SEO Basics
If you don't already know, SEO stands for "search engine optimization."
First - How search engines work
When you type "Homes for sale in Lafayette" into Google you may think that Google, or Google's computers are actively searching the entire internet for your result and then getting back to you in a matter of seconds. It happens so fast right? Actually, Google spends every second of every minute searching the internet, adding that info into an "index" and then searching that "index" of internet content after you type in your query. Because Google indexes your page before your clients do their search, it is VERY important that your page is optimized in such a way that Google is more likely to see it, look through it and ultimately give you the highest page ranking possible.
Once Google "ranks" your page your website will appear in the same relative order on Google, with some sites ranked higher and some sites ranked lower until one of the following occurs;
1. Your website's page ranking changes
2. Other website's page ranking changes
Increasing your Google page ranking is the key to SEO. The better website Google thinks you have, the higher it will rank your page. Understanding which factors Google (and to a lesser extent other search engines) analyzes when ranking your page will make or break your online presence.
How it works
SEO is the step-by-step process whereby a web developer systematically analyzes the ability of search engines (like Google and Yahoo)to find your website; thusly determining the ability for internet users to find your website.
The first step in optimizing your website is learning more about Google. Here are some factors that Google looks at when indexing your page;
1. How old and how many years are left on your domain name [domains licensed for 2,3 or 5 years are better than 1 year]
2. What your metadata is [page title, website description, metadata keywords are VERY IMPORTANT ]
3. How many inbound links exist on the internet [ if the link www.yourwebsite.com is already on another website that's great!]
4. How "new" your content is [small changes to your page really help]
5. Does your website have a blog [if your website is wordpress based your website IS a blog]
6. Do other users click on your website in the Google search results
7. Link popularity - A measure of the quantity and quality of other web sites that link to your site. [see item 3. above]
One really great inexpensive tool out there is Hubspot's FREE webgrader tool. This tool will analyze you and your competitors' websites based on about twenty different factors, including the above six. The report can be a little complicated, but there are many resources out there on the internet to help you understand what words like metadata, bounce rate and reciprocal linking all mean.
If you have further questions please contact me.
If you do not want to receive e-mails in the future fear not, this is not a well developed direct marketing campaign; it is just one business owner reaching out to other business owners trying to spread some free information on how to get more leads to your website. Converting those leads and making sure they are qualified in the first place will be another article coming in the future.
If you want one hour of FREE CONSULTING, give me a call and we can meet for an initial one hour consultation. During this meeting we can discuss where your business is now, where you want your business to be tomorrow and what steps you can start taking today that are EASY and FREE to help you get new clients. Or you can pick my brain for an hour, get $75.00 of free consulting and we'll go our separate ways.
In closing and if you have read the entire e-mail thank you for your time and STAY POSITIVE, attitude is a choice...:)
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Best Regards,
Paul Hitchings, founder
www.hitchingsconsulting.com
direct: 925.708.3570
efax: 925.215.1404
skype: hitchings.consulting
