Secrets of successful websites

Page optimisation


We must keep emphasising that Google ranks pages not sites.  A "site" on the first page of SERPs is, in reality, the Home page of a site.  Page optimisation is therefore paramount.
This subject is covered in great detail in our online courses so this is a summary of each aspect:

Keywords

The first job is to establish the keywords applicable to the page and decide how to deploy them.

Title

It is given a top place by Google but still is not used by a surprising number of sites

Meta description

Google uses it for snippets and use of keywords.  Directories use it in their entries

Meta keywords

Google ignores them but they are still relevant as other search engines use them

Header tags

Another of Google’s favourites that are ignored by many sites

Breadcrumb trail

Essentially a list of internal links using keywords at the start of a page – too much optimisation juice to ignore in what is, in any case, a help to the visitor

Page content

Tends to be overlooked and, if you’re inclined to do the same, remember Google records every word in its index and it wouldn’t do that if there wasn’t a purpose

Alt tags

Another optimisation opportunity that’s often missed, never mind the legislation that requires them

Internal links

Google definitely awards marks for these seemingly incestuous links and spreads PR juice round the site based on their deployment

Outbound links

Oddly enough these are thought by some to be beneficial for optimisation but the evidence is that Google awards very little if anything for their use
Have you got a question for us?
Name:  
Email:  
Please tick to join our mailing list:
 
 
 
 
Please type the distorted characters into this box:


(not case sensitive)
 
Question:

(Because we use advanced website techniques we'll know from which page your question comes.)