Basics of SEO

Since this is the first post in the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) section of the blog, let’s start out with some basics of SEO.  So what exactly is SEO?  In a nutshell, search engine optimization is the process of improving website rankings in the natural/organic listings of a search engine.  Theoretically, the higher your site ranks in the search results, the more organic traffic your site will receive.

I look at SEO as having several important steps.  One which is identifying your audience or target market.  By doing so, you are helping to set targets and goals for your website as well as finding out who the major players are in your industry.  You will know what the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors are, what keywords they are targeting and what you will need to do in order to rank higher than them in the organic search results.

Second, you implement the necessary work needed to increase the natural ranking of your site.  This will be both on page and off page optimization, which we will discuss at a later date.  Some items involved in this step are link building, link structure, title/meta tags, and spiderability of your site.  This step is by far the most complex, evolving and intense part of the process. Read the rest of this entry »