Search Engine Optimization is critical for developing an organic search ranking. There is no magic involved, unless following a specific blueprint is considered magic. SEO has some very solid structural parameters that if constructed properly will produce an organic traffic pulling website. The following is a quick guide to the on page optimization of a website.
Content is very much the king of SEO, and titles will always be the crown of any content. It is important to understand that search bots read only words. Images count very little in the content category, but should be optimized properly with a descriptive title and alternate text for the best results.
What is good content? Relevance is the key to all good content, and if there is a product there should be a call to action. Relevant content will always contain the keywords used in the search, and concise descriptive text that is also keyword rich. Create text that tickles the search engine without boring the reader to tears.
Provide the following on each web page:
- Keyword rich META data for the title, description, and keywords
- CSS, and scripts should be in external files and linked in the head of the document
- Keyword rich header container with its own title, and description
- Keyword rich navigation
- Keyword rich page title/content that is meaningful, and easy on the eyes
- Add keyword relevant anchor text, and links
- Bold keywords in text
- Avoid huge blocks of text
- Keyword rich bulleted highlights for quick reference to main points. People like to get to the point as fast as possible, and the quicker they get there on each page the longer they may stay
- Keyword rich title tags, alternate text, and descriptions for all images on the site
- Keyword rich footer with navigation, copyright, and even some descriptive text touching on main points
Keyword rich does not mean unnecessary repetition; it is the well thought out execution of describing your page with relevance. Keywords are how the reader will find the web page, what they type in the search box is what you want in your page.
These on page efforts will help to optimize your local SEO efforts, however the greatest victories will come from off page efforts. Off page efforts consist of link building with high ranking sites through various methods. I will highlight off page SEO in my next post.
