SEO/SEM Design Tips and Tricks

Got a basic understanding of Search Engine Optimization/Search Engine Marketing (SEO/SEM)? Then you’re ready to start implementing those strategies to build a stronger and more effective web site.

Be proactive when accessing a web site for SEO/SEM potential. A few do’s and don’ts will pump up the power of any web site.

The Main Ingredient of Every Success Recipe

Planning, planning and more planning is the first ingredient needed to build a successful Internet presence. SEO/SEM is a powerful and effective web site marketing tool and can easily increase traffic to any site if used properly and ethically. Like any marketing resource, proper usage begins with proper planning – starting with the marketing plan.

Determine how SEO/SEM will be used, lay out the desired results of SEO/SEM, and plan the particulars such as who to target, how to target, when to target and where to target the intended audience.

Aaron Geh, Vice President of Sales and Marketing of The Karcher Group – a full-service web design company in North Canton, Ohio that develops, markets and hosts web sites and has worked with SEO since 2000 – says, “It is absolutely critical to consider SEO when building a web presence. Companies are more conscious of what they are doing online and it is getting more competitive. Companies are aware of the fact they need to show up in the top of the searches.”

Top Do’s for SEO/SEM Design

1. Conduct thorough keyword research. There are many commercial programs available to help with keyword research including wordtracker.com and keyworddiscovery.com. Geh says, “Companies should invest time into keyword research. A company can spend a little bit of money but save a lot of time if they buy the research and the results are more thorough than doing the research on their own.”
2. Develop web site content around keywords or key phrases. Include a key phrase in the first three sentences and use the key phrases multiple times throughout page text.
3. Optimize every page of the site by focusing on one keyword or phrase per page.
4. Geh suggests, “SEO needs to be upfront at the web site design stage.” Break down every part of the web site when evaluating SEO/SEM including: a)The site’s domain b)The title of the site c) Always include a site map or list each page/link on the left side of the site.
5. Include a place for customer feedback usually in the form of a blog. SEO/SEM includes keeping a site fresh and new and blogging is a great way to keep content dynamic.
6. Use primary keyword phrases and secondary keyword phrases.
7. For example, maple trees may be the primary keywords while red would serve as a secondary keyword.
8. Try to add as much detail without adding too many words. Adding a geographic area would help. For example, red maple trees in Ohio.
9. Look at Google’s Webmaster Guidelines.
10. Submit the site to http://www.google.com/addurl.html.

The Don’ts of SEO/SEM

1. Don’t load pages with irrelevant keywords.
2. Don’t create pages that duplicate content.
3. Don’t create pages that carry or install viruses.
4. Do not include too many graphics and sounds, etc. Geh suggests, “When building or rebuilding a web site, make sure it is SEO friendly. Don’t do the site all in graphics. SEO can only find text.”
5. Don’t ignore the value of SEO/SEM. If using a professional web site design company, ask about ways they will build SEO/SEM into the site – if they can’t answer – don’t use them.

SEO helps build a better web presence.

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