tags efficiently (they show up in Google search results). Use <h1> and <p> tags to structure your prose. 7. No short cuts You can't fool the search engines. Try, and you're liable to get caught out. Instead, focus on getting the basics right. Create good, relevant content. Structure it well. Fill it with links. Become part of the wider internet community, and your site will thrive in the long run.



Seven ways to make your web site more search engine friendly

1. Remember the web is different

Don't treat your web site like just another piece of marketing material.
The web is not the same as print, and it's a mistake to create web sites
as if they are just online versions of your brochure. Everything about
the site needs to be considered from a different perspective, and
created afresh. It's not a waste of time; it's an investment.

2. Establish your credibility

Be an authority on your area of expertise. Write up what you know about
your business; if you have opinions about your sector, your industry,
and your place within it all, share them. Don't be afraid to be
controversial (but don't be controversial just for the sake of it).

3. Use words and phrases that people will search for

Ordinary people search the web using ordinary English - not acronyms or
industry jargon. If you write your content to reflect the way people
think and speak, your pages are more likely to show up in search engine
results pages.

4. Make your site link-worthy

Google ranks your site's authority on a number of factors, but one of
them is the authority of sites that link to yours. You cannot expect
other site owners to link to you; but if you link to them, and if you
make your site interesting and compelling, there's a good chance they
will. And that will boost your Google performance.

5. Keep stuff visible

Don't be tempted to stick a load of keywords hidden on your page, in the
hope that you'll get more traffic. Google classifies this at cheating,
and will ban you from search results if it catches you.

6. Clean code matters

Ensure your web developers build a site that has semantic meaning for
computers as well as humans. Structure your data so that it is
meaningful - make sensible use of dates, locations and names. Proper use
of standard HTML tags helps a lot. Use <title> tags efficiently (they
show up in Google search results). Use <h1> and <p> tags to structure
your prose.

7. No short cuts

You can't fool the search engines. Try, and you're liable to get caught
out. Instead, focus on getting the basics right. Create good, relevant
content. Structure it well. Fill it with links. Become part of the wider
internet community, and your site will thrive in the long run.