Eight Search Engine Rules

We all want our Web site to be Search Engine friendly but what exactly does that mean. Despite what you've been told it isn't that complicated. Here are eight tips that will bring prospects pouring in from Search Engines:

1. Make sure your site has a clear hierarchy. Make sure every page is reachable from a text link, starting from the main page. In other words, make sure there are no orphaned pages that cannot be reached by clicking on text links.

2. Sign up to become a Google Webmaster for your site by going to google.com/webmaster. Create a Google site map (this is easy using 3rd party sites) and upload it. The instructions are in the Google Webmaster area.

3. Create a useful, information-rich site. Note: this is vastly different from creating an advertising piece. Search Engines value real information, not marketing babble. Write, and then write some more. Include 10 pages of 300 words each on your subject.

4. Think about search words people may use to find your site, in advance. Then make sure you use those words in your text, headings, and links throughout your site. Note: if your search words aren't on the page, the page will never come up in a search.

5. Remember, to search engines, images and animation are devoid of information. Search engines do not recognize text contained in images or flash. When building a site for search engines, rely on plain, old-fashioned text and text links.

6. Make sure your TITLE and ALT tags are descriptive, accurate, and unique. Title tags appear at the top of the browser window. Alt tags appear when your mouse is over an image. Search engines value these elements so fill each one in individually.

7. Avoid tricks intended to improve search engine rankings. Think twice about what you are doing. Nefarious activity is dealt with harshly in the Search Engine community. If you get caught using a trick, you are blackballed forever.

8. After making a concerted effort to write a lot and link everything together with text links, tune your Web pages with optimization software. This software will tell you exactly what to do to your page. Pages tuned with software insure your best chance at a high ranking.

Admittedly this is a lot of extra work compared to just making a site. Search engines do not care whether we comply with these rules or not. Search engine listings are free, targeted advertising so playing ball with them is well worth the effort.