Aug
07

What Do You SEO?

posted on August 7th 2009 in Design Biz & TOOTS with 1 Comments

My students are always asking me this question: How do I get to the first page of the search engine results of Google, Yahoo, etc.? Fair question, but the answer is not that simple. On top of that, it keeps changing! So before you ask another person that same question, let’s get you up to speed about SEO.

 seo-graph

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the volume or quality of traffic to a web site from search engines via “natural” (“organic” or “algorithmic”) search results. Typically, the earlier a site appears in the search results list, the more visitors it will receive from the search engine. SEO may target different kinds of search, including image search, local search, and industry-specific vertical search engines. This gives a web site web presence. In the old days (2006), you could just load up a bunch of meta tags in the <head> section, sit back and wait for the traffic. But because of the abuse of these “keyword” tags, many of these functions are now deprecated. You can add too much (or incorrect) info in the head section, and cause the search engines to ignore your site.


Still, there are professionals out there who provide these tips as a service. They’ll give you the proper guidance, but make sure you take some common sense to the meeting. Deciding to hire an SEO is a big decision that can potentially improve your site and save time, but you can also risk damage to your site and your reputation. Make sure to research the potential advantages as well as the damage that an irresponsible SEO can do to your site. We’ll talk more on this later.

So, if you want the search results (of course you do), the first step is to know what the SEO process is all about. Check out this simple video link from Network Solutions.

this will be replaced by the SWF.


(thanks, Gigi!)

Web/Graphic instructor & designer, illustrator & recovering fontaholic.

currently there's 1 comment(s)

  • Gigi

    commented on August 7, 2009 at 5:36 pm

    Hey Sam! A pleasure to turn you on to this clever SEO video! BTW I take this public opportunity to congratulate you on your new site and especially on your new site tutorials!! I’m definitely a BIG fan of moving pictures and audio, especially when they’re available to teach or remind me of something important, as is your web design training!!

    I’m always grateful to you, and to the good Lord, for having led me to you and your 3 wonderful web classes!!!

    Your teaching has not only made my life more interesting but it was the path that I needed in order to stand on a whole new mountain of possibilities for my career! I’m a firm believer that you’re never too young or too old to learn something wonderful and use it for the common good!

    Gigi :0)

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