SEO
Seo, is an abbreviation for Search Engine Optimization, as you can see it is just the first letter from each of the words in the term Search Engine Optimization.
So now that we have cleared that up, just what is SEO?
Well, basically it is simply a term used to describe the way a web master, presents his or her web page/s to be found and listed by the different Search Engines, such as Google, Yahoo or MSN for example.
Why would they do that?
Well when a person puts a web site on the internet they are usually hoping that other people will visit their web site. The main way that people get visitors are via the Search Engines. There are other ways to attract visitors such as posting articles as well as releasing press releases, but these are usually short term solutions to getting traffic, as soon as the article or press release is of no interest, then of course no one will visit your web site. In this paragraph l introduced a new term "traffic", which is the terminology used for visitors on the internet by web site owners.
Let's look at traffic from the Search Engines.
I will only be looking at traffic from the Search Engines, as that is what I know about the most. But before we start, it is vital that we know what the function of a Search engine is. The main reason that this is vital, in case you are wondering, is that if we do not understand what a Search engines function is, then we have no logical basis to work from.
1. A Search Engine is like a complex data base, which Searches the internet and catalogues it's results into different Categories (called Keyword/s), based on the different Search terms used by the people looking for things.
2. To deliver the most relevant results to the searcher, based on what the Search Engine has Cataloged, for the term which the Searcher or Surfer has typed into the Search Field.
Basically that is all a search engines function is. Notice, I did say basically.
We now have a Basic point to work from.
SEO is all about making your web page/s relevant to the Search Engine/s as well as useful to the Searcher or Web Surfer, depending on the terminology you use. From here on I will refer to both the Web Surfer and Searcher as the End User. This term is simply referring to the person Using the Search Engine to find something, hence the term End User.
Ok, it is time for an example;
A person (Donna, who will be our End User in this example) has a Dog which is as lovable as can be, but it lacks any form of proper training. So after coming home from work and finding that her beloved dog has dug up yet another plant in the back yard, as well as totally killing yet another pair of fluffy slippers from the bedroom. This is the fifth pair of slippers that Fido has done this to in 3 months, it also about the twentieth plant that he has dug up and killed. To be fair to Fido we will not mention his other mister meaners. After tidying up the mess and telling Fido that he is a bad dog for the umpteenth time, Donna decides that she must seek help in training Fido before it is too late, as her approach is not working.
Donna decides to have a look on the internet to see if she can find any information to help her train Fido. After her computer has fired up and she opens her Browser she types in Dog Training, in the Search Box, and is immediately presented with a list of web pages to look at that are considered to be relevant to her query by the Search Engine. After looking at several of the web sites she decides to change her request, and so types, free dog training advice, into the search box. Once again Donna looks through the results seeking the information she feels will solve her problem. We will leave Donna here.
Ok in the above example we have an End User (being Donna in this case), looking for information or a product that will solve a problem she is facing. The term she types into the Search Box, Dog Training, the first time and free dog training advice, the second time. These terms are referred to as Search Terms, by the Search Engine/s. They are also called Keyword/s by both the Search Engine/s as well as the Web Master/s ( those building the Web Sites, this term carries, be it their first or 400th web site that they have made)
Sorry if it is a bit confusing up till now, but needed to get some different terms in there to give you a good idea of how this all works. If you can get hold of this properly from the beginning, it will make your SEO efforts a lot more rewarding. At least in time and effort compared to the effectiveness of your efforts. Ok let's bring it together.
You want to build a Web Site that is about Dog Training (replace Dog Training, with whatever your site will be about), so of course you are interested in attracting End Users, who are interested in Dog Training. It makes sense so far but will it be worth your time and effort? I will show you how to have a look at these factors as well as getting a rough idea at how hard it will be here. So "Dog Training" is our "Keyword" term and is what we will focus on.
But for now, lets assume that it is worth our time and effort to Optimize for. so, how do we do it?
First off we need to know that there are two distinct areas when it comes to SEO
1. On page Optimization
2. Off Page Optimization
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