Steps for Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is a rather involved process that you must follow through to ensure that your Internet business is getting results and revenues. Without SEO, you may as well close your virtual doors and go home. This is the most vital means by which you can direct traffic to your site, and so it is critically important that you understand at least the basic steps in the process to optimize your ranking with the search engines. Here are basic steps you will need to follow.


1. Know your competition. You will need to find out everything you can about who else is in the same market as you. Perform searches to collect information. Repeat this process often, using up-to-date search terms. New businesses open all the time. You don't want to miss a new competitor.


2. Gather a list of keywords. You can go online and obtain massive lists of keywords that are used all the time. Put together the list according to the words that will have the most impact on your site.


3. Find ways to combine the keywords you've selected. The more combinations you can incorporate into the content of your site, the better will be your results.


4. Modify the content of your website. Change headlines, labels, and content throughout your site to enhance the capabilities of your site to draw in highly directed traffic.



5. Refine your keyword list often. Knowing that the Internet is ever-evolving, you must stay on top of what words will have the most impact. Make changes asnecessary to keep on the top of the ranking lists.



6. Make sure that your URL is added to the top search engines. The last thing you want to do is be missed because one of the majors didn't know you were there. Keep on top of this. Know which search engines are most popular.


7. Keep track of your results. Just like grades in school, the rankings you achieve will tell you how well you're doing and how much you need to improve for that A+. Analyze whatever information you can collect and constantly work to improve your results.


8. Repeat the process. Over and over again, you will need to redo all of these steps, keeping in mind that the competition is doing the same. Always look for innovative ways to improve your results. Sticking with the same old stuff all the time is not how giants are made.


This is a relatively basic illustration of the process you need to follow to optimize your search engine results. There are certainly more ways to fine-tune your site's rankings. However, for the purpose of getting started, this list should serve to put you on the path toward higher search engine rankings.