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Search Engine Optimisation

I would have to stress good interesting content is the key to a websites success, increasingly this is something that Google hopes to reward. A site designed for search engines is dull, create for potential clients not Google, engage humans not spiders!

There are however some basics that need to be applied. Sometimes we find websites have success with applying just the basics, often they have a clear keyphrase(s) and a targeted location, town(s) followed by county. There is one thing you can't rush Google on and that is time, a site will move up the search results the longer it is live (providing it is well constructed and site is updated) - only thing required for this is patience.

My top 5

  1. The domain name if possible should contain a keyword (this is not always practical ).
  2. The pages are named with a keyword or phrase.
  3. Title tag of page <title>, perhaps the most crucial - this is hidden in the code, (although you will see it in the top left of your browser or centre top) should be unique for each page and must contain a key phrase.
  4. Title of page (visible) should be at top of page within <h1> tags, again should contain a keyphrase.
  5. A site map linked from homepage this should be an .xml and be submitted to Google via their Webmaster Tools.

Some more criteria....

  1. Copy should contain keywords, but make it readable, and you should have at least five pages of copy on the site.
  2. Put some text that is keyword rich in Header tags; use at least 2 - 3 header tags.
  3. Style sheets and javascript- linked externally away from the actual page - in other words try and keep code minimal.
  4. Get links to your website whenever possible.
  5. Add ALT tags to images – using the keywords assigned to that page. Images should be named with keywords.
  6. Interlink the pages within the site – via a keyword within the text and turn it into a hyperlink that leads to another page on the site. The page should be relevant to the words chosen, with the name of the page and title containing the same key phrase.

That search engine

Google is a dominant force - over 90% of searches are done with it (source).

The guide on the left is a good summary of Googles requirements - more information can be gained from Google itself (webmaster tools).

Google Places

My free tip to you! If you do a search for a product or service and put in a town or county you will often see a Google map appear and a list of companies who appear on the map, this is a fantastic FREE service from Google, it also represents a valuable link TO your website.

Sign up here.