We'd like to offer a few SEO "Rules of Engagement" to allow you to begin the optimization process for your web site. These simple rules are sensible, and if you've already done them for your site then you're ahead of many.

  1. Spell check your web site. It's better to find that misspelled word yourself than have a potential client think you're a dolt who can't use a spell check program. Spell check doesn't cure all ills - be sure to read your site for words that are correctly spelled, but are just plain wrong in context. Please remember that you can't rank highly for a keyword or phrase that you spell incorrectly or inconsistently. (If you're trying to rank for misspellings, please confine them to your meta tags.)
  2. Validate your HTML. That's right - make sure your code is correct. Even with the automation available for coding, you may sometimes have that rare brain-finger disconnect. It's only embarrassing when the error keeps your site out of the search engines because the spiders aren't willing to overlook your coding error like some of the web browsers will do for you.
  3. Validate your CSS. If you're using cascading style sheets (CSS) with your web site code, please validate the CSS code.
  4. Check for accessibility. Developing sites to meet accessibility standards is good practice as well as good social responsibility. If you are unable to check your site extensively for accessibility, at least cover the basics. Don't forget to include alternative text ("alt") descriptions for each of your images. Remember, the spiders and bots that are cataloging web pages "read" your pages in a manner similar to that used for accessibility.
  5. Validate your links. If you want spiders and bots to catalog all the pages in your web site, they have to be able to find those pages. The spiders and bots follow links, just like your visitors follow links to find information. If an internal link is broken, the spider or bot can't follow it and move to subsequent pages on your site. If an external link is broken, the spider or bot can't follow the link to find what content you consider relevant to your own.
  6. Check the important page elements. The important page elements are the page title, page description, links, and header tags. Make sure that all these elements make sense for the page that contains them. For instance, "Welcome to our Homepage" or "Welcome to ABC Widget Company" will not help you achieve better organic search engine rankings! You've changed your hairstyle since 1995, it's time to change your page titles too! (You may have to part with some cash to update that mullet, but I know you can be more descriptive with your page titles - for free!)
  7. Keep it fresh. I don't mean that you need an entire site reboot every year, but if your phone number or address is out of date - you're losing business and don't even know it! Visit your web site, make sure the content makes sense. Have you added a new product or product line? Are you offering new or different services? Has the terminology changed for your industry? Are your photos current? Is your business represented well? Are you covering the same topics and information as your primary competitors?

These are a few basics to get you started with search engine optimization (SEO). Morrill Technology Group of Greenville SC can help beyond the basics. If you need more information about our search engine optimization services, please let us know by filling out our contact form.

 

 

Call 864-884-0204 or email us at info[at]morrilltech.com for your free web site ranking analysis.