SEO - What is it and why?

[lpstong]

I see there are some subjects on this matter, but does not entirely answer my question. SEO - What is it and why? Can someone provide a link, article or give a simple, non complex, non google-algorithm answer.

I am new to this area. I have read up on some info to understand some things. But not enough to really explain it to anyone if they had asked.

[Scott]

SEO, Search Engine Optimisation, is basically techniques which you can use to make your site more easily reached by the search engines. This helps your site get noticed when people search for your topic.

Hope that helps :)

[lpstong]

Thanks Scott. And from what I understand, I think, is if you want to be found. You have to do some minor things. I know one is getting a PR. Some traffic coming in. Something to do with meta/content tags. Maybe some directory submissions. Toss in an article or two.

Are these things also SEO work? Or is there more to it? Or is it something entirely different? Just looking for some clarity.

[Scott]

Those are certainly factors which help. My warning about SEO is beware of many people who will try to guarantee you something. Most of what you'll read about SEO is taken from conclusions about different techniques which have been tried and tried again (SWR even tried his own experiment) (http://www.forumuniversity.com/campus/showthread.php?t=144). The people who know exactly what's needed are the ones who won't tell you.

That said, you can do things such as validation, using alt tags, using heading tags, which can help you with SEO. I haven't found a great guide out there, and I haven't written one because I don't consider my SEO knowledge to be very competent.

[writespeak]

I know one is getting a PR. Some traffic coming in. Something to do with meta/content tags. Maybe some directory submissions. Toss in an article or two.
PR may or may not help. The usual advice:

- Use relevant but not-too-popular keyword phrases in titles, headings, anchor text, and regular text. There's no point in optimizing for really popular keywords because you'll most likely end up on p. 20+ of the search results. Keywords that are down the list but still used are more useful to most of us.

- Get inbound links from relevant, quality sites (not link farms). Directories and link exchanges are one way to get links. Another way is link to your site in post signatures (but make sure your posts are contributing to the discussion or you'll be seen as a spammer). If your site has content that people want to link to, you'll get some links without even trying.

While there is still some debate about them, keyword meta tags are generally considered a waste of time for SEO.

Lois

[lpstong]

I knew about link farms or atleast heard that they are bad for your site. I had used one and decided to take all the links off and discontinued with their program.

I try and put up my links in my sigs only in appropiate forums where I know it will not conflict with the forum rules.

I know I have one site(which does not have a forum though) that a few people have written about. I dont/didnt know about it till I do a google search of my URL and some sites come up that I am unaware of at the time.

I try to do text link exchanges. Are these considered inbound links? And I didnt know that directories are considered inbound links - Thanks. And I know of a place that has over a listing of over 300 free directories to submit my site to. Just dont have the money or time to submit yet.

Hmmm.... disappointed about the meta tags though. I thought they really work. I guess maybe for the most part for the google bots and spiders that crawl the site.

Thanks for the info though. Greatly appreciated.

[AjiNIMC]

SEO is a crime as According to GYMs they are smart to understand good sites and you do not have to optimize it.

This is at a philoshical level but then Google people also offer courses for SEO. Adam recently deliever a SEO lesson, http://www.firstgov.gov/webcontent/resources/training/university/seminars/search_engine.shtml

For SE read these blogs,
http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/
http://www.searchenginewatch.com
http://www.webmasterworld.com , http://www.webproworld.com , http://www.highrankings.com/forum/ , http://www.hedir.com/groupthink/ (you can search for Aji or AjiNIMC in all these forums :))

Sometimes you read my blog too on SEO and Online marketing :).