| A beautifully written and designed website isn't much | | | | While it may not make a huge difference in search |
| good without built-in SEO elements. Is your site lacking | | | | engine rankings, it's still wise to include a unique meta |
| search engine optimization? If so, it's like a 5-star | | | | description for each page. The best reason is because |
| restaurant on an uncharted tropical island. People | | | | the description often appears on the search engine |
| would love to go there, but they don't know how to | | | | results page and acts as a mini ad, enticing people to |
| find it. A good website designer "puts you on the map," | | | | click on your site. A distinctive explanation per page |
| incorporating SEO in every step of the design process. | | | | also avoids the appearance of duplicate content and |
| But not every designer is up on the SEO skills needed | | | | helps search engines distinguish between pages. |
| to create a site that will rank highly in the search | | | | 6. Text vs. graphics |
| engines. | | | | Make sure you're using a balance of images and text, |
| I have to admit, I dragged my heels on tackling the | | | | with your keywords appearing both in the copy and |
| SEO side of website design, until l realized that it's not | | | | the image file names. Beware of embedding important |
| hocus pocus or a matter of tricking the search engines | | | | content inside a graphic image, where search engines |
| into noticing you. It's about supplying the right language | | | | can't read it. |
| to help them deliver relevant information to users. | | | | 7. Hyperlinks |
| When you apply precise, descriptive wording | | | | Incoming links from other sites are very important, but |
| throughout your site, it allows Google, Yahoo, Bing and | | | | don't forget to link from page to page within your site. |
| the rest to understand your content. | | | | Because Google places highest value on the home |
| How to boost your visibility with built-in SEO | | | | page, links from there to interior pages help spotlight |
| For a greater online profile and a more effective | | | | other key content. And be sure to make links between |
| website, make sure your designer or web developer | | | | your pages descriptive and keyword-laden. Replace |
| incorporates all 10 of these critical SEO elements: | | | | vague "click here" and "learn more" links with "see |
| 1. Key phrases and keywords | | | | SEO website portfolio" and "learn more about email |
| My keywords are pretty obvious - graphic designer, | | | | marketing." |
| SEO websites, logo design, etc. By why should I try to | | | | 8. Site map |
| compete globally, with every graphic designer and web | | | | A great navigational tool, an HTML site map gives |
| design firm on Earth? I narrowed my market so I rank | | | | search engines and site visitors a quick overview of |
| higher in my own neighborhood by adding geographic | | | | the categories of information they'll find on your site. |
| terms to the mix - San Francisco graphic designer, | | | | The map also provides a list of links to each page. |
| Bay Area SEO websites, East Bay logo design... | | | | 9. Linguistics and natural writing |
| 2. Descriptive page URLs | | | | To attract search engines and visitors to your site, |
| Replace generic page descriptors with keywords. | | | | write content that's clear, focused and above all, |
| Rather than calling a page "donohuedesign.com | | | | written for humans. Don't overdo it by stuffing multiple |
| services," give the search engines some substance to | | | | keywords into awkward, unreadable sentences. While |
| grab onto - "donohuedesign.com/email-newsletters" | | | | it's Google's software, not their staff that reads and |
| tells more of the story. | | | | ranks your site, the sophisticated system recognizes |
| 3. Keyword title tags | | | | the difference between real, naturally written content |
| Another chance to identify the content on your page | | | | and keyword gobbledegook. Concentrate on providing |
| lies in the page title that appears at the top of the | | | | good information for your readers, and vary your |
| browser window. You have 8 to 10 words to describe | | | | language by replacing some keywords with synonyms. |
| the page and include search terms your customers will | | | | Google will get it. |
| use to find you. | | | | 10. Google Analytics |
| 4. Relevant alt tags | | | | Measure your results! Your website developer can set |
| If you leave the alt tag blank, or simply name a photo | | | | you up with this free site analysis service from Google. |
| "image 1" or "123.jpg," you've wasted an opportunity. | | | | Then, log on any time and get detailed reports that |
| Instead, describe graphics and images in relevant | | | | track the amount and sources of traffic to your web |
| terms and keywords. My portfolio samples, for | | | | pages. This valuable data tells you which pages are |
| example, might have alt tags such as "San Francisco | | | | working effectively and which need improving. |
| caterer logo" and "Palo Alto software company | | | | Add these 10 SEO elements and you elevate a good |
| website." | | | | website to great - bringing you increased traffic and |
| 5. Meta descriptions | | | | improved sales results. |