Search Engine Optimization
Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is a process by which you can improve your ranking with search engines by making adjustments to the code of your website. The Internet is a big place and with over 80% of people finding what they are looking for through search engines, they represent a popular and powerful tool. We keep informed about search engine updates and adjust our techniques as needed. Below is a list of just a few things that we do to every website we build.
- Proper website content or structure
- Proper website development: for example, redirects, error pages, use of JavaScript
- Keyword research
- Unique meta and title data
- XHTML and XML sitemaps
Many professional SEO services make bloated promises, and some use techniques that can actually harm the reputation of your business online. A common SEO myth is that it is a one-time, quick fix that will get your website to the number one spot of popular search engines like Google, Bing, and Ask. In actuality, to see results from SEO techniques it requires an ongoing refinement of your website’s content based on analyzing statistical data. Some myths are so commonly used by web design firms to promote their services, that we felt the need to expose them.
No one can guarantee a #1 rank on Google
Beware of companies that claim to guarantee rankings, allege a "special relationship" with Google, or advertise a "priority submit" to Google. There is no priority submit for Google. In fact, the only way to submit a website to Google directly is through their Add URL page or by submitting a sitemap. Good SEO practices can increase your rank, but even with the best practices used it does not guarantee a #1 spot on Google.
Not all links are good links
Avoid companies that talk about the power of "free-for-all" links, link popularity schemes, or submitting your website to thousands of search engines. These are typically useless exercises that don't affect your ranking in the results of the major search engines -- at least, not in a way you would likely consider to be positive.