subject: Website Optimization: What To Avoid [print this page] By now, businesses are aware that they need to include the implementation of website optimization services in their marketing plans in order to drive traffic to their sites, and this means learning all about search engine optimization (SEO). However, this process is a lot more complex than just throwing a bunch of keywords up on a page. There are five common errors made by SEO novices, and five easy solutions to avoid them.
Mistake #1: Not incorporating SEO
SEO should really be included from the initial building of the website, not plugged in later on. For those companies coming in late to the game, sites can still achieve their traffic goals through the judicious hiring of a company providing website optimization services. These full-time SEO professionals are well-versed in many of the search engine optimization techniques and strategies, nearly all of which have changed since the original inception of search engines.
Mistake #2: Keyword Stuffing
Gone are the days of hiding keywords as invisible text (white text on a white background, for instance), running keyword-crammed content well beyond the visible borders of the page, and including tons of keyword meta tags all over the place. While those things worked (briefly) to attract search engine attention, they no longer do. Or, more accurately, they attract negative search engine attention, which can result in your site being marked as spam or even banned. Hiring a website optimization services team, which can choose a few top keywords and put them in their proper places to be noticed, is a much better way to go.
Mistake #3: Not Maintaining a quality site
Search engines look at complicated algorithms to determine a pages ranking, not just the physical number of keywords. Part of the determination of how high a page ranks is its quality level and usefulness. This means, among other things, not building a site entirely with Flash (often ignored by search engines), keeping a continuous influx of fresh, engaging content, and making it easy for others to share that content. The more people link back to your site, the more likely your site is to be recognized by search engines as useful, so keep your site interesting enough to link back to.
Mistake #4: Not building site visibility properly
Theres a right and a wrong way to do everything and that includes SEO. Back linking, the process of leaving links elsewhere across the web that connects back to your own site is a vital part of attracting search engine attention. However, search engines can pretty easily recognize those sites with an artificial network of backlinks; the quality and relevance of the linked sites are weighed in determining the originating sites ranking, not just the quantity. A skilled website optimization services company will build links gradually and organically to raise your place in the rankings naturally.
Mistake #5: Doing it yourself
Finally, there are so many ins and outs in learning about properly and effectively using SEO strategy to boost your sites visibility that its nearly always a losing proposition to attempt it on your own. A company which specializes in SEO services will take care of the back linking, monitoring, research, and maintenance needs that are integral to achieving effective search engine results. Your best option is to hire one of the reputable, professional website optimization services which are available today.
