term adopted by an industry of consultants who carry out optimization projects on behalf of clients, and by employees who perform search engine optimization services in-house. Search Engine Optimizer also provides a stand-alone service as a part of a broader marketing campaign because effective search engine optimization requires changes to the HTML source code of a site, and can be incorporated into website content, development and design.
Search engine optimization additionally creates webpage based on search and includes title tag, Meta keywords tag, and description tags. The body of the webpage has keyword phrases, which must be repeated as needed throughout the copy. Search engine optimization’s keyword phrase feature prominently in headers and making it bold or italics. Last but not the least, Search engine optimization offers a powerful tool RSS Equalizer that you need to get more pages listed in the search engines. Having been one of the first people to utilize RSS Equalizer, I was really excited to see the results. In addition, it worked for me thanks to Search engine optimization!
Steve Waganer has specialization in Web Marketing. He is expert in Search engine optimization,Search engine marketing,Social media optimization.To get the SEO tips from Search engine marketing firm for your website to get high rank and top position in major search engines visit http://www.cometsearchenginemarketing.com
Among the biggest problems is the owner of the internet site is now to find out the right <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=\”http://www.seopositive.com/\”>SEO company</a>. Nowadays, almost all site owners realise the importance of search engine optimization for successful business on the Internet. It also has added to number of SEO firms in the industry, which is attempting to capture market. Of course, there are hundreds of companies, SEO, not all of them offering the best service.
You must be taking into account the following factors, such as in choosing your SEO company. The company you picked out should have plenty of experience in the right place for your web sites in the major search engines and, more importantly, it has the experience in dealing internet site* in your niche industry. Unlike other services, <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=\”http://www.seopositive.com/\”>search engine optimisation</a> field requires some very effective knowledge to get ood results.
Secondly, they must be able to provide guarantees for the results of that they\’ll be capable to assure for your internet site. Most companies are not on the results, but they have only vague promises. You had better avoid these companies and don\’t prefer them, The companies which are willing to guarantee the results. In addition, they offer a guarantee, it must be time limits, and should not be opened. Only if SEO companies have Logic, their promise to the extent of these guarantees. If the <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=\”http://www.seopositive.com/\”>SEO services</a>. offer a refund, you\’ve perfectly no risk.
Thirdly, the company you hire should work as your contribution to your company and be capable to do work with you closely and so as to get your useful input on your industry, because no one understands your business better than you. There should be an integral part of the action.
Fourthly, SEO company, you rent for your internet site had better provide you detailed and experts, reports on the activities and progress, they\’ve made a good ranking of your site in search engines.
They had better have an first-class support team, you are able to use with ease. You had better be able to use your questions quickly and professionally fashion.
Most importantly, it is suitable for affordable SEO packages for your budget. Today there are companies who are willing to pay enormous sums of money to get good rankings in search engines, but still pay a high price and not the desired results. It is your SEO companies offer their services at economical prices without conciliatory on result
SEO Positive is an SEO Company that provides customized Search Engine Marketing strategies including SEO and PPC to help improve the search engine rankings of your website. please feel free to visit our website.
Google Boys. Andrew Hazen, President of Prime Visibility speaks with Google Boys regarding Search Engine Optimization and Marketing. PPC SEM SEO Search Engine Optimization Internet Marketing Website Prime Visibility Design Web Analytics Google Yahoo MSN
Trend 1: Search Engine Optimization Advice: Test Sites with relevant content and credible links continues to rule the search rankings in the coming year, but 2010 has the potential to reveal a few new standards. As the volume of web content continues to grow, consumers demand even more relevant and personalized search results. That means search engines looks for more relevant and personalized content from publishers and brands. In fact, the search engine algorithms are already beginning to pay more attention to date of publication, geo-location, mobile device browsers, past behavior and social media content. Still, keep a piece of mind for your current Search Engine Optimization strategy in search of personalization, but make sure you allocate a portion of your budget to testing content, keywords and links that are targeted toward your audiences. Test keyword and link placement in social media, local content and mobile websites, and make an effort to more frequently refresh some of the content you devote to search engine rankings. Once the search engines have tested these new search targets and revealed some concrete standards, your next step is to be prepared and invest accordingly.