beginners guide to search engine optimization SEO

This article is offered as a resource to help individuals, organizations and companies inexperienced with search engine optimization learn the basics of how the service and process operates. It is our goal to improve your ability to drive search traffic to your site and debunk major myths about SEO. We share this knowledge to help businesses, government, educational and non-profit organizations benefit from being listed in the major search engines.

What is SEO?
SEO is the active practice of optimizing a web site by improving internal and external aspects in order to increase the traffic the site receives from search engines. Firms that practice SEO can vary; some havea highly specialized focus while others take a more broad and general approach. Optimizing a web site for search engines can require looking at so many unique elements that many practitioners of SEO (SEOs) consider themselves to be in the broad field of website optimization (since so many of those elements intertwine).
This guide is designed to describe all areas of SEO - from discovery of the terms and phrases that will generate traffic, to making a site search engine friendly to building the links and marketing the unique value of the site/organization's offerings.
Why does my company/organization/website need SEO?
The majority of web traffic is driven by the major commercial search engines - Yahoo!, MSN, Google & AskJeeves (although AOL gets nearly 10% of searches, their engine is powered by Google's results). If your site cannot be found by search engines or your content cannot be put into their databases, you miss out on the incredible opportunities available to websites provided via search - people who want what you have visiting your site. Whether your site provides content, services, products or information, search engines are a primary method of navigation for almost all Internet users.
Search queries, the words that users type into the search box which contain terms and phrases best suited to your site carry extraordinary value. Experience has shown that search engine traffic can make (or break) an organization's success. Targeted visitors to a website can provide publicity, revenue and exposure like no other. Investing in SEO, whether through time or finances, can have an exceptional rate of return.


Sections in this guide:
• Prologue: Who is SEOmoz and Why is this Guide Free?
• A: What is SEO?
o Why does my company need SEO?
o Why do the search engines need SEO?
o How much of this article do I need to read?
• B: How Search Engines Operate
o Speed Bumps and Walls
o Measuring Popularity and Relevance
o Information Search Engines Can Trust
o The Anatomy of a HyperLink
o Keywords & Queries
o Sorting the Wheat from the Chaff
o Paid Placement and Secondary Sources in the Results
• C: How to Conduct Keyword Research
o Wordtracker & Overture
o Targeting the Right Terms
o The "Long Tail" of Search
o Sample Keyword Research Chart
• D: Critical Components of Optimizing a Site
o Accessibility
o URLs, Titles & Meta Data
o Search Friendly Text
o Information Architecture
o Canonical Issues & Duplicate Content
• E: Building a Traffic-Worthy Site
o Usability
o Professional Design
o Authoring High Quality Content
o Link Bait
• F: Growing a Site's Popularity
o Community Building
o Press Releases and Public Relations
o Link Building Based on Competitive Analysis
o Building Personality & Reputation
o Highly Competitive Terms & Phrases
• G: Conclusion: Crafting an SEO Strategy
o Quality vs. Quantity
o Measuring Success: Website & Ranking Metrics to Watch
o Working with a Pro vs. Do-It-Yourself SEO
o Where to Get Questions Answered
• H: Links to More Information & Resources

Comments : 0

No comments yet..

Add comment: (Sing Up or Log In)