Search Engine Optimization

A bit of background

Search Engine Optimization is an integral part of having a website built and is often over looked when budgeting for a new site. The actual definition of Search Engine Optimization is still quite woolly because it's a relatively new industry. Our understanding of it is to prepare a website for submission to Search Engines, typically targeted at a number of specific keywords (e.g. web design Milton Keynes), the idea being that if someone does a search for 'web design agency in Milton Keynes' on one of the major search engines ( Yahoo, Google, MSN, Ask Jeeves etc.) then we would be near the top of the results list.

Of course, for some keywords a prominent ranking is going to be easier to achieve than others. For example, achieving a high ranking with a term like 'web design company' is going to be a hapless task because there are so many companies trying to get listed for that phrase. However, 'web design company in Milton Keynes' should help narrow the results.

The balance then is to find search terms that are going to provide enough traffic and get a prominent ranking.

The methods used by Search Engines to index websites change regularly, so continual monitoring and alteration is the only way to ensure that a prominent ranking is retained.

The Google Sandbox...

The dreaded Google sandbox. As with anything Google-related, this is based on opinions not facts. However, any new website that is registered with Google will suffer from poor organic search results. Fundamentally, the sandbox is Google's way of combating the spam sites that are set up with the sole purpose of building back links to a main site. So all new domain names are basically put into a deep freeze for around 3-6 months until they are satisfied that it is a genuine site and not set up for 'cloak and dagger' SEO techniques.

Pay per Click

Paying for links to your website is a common way of gaining a prominent position for a particular search term when your site is not set up or targeted properly for that search term or the site is in the aforementioned Google sandbox.

We have picked up recent clients because other local web design agencies are telling them not to optimise their site for the Search Engines and just to use pay per click listings instead - this is absolute rubbish and they are just admitting to the fact that they don't have the know-how to achieve a prominent organic ranking for your site.

The pay per click strategy should be an addition to a well optimised website, not a replacement for it.

Search Engine Optimization is such a complex process that we could build another website purely about the subject - if you need to know more, we suggest you either contact us or visit one of these websites, where you will be bombarded with info!

http://www.searchenginewatch.com

http://www.webmasterworld.com