The ABC's of SEO
What they didn't tell you about Search Engine Optimization

Here is the end to the old myths regarding Search Engine Optimization. Read this to learn what it takes to end up on the first page of your favorite Search Engine.

What is SEO? Search Engine Optimization is the method of making your site relevant for a given topic so that search engines place your site high in searches for that topic. It is not a single thing but rather a series of steps taken in order to increase the relevance of a site. While there are a number of steps that one can take on the website but in today's market it is not only what you say but what others say about you.  

First, a little history  Originally the developer chose a number of keywords and put them in the meta tags and the major search engines said if you think it's important, then we will think it is important. After that system started to get abused the search engines said we will rank importance based upon the density of those same keywords. Along comes the black hat webmasters and those keywords are found hidden behind pictures, colored the same as the background and many other tricks. This brings us to the present. Today the search engines look at other sites and see who has a link to your site and how well they are rated in their field. The better they are rated and the more that link to your site, and the more relevant your site is based upon set criteria the higher your site will rank in the search engines.  

While there are many ways to get these links and there are many ways to bring attention to your site, but the most important part of SEO is on-site optimization. That includes determining keywords, making sure that the site includes the appropriate density of keywords. Having relevant information regarding your chosen topic is also very important. New information that isn’t contained on a bunch of other sites are all critical to a properly optimized sites. 

Additionally there are off-site considerations that are just as important, Building backlinks by submitting your site to link directories and website’s at the top of searches for your targeted keywords can give your SEO a great kickstart. If the site linking to your site is relevant to your topic, search engines love it and will reward you for doing so if you get enough.  

Finally, adding other SEO techniques such as article marketing, forum participation, social bookmarking, and constant site enrichment will bring you well on the way to higher rankings in those search engine results pages.  

by Franklin H Harris - January 4, 2008

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