elaineThe idea of search engine optimization has long been in the minds of many webmasters, even before the actual term ‘Search Engine Optimization’, or SEO for short, went abuzz. The history of the SEO dates back to the 90’s, when search engines were in the early stages of organizing the sites in the Internet. Looking back now, the idea of “organizing” the Internet seems like an insurmountable task.
Back then, search engine optimization was a “yellow pages” of alphabetical optimizations with AAA style listings at the top. Over time people began to understand the workings of keyword density, database algorithms, and the basics of the search engine. Then came Google’s PageRank system and search engine optimization boomed in the Internet.
Before you get lost in this history lesson, let’s just get down to the basics of SEO. Basically, search engines like Google rank websites in the Internet according to a complex set of algorithms. These algorithms are designed to determine which websites are most relevant for a particular search term. Without having to pay to reach Internet users, SEO can affect, or manipulate the visibility of a website or a web page on the search engine’s results page.
If you’re a website, this means that the higher you rank on the search results page, or the earlier you come out on the results, the better you have of visitors going to your website.
There is no argument to the fact that SEO is a very important tool that must be used if you’re running your business online. Just as traditional advertising is important in a business, using SEO will also help you reach your desired market and form a community of potential customers online. Unfortunately, a lot of businesses who have websites online do not really maximize their potential.
Despite having decent websites they are unable to attract visitors to their sites. Why? Probably because they are unseen. It is important to have high search engine rankings because it is typical for a user to visit only the sites he might see on the first page of the search engine results. Therefore a high rank = first page of results = website traffic. It’s a simple science that a lot of Internet marketers fail to grasp.
One of the easiest ways to optimize your website is to simply hire an SEO specialist to do the job, because the world of search engine optimization is a complex one and time could be wasted if it is done by someone who is not very knowledgeable or skilled in the aspect.
To start with, the content of your website must be high-quality, possessing relevant keywords that could boost your search engine rankings. You need a good copywriter who can provide quality content, and ensure that the copies on your website will be beneficial for your readers/market, and advantageous to your business.
Keyword density, which refers to the number of times a keyword appears on the website, is also a very important, yet delicate element that should be utilized in a website. Incorporate too little of keywords and your website will not be ranked as something relevant to a search term. However, put too much of the keywords and use them inappropriately and you might be penalized. Adding relevant keywords to a web page’s meta data, including a title tag and meta description, will also improve the relevancy of a site’s search listings and increase traffic.
With the rise of social networks in the last decade it is also good to know that your presence in social media helps you get on the search engine’s good side. The more presence you have on social media sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, the more chances your SEO has of progressing.
Search Engine Optimization is no small feat to just play around with. It is a science, and you need experts in the field to ensure your business’ online presence will have a white hat seo service, and not something that will be considered as spam over time. As the Internet continues to evolve, more advancements in SEOs will surely crop up. Don’t let your business get left behind.