What Is Search Engine Optimization?
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of enhancing website content and linkingstructure to maximise the site’s visibility in major search engines. After a website has been optimized, it will have a far higher probability of returning pages in the top positions of the top search engines for the site’s chosen keywords. This enhanced visibility can lead to much greater traffic and therefore is ideal for the number of leads generated which, for you, will increase website sales.
Why does my company/organization/website need SEO?
The majority of web traffic is driven by the major commercial search engines – Google, Yahoo! & MSN (although AOL gets nearly 10% of searches, their engine is powered by Google’s results). If your site cannot be found by search engines you miss out on the incredible opportunities available to websites provided via search – people who want what you have visiting your site.
Why can’t the search engines figure out my site without SEO help?
Search engines are always working towards improving their technology. However, there is and will always be a limit to how search engines operate. The right moves can net you thousands of visitors; the wrong moves can hide or bury your site deep in the search results where visibility is minimal. The online environment is becoming increasingly competitive, and those companies who perform SEO will have a decided advantage in visitors and customers.
How does Search Engine Optimization Work?
There are two main parts to SEO.
1. On-Site – This part of the SEO makes sure that when the search engines find your website, it has all the keywords and information in the correct format making it ‘search engine friendly’.
2. Off-Site – This is mainly ‘Link Building’. In simple terms, the more websites that link to your site, the better. Link building is the process of researching and acquiring links to build your site’s popularity. The more popular your site, the higher up the search engine rankings you will appear. This involves submitting a site to relevant directories and search engines, adding one way links to your site from others, and also purchasing links from appropriate sources. It is important that you only get links from high quality and relevant sites.
How long does it take to get to the top of the search engines?
It can take months or even longer. Whether your site provides content, services, products, or information, search engines are a primary method of navigation for almost all Internet users. Experience has shown that search engine traffic can make (or break) an organization’s success. The sooner your website is optimised the quicker it will start to move up the rankings.
When do I stop the SEO?
As soon as you want your website to lose traffic. SEO is a continuous process. It is in effect a form of advertising online, as soon as you stop, competitors start to obtain more links, gain the advantage and move ahead of you in the rankings.
