What is SEO?

What puts a web page at the top of the major search engines? If it were a cut-and-dried formula like a $29.95 software package, this would be all anyone would need. But alas, 'tis not so! One technique, proven time and again, is known as SEO, or Search Engine Optimization. What is SEO?

A fast page is better than a slow page. Fast means using the fewest images wherever applicable, and only optimized .gif and .jpg. Fast means using HTML colors and DHTML styles instead of Graphics or Images wherever possible. Fast means using the cleanest HTML or PHP/ASP coding possible, with the quickest/fewest Database Accesses to get the job done.

Keyword-Intensive Body Copy is better than rambling, meaningless prose. Every word should have a meaning - terseness counts for brownie points. Within the bounds of decent grammar or semantics, use the choice keywords to match the metatags for your selected search terms and demographics. If you need prose, link to it from your clipped, keyword intensive Search Engine Optimized page.

Metatags are one of the mechanisms whereby your site is indexed by internet 'robots' - little programs that scan web pages looking for, among other things, Meta Tags. In the Keywords and Description Meta Tags, we recommend only the minimum needed to market to your demographic - and definitely do not put your competitors' names in your Metatags!

And finally, Search Engine Submission. Again, the handy-dandy $29.95 programs are offered by the spam-mongers to solve all your submission problems. They promise to market your site at over 32,129 international search engines. Okay - name them... No, for the most part, they send your site to what is known as FFA or Free For All sites - repositories of banners and spam which post any links and advertising text in return for your email address, which is promptly spammed by every other poster to the FFA site.

We don't recommend these quickie pseudo-solutions. Real Business Web Solutions require manual submission to the handful of search engines that really matter. Not the Dutch Agricultural Federation Search Engine and the like that are used to bulk up to the 32,129 search engines by the $29.95 wonder.