Search Engine Optimization or also referred as SEO is the act in which a website is optimized to gain organic ranking in a search engines result pages. If the site ranks well, a site owner can reap the benefits that of the organic traffic that search engines provide.
Google, Yahoo, and MSN use automated programs known as spiders and robots, which crawl website pages. This precedes the scanning of a page, which is later added to a search engines enormous index. Literally, billions of pages are indexed. When a search request is made, the search engine compares the string to the data stored on the billions of pages in the database. The search engine algorithm calculates the relevancy of the pages in the massive index to the search string that is requested.
Search engines do the following activities:
- Crawling - Indexing - Processing - Relevancy - Retrieve
Search engines use a set of instructions, called an "algorithm" to calculate relevancy of requested search queries. The algorithm are kept in secret by search engines from the public to avoid altering of their search listings. To date, there are over 200 plus factors that contribute to organic search placement. As you've searched on major search engines, you may have noticed similar but not duplicate results with the different search engines. Search engines have there own algorithm with slight differences with listing rules but for the most part, all major search engines follow similar rules when it comes to determining search relevancy.
On Page Optimization
These are factors that can be changed on a site by a web owner is considered on-page optimization. These factors include the density of key terms used on a page, key terms used in the Title, Meta, and Alt tags, the type of support pages and links being used throughout the site. Search engine's algorithm will also consider the strength of a keyword by it's prominence on a web page. Usually, the first 200 words on a page holds more weight than the keywords below it.
Other factors that contribute to a pages optimization are the use of synonyms, videos used, blogs, and the way that top-level sections are structured. The server used, a sites domain name status, site analytics of site bounce rate are other factors that can contribute to how highly or low a page is listed. However, how well a page is optimized only contributes to roughly 30% of an overall SEO strategy. Off-page factors contribute the other 70%.
Off Page Optimization
Factors that can not be altered by a site owner or webmaster is considered off-page optimization. These factors include the type of links pointing back to a website. To search engines, this is considered a vote and the site providing the link is basically vouching for the site they are linking to. The type of links coming into a site will have different weighing factors. It's not uncommon to have most of the inbound links providing absolutely no link value to a site. So, when acquiring links, it's important that a site receives quality links as opposed to quantity of links.
Social media is another off-page strategy that can influence search engine listings. Social media is one of the most popular methods being used today. However, there are so many social media sites online that an individual can become overwhelmed. Building a following through strong viral campaigns can lead to online success via a large influx of traffic and a potentially high number of inbound links.
Search Engine Optimization, while being rewarding, is a difficult strategy to execute of all SEM disciplines. SEO can be time consuming, and the results may not be realized for several months. However, once a site is well optimized and is ranking well in organic search engine traffic, it will have all been worthwhile. - 16069
Google, Yahoo, and MSN use automated programs known as spiders and robots, which crawl website pages. This precedes the scanning of a page, which is later added to a search engines enormous index. Literally, billions of pages are indexed. When a search request is made, the search engine compares the string to the data stored on the billions of pages in the database. The search engine algorithm calculates the relevancy of the pages in the massive index to the search string that is requested.
Search engines do the following activities:
- Crawling - Indexing - Processing - Relevancy - Retrieve
Search engines use a set of instructions, called an "algorithm" to calculate relevancy of requested search queries. The algorithm are kept in secret by search engines from the public to avoid altering of their search listings. To date, there are over 200 plus factors that contribute to organic search placement. As you've searched on major search engines, you may have noticed similar but not duplicate results with the different search engines. Search engines have there own algorithm with slight differences with listing rules but for the most part, all major search engines follow similar rules when it comes to determining search relevancy.
On Page Optimization
These are factors that can be changed on a site by a web owner is considered on-page optimization. These factors include the density of key terms used on a page, key terms used in the Title, Meta, and Alt tags, the type of support pages and links being used throughout the site. Search engine's algorithm will also consider the strength of a keyword by it's prominence on a web page. Usually, the first 200 words on a page holds more weight than the keywords below it.
Other factors that contribute to a pages optimization are the use of synonyms, videos used, blogs, and the way that top-level sections are structured. The server used, a sites domain name status, site analytics of site bounce rate are other factors that can contribute to how highly or low a page is listed. However, how well a page is optimized only contributes to roughly 30% of an overall SEO strategy. Off-page factors contribute the other 70%.
Off Page Optimization
Factors that can not be altered by a site owner or webmaster is considered off-page optimization. These factors include the type of links pointing back to a website. To search engines, this is considered a vote and the site providing the link is basically vouching for the site they are linking to. The type of links coming into a site will have different weighing factors. It's not uncommon to have most of the inbound links providing absolutely no link value to a site. So, when acquiring links, it's important that a site receives quality links as opposed to quantity of links.
Social media is another off-page strategy that can influence search engine listings. Social media is one of the most popular methods being used today. However, there are so many social media sites online that an individual can become overwhelmed. Building a following through strong viral campaigns can lead to online success via a large influx of traffic and a potentially high number of inbound links.
Search Engine Optimization, while being rewarding, is a difficult strategy to execute of all SEM disciplines. SEO can be time consuming, and the results may not be realized for several months. However, once a site is well optimized and is ranking well in organic search engine traffic, it will have all been worthwhile. - 16069
About the Author:
Alex Plana is an experienced Online Marketing Professional in SEO and PPC. He currently runs and operates PlanASEM.com, a PPC Management and SEO Consulting site.
