Home

Benefits of Having a Website
Web Site for Business
Web Site for Personal

Web Design Importance

Your Own Domain Name

Basic Programming
HTML
Webpage Editor (WYSIWYG)

Web Site Hosting

Search Engine Optimization

Summary

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) 

Unless people know your website is on the Internet, you will never have any visitors. Just as the old mediums of print, radio, television, and word-of-mouth were and still are critical for offline and online successes, without submitting your website to search engines, no one will know you exist. The key is submitting your website the right way!

According to the June 2000 edition of Forrester Research, Inc., websites are found in the following ways:

As you can clearly see, search engines play a huge role in the success or demise of your website. Okay, so how do search engines work? First, submitting your website to a search engine means your website is now listed with that search engine. In other words, this is what registers your website. By completing search engine submissions, people will become aware of your website, which starts the flow of traffic.

Second, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) gives something extra to your website as a way of increasing the odds of generating more traffic, thus more business. The number one goal with search engines is to achieve high-ranking status. When someone conducts a search using a keyword or phrase associated with your type of product or service, if your website shows up in the top ten responses, or on the first page, you rank high. The higher you are on the list, the better! For example, choose any keyword and conduct a search on Google.com, which is the number one search engine available. Now, notice that numerous pages of results are provided. The websites listed on the first page represent the coveted spots, or high rank, which is where you want your website to be.

Although the cost of search engine submission is on the rise, some of the smaller search engines offer free service. Additionally, small search engines are not necessarily bad because they are small, Just as large search engines are not necessarily good because that are large and cost money. Search engines are designed to speed things up and generate more traffic to your website. Depending on the size and purpose of your business, paid submissions can run from $250 and up. Once your website is online, you want to start the submittal process to various search engines immediately.

Several good options are available from which to choose:

• Directory Listings
• Pay-per-Click
• Paid Inclusion
• Crawler-based Search Engines

Each of these options works somewhat differently, although they all have the common goal of increasing traffic to your website. Be patient once have submitted your website to the larger search engines. Typically, they take from 30 to 60 days before your website will be posted.

Online Resources for SEO

• searchenginewatch.com - Tips about internet search engines & search engine submission
• webmasterworld.com - News and discussion for the advanced web professional
• jimworld.com - Search Engine Optimization Techniques, Search Engine Marketing Industry Discussion Forums

Home << Previous | Next >>