V. SEO: Improving Your Search Engine Rankings

Once your website is indexed in the search engines, you are ready to move to the next step of improving your rankings. Improving your rankings is important and it is something you need to address on a regular basis. A site can only move one way in the search engines – either up or down.

SEO Tip #1: Create GREAT Content

Generating great content for your site is not as difficult as it sounds. Simply write valuable content that you feel is relevant to your potential customers. Are you selling a ‘Do it Yourself” Divorce Packet? If so, you may want to write articles on how to help children get through a divorce, How to Avoid Polarizing Your Children, How to Divorce and Stay Friends, Things to Consider Before Getting Divorced, etc.

SEO Tip #2: Proper Titling

When I say proper titling, I am referring to the title of your articles. Make sure they are short, concise, and accurately describe the content of your article. If you can make your article title keyword rich (include keywords you are targeting), you will end up indexing better.

SEO Tip #3: Proper Tags

I recommend tagging content with two to three relevant tags. These keywords should be synonymous with what your primary keyword is. For example, I would target an article on “Best Places to Mountain Bike” with “Mountain Biking, Mountain Biking Destinations”, etc.

SEO Tip #4: Site Map

You should have your website design include a DYNAMIC site map. This means that the site map should automatically update whenever new pages are added to the site. The site map is to the search engines what a table of contents is to you when you read a book. It tells them what is on the site. From there, they verify. that is why it is critical to make sure that you are honest with the search engines about what is on your website.

SEO Tip #5: Back Links

Generating back links is key for your site to rank well in the search engines. It is essentially a ‘popularity contest’ for websites. If other sites link to yours, the search engines assume that your content is both accurate and relevant. Therefore, it is often the sites with the best back links that rank well in search engines. No friends? Sorry, no invite to the party. Go out and make friends(back links). Everything from commenting on blogs to forums to press releases are a great way to increase the relevance of your website. However, just like joining a fraternity or sorority – don’t pay for your friends. What we refer to as ‘link farms’ are extremely frowned upon by search engines and can get your website flagged. Avoid the temptation for the ‘easy fix’ and get genuine back links.

SEO Tip #6: Popularity

While it sounds a little ironic, the more popular your site is (traffic wise), the more your site will increase in the search engines. So, in the beginning stages, ask your friends and family to regularly visit your website.