Search Engine Optimisation – A Guide

This introductory guide aims to focus both the developer and web site owners attention on key elements of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), at the very beginning of the web site development process.

Contents

1. Key Elements
2. Sources

Key Elements

• Page Titles
  • Create unique, accurate Page Titles
  • Example, Home Page. Your business name, main business focus areas, physical location
  • Sub Pages. Should contain the focus of the page and perhaps your company name
• Description Meta Tag
  • Make relevant to each page
  • The content of the tag may or may not be used in the result snippet
• URL Structure
  • Create descriptive categories (folders) and file names, example:
  • /web-site-development/search-engine-optimisation-guide.cfm
• Site Navigation
  • Group pages
    • root page -> related topic listing -> specific topic
  • Provide a sitemap for site visitors
  • Provide a XML Sitemap for automated web site / search engine crawlers
  • Use mainly text links
  • Implement "breadcrumb" navigation
  • Have a useful 404 page
• Provide quality content and services
  • Create content for your users, not search engines
  • Write good anchor text
• Use heading tags appropriately
• Optimize your use of images
  • Use descriptive filename and "alt" attribute
• Use a robots.txt file
• Promote your web site in the right ways
  • Blog
  • Twitter
• Use Google's
  • Site Search (commercial version in particular)
  • Webmaster Tools
  • Web Analytics Services
  • Web Site Optimizer
  • Adwords
  • Adsense

Sources

Google's SEO Starter Guide

Hexcentric Ltd © 2009
This page was last updated Saturday 4 July, 2009 11:06