When a site is optimized for free ranking in search engine's search result pages, the act is called SEO or Search Engine Optimization. By listing well organically, the owner of a site can rank extremely well and reap the benefits of natural traffic.
Google, Yahoo, and MSN utilize automated programs known as spiders and robots, which crawl website pages. This precedes the crawling of a page, which is later added to a search engines massive index. Literally, billions of pages are indexed. When a search request is made, the search engine compares the string to the data stored on the billions of pages in the database. The search engine algorithm calculates the relevancy of the pages in the massive index to the search string that is requested.
Search engines perform the following activities:
- Crawling - Indexing - Processing - Relevancy - Retrieve
Search engines use a set of instructions, called an "algorithm" to factor relevancy of requested search queries. The algorithm are kept in secret by search engines from the public to avoid altering of their search results. To date, there are over 200 plus factors that contribute to organic search placement. As you've searched on major search engines, you may have noticed similar but not duplicate results with the different search engines. Search engines have there own algorithm with slight differences with listing rules but for the most part, all major search engines follow similar rules when it comes to determining search rankings.
On Page Factors
The term used to describe the altering of factors on a website is On-Page Optimization. Factors include keyword density, keywords used in Title, Meta, Alt tags, and the type of support pages and number of links used throughout the site. The search engine algorithm also takes into consideration the strength of a key term based on it's prominence on the web page. The first two hundred words will usually hold more weight than the words following.
Other contributing factors to on-page optimization is the use of similar words to key terms targeted, video usage, blogs, and the way top-level sections are structured. The type of servers being used, a domain names public status, time spent on site stats, and bounce rates are some of the other factors that contribute. With on-page optimization being important to a well optimized website, it only contributes about 30% of a full SEO strategy. The other 70% is accomplished with off-page factors.
Off-Page Factors
There are other factors that cannot be controlled by a webmaster or site owner, and these factors are referred to as Off- Page Optimization. The type and amount of links pointing back to a site is voucher that the site being linked to is important. However, it is not uncommon to have a fair amount of inbound links that provide no link value to a site. It is important that a site attract quality links as opposed to a quantity of links.
Social media is another off-page strategy that can improve search engine listings. Social media is one of the most popular methods being used today. However, there are so many social media sites online that an individual can become overwhelmed. Building a following through strong viral campaigns can lead to online success via a large influx of traffic and a potentially high number of inbound links.
Search Engine Optimization, while being rewarding, is a difficult technique to execute of all SEM disciplines. SEO can be time consuming, and the results may not be realized for several months. However, once a website is well optimized and is positioned well in organic search engine traffic, it will have all been worthwhile. - 15465
Google, Yahoo, and MSN utilize automated programs known as spiders and robots, which crawl website pages. This precedes the crawling of a page, which is later added to a search engines massive index. Literally, billions of pages are indexed. When a search request is made, the search engine compares the string to the data stored on the billions of pages in the database. The search engine algorithm calculates the relevancy of the pages in the massive index to the search string that is requested.
Search engines perform the following activities:
- Crawling - Indexing - Processing - Relevancy - Retrieve
Search engines use a set of instructions, called an "algorithm" to factor relevancy of requested search queries. The algorithm are kept in secret by search engines from the public to avoid altering of their search results. To date, there are over 200 plus factors that contribute to organic search placement. As you've searched on major search engines, you may have noticed similar but not duplicate results with the different search engines. Search engines have there own algorithm with slight differences with listing rules but for the most part, all major search engines follow similar rules when it comes to determining search rankings.
On Page Factors
The term used to describe the altering of factors on a website is On-Page Optimization. Factors include keyword density, keywords used in Title, Meta, Alt tags, and the type of support pages and number of links used throughout the site. The search engine algorithm also takes into consideration the strength of a key term based on it's prominence on the web page. The first two hundred words will usually hold more weight than the words following.
Other contributing factors to on-page optimization is the use of similar words to key terms targeted, video usage, blogs, and the way top-level sections are structured. The type of servers being used, a domain names public status, time spent on site stats, and bounce rates are some of the other factors that contribute. With on-page optimization being important to a well optimized website, it only contributes about 30% of a full SEO strategy. The other 70% is accomplished with off-page factors.
Off-Page Factors
There are other factors that cannot be controlled by a webmaster or site owner, and these factors are referred to as Off- Page Optimization. The type and amount of links pointing back to a site is voucher that the site being linked to is important. However, it is not uncommon to have a fair amount of inbound links that provide no link value to a site. It is important that a site attract quality links as opposed to a quantity of links.
Social media is another off-page strategy that can improve search engine listings. Social media is one of the most popular methods being used today. However, there are so many social media sites online that an individual can become overwhelmed. Building a following through strong viral campaigns can lead to online success via a large influx of traffic and a potentially high number of inbound links.
Search Engine Optimization, while being rewarding, is a difficult technique to execute of all SEM disciplines. SEO can be time consuming, and the results may not be realized for several months. However, once a website is well optimized and is positioned well in organic search engine traffic, it will have all been worthwhile. - 15465
About the Author:
Alex Plana is an experienced Online Marketing Professional in SEO and PPC. He currently runs and operates PlanASEM.com, a PPC Management and SEO Consulting site.
