Answers to a Readers Question About SEO
The other day, I asked everyone What Do YOU Want to Know? Brooke from Snippets n Blurbs asked a couple of questions (I hope I answered the first one in comments Brooke).
The question, which is the subject of this post was:
“This might not be what you want posted here – but I think that people need to know more about SEO – the general stuff. Why it is important, some of the costs associated, not all web designers offer that…etc.”
In order to answer these questions within a question, I will break it down a little bit.
- SEO is an acronym for Search Engine Optimization. In other words, it is how people can best find your site when using Google, Yahoo, MSN or any of the other Search Engines by typing in certain search terms or “Keywords”.
- Cost is not an object. It is free if you think you know how people will try to find the services, articles or products you offer. A suggestion I would make is to try to find your site on SE’s by using different terms to see what you get. Again, it’s free.
- The unasked question is How to go about it. This is where the Meta Tags come in. They are located in the “head” php in the presentation portion of your template.
Most templates will include a Meta Description which is derived from your “tagline”. An example of this would be:
<meta name=”description” content=”<?php bloginfo(‘description’); ?>” />
<meta name=”author” content=”Joe Hauckes / My Computer Back in Service – http://mcbsconsulting.com” />
(you can add your own description in place of the bloginfo, but don’t make it too long)
The other is the Meta Keyword which is where you put words and phrases you think people will use to find you. Another example from MCBS:
<meta name=”keyword”
content=”help,DSL,Setup,php,online,offline,adapt,programs,install,hardware,software,
computer,consulting,internet,” />
Probably the most important is not within tags, but using the right “Keywords” within your content. If you write good content with a good mix of what you want people to find, they will come.
Just remember, none of this happens overnight, it takes time.
