What is Web Site Optimisation?
Web site optimisation or search engine optimisation, refers to the technique of configuring your web pages, so that search engines are going to visit your web site on a regular occurrence. If your site can be found by search engines, then your site will be found by potential clients interested in relatable services or products that you offer. However, there are certain areas of web site optimisation that you have to be aware of when building and owning a web site, to make the right connection between the potential client and your site.
How Search Engines Work
The methods used by search engines to read and index your web site vary greatly. Therefore the same search entry on multiple search engines can generate different results and rankings.
Displayed below is a table of descriptive items used to help maintain a search engine friendly site. It also explains in the areas the search engines look at, when visiting a website. There is a limit to the amount of characters (including spaces) that can be used in these areas. Though there is much debate as to what these limits are, the amounts listed below work well:
Full Body Text |
All search engines index the main body text of a page. The more relevant the content, the better the placing on search engines. The text located towards the top of your page is given special importance on some search engines, so make sure you have placed the most informative data first. |
Title |
The title is displayed in the search results as the most prominent piece of information available to searchers. (60 characters) |
Meta Tags |
Meta tags are information inserted in the structural area of your web pages and is not seen by those viewing your pages in browsers. For good search results, your meta tags and page content must work together. The title and meta tags tell the engine what your page is about. Whether this is confirmed by the page text, has a lot to do with how effective those meta tags will be. |
Meta Description |
Allows you to influence the description of your page, the search engines displays. It's use by search engines to rank your website is decreasing. (160 characters) |
Meta Keywords |
Most search engines no longer use keywords, but they are still important for those based on older technology. (25 words) |
ALT Text |
Descriptive text for images. This technique is used as search engines do not read graphics or image maps. |
Links |
Link popularity and link relevance also are factored into many search engine rankings. Building links to popular related sites will help your site be found on the Web, and are a good investment of time. Look for business directories and other professionally oriented sites that will link to yours. |
Tips for selecting your Keywords
When selecting keywords it is very important to be very specific. Think firstly of what you would type to search for your business, products and services.
Secondly think of the different people within your audience, and try to associate keywords that reflect these groups. Try to distinguish the needs of these groups, how they would search, what specific areas of your business is required or sort after. e.g Clients new to your business subject would use different words and phrases than individuals that are aware and constant users of precise services and products within this industry.
Thirdly, gain input from a variety of people, such as family, friends and work colleagues. From this research you will be able to determine an effective description of what your business image is to them and what language is generally associated with your business subject.
Copyright 2005, Synergy in Fusion