Search engine optimization (SEO) is a set of methods aimed at improving the ranking of a website in search engine listings. The term also refers to an industry of consultants who carry out optimization projects on behalf of clients’ sites. Practitioners may use “white hat SEO” (methods generally approved by search engines, such as building content and improving site quality), or “black hat SEO” (tricks such as cloaking and spamdexing). White hatters charge that black hat methods are an attempt to manipulate search rankings unfairly. Black hatters counter that all SEO is an attempt to manipulate rankings, and that the particular methods one uses to rank well are irrelevant.

Search engines display different kinds of listings in the search engine results pages (SERPs), including: pay-per-click advertisements, paid inclusion listings, and organic search results. SEO is primarily concerned with advancing the goals of a web site by improving the number and position of its organic search results for a wide variety of relevant keywords. SEO strategies can increase both the number and quality of visitors, where quality means visitors who complete the action hoped for by the site owner (e.g. purchase, sign up, learn something).

For competitive, high-volume search terms, the cost of pay per click advertising can be substantial. Ranking well in the organic search results can provide the same targeted traffic at a potentially lower cost. Site owners may choose to optimize their sites for organic search, if the cost of optimization is less than the cost of advertising.

Not all sites have identical goals for search optimization. Some sites are seeking any and all traffic, and may be optimized to rank highly for common search phrase. A broad search optimization strategy can work for a site that has broad interest, such as a periodical, a directory, or site that displays advertising with a CPM revenue model. In contrast, many businesses try to optimize their sites for large numbers of highly specific keywords that indicate readiness to buy. Overly broad search optimization can hinder marketing strategy by generating a large volume of low-quality inquiries that cost money to handle, yet result in little business. Focusing on desirable traffic generates better quality sales leads, allowing the sales force to close more business.

References

• Company Overview. Google. URL accessed on May 26, 2005.
• Editorial Guidelines for Ask.com. Ask Jeeves. URL accessed on May 26, 2005.
• Brin, Sergey; Page, Lawrence (?). “The Anatomy of a Large-Scale Hypertextual Web Search Engine“
• Our Search: Google Technology. Google. URL accessed on June 11, 2005.
• Google Patent Application List. History. URL accessed on October 10, 2005.
• Kent, Peter (2004). Search Engine Optimization For Dummies, Wiley Publishing Inc.. ISBN 0-7645-6758-6.

Links

• Google’s Guidelines on SEO’s
• Google’s Guidelines on Site Design
• MSN Search Guidelines for successful indexing
• Yahoo! Search Content Quality Guidelines

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

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