Below, you'll find a brief set of rules for creating search-engine "friendly" websites. If you follow these rules, your website is much more likely to appear at the top of search engine results, where customers look first!
Notes for you, the Marketer
When optimizing your website for search engines, choose no more than 3 keywords. Then give those 3 keywords to a qualified Copywriter and Web Producer specializing in Search Engine Optimization.
Links to your website (from other websites) increase your PageRank
Links from websites that address your industry increase your PageRank even more
When other businesses link to your website, it's better if your link appears on a page with few links
When other businesses link to your website, it's better if the link contains your keyword (e.g. Fred's Golf Shop sells high-end golf clubs)
Don't expect to see results sooner than 6 months after submitting your website to search engines even if your using a professional SEO
Notes for your Copywriter
Each page should be approximately 400 words in length
- Keywords should appear as often as possible, as near to the top as possible, and in headlines
- When possible, link internal pages with keywords (e.g. learn more about golf clubs)
Notes for your Webmaster
Avoid WYSIWYG editors like Dreamweaver and FrontPage - these insert extra code that pushes the content further away from the page beginning and, therefore, hinders cataloging by search engines
Use the most important keyword as your page title
Put as little code as possible between the copy and beginning <HTML> tag
When formatting headlines that contain keywords, use the <H1> tag
Avoid creating pages that require input from a Form or Querystring to display content
