Search engines are a very important aspect to any Internet marketing business. Search engine optimization (SEO) is one technique that has it all. SEO can be effective, it can be free, and it is easy to learn and do, although it takes some work.
All one needs to do is go to a search engine like google.com and type in ‘search engine optimization’ and they can find free information on what it is and how to do it – or have it done. Even though you are intending to do it yourself for free, you can still use the links you will find for paid SEO services just to learn.
Taking the word ‘optimization’ and looking at the reference in Merriam Webster’s dictionary, “an act, process, or methodology of making something (as a design, system, or decision) as fully perfect, functional, or effective as possible”. So this is another big clue about what exactly SEO is.
SEO is one of those acronyms that you will see bandied about quite frequently in Internet marketing circles. We shouldn’t be intimidated by references that we do not understand and the best way to limit any feelings of disorientation caused by them is to find out what they mean. So now we know, and we can continue on to learn just what is involved.
There are wonderful SEO sites that have as much useful information as any paid course and provide free eBooks to download, as well as many other resources that are there for you to use for free. A few of the most notable are searchengineland.com, seobook.com, searchenginewatch.com. Of course, Google itself has some webmaster tools you can use to do direct research once you get started.
‘Content’ and ‘keywords’ are some of the SEO terminology you will also encounter frequently. These are both key elements to SEO and getting free traffic from using SEO strategies. This traffic is said to be ‘targeted’ (by keyword usage) and ‘organic’ (free and natural). “Organic search results are listings on search engine results pages that appear because of their relevance to the search terms, (keywords) as opposed to their being advertisements”. (From Wikipedia.org)
There are definite rules that must be observed if one wants to use SEO as a strategy for successfully promoting an online business. You should learn what they are and realize that with basic honesty, just as in anything, you will be fine. Don’t try to take short-cuts or play any tricks, because you are dealing with robots that don’t miss much.
Most gimmicks that may appear to work well, (increase your traffic) may eventually harm your search engine ranking. Many ‘linking’ schemes – for example, buying links for the purpose of SEO, or another example, ‘keyword stuffing’ may cause your site ranking to be penalized. So we need to know what to do and what not to do to take full advantage of this strategy.
