Search Engine Optimization

Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is the biggest request in the website business. Everyone wants their website to be noticed. But there is also a lot of confusion about SEO and its claimed benefits. After all, SEO worked great when only a few were using it, but if everyone is using it how does it benefit you?

The bottom line is that you should have certain basic things covered. Your Web Department has built-in systems to help you do that, but the hard work of mining links and doing the social networking thing is all up to you. There are no shortcuts.

SEO basics

1. Make sure you have a Google Webmaster account
2. Register your site with Google
3. Set up Google Analytics (doesn't get you traffic but you can see your progress)
   1. Use it with you YWD site stats and compare the results. See what keywords people are using to search you out and add them to your keyword list.
4. Use the MetaTag tool to create descriptive page titles, descriptions and keywords
5. Make sure the content of your site matches the keyword content
6. Don't create 6 point text on the home page to fool Google. Google does not like that
7. There is some debate about internal linking between pages but it can't hurt
8. When you create a link, avoid links that go "click here". Make the links descriptive
9. When you upload a picture don't name it "mypic-DSC340089.jpg". It should be clear and descriptive "wayne edwards president of xyz corp.jpg"
10. When adding a picture make sure you use the alt-tag feature in YWD to add descriptive text tag

SEO more than basic

1. People respond to SEO come-ons for "increase traffic to your site". But what are those people going to see when they get to your site? All your SEO work is of little value if your site isn't great.
2. The  most important thing you can do is set up cross links between suppliers, customers, etc and yourself.
3. Use the Facebook, Delicious and Digg links we supply.
4. Get a Facebook company group or fan page

YWD™ is flexible enough to provide you additional SEO options:

• YWD SEO
  The basics of Search Engine Optimization will be covered. We'll make sure your content is optimized to increase its ranking with search engines

• Spark Internet Marketing 
  Robust and more sophisticated SEO, Pay-Per-Click (PPC) ads, Social Media Marketing, Call Tracking and other marketing campaigns and packages exclusively for YWD™ clients