Understanding Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Every company needs a web site in this day and age, and understanding Search
Engine Optimization (SEO) is vital. Though there are no guarantees that people
will randomly find your website online, using advanced SEO techniques greatly
increases the likelihood that potential clients will find your site.
SEO is the process of utilizing a variety of techniques to accomplish good
placement of your website within search engines (like Google and MSN). We use a
wide array of techniques, including the use of creative page titling, placement
of industry specific key words, the structuring of your website, and much more.
Major factors come into play with SEO:
1. The words people use to search for a particular product or service;
2. How many companies sell that product or service;
3. The location of your clients;
Example A. You are selling a brand new item that has gotten a lot of attention in
the news (so everyone knows what it is). Let’s also say that you have the only
web site that sells this item and has information about it. Your web site would
practically be guaranteed the #1 spot on the first page of any search engine.
Example B. You own a small company that sell pens. Since there are
thousands upon thousands of companies that sell pens on the internet, the
likelihood that your company would be #1 is extremely low. This is when SEO
really becomes a factor. Certain ‘key words’ need to be added to the code that
is used to create the web site. These ‘key words’ also need to be added within
the text on the pages of your site, in specialized tags for images, and even in
the naming of the folders that contain web pages, the naming of the web pages
themselves, the naming of the files and finally the naming of the images.
And that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to high-end search engine
optimization. There is much more that will increase your website's placement in
the search engines.
The 2 examples above are extremes. Most companies offer specialized services
and/or products, and the location of their target audience tends to be much more confined, as well. The vast majority of companies are trying to reach potential within a given city or state. Therefore, your website needs to be able to be found within a more localized search.
Although it is possible to retro-fit an established websites for search engine compatibility, it is much more cost effective to plan an SEO strategy prior to building the website.
As mentioned above, there are many facets to search engine optimization that were not mentioned.
Remember, your competitors are searching for ways to bring in more clients, just as you are. Therefore, a comprehensive and ongoing SEO strategy is a must have for your business to succeed in today's online market.
At RH Creative, we encourage our clients to invest in a well-developed SEO strategy at the onset of developing their website. After all, if your website is found by your potential clients, then ours will be also!