Is this the basics of SEO you learnt so far?

Let me give you some clear SEO basics that is been preached all over web. This is the same rehashed lessons that is circulated in different avatars, so far.

In SEO the same myths is blindly followed & many of us have got used to it! So just revising some of those SEO basics here once again doesn't waste your time. Believe me! you have to read this post to really know how many times you have been lied regards to search engine optimization. I admit no to be an exception here.

So lets get started:

" Any web developer worth his salt should know about search engine optimization or SEO.

This is the key towards building an effective web site that would get a lot of hits and visitors. A web site that nobody visits is useless so the challenge lies in leading Internet users to visit your web site.

Thus, your web site need to be "found" when users type in keywords in search engines such as Google, Yahoo, MSN, Altavista, AOL and others.

Once a keyword relating to the products or services that you offer is keyed into a search engine, a direct link to your web site should emerge on top of the list.

You should employ search engine optimization techniques to lead traffic your way, and get more hits that would later on lead to more profit for your company, which is your goal in the first place.

Here are some tips on how you can make it to the top of the list of search engines, and use your SEO techniques to benefit your web site and your company:

1. If you have an existing web site and domain, just optimize the one that you currently have instead of purchasing a new domain.

It will take some time before your web site will show up in a particular search engine, like Google, so it better to use the one that you currently have instead of switching to a new one. (Myth No.1)!

2. Know who your target audience is and aim for them.

If you are in the manufacturing industry and a user types in your product in a search engine, then you would immediately have your target right in front of you.

As soon as the user hits the Enter button or clicks on 'Search', then the person will be lead to your web site.

Make sure that your target market will get 'hooked' on your web site. Once the search engines show the link to your web site, their job is done.

What you should do next is to make sure that your visitor will not leave your web site without them trying out your products or services, or at least leaving some pertinent information so that you can contact them in the future for marketing and advertising purposes.

When hitting a particular target market, learn about their interests, location and age to have an idea of what you can offer them in return.

Also, you can somehow link their interests to your products and services.

3. Search for the right keyword.

You should be creative, persistent and flexible when looking for the keyword or keyword phrases to use in optimizing your web site.

Google and Yahoo offer some tools and tips on how you can come up with keywords that will yield results.

Do not settle for just one keyword. You can also vary the words and phrases that you use for each page on your web site so that you can have more hits.

4. Consider your target market when designing your web site.

The design itself would include the general theme of the web site. You should also pay attention to smaller details such as color and font style and size.

Make sure that the web site is user-friendly and do not forget to insert helpful articles, tips, hints and related links that can be shared to other users.

It is a good thing to have an option to send a link or an article to a friend, which will add more users and increase your client base.

There should also be various ways to browse through your web site, to fit each user.

A person might find it to difficult use the scroll down option so you should also provide hyperlinks which are accessible to them.

5. Concentrate on the web site content.

Regularly update the content of your web site so that old and new users can find something new when browsing through your site.

Make the content brief and precise. Writing a content which has more than 600 words will make the users lose interest ( here's one more!), since most of them do not actually read but just skim through the text.

Strive to be the best and most comprehensive web site and you will make your mark when it comes to information about the products and services that you offer.

It helps a lot to pay attention to detail, too.

Finally, keeping your web site's content updated is a must. ( here's again).

Spread the word about your web site and use the basic search engine optimization techniques and you will surely gain positive results once users visit your web site..."

I'll stop it here. Now, let me give you some weird examples of that is exactly opposite to the above statements.

Repeat: " The design itself would include the general theme of the web site. You should also pay attention to smaller details such as color and font style and size." Just take a look at Craiglist website which is pageranked 8! Does this site look fancy? Did I mention that I always felt how this site is ranked such high in spite of its looks?

It's vitally important to have the keywords that you want to rank for in your domain name.

My good friend Jonathan Leger, has answer for it, I have reproduced the email he sent to me here:

"...I was asked today whether or not it's vitally important to have the keywords that you want to rank for in your domain name.

The answer is no. Surprised? Let me prove it.

Search Engine

That link will take you to Google's search results for the keywords "search engine". The top 10 ranking sites are:

1. altavista.com
2. dogpile.com
3. en.wikipedia.org
4. search.yahoo.com
5. search.live.com
6. searchengineguide.com
7. searchenginecolossus.com
8. searchenginewatch.com
9. searchengineshowdown.com
10. submitexpress.com

Of the top 10, only 4 of the ranking domain names contain the phrase "search engine". The top 5 don't, and the top 3 don't have either the word "search" OR the word "engine" in their domain.

Here's a more "down to earth" example:

Old Time Radio

That link will give you Google's top 10 results for "old time radio", a far less competitive set of keywords. Here are the top 10 sites:

1. radiolovers.com
2. otr.net
3 & 4. old-time.com
5. oldtimeradiofans.com
6. otr.com
7. otrcat.com
8. archive.org
9. en.wikipedia.org
10. rusc.com

Notice that of the top 10 ranking sites, only one has the phrase "old time radio" in the domain name.

Does this mean that you shouldn't use your keywords in your domain name? Of course not! If it makes sense to do so, do so. And, infact, it might help give you a little nudge in Google.

But the reality is that it's all about the links. If you have more quality in-bound links than your competititor, even if your domain name is completely unrelated to the search terms you will outrank the other site...."( Source: Jon's email content)

How true he would have been in his justification? 100% right! If you ever had come across his websites, you will know how much SEO he has done to rank well in search engines. He's simply genius & amazing when it comes to SEO. It's not a farce upon me when I say most SEO wizards out there pretended to be experts when Jon has never claimed himself to be one! Yet he has his own studies & discoveries reagrds to search engines than many of his peers.

A time has just arrived. What you learnt so far is passé. What you're about to learn is timeless. Put yourself forward to push yourself towards the end-of-the-tunnel. you'll witness a light that's going to enlighten you with true knowledge and it's even priceless! Yes I say that again. It's precious & timeless irrespective of at what level you get your hands on it.

It's time for you to start with a new basics of search engine optimization. Head start from here => Search Engine Myths Exposed if you seriously crave about it. It's absolutely free. But the lessons are really priceless.

To your success

Vishnu ( And not to forget Jonathan Leger, who has made possible to pass his hard-found revealings to aspiring SEO's)