| Web pages use HTML to display information over the | | | | browser. For Example: Keying this into the Google |
| Internet, using a browser (i.e. Firefox, Internet | | | | search box results in reveals that there are |
| Explorer). According to dictionary.com, one definition | | | | 131,000,000 results for the keyword phrase web |
| for design is: to intend for a definite purpose. This | | | | page design in .24 seconds and returns the first 10 |
| implies that a designer should have forethought when | | | | web pages. This does not include the sponsored links |
| constructing a web page design such that there is a | | | | (paid placement) using this keyword phrase. Then by |
| definite purpose for each page. Of course the web | | | | examining the HTML page source (right click the |
| site owner will want their site to be popular, and | | | | mouse and choose view source) the Meta Tags for |
| business web sites desire traffic to achieve a return | | | | this particular HTML can be displayed. The number |
| on investment (R.O.I.) and traffic is the key. It is the | | | | one web site (excluding the sponsored links) revealed |
| search engine that returns the results page for a | | | | that the title made use of the keyword phrase. The |
| search. The keywords used help the search engines | | | | keywords included website, design and web design |
| determine relevancy of the search to the web page. | | | | and the meta name description content contained the |
| The search engines (i.e. Google, Yahoo!, MSN) are not | | | | keyword phrase "web page design". |
| human, but are programs written by humans and | | | | If all of the tags are removed from the source code, |
| cannot actually "see" the images or "read" the text | | | | what remains is the heart of the page, or rather |
| on the web page. It is important to impart to them | | | | text. If a page is well written it will impart the |
| well researched information that will lead the search | | | | information to the user desired when he or she |
| engine to your web page and return your web page | | | | selected the page from the results page. It is likely |
| link to the searcher in a results page. Optimization of | | | | that the page will provide information for the viewer |
| a page (Meta tags, keyword research, keyword | | | | to read, look at or listen to in the form of a video, |
| density, and relevant links) can make the difference | | | | audio file, image or text. How the page is displayed is |
| between whether your web page is returned in the | | | | a choice of the author and this can make the |
| first results page, last page or somewhere in | | | | difference between a plain page and a page that has |
| between. | | | | all of the window dressings. Whether the reader has |
| HTML stands for Hyper Text Markup Language. | | | | a pleasant experience or one that causes the reader |
| HTML contains the blue print of the web page and | | | | to click off the page, and never returns to the web |
| the specific information for the browser as to the | | | | page in the future is dependent on whether the |
| layout of the page and how the search engines | | | | needs of the user were met. |
| robots and people will view it alike. Each web page | | | | The search engines robots (Google, Ask, MSN, |
| should be optimized individually, choosing appropriate | | | | Yahoo!, and others) look for and gather the text on |
| keywords and connected including internal links and | | | | the page using an algorithm and store this in a |
| related external links to other web pages. This is | | | | database. This algorithm determines what the search |
| important because the Search Engines do not spend | | | | engines tasks are and tell them exactly what duties |
| lots of time indexing any one particular website, | | | | to perform and what information to look for on their |
| therefore making sure the pages are updated and | | | | search. Providing Meta tags the robots will assist |
| link correctly will tell the robots that the website has | | | | them in their task to gather and categorize the web |
| not been abandoned and can be indexed. | | | | pages information in its database (used later in |
| HTML is used to formatting the page, creating lists, | | | | retrieval as a result of search). This is why |
| providing links between pages, add images, and use | | | | optimization of a page can make the difference |
| tables to keep this information in order and provide | | | | between whether your web page is returned in the |
| the information that may get you those top 10 | | | | first results page, last page or somewhere in |
| results using well-researched keywords. The Meta | | | | between. |
| Tags used in the HTML tells the search engine robots | | | | Remember to carefully choose keywords, and to use |
| how to categorize the information and returns | | | | those keywords in the body of the web page, as |
| information to the screen for the user in the form of | | | | well as in the title and even in the web page title, |
| a results page. This is usually the result of a search | | | | Meta description tag. Be sure to submit your |
| performed by a user. At its most basic, a web page | | | | websites URL to the search sites and directories and |
| could be composed of a few basic tags and most | | | | look for sites to link to yours to improve your search |
| likely it will also include words or rather content. | | | | engine ranking and search engines will soon return |
| Additional Meta tags can be used to be more specific | | | | your web page at the top of the results. |
| in its formatting and display instructions to the | | | | |