How we SEO a site

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

SEO is effectively two operations: On page SEO, which are elements embedded in the code itself, and off page SEO which predominately is linkbuilding. What follows is our normal plan of operations.

Keyword research: This underpins all our SEO efforts . We work with our customers to choose 15 keywords, (5 of which are primary), and we aim to have a site on page 1 of SERPS for 1 primary and 2 non – primary, within a year.

To help determine keywords, we work with you as much as possible. We also use tools such as Google insight for search, and Adwords, to help identify the best keywords which for a new company, are niche keywords.

Niche keywords.

In most industries there are the big hitters that dominate SERPS. To help you compete, we try and identify a hole in the market and exploit it. This can also be a relatively fast process, in comparison to optimising for the most popular keyword.

On page copy: Where possible we do not try to implant SEO keywords into the copy, as this is largely unnecessary, and in many instances makes the copy, nonsensical. Google have declared that it only looks for keywords in the title and first paragraph, and that’s all it needs to determine relevancy. Many search engines including Google, use Title, Header, and for some search engines, Meta tags to determine relevancy. These are page elements that are embedded in the code, and this is where we place keywords for your site.

On page SEO

Here, we insert keywords into the Title, Header, and Meta tags. All but the latter used by Google to ascertain relevancy following a search.

Meta data is a curious component of on page SEO. Google will display the meta data in the search results unless the site is listed on DMOZ, in which case it will use the description on DMOZ.

Meta data is a good place to state your USP, or other selling points. The more eye catching they are, the more likely they will be clicked.
Off page SEO

Off page SEO consists of writing and submitting articles to article submission sites, as this a good way to build long term links, and press releases, which are good short term measure to make a site more visible on search engines. We also try to incorporate as much anchor text as possible.

Directories.

We only submit sites to reputable directories, and do not use third party companies for mass submission in this regard.

Organic methods

We only use organic means to promote your site, and this means that we do not participate in link exchanges, or other black-hat SEO practices, and we will not use paid services for article submissions and press releases. If we feel however, your site will benefit from such a service, then we will recommend it, quoting the extra costs involved and outlying the benefits gained. We will not add a mark-up in this regard.