Search Engine Optimization

The: 19/06/2009 - AT: 18:05

Search Engine Optimization is the process of improving your websites placement in the search engines. Whether we like it or not, SEO is something which appears like its here to stay, for a very long time.

Search Engines

The way most search engines currently rate a web page, is largely based on the number of pages which links to it, and the relevancy of those pages.

Page relevancy is likely determined by analyzing the content of both pages, as well as the anchor text of the links.

My own use of SEO

I don't view SEO as being unfair to competitors, after all, they could make use of same techniques. But i do have my own guidelines, as of what to do, and what not to do.

I avoid many of the so called blackhat techniques, such as using methods to get competitors excluded entirely from the serps, or Penalized for duplicated content. Such techniques are just plain wrong! Creating pages with keywords, and/or hidden links is also something i wouldn't do. I know it would work if done right, but why do such when having quality content would give the same effect?

If you must include extra keywords, do it in a discrete way, like including a small section titled "Alternative titles", or "keywords". And make sure those are actually keywords people would use to search for your content, do not include irrelevant keywords. And do not try to hide what you are trying to do! These keywords may even have other uses, if stored correctly in your database, such as, a custom site-search.

In essence

We are trying to manipulate the search results to our advantage. Which can be said to be unfair at times, from google's view at least. I like to look at it, as a part of my work to insure my placement in the serps.

You would have to be a fool to trust google to come up with the best answer to any search string. I have some pretty good Articles, and i don't see why those shouldn't be allowed at the top, just as much as any other article.

The nature of the web doesn't allow "natual" search to work. For instance, if a site is very old, its also likely that it will have more incoming links, and hence a higher placement then new sites offering same, or better content. Because of this, we can't even consider the slightest amount of justice, its like rolling the dice, either you rank, or you dont.

Conclusion

Its really a shame it is this way, but truth is. If you don't have the technical insight to run a website and optimize it, its going to be very hard, and down to pure lock if you rank or not, most likely, its always going to take years.

Who knows, you may as well be better left without it. (check your traffic logs on that)

Comments: [0]

Author: BlueBoden