The 10 Commandments of SEO

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It is the process by which you design your website to rank high in search engine results. While many assume that this can be accomplished by taking shortcuts, this is most definitely not the case. In fact, a well-created website has the potential of ranking higher in search engines than a poorly constructed one if done correctly.

It is important to note that the rankings you see in search engines have nothing to do with the size of your budget or the number of ads you buy. It has everything to do with how well your website is designed and how appropriate it is for specific keywords. The following tips will help you on your way to achieving excellent results with SEO:

1. Create content that users want.

Before anything else, you'll want to create content that users want. What's the point of putting ads on all of your pages if they are not relevant to users? If you want your site visitors to stay on your site, it's important to create content that they want to see. Focus on long-term profits and building an audience over instant gratification.

2. Make navigation easy for users.

People have become accustomed to using search engines to find what they are looking for online, so make it as easy as possible for them to do just that. Users don't want to spend a lot of time searching for something; they want to find it immediately.

3. Create unique content.

No one wants to read duplicate, generic articles online, so take the time to write original content for your website. Don't plagiarize, and make sure that each article is well-researched and relevant to your audience.

4. Target keywords that your audience is searching for.

You must know if your users are searching for something when they come to your website, because you want to attract them in the first place. Keep tabs on what your users are interested in and run searches on Google to find out which keywords they use most frequently. Once you have used these keywords in the title, topic, and url of your page; you can use them again with more keywords throughout the page.

5. Create search-friendly URLs.

Using keywords in your URL might help you to appear higher on search engines, but it will also make it harder for users to navigate your site. To deal with this problem, keep the keywords flowing throughout the page but take them out of the URL in a way that makes sense. For instance:

www.example.com/seo-keywords-for-example.html

www.example.com/keyword-in-url.html

6. Create a site map or sitemap to show search engines the structure of your site.

Use the keywords that you use throughout the site in the sitemap (a document that lists all of the pages on your website) to help search engines determine if they can display those pages more easily than others on their results pages, thus increasing your rankings in search engines.

7. Use the appropriate internal and external links within your site.

You shouldn't just put the same keywords on every page of your website and expect them to help your SEO; you should use the keywords in natural ways throughout each page of your site. This can include linking out to other websites (but only if they are relevant) to link back to some of your pages as well as linking in to pages on your own site.

8. Create a blog that is regularly updated with good content.

Make sure that your blog is updated regularly with useful and relevant content. Your readers should feel as if they are getting new information on a regular basis. If you don't have time to blog often, get others involved in building your blog by allowing them to submit their own posts regularly.

9. If possible, create an RSS feed for your site so users can subscribe to the latest information you provide online.

It's not a bad idea to create an RSS feed if you would like your site to be regularly updated with news and content. This will help drive traffic to your website, attract users, and keep them coming back for more.

10. Use a sitemap script or other automated tools to help site visitors find the information they want from your site faster.

After you have created your sitemap and submitted it to search engines, it's always a good idea to use an automated script or tool to help users find what they are looking for on your site. This can include creating a menu of all the main pages in your site, including some of the more popular related content.

When you craft your website with these tips in mind, you will be well on your way to achieving excellent results with SEO.

If you are enjoying this article please check the SEO Secrets for Coupon Website.

Alex Joe is a content marketer & journalist who formerly worked out of Flix Expo. He writes eBooks, which considering where you’re reading this, makes really perfect sense from his kin