marketing your website on the web

Search engine optimisation

Search engine optimisation is the process of improving the structure, copy and HTML code on a website with the aim of improving that websites chances of being returned high in the search results of a search engine or directory. Search engine optimisation is a proven and effective method of delivering high volumes of high quality customers to websites.

Search engine marketing is the process of paid 'advertising' and inclusion on search engines to ensure your website is 'in the face' of the users. An example of this is Google Adwords - the small ads on the right hand side of your browser when using www.google.com.

The search engine optimisation process looks at these factors - keyword phrases, page content, headings and titles, image tags, META tags, to maximise your chances of being highly placed in search engine and directory listings.

Good positioning in the search engines and directories
will dramatically increase your visitor traffic.
Optimising for the best search engine positions will be the most important marketing investment you make in your website.

Search engine optimisation works differently than search engine marketing - paid inclusion submissions and pay-per-click programs.

The best reason to use organic search engine optimisation is that it is a low-cost method to promote your website, relatively inexpensive in comparison with other forms of marketing. It is especially effective for niche offerings. It can take up to three to six months to see the full results of optimising your website, especially if you are only using optimisation.

The plus to this approach is that once you optimise your pages, the main part of the work is done. You may tweak your keywords and text here and there, but unless you completely re-design your pages, you have what you need in place to begin drawing in targeted traffic. Continue checking your ranking status and reading your log statistics, especially for new keyword phrases visitors are using to find your website.

When using free submissions, expect a three to six month wait before seeing most of the long term results showing in the search engine listings. If you build on a link popularity program and have links pointing back to your website, the search engine robots will find your website through the links, eliminating the need for free submissions.

Look at it this way - you pay once for basic optimisation and over time the results improve to optimum level. You don't have to keep paying for this service because, unless search engine databases drops your free submission pages (which is not often these days), you will be visible and present to the search engine users when they search on your targeted keyword phrases. Over time you should see a progression in your ranking, depending on how competitive your keyword phrases are.

Search engine optimisation is a great way to increase targeted traffic to your website over time.

If you do not have a budget for paid inclusion submissions and pay-per-click programs, search engine optimisation will give you good results if you are willing to wait instead of gaining immediate results. Combine organic search engine optimisation with plenty of good content and a solid link building program for optimum results.

Remember, the search engine listings may entice visitors to come to your website, but you must give them a reason to stay once they arrive. Build your content to keep your new visitors at your website.

Patience Pays Off

Search engine optimisation is 'common sense' promotion. Not a lot of fancy bells and whistles, and it takes time. The addition of good navigation, good content with your keyword phrases throughout the pages and topical sites pointing links back to your website equals long term success.

Practice patience with your search engine optimisation campaign. It may take time but it will be worth the long term results you reap.

Top rankings in the search engines

As all search engines use different and complex systems to rank websites, and these systems are constantly changing, we cannot guarantee top rankings for any particular search. It's hard to get top rankings for very generic terms like "New Zealand" or "software".

Webtrix will use all our knowledge and expertise to obtain the best possible rankings for you in the major search engines and directories.

Many websites have been designed to look good, but in the background they are unfriendly to search engines. Common 'behind-the-scenes' design problems are:

ineffective use of the title, keyword and description meta tags
graphics, but no text on the home page
use of Flash animations on the home page (no text)
use of frames
database sites with dynamic pages

We can help ensure you have the best possible optimisation for your website. Interested in this service? E-mail us.

Web Word Wizardry: A Net-savvy Writing Guide

If you are interested in improving your websites optimisation by yourself, we can recommend reading this best-selling book by New Zealand author, Rachel McAlpine.

This indispensable guide is crammed with expert advice on how to make online content readable, usable, findable, accessible, and credible. Screenshots and checklists make Web writing easy for designers, wordsmiths, and businesspeople alike. Click here to read more >>

"the search optimisation thingy you did was astoundingly successful, Crash Brokers pulls up first on almost all relevant words. Well done."

"You continue to receive my appreciation for your help with optimisation 6 months ago. Have just done Google searches on a few relevant keywords for my site and I'm up in the first few for all the searches I've done. Thanks a million (once again) for a job well done!" - Fine Photography

Subscribe to Webtrix's irregular
newsletters

- you will receive a report on 'Why Do Some Headlines Fail?'

...or follow us on Twitter here...

...or read our Web Tricks blog!

Full of tips and articles for your websites and email newsletters, books to read and much more.