The Secret to Search Engine Optimization

Part 1 of 2

Last week we posted a blog article about keywords (Drive customers to your website with keywords) and how long tail keywords can outperform single (more generic) words. However, developing a keyword rich, well-optimized webpage is easier said than done. As Internet marketers, one of the most frequently asked questions we hear is, “Why am I not on page one with Google?” Most B2B website owners know the importance of a highly ranked website but they don’t understand how to get there. They find it frustrating, too complex and confusing. Well, we’re here to help demystify all of this for you. With tongue planted firmly in cheek – I have a secret that will help catapult your B2B website from page 12 to page 1.

Here you go… here’s the answer to all your SEO problems –
Move in a little closer as you read this… that’s it, just a bit closer so no one else can hear. Here it is. Here’s the ‘secret’ behind SEO. The truth is: there is NO secret.

Buyers find sellers today. They find your site by typing words that are pertinent to your business. Words that you’ve researched that match what your customers and prospects are searching for. There is no magic, no secret, no quick answer. Suggesting that SEO is an easy task is an understatement. However, if you have a better understanding of how search engines work, then you’ll have the foundation for improving your search ranking results.

Search engines 101 –
Different search engines work in different ways but they all utilize the same basic principles. Search engines are comprised of three pieces of software: the spider software, the index software and the query software.

Spider software – search engines create databases by performing periodic crawls of the Internet. Robots or spiders crawl from web page to web page recording all of the data on that page and following every link to new pages. Robots are constantly moving their way through the web and refreshing their indexes, some on a weekly basis.

Your takeaway – Spiders are reading text and not images. It ignores your colorful images and cool Flash intros. So, make sure your photographs, videos and other images are identified by text ‘alt tags’, or they simply hold no value to search engines.

Maximize your opportunities. Remember that spiders are only interested in text and links and the URL from which they came.

Tomorrow: The Index Software and The Query Software.

You have keywords and your long-tails… now optimize your site. Download this guide: ‘A super easy way to optimize your web page’ here.