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Optimizing
For Search Engines
by
Shannan Hearne
http://www.SuccessPromotions.com
Optimizing a page for search engines requires various steps for
different engines. Getting into the specifics for each engine would
take volumes, because different engines use different factors in
their algorithm when they "rank" a site. The specific
items you can tackle for any page of any site are the following:
keywords, title tags, copy writing, meta tags, alt image attributes,
hyperlinks, and headings. Here's a brief explanation of
each.
You want to select keywords that are relevant for your site and
as specific as possible. Choose fitness for kids, not fitness. Choose
fitness videos and books, not fitness resources. Keep in mind what
types of search terms your target audience will be using.
The title of your web page is the single most important factor
for search engine optimization. A high level of weight is placed
on page titles when ranking pages in search engines. Your title
tag needs to be as relevant and keyword specific to your page as
possible. Select Fitness for Kids and Children from Fitness And
Kids, not Fitness for kids.
The copy of your page is important in order to achieve good search
engine rankings as well. Each page should have at least 200 words
of copy on it if possible and it should include your most relevant
keywords and phrases while still being logical and easy to read.
The more copy filled pages (often resources, articles, etc.) that
you have on pages within your site, the better your site will rank
overall in the search engines.
Meta tags were originally designed to help search engines decide
what was important about a website. Today, your keyword and description
meta tags are still very important with certain search engines.
Meta tags should not be unreasonably long, but should contain all
relevant words and phrases.
Always include your top most important keywords and phrases. But
don't try to trick the search engines by using irrelevant terms
to rank high for a search that isn't really relevant to your web
site.
Images on your web site can help your listings, too. Each image
on your page can contain a keyword phrase or two that is relevant
to your site and your image. An alt image tag looks like this:
<IMG SRC="imagename.gif" width="10" height="10"
alt="Fitness for kids and
children">
Be sure to use the same keywords and phrases that you have used
in your copy, meta tags, etc.
Heavier algorithm credit is given to hyperlinks within your website.
So a text based hyperlink should contain keywords relevant to your
web site.
Finally, your heading tags should contain your same relevant keywords
and phrases as they are given heavier ranking weight than plain
text within your site.
If you take all these items into consideration, you can successfully
optimize your web site yourself. If you find this cumbersome or
are uncertain as to what words are relevant, work with an internet
marketing and search engine optimization specialist such as http://www.SuccessPromotions.com
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