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Tweaking your web pages for search engine optimization
Jan 05th 2007
by Marsha Maung
It takes more than just writing articles to get your website to rank well in search engine. I know it sounds complicated and you’re not even going to continue reading this because this article sounds like a very technical article already. But hang on a minute here, it’s not complicated, I promise you. On top of just writing your articles and posting in your website (click away if you have a blog system running or a content management system going for you) because there are many things that the search engines can see that you can’t unless you go into the HTML codes underneath.
There are not a lot of things you have to concerned about in all those HTML codes. After planting your article into the web page, there are three things you have to look at before it’s properly search-engine optimized. It sounds tedious but trust me…..it gets easy after a couple of times. Hey, I studied law and was working legal documents here! And I sing on stage and do clown shows, ok? So, if I can work this HTML shit, so can you!
OK, after planting your article into your web page, if the program that you’re using allows you to click on head contents, life’s simple for you. Programs like Dreamweaver or even Mircosoft Frontpage allows that. Otherwise, just click to the HTML view and you’re going to see a whole bunch of codes that’s going to freak you out!
Take a deep breath…..relax. You’re going to be looking at the top part of that whole bunch of alien language, anyway, ok?
TITLE.
Look for the <title> tag. It should follow up towards the end with a closing tag which is </title>. Found it? OK, in between the <title> and </title> tag, you’re supposed to put into your web page title. Don’t leave it a generic one. From experience, I can tell you that it’s best to make the title of the web page unique to the content in the web page. If you’re article’s about facelifts or home spa treatments, put in a short description about what readers can expect to find on that page.
The Title is one of the most important elements you SHOULD ALWAYS implement in your website…every page. Although search engines are placing less and less importance on ranking your website or pages based on your titles, descriptions and keywords, it pays to pay a little attention to the title because even if it doesn’t help all that much with search engine ranking, it’ll at least help interest the readers into reading the article.
DESCRIPTION
If you’re not familiar with all those alien encodings INSIDE of your web pages, trying to find the description tag can be a little difficult. But here’s what you’re trying to look for….
<meta name="description" content="Describe the page content here"/>
Descriptions used to be an important factor that search engines take into consideration when they rank a page but because people find it easy to tweak the descriptions of their websites to manipulate search engine results, search engines no longer place as much importance on the description tags.
HOWEVER, I wouldn’t ignore this tag if I were you. It’s simple. Some search engines actually use the description tags to describe the content of the page whenever displaying results. So, if you place compelling keywords and persuasive words into the description tag, customers might find it easier to be convinced.
KEYWORDS
Well, among the three tags, the keyword tag is the least important tag to the search engine marketing….I could be wrong but a lot of search engines don’t really look into the keyword tag at all. But I wouldn’t ignore it either, if I were you. In your web pages, here’s what you’re looking for.
<meta name="Keywords" content="your, keywords, here"/>
Put compelling, related, important keywords between the “s. I don’t know where to start about keyword researching. If your industry is a very competitive one, like ebook marketing or online marketing and stuff like that, you’re going to have a tough time finding a unique bunch of keywords to use. But from experience, it’s important for you to choose keywords important to your industry, keywords that people will or might use to find products/services that you’re offering, but the keywords should be as uncompetitive as possible.
For example, if you’re preferred keyword is ‘ladies handbag’, try something else and focus on ‘ladies tote bag’. You get the picture. The key is to sit there thinking like your customers or interested readers. Get into their heads and imagine what words are popping up into their heads. If they can’t find what they want to find, what are the alternative keywords they would want to type into that search box.
Good luck!ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marsha Maung is essentially a writer with more than 8 years of experience in search engine marketing and content development. She works from home so that she can be with her kids. Versatility is her. She believes that if a singer like her who spent four years reading legal documents in a Bank can work up her own Internet business and build a business with her computer, even a dog can! Well, maybe not....
For more on online business, article writing, motherhood and life articles, visit Marsha's website at http://www.marshamaung.com. For the dirty insider secrets (Hah! As if....) on the life of a mother and writer, visit her blog at http://www.marshamaung.blogspot.com.