| Search Engine Optimization is a powerful tool that can | | | | guaranteeing rankings with obscure keyword phrases |
| be used to increase the level of relevant traffic to | | | | which are not relevant to your business. Make sure |
| your website. Used correctly, optimisation is a | | | | the company you use explains how they will be |
| fantastic way to boost your business. However there | | | | getting more hits on your site. The concepts relating |
| are some pitfalls to watch out for. | | | | to SEO are fairly simple. If the company you use is |
| Take a look at a few of the reasons why SEO | | | | being secretive about their methods make sure you |
| campaigns have failed and make sure you learn from | | | | find out why. |
| their mistakes. | | | | 5. Consult a professional - Unless you are a specialist |
| 1. Bad Keywords - Make sure the text on your | | | | in SEO you should consider consulting with a |
| website is uncomplicated and reflects what your | | | | reputable company. A professional internet marketing |
| company is about. You need to be sure that people | | | | consultant who cares about his or her work and is |
| searching for your website will use your terminology, | | | | dedicated to making your site a success can easily |
| and more importantly, know what it means. Common | | | | save you from the blunders that could cost you time, |
| mistakes include making keywords too specific, using | | | | resources and money. |
| technical jargon which only fellow professionals can | | | | 6. Do some market research - Make sure the words |
| understand and generalising terms so they become | | | | you use are relevant to the business you want to |
| generic and bring in the wrong type of person. | | | | receive. Several proprietary keyword research tools |
| 2. Page format - Good optimisation takes into | | | | are available. Wordtracker, for example, is an |
| account the format of your webpage. Make sure | | | | extensive tool that allows you to find popular search |
| your sections are placed in a logical way which draws | | | | terms, the frequency with which they are entered |
| customers in. It's also important to have enough page | | | | into search engines, as well as the amount of indexed |
| content. As a rule of thumb look to write a minimum | | | | sites that are competing. |
| 200-300 words on each page of your site. Don't | | | | 7. Monitor and maintain your internet marketing |
| forget that websites are for humans not search | | | | campaign - After successfully optimising your site, |
| engine spiders. | | | | check back and make sure your rankings are being |
| 3. Don't forget to build links - Part of a good | | | | maintained. This is also a good method of checking |
| optimisation campaign includes building links from other | | | | who your competition is. If you don't want to check |
| websites into yours. In simplistic terms the more | | | | all your keywords manually there is automatic |
| people who link to you without you offering a | | | | software available such as Google's web API. |
| reciprocal link, the better your rating will become. Link | | | | 8. Keep up to date - The most effective SEO |
| building is perhaps the most important aspect of | | | | campaigns are changing all the time. Make you sure |
| Google optimisation and can help to push you to the | | | | you, or your internet marketing specialist, are |
| top of the page. | | | | continually keeping up to date with progressions in |
| 4. Work with a reliable internet marketing company - | | | | the marketplace. This can include staying abreast of |
| Some SEO consultants will use illegitimate means to | | | | blog pages, newsletters, forum postings or case |
| boost your website and give the impression that you | | | | studies. |
| are receiving more hits. This can be done by using | | | | This article is free to republish provided this resource |
| multiple names, owning shadow domains or by | | | | box remains intact. |