All Things Web

Yesterday, I posted an article asking just how “hard” is Search Engine Optimization, and is there anything that the average business owner can do to improve their web site to improve their traffic without spending tens of thousands of dollars on a professional Search Engine Optimization Specialist. Now please realize that the tips we’re going to discuss will improve your web site, and it’s rankings in the search engines. However, these tips should not everything that is entailed in Search Engine Optimization and the help of a professional is always recommended.

Today, I want to discuss the first of three steps a business owner, church leader, or non-profit organizer can do to improve their web site. This first step is to freshen up their web site with html and css. The two keys here are valid code, and css for layout control. Lets discuss what these two items are, and then we’ll discuss why they will improve your web site.

1. Valid Code

In the long term, you want the most people to view your web site, and you each visitor to have the same experience. The best way to ensure that each visitor will be able to access your web site no matter which browser they are using is to build your web site from the ground up using valid HTML and CSS code.

Each markup language such as HTML, XHTML and CSS all have specific tags that are to be used in specific ways. By only using the tags that are allowed in the latest version of the language, you can ensure your site will be as cross browser friendly as possible.

2. CSS For Layout

On top of cleaning up your code, to only use valid HTML markup, the second piece of the code equation is to use CSS for styling of your web site instead of HTML. CSS or Cascading Style Sheets allows you to define how your page is layed out, what size font you use, the background image of an are and much more.

Through the use of ID or Style tags, you can define layout, font information, colors, backgrounds and link information through one single sheet, external of the web page. Doing this allows two things to take place. You reduce the amount of code in a web page creating faster loading times, and increasing your content to code ratio which in turn will improve your general search placements. Secondly, should you choose to change the layout of a section on your site, or want to change the color of the text in your headers, by changing the information in your CSS file, your entire web site is updated automatically.

To summarize, by working through just these two small changes, you can improve the overall quality of your web site while improving accessibility and the searchability of your web site.

Search Engine Optimization is a relatively new business with tons of classes, training seminars, trade shows, hourly rates ranging from $50 – $500 an hour.

Is SEO really as difficult as some people would like you to believe, or are there some basic things you can do to naturally improve your web site’s position in the major search engines?

Well, the truth is that both items are true. While there are some very detailed, very indepth techniques to true optimal SEO, there are some very basic things that you as a web site owner can do to achieve solid results.

The keys to your success are:

1. Convert to Valid HTML and CSS

By updating your web to the latest HTML or XHTML code and using CSS to style your site, you can reduce a large amount of the code in your web site therefore increasing your content to code ratio and improving the value of your web site. Another great reason to do this is your site will load faster, and work better across all browsers.

2. Use Text Whenever Possible

Many web sites use images to control layout and show information in a colorful way. By changing site navigation to text based menus, you can increase general site readability, and offer more information for the search engines to review, and links to follow.

3. Unique Meta Information

There are three key header / meta tags that each and every page of your web site needs. They include the title, meta description, and meta keyword tags. Keep these tags short and consise and on topic for the specific page.

These are three key things you can do to improve your current web site, and increase the traffic you receive from the search engines. Of course, this is not the magic of Search Engine Optimization, but this is a solid foundation for your web sites success.