uilding a great internet Yahoo! – but in general they all
site is a wonderful work the same way. Typically a
achievement. But it could person will enter a keyword or
also be a complete waste of your phrase into the search engine and
time and money unless potential immediately receive a list of
clients can find it. Search recommended web pages.
Engine Optimisation (SEO) is one
way to ensure your site is seen Internet users are impatient,
in the most crowded marketplace which means they seldom scan
ever conceived. though more than a page or two of
search results, and generally
SO WHAT IS SEARCH ENGINE only access sites listed at the
OPTIMISATION (SEO)? top of the page. If you want to
be seen, your site must not only
To understand Search Engine appear on a list of search
Optimisation you must first results, it must rank towards the
consider how people actually look very top.
for – and eventually find -
products and services on the web. Open a search engine and type in
a word or phrase someone
Research shows that more than 80 searching for your company might
per cent of the world’s 290 use – if you fail to appear in a
million internet users (10 prominent position, chances are
million of them in Australia) use your site has not been search
search engines to find what engine optimised. Without
they’re after. optimisation, your site is about
as effective as an advertisement
There are many search engines floating in the middle of the
available to consumers – the ocean.
better known include Google and
HOW DO SEARCH ENGINES RANK without Search Engine
INTERNET SITES? Optimisation your website is
almost guaranteed of not being
Search engines regularly dispatch seen.
‘spiders’ or ‘robots’ (aka bots)
to collect information on Of course there are other ways of
websites. Using an algorithm – a reaching potential clients. You
set of complex formulas or rules could, for example, spend money
– the search engine evaluates to advertise on a search engine,
each website’s relevance and then and only have your advertisement
ranks it accordingly. appear when people search for
particular keywords. That is
These algorithms are unique to valid way to increase your
each search engine, they are chances of reaching customers.
highly secret and they change all But studies have shown people
the time. But in general they all using the internet tend to trust
obey a basic set of rules. That and visit the free listings more
means it is possible improve your than paid listings.
chances of a better ranking by
ensuring your website has the HOW DO YOU GET STARTED ON SEARCH
most appropriate content, and ENGINE OPTIMISATION?
that the content is structured in
a search engine-friendly way – First you need to find out if
this process is known as Search your site is actually being
Engine Optimisation. indexed by a search engine.
Search Engine Optimisation is not Open a search engine and type
an exact science. It requires your company name in the search
trial and error, and there is box. If you appear in the results
never a guarantee of success. But it means that spiders or robots
have located your site. They will Once you are confident your site
place the site into a memory is being indexed, you need to
bank, and visit it from time to identify keywords – these are the
time to update their information. terms a potential visitor might
enter into a search engine when
If your site it not listed you looking for your product, service
could consider submitting your or company.
site to search engines. This will
not guarantee that they will list Finding the right keywords is a
you, but it won’t hurt to try. A pivotal component of Search
word of advice - do not submit Engine Optimisation. There are
your site multiple times as this applications that allow you to
will only annoy the search engine test each word by showing how
people, and you need to be on popular it is and how often it is
their good side. used – the result might surprise
you.
Some search engines will not
accept submissions – they prefer A good way to find keywords is to
to find your site themselves. And visit a competitor’s website and
some simply draw their see what it has listed. To do
information from other search this, open their site and click
engines (a disclaimer should on ‘view source’ - a heap of what
alert you to this practice), looks like gibberish will come
which makes it pointless up, but find a line which says ‘
submitting your site to them.
About the Author:
Gerald is GM, Marketing of SDG Technology, providing IT Solutions, such as Website Development and Application Development. Contact gerald.chait@sdgtechnology.com.au or visit http://www.sdgtechnology.com.au.
Read more articles by:
Gerald Chait
Article Source: www.iSnare.com 
