Search engine optimization, also known as SEO, is not as complicated as it often sounds. In fact, a lot of people get into SEO with only a few minutes of basic introduction to it, and learn the more complicated steps as they get more comfortable optimizing their websites for the search engines. Even though you’ll always be better at building things in the physical world, right after you read this you’ll have the basics, so you’ll be SEOing all over the place in about ten minutes or so.
1. Use Great Keywords
Keywords are the best way to show that your website is worth finding. Use the Google Keyword Tool to find words and phrases that people are searching for and that have a reasonably low level of competition from others. Focus on phrases that highlight a particular area where you build, and be as specific as you can without getting into serious obscurity. “Custom plaster Baltimore” would be a lot more effective than “building new england.” Trying for most words is wasted effort.
2. Put Keywords in Appropriate Places
Use your keywords in the URL (web address), page title, description, meta tags (including the one marked “keywords”), H1 headline at the top of the page and the content itself. If you use your keywords in all of those spaces, your content will be far more likely to draw the search engines to you. It’ll also be more likely to get people to actually read it, since what your offering will be very obvious.
Keep in mind that you can (and really should) optimize different pages for different keywords. Don’t try to stuff in several different keywords on every page. This is a great reason to have several pages of content.
3. Stay With It
The search engines will take a few days to rank your page appropriately. Page Rank is a Google-specific term, but being on the first two pages is universally the best way to be noticed by searchers. Once the search engines do their thing, check up about once a week to see how you’re doing. Updating your page from time to time is both a good way to stay fresh and an excellent way to upgrade your ranking.
4. Get Some Analysis Done
Use the Website Grader tool to evaluate how your website is doing. It’s like a little inspector, and it will let you know if you’ve made a mistake or could do better.
Blog Post Written by Spencer Powell
Spencer is the Inbound Marketing Director at TMR Direct. Spencer specializes in helping clients create and execute effective inbound marketing campaigns.