Search Engine Optimisation - SEO
“Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is aimed at delivering quality leads to your web site & business from people who have never heard of you before.”
It’s been estimated that:
- 83% of searchers never look beyond page 2 of a Google search.
- 65% never click on paid (sponsored) links.
- 15% of all sales in the UK are currently performed on-line (2008).
- On-line sales are expected to increase to > 38% by 2020
- The Number One position in Google is perceived by many to represent quality, reliability, a sure bet.
- Google currently represents 42.7% of the searches conducted. Yahoo = 28% and MSN = 13.2%
SEO should be achieved by ‘natural (organic) means’, - ie: relying on natural rather than sponsored listings.
Start of the Search Engine Optimisation process
The most important elements of Search Engine Optimisation are:
- Key word/phrase analysis and deployment. The content needs to be relevant.
- In-bound links (ie: ‘Back Links’ / In Links’)
StopDesigns_SEO_v4.xls: This Excel workbook offers an introduction to key word / key phrase analysis and SEO.
Updated: October 2009.
SEO_Keyword_Flow_Diagram_1.pdf: These guidance notes accompany the above Excel workbook.
Other elements of SEO include: validated XHTML, use of correct CSS and page structure, geographical location of hosting server, submission of a sitemap, Website Accessibility, continuing SEO fine tuning etc.
See SEO Check List
Google and ‘PageRank’
- Google was devised by Larry Page and Sergey Brin (2 x PhD Students at Stanford University, USA)
- PageRanking is named after Larry Page. (see: Load the Google Toolbar http://toolbar.google.com and select ‘PageRank’)
- The underlying concept for Google developed from a research project called ‘BackRub’
- Google has a vast number of servers and data centres throughout the World.
- See: Google Tech Notes for more information.