SEO- Did You Know?

Here are some Search Engine Optimization tips that you may not already know about and the way that search engines work.

 Creative Content 

• Don’t plagiarize.  If you get caught stealing content, your search engine rank will spiral down hill and most likely, your site will never rank high again.  
   
• Be concise.    Having pages, upon pages of content doesn’t mean that your website is better than your competitors.  Write several small paragraphs with high keyword density.  Don’t try to write a novel on your web page.  
   
• Update often.  Search engines just love fresh new content.  

Loads of Links

• Back links are your friend!  Have many link backs to your page and be sure to only link up with other trusted sites.   
  
  
• Get your website listed in popular and trusted directories to help increase your rank. 
   
• Trying to trick search engines is always a bad idea.  Posting invisible links, trying to cross-link or any other scam will only get you booted off of all of the popular search engines. 
   
• Place keywords in the anchor text of your links to increase your ranking.  

Keywords Count 

• Make sure to include keywords in your URL and title tags to help give your site a better chance at a prime search engine rank. 
   
• While not all search engines still take meta tags into high account, there are several that still do.  Putting keywords in your metatags is never a bad thing. 
   
• Make sure that your content is dense with your best keywords.  A good keyword density is anywhere from 2% to 8%.  Anything lower will probably not help your ranking.   If your density is too high, usually 10% or higher, you put your website at risk to be flagged for keyword stuffing. 
   
• Remember that web crawlers can’t see your pictures!  Make sure to include keywords in alt tags to help your images add to your over all keyword count.  

All About URLs

• Name your website wisely.  Having a keyword friendly URL can improve your search engine rank big time.   
  
  
• Keep your URL short and relevant to avoid looking like SPAM. 
  
   
• Even if you want to give your website a make over by adding new graphics, color scheme or content, keep the same URL.  Search engines favor older websites because they have been around longer and are more likely to be reputable.