SEO Optimization - Research With Search Engines

Research will be the first step to take in any project, especially if you plan to rely on the search engines. You want to be successful in an opened and very competitive environment, so you must find out more about search engines and competition.

The search engines will be your tools in this phase - look for similar web sites, click on "View Source" and carefully study their Meta Tags, scripts and appearance (of course, you should study the pages placed on top of the search engines results pages).

As hard it may seem to believe, most of the web pages on the Internet do not consider some essential concepts of website & SEO optimization, which make a web site known and easily accessible to as many visitors as possible. By reading my optimization e-book you'll make sure that you have what it takes to outrun from the start half of them. Then creatively apply what you learn in this f_ree website & SEO optimization ebook about how to "please" the search engines, in order to outrun most of the other half. Beware that it also means some work from your side - website & SEO optimization aren't "easy to crack nuts".

You want to be present in the top positions of the search engines results pagesbecause you have something to offer to people. Therefore you must make your web site easy-to-find, easy-to-view and easy to browse. Bottom line: you must learn and apply the website & SEO optimization principles, tips and techniques you learn here.
Let's assume that you have a general idea about how Internet and search engines work (after all, you've managed to find my online SEO optimization guide, probably by using a search engine). While you go on with the planning and research phase of your project, keep in mind that:

Your site must be easily accessible to search engines and human visitors

A loading (display delay) time of 4-5 seconds is acceptable according to some website optimization specialists; more than this can make your visitor click the "Back" button in his browser's window. This is an important issue of website SEO optimization, so don't overlook it! Make your homepage compact and stiking: it must load fast and determine the visitor to click on the other sections / pages of your site.

According to website SEO optimization postulates, it is a wise think to keep your homepage size (scripts + content + graphics) around 10 - 15 Kbytes, even smaller if possible. This way it will be accessible even via a 28.8 Kbps dial-up connection. Some details about how you can try to achieve this result - in chapter 3 of this online website optimization guide. There are lots of freeware sites which offer f_ree downloads of tools that can help you minimize your page's size. Whatever "freeones" you decide to use, the most important thing is to understand the concept of website optimization in terms of "file size".

The site must be easy navigable for visitors as well as for search engines

"Keep navigation clear and easy" say website SEO optimization specialists: clear links to all the sections of your site. A good idea is to have a short description of each section on your homepage. Visitors will know what to expect if they click on a link and will probably have more patience before the targeted web page is loaded. Search engines will "appreciate" if the links to other sections of your web site are placed near relevant keywords. Another good idea is to have a "Site map" showing the exact structure and hierarchy of your web site's sections. See chapter 3 and "DUDI's F_ree Website Optimization Guide" e-book for further reading on this topic.

Meta Tags should be optimized for search engines' robots

Use search engines to find and check the similar web sites. See what is written in their KEYWORDS, TITLE and DESCRIPTION Meta Tags. Note the most common keywords (for example a site that offers freeware and it is well ranked will have in the KEYWORDS Tag words like freeones, freeware, free downloads). From the search engines point of view, the most important Meta Tags are "Title" and "Keywords"; keep in mind though that "Description" might be important in terms of quick information delivered on search engines results pages.

You should consider having a free downloads section on your web site

Lots of queries people make on search engines contain the word "free". Web efficiency is also about finding free tools to do your job. In the SEO optimization research phase of your project you can also look for "freeones" that you can distribute on your site. You can attract people and even ask them to register if you offer them some free downloads or at least a link to a web site with quality freeware. Search the net for this kind of sites, but be sure that you clarify all the copyright and free distribution issues involved, before using any of these "freeones". You can find links to sites with freeware or other free downloads in the extended version of my F_ree Website Optimization Guide e-book.

Research with search engines is a first step you must take before you do anything else in your SEO optimization project. Next step: webdesign - design your site to be optimized right from the start.