SEO SimplifiedBeginner’s Basics

SEO Simplified

• Definitions: SEO terms to know• Benefits: Why it’s good for your business• First Steps: Getting started– Evaluation– On Page– Off Page

• Example of Success• Keys to SEO Success

SEO Definitions

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)- Actions and improvements to increase traffic from search engines like Google and Bing.

SEO Definitions

• Keyword- The word or phrase that a user enters into a search engine

• Link- An element on a web page that can be clicked on to cause the browser to jump to another page or another part of the current page

• XML Sitemap- A directory of a site just to help search engine spiders to find all of the site pages

• Spider- (Bot or Crawler) A specialized bot used by search engines to find and add web pages to their indexes

SEO Definitions

• White Hat- Ethical, search engine accepted practices and actions

• Black Hat- Actions that are not allowed or appropriate according to search engines

• Gray Hat- Questionable practices that may work but are not endorsed by search engines

SEO Definitions

• On Page- Optimization of your content and code including title tags, xml sitemaps, etc.

• Off Page- keyword-rich content that directs traffic to your website using proper links and social media

Benefit of SEO for Business

• More Impressions on Search Engines

– More Clicks

• More Visits

– More Leads

»More Business

First Steps: Getting Started

• Evaluation

• On Page

• Off Page

Evaluation On Page Off Page

First Steps: Evaluation

• Refer to your website analytics– Google Analytics is Free

• Reports to create– Traffic Sources– Keyword Report – Top Pages

• Record your chosen keywords and top pages– These are two focuses while optimizing

Google Analytics Dashboard

First Steps: On Page

• Search your site for your chosen keywords– Are they in the code (title tags, meta tags, etc)?– Are they in your content?

Result:• “Yes!” – Great job. Move onto Off Page

• “No.” – Add your chosen keywords to your code and content, but not conspicuously. “Keyword Stuffing” is Black Hat

http://www.rankedhard.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/Stuffing-Keywords-637x812.jpg

Meta Data Example

<meta name="description" content="SmartPay by Onsharp is a powerful, flexible, enterprise-level online billing and Invoicing system designed to save your business time and money. " />

<meta name="keywords" content="web based billing solution,web based billing system,web based invoicing solution,web based invoicing system,electronic billing solution,electronic billing system,paperless billing solution,paperless billing system,online invoicing solution,online invoicing system,online billing solution,online billing system,web based billing,web based invoicing,Paperless billing,electronic billing,online billing,online invoicing" />

First Steps: Off Page

• Go to www.getlisted.org – Are you listed?

• “Yes!” Great job. • “No.” Get listed.

• List the social media pages (for your business)– Not using social media?

• Visit www.socialmention.com. – Where are you being talked about? Facebook? Twitter?

– Choose a frequency and participate• Post/Tweet your content and pages• Respond to comments, likes, retweets…

Example of Success• College Nannies and Tutors– Both On Page and Off Page Campaigns– 8 keywords in the #1-3 positions of page 1– 19 keywords on the 1st page– 18% more visits this month than one year ago– 48% of total traffic from Search Engines

Keys to SEO Success

• Do not use Black Hat techniques– Search Engines like Google block sites that use

disallowed practices• Produce great content– Readers will share your link which is White Hat link

building (Off Page)• When in doubt, ask for help– Google it, research it, call an expert

Resources and More Info

• www.seomoz.org• www.google.com/analytics• www.socialmention.com• www.getlisted.org• www.onsharp.com