Is Your Site Search Engine Ready?

There’s a lot that goes into making a site ready for the search engines – not to mention the people that use them.  But how do you know you’re getting the best possible exposure?  Here’s what to look for (and what to avoid) when it comes to making your site shine in the search engines.

1.  Simple Sites Work Best – Even something as simple as a basic two-column design with links on the left and content on the right can be a search engine jackpot.

If possible, avoid using fancy navigation menus (search engines can’t read the scripts that make those menus possible), extensive Flash graphics (search engines can’t “see” graphics) and other techie bells and whistles.  They might dazzle visitors the first time, but they’re a huge roadblock for the search engines.

2.  Create Compelling Content – That’s not to say you should jump right to the sales pitch (people hate being “sold to”) or cram your copy with hype – but rather you should focus on the visitor and what you can do for them.  Search engines eagerly swallow up good, relevant content – and they know if your site doesn’t have any.

Did you know that many search engines base their ranking results on how long people stay on your site?  That’s right, they can track that too.  If your visitor immediately senses a sales pitch, you can bet they’ll leave your site as quickly as they came. 

Don’t be reluctant or afraid to share details about your product.  Give them proof that it works, create a video demonstration, tell them about how it will improve their lives somehow.

It could be as simple as “we make beautiful scented candles that make your home smell wonderful!  Your guests will compliment you on that lovely scent — the kind that’s “just right”, not too overpowering, but not too faint either!”

3.  Do Your Keyword Research – Go to http://freekeywords.wordtracker.com and see what people are searching for relating to what your site is about.  Don’t be surprised if the top 3-5 phrases are very simple. 

Look beyond the “most searched” items to see what else people are looking for, and include this text in the content you write, as well as in your website’s headlines and title.  Ask your web designer for help if you’re unsure how to do this.

4.  Be Linkworthy – Once your site starts to appear in the search engines and your ranking grows, you will likely get the attention of other website owners wanting you to link to their pages as well (this helps them get a higher ranking too). 

Be sure that if you want to do this, that the site requesting the link isn’t a direct competitor of yours, and that the site has quality content and information – just like your own.  It’s okay to be choosy about who and where you exchange links.  Consider it like giving out your phone number! 

Linking to unprofessional sites tells visitors and search engines alike that you “really don’t care” about where your pages show up – so they’ll return the favor by “really not caring” about where you rank! 

By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll help get your site noticed in no time – and you’ll make the best possible impression on your visitors as well!   If you’d like to have your site made search engine ready by the web professionals, click here and tell us more about your business for a free quote!

Recommended Tools and Resources

• Add Audio to Your Website
• Wordpress Tutorials