How Search Engine Optimization Works

Search Engine Optimization relies on the popularity of search engines like Google, Yahoo, HotBot, Alta Vista, Looksmart and others. An estimated 50% to 80% of web searches rely on Google. It's not surprising that most web searchers choose a link in the first page or two of Google search results.

If your business is not on the first page, potential customers may never see your web site. SEO techniques work to position your business in the first 10 or 20 results for a specific search related to your customers' needs.

There are several techniques that I use to improve your company's search engine placement and increase web traffic.

1) Select key words that match words which potential clients will use to search for your company. These must be very specific to your customers. This analysis can involve studying the actual keywords and phrases that your intended clients are using to find your product or service. This helps to attract more paying customers and fewer casual visitors.

2) Use keywords that reflect your company's niche
market specialization, or geographic area. As your speciality becomes more detailed, the number of competitors in the search engines is reduced.

3) Write keyword rich web pages about your business. This satisfies the customer's need for information about your business. It also feeds the search engines preference for content relevant web pages.

4) Use selected search keywords in several places in the page HTML to help the search engine and index spiders list your business site correctly. META tags are no longer so important so we emphasize keyword usage and proper link building.

5) Examine and correct website problems related to architecture, navigation, coding, excessive graphic design, and content. We can identify parts of your website that cause problems for search engines, and we'll recommend practical solutions.

6) Manually submit each individual web page to search submission sites like Google, Open Directory Project, Yahoo, and others.

7) Submit content relevant posts to related topic web interest communities, with links back to business site. You must be on topic and it can not be done at a spam level.

8) Write and submit relevant keyword rich press releases that mention your search optimized web site URL to newspapers, magazines, and online press release services. Your press releases should also refer human searchers and web spiders back to the business web site.

9) Write blog content that mentions your business website, preferably with use of the selected search keywords using existing blogs. We can also create custom, short term, blogs created for a specific PR campaign to launch your website.

10) We can create links to your site from relevant websites that are seen as credible by your customers and your industry. Or your website may be appropriate for paid listings from directories like Yahoo or LookSmart.

The combination of search engine optimization and public relations techniques is powerful. You will often see website traffic increase within three to eight weeks after starting optimization. By continuing the website promotion process, you will continue to build traffic.

Ed Hill runs edhillpr.com, an Atlanta search engine optimization firm that specializes in getting targeted, ready-to-buy traffic to your business website. Ready for our Atlanta SEO firm to increase traffic to your business website?

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