subject: 20 Handy Tips for SEO Success [print this page] When thinking of ways to improve your site's ranking on the net, you might decide that your best option is to employ a good SEO Company. This would take the pressure off somewhat, but would it be the end of the story? Well not really, because as search engine optimisation experts will tell you, a site that's been configured for maximum SEO potential needs to be maintained well if it's going to stay ahead. We've compiled a list of 20 useful tips.
1. Get Ready
Make sure your site's ready for SEO and that you know what needs to be done (and how to do it) before you start. Visitors to your site won't want to find it unfinished or under construction for long.
2. Have SEO in Mind From The Beginning
Think in SEO terms when it comes to designing your site. Remember, for example, that while Flash might look good, it's not so good for SEO.
3. Put a Lot Of Thought Into Phrases
Think carefully about what phrases people will enter into search engines to find you and use them. Think about what you can do to be found in local searches and remember that phrases can be more useful to you than single keywords.
4. Keep Introducing Keywords
Add them to images, links and even your domain name.
5. Think About Titles
Title tags on every page should be keyword-focussed and well thought out. Think about whether you have to include the name of your company or not, and if you do then put it at the end because it's unlikely that many people are going to search specifically for you.
6. Introduce Plenty of New Content
Don't let your site go stale through being lazy about updating it. Make it fresh, modern and interesting for users by continually introducing new content.
7. Maintain Content Standards
Too many people neglect content when they start to concentrate on SEO. Include high quality content that features a well-balanced inclusion of keywords.
8. Avoid JavaScript
Don't use JavaScript unless you absolutely must. If you do have to, make sure there are text links for people to follow and search engines to notice.
9. Generate Back-Links
Remember that sites linking to yours should have a good reason for doing it though; otherwise you risk compromising the quality of your site.
10. Always Link Back to Your Domain
Check whether links back to your homepage within your site are taking users via the right route. For SEO purposes it's better to do without the default PHP or index HTML, for example.
11. Quality Not Quantity of Links
A lot of irrelevant links are unlikely to do you much good in terms of offpage optimisation, in fact they can prove detrimental. Better to feature less links but have them be of a good quality.
12. Don't Waste Time in Getting Indexed
Try to ensure that a good quality site links to you early on. Also, submit your site to free search engines.
13. Don't Concentrate too Much on Page Rank
SEO experts will tell you it's only one part of a complex algorithm.
14. Watch Those Links
Make sure links to, from and within your site contain the keyword phrase you've chosen. Be specific, as links which simply state click here' won't help your business as much as those with keywords.
15. Frames Are Not Your Friends
We mentioned that Flash is not necessarily good for SEO, and neither are frames. Think very carefully about whether you need or want to use them.
16. Get the Right Directions
Check for www and non-www domains. Make sure your site is redirected according to your preferences. Get advice from SEO specialists.
17. URL File Extension Is Unimportant
For SEO it doesn't matter what you use, so don't waste time worrying about this.
18. Know Your Neighbours
If you're on a shared server then make sure that you're not on a proxy with a banned server. It could affect your own ranking if you are, so do a blacklist check.
19. Keep it Above Board
Avoid underhand methods of increasing your ranking. Search engines are wise to them and you could end up in trouble. Also, most of them detract from the quality of your site.
20. Create a Blog
Fresh text is important for SEO, and if the general content of your site is unlikely to change much, a blog will help.
