SEO Best Practices

SEO Best Practices

There are a number of techniques that can be used to ensure your site is indexed and well positioned in the major search engines. While SEO techniques are changing constantly, the following are currently considered important for good positioning:

• Keyword research
• Themed Pages
• Site Structure
• Web Site Copywriting
• Meta Tags (Title, Description, Keywords, Heading, Alt Tags)
• Basic Links, Hypertext Links and Site Map
• Directory and File Names
• Link Popularity
• Programming Code

Keyword Research

The phrases you think your target market might be searching for may very well be incorrect.

To find the optimal phrases to optimise for, use research tools such as KeywordDiscovery, Wordtracker, Google Suggest, and Yahoo Search Marketing data. Compile lists of the most relevant phrases for your site, and choose a few different ones for every page. Never use general keywords such as “travel” or “vacation,” as they are rarely (if ever) indicative of what your site is really about.

A great tool for finding out suitable keywords is Google Adwords Keywords Tool –

• https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal?defaultView=2

This will also allow you to look at other websites and find out what keywords they are using and Google is finding.

WebSite Copywriting

Web page copy is of major importance for search engines, directories, and customers. Search engine spiders (also known as robots) need machine-readable content (text) and HTML tags to index web sites.

Unique, relevant content is paramount. Google regularly stress the importance of websites having unique and relevant content on websites as a major factor in their position in the search engines. Directory editors decide whether or not to list your site based on unique and relevant content. Customers make buying decisions based on marketing copy.

Short, clear and concise paragraphs will aid both visitor and search engines.

Write for people first and search engines second. Human visitors need clear, easy-to-understand content and navigation on your pages; search engine robots need that same kind of clarity.

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Site Structure

Design and categorise your site structure and navigation based on your keyword research. Your research may uncover undiscovered areas of interest or ways of categorising your products/services that you may wish to add to your site.

For instance, let’s say your site sells toys. There are numerous ways you could categorize and lay out your site so that people will find the toys they’re looking for. Are people looking for toys to fit their child’s stage of development? (Look for keyword phrases such as “preschool toys.”) Or are they more likely to be seeking specific brands of toys?

Most likely, your keyword research will show you that people are looking for toys in many different ways. Your job is to make sure that your site’s navigation showcases the various ways of searching. Make sure you have links to specific-brand pages as well as specific age ranges, specific types of toys, etc.