An Honest Search Engine Optimization For Dummies Guide

Is There such A Thing As Search Engine Optimization For Dummies?

Every subject, or so it seems, has a dummies guide to it and so why should search engine optimization for dummies be an exception – there are innumerable websites on this subject. While most of these sites do contain some amount of valuable information (Google’s advice is the best) the fact that everyone has different opinions on how to go about the process of optimization can lead to a lot of confusion in the mind of the “dummy.” There are, however, some issues on which there appears to be general agreement and this is where any search engine optimization for dummies should begin. There are two simple steps that need to be followed to get a beginner on the road to search engine optimization.

Keywords are the essence of search engine optimization as everyone knows, but what many search engines optimization for dummies guides neglect to tell you is that search engines have learned to notice when keywords are used only for the purpose of attracting their attention. First of all begin by ensuring that the content of your webpage is well written, concise and relevant – there is no point getting your webpage high in the results if people who come there are put off by the way your material is presented. After getting your material together use a program like Google’s AdWords to help you find the right keywords for your site and then make sure that you use these keywords in such a way that they fit naturally into the text and do not appear to be forced into place. A good thumb rule to keep in mind is to make sure your keywords are as short and simple as possible.

When adding keywords to your content be careful about “stuffing”- the forced use of keywords just to attract search engine attention because engines can now spot this and then the websites are blocked out of the search results so limit your keyword density to around 3%. In case the keywords are such that they are common phrases or words that fit into the text as part of normal usage, you can think of a higher density, but be careful of stuffing. Make sure that you use the keywords in your page title and in the headers and sub headers as most search engines place greater importance on keywords used in these places. Also use keywords as links to other pages of the site as these are also noticed by the search engines.

If you follow these two simple steps, you are on your way to optimizing your website but remember that this is only search engine optimization for dummies and there is a lot more you need to learn, something you can do as you develop your online business.

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