9 Truths of Effective Search Engine Optimization

1. You must have relevant, useful content on your site. It attracts visitors. Search engines recognize and value that with higher rankings.
2. Use keyword-dense title tags, headers, alt tags and content. Keywords are what users types in to a search field to find what she needs online, not necessarily the prevailing professional or industry terminology.
3. Use variations on your keywords (singular, plural, differing phrases with the same meaning).
4. Your code is important as that is what will communicate your content to search engines to be indexed and ranked. Keep it clean and use keywords in header tags whenever possible!
5. Your content and site must be well-organized.
6. Identify your links with descriptive language. Link text should contain the keyword phrases you are promoting online.
7. Review and maintain your SEO. Optimization is not a one-time "do it and forget it" task.
8. Provide website links for your users, get others to link to you. The link text should contain your keyword phrases. The link text should contain more than just your domain name.
9. Dont forget about social networking and blogging - two highly effective SEO techniques. Keep them fresh with relevant, well-written content. Link your website, networking pages, and blog to each other.

Download our search engine optimization and keyword worksheet.