By: Arthur Cooper
Submitted: 2011-05-24 23:20:17 | Word Count: 664
This is also known as Search Engine Optimization (SEO). This means optimizing your website for maximum visibility on search engines while keeping your site user friendly. There are a few ways to achieve a good position on a search engine results pages. Many users opt for the pay per click (PPC) method, while others prefer SEO.
PPC
[ advertisement ]
This is an internet advertising strategy that is used to direct traffic to your website by paying the search engines whenever your ad is clicked. You bid on the keyword phrases that are most relevant to your niche market. Keywords are very competitive and tend to get more expensive as the demand and competition increases.
The downside to PPC is that the results tend to be short term. If you are outbid for a keyword, your ad might lose its position in search results. To continue to bid on keywords that may only offer limited visibility can be costly and fruitless. Also, average CPC (cost per click) will always go up due to the nature of online competition. A more effective strategy for you might be SEO.
SEO
SEO is the process of improving your website’s visibility in organic search results. This means that your site’s ranking on a search engine results page may be achieved using unpaid methods.
1. Content
The key to being recognized by search engines is to always have fresh, targeted and relevant content. The content on your site should be updated regularly and directly pertain to your niche. Use your content as a way to keep your users informed about your products or services. Do your research. If you were a user searching for your products or services, what would you want to know? Provide that information. Make sure that the content on your page is simple and concise. The more relevant your content, the more time a user will potentially spend on your site. This gives you a better opportunity to convert the user into a customer.
1. On-Site Optimization
To have a search engine friendly site, your website must be easy to navigate. All links on your site should work properly, the design of your site should be aesthetically pleasing and your content should be easy to read. Your title tags and meta descriptions should be relevant to your site’s content.
It is recommended that you use a content management system (CMS) such as WordPress to build your site. These systems notify search engines every time the content on your page is updated. (dynamic sitemaps and RSS pinging)
3. Off-Site Optimization
An important facet of successful SEO is link building. Search engines view links to your site as votes. If these votes are coming from reputable sites, this could affect your ranking in search engine results. Be sure to avoid link patterns, linking profiles and reciprocal linking strategies. Search engines might identify these links as spam and this could affect your rankings negatively.
1. Conversion Optimization
Users that land on your page should respond to a call to action. Sometimes it takes testing different variations of your page to see what user’s respond to best. This could take time and lots of trial and error, so be patient. It is worth it when you find what works.
For more information on PPC and SEO, contact the professionals at Optimum7 today!
