Understanding SEO: Do's And Dont's

Latest statistics by Pew Research Center indicate that eight out of ten health inquiries start in search engines. This is just one statistic indicating that a high quality website optimized to search engines is a vital weapon in your internet marketing arsenal. If you're new to Search Engine Optimization, here's a basic understanding you can build from.

Search engine optimization includes techniques, strategies and tactics to rank your website on the top of a search engine results page (SERP). Website ranking depends on the following factors: content (your website copy), HTML (the programming language used for site development), architecture (the design and planning of your site, keeping aesthetics and functionality in mind), and backlinks (links from reputable, high-ranking sites to your website/webpage).

Incorporate these SEO tips

• Create a list of keywords highly relevant to your target audience. Keyword research is an ongoing and not a one-time effort, so update and expand your keyword list.
• A golden rule is to use a keyword once every hundred words. Use them naturally in the text as opposed to forcing them to meet your keyword density requirements.
• Hyper-localize your key terms to reach out effectively to a more interested demographic. For instance, if you're based out of New York City, the keyword competition will be higher; so you can focus on more localized key terms like 'Staten Island dentist' or 'obstetrician Queens'.
• A blog is a good way to incorporate long-tail keywords in your content while establishing your authority, and helping your website grow in content and size.

Avoid these SEO worst practices

• Don't stuff keywords in your website content. It can make web pages look spammy and cause your search engine rankings to drop.
• The most effective SEO strategy is to create quality, relevant content, Not paying attention to content won't do much for your rankings even if you have the best keywords and a well-designed site.
• Don't use invisible text by placing keywords not visible to users, such as by adding white text over a white background.
• Adding Flash or loading multiple JavaScript and CSS files can increase a website's loading times. Slow-loading times can adversely affect your Google rankings.