| Website owners are still confused about the simple | | | | for important keywords. Only add keywords that |
| techniques that ensure their sites can be indexed by | | | | describe the page, don't add unrelated keywords. |
| the search engines. This SEO check list can be used | | | | Why? - Although Google doesn't use the meta |
| to make sure your web pages are search engine | | | | keywords information other search engines do. |
| friendly. | | | | 5. What? - Use a CSS based design and adopt web |
| From the top down: | | | | design best practices for styling your page. Why? - |
| | | | Search engine spiders don't see what users see. |
| 1. What? - Make sure your title element (tag) | | | | They have to parse all the code that makes up a |
| describes the page and uses keywords. Remember | | | | page including all your HTML. Make it easier for them. |
| Google will display 66 characters and Yahoo 120 | | | | 6. What? - Make sure your page content is correctly |
| characters. Why? - The text in the title element is | | | | tagged. For example if you have a main header make |
| used by search engines for indexing your page. It's | | | | it an H1. Why? - By tagging your content you are |
| also used in the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) | | | | providing the search engine spiders with a clue about |
| as the text in the link that links to your page. Make | | | | what's important on the page and what isn't so |
| your title element something worth clicking. | | | | important. |
| 2. What? - Make your URL's (web page addresses) | | | | 7. What? - Create an XML Sitemap and feed it into |
| human readable or Search Engine Friendly (SEF). | | | | Google, Yahoo and Live. Why? - To make sure the |
| Why? - Making your URL's human readable means | | | | search engines can find all your pages. |
| they can help to describe the page and use | | | | 8. What? - Use Google Analytics or something similar. |
| keywords. Keywords in URL's can help you rank for | | | | Why? - So you can measure and see what's working |
| a keyword or phrase. | | | | and what's not. |
| 3. What? - Describe your page in the meta | | | | 9. What? - Sort out any canonical issues. Why? - So |
| description element (tag). Google will display 160 | | | | there is only one version of each of your sites web |
| characters. Why? - The text snippet displayed in the | | | | pages. |
| SERPs under the blue link text can either be taken | | | | Obviously there is a lot more to SEO than is shown in |
| from the page (by the search engine spider) or from | | | | this simple check list but if you follow this advice you |
| the meta description. If you write good meta | | | | WILL see an improvement in your site's performance. |
| descriptions and Google's spiders use them you can | | | | If there are aspects of this list that you find |
| be in control of the words that appear in the SERPs. | | | | confusing speak to an SEO company or sign up to a |
| Google will highlight keywords that match the search | | | | forum where an expert will be able to assist you. |
| and this could mean the difference between getting | | | | You can also Google any of the phrases used in this |
| a click and not getting a click. | | | | article to find more information. To make this easier |
| 4. What? - Use the meta keywords element (tag) | | | | the important phrases are shown in bold. |