By Randall Helling

WebSuccess University Instructor

Getting your blog site listed as a prime search result on any of the major search websites is called Search Engine Optimization (SEO). There are literally over 200 leading search engines...but a primary search result spot on a Google search is regarded as the "holy grail" of internet marketing.

There are a lot of views surrounding best practices for SEO, and without question you could commit hours researching this topic for in-depth solutions and high-end, specialized guidance.

But whether it's Google, Yahoo, Ask Jeeves or something else - optimizing a blog site for any search engines entails basically the same common techniques that anyone seeking online targeted visitors needs to learn. Let's cover them:

CONTENT

Website optimization starts with content.

If the content is irrelevant, the website won't last long in the rankings. The best way to get relevant content is to get an expert to write content. Now, you don't have to hire somebody for this - YOU can be the professional!

This may be a little overwhelming for a novice. Just keep in mind that in the search optimization arena, information is what is going to keep site visitors coming back. (...it's also going to keep webmasters linking to your website.) And search engines really like traffic and links.

Many search engines use link counters to rank sites. If enough people like the website, they'll link to it from their own site to assist their guests to find more in depth information about a particular subject topic. "General Interest" websites occasionally link to expert sites in order to drive their own traffic up as the initial portal to those expert websites. By doing this they increase their own rankings in the optimization listings.

Just bear in mind that the quality of the linked site plays a primary role in the rankings. Top quality sites such as Microsoft and Google are going to be much more effective than sites like "Joe's Fishing Trip."

Keywords

When it involves creating content, keywords are the 'anchors' that search engines hook onto. But be careful. Just filling your content with keywords may get it dismissed as spam. (...many spammers fill pages with keywords hoping to grab anybody searching for anything.) These kind of pages are generally removed quickly - but they do exist and they are frowned upon.

Meta Tags

Another tactic for optimization includes using "meta tags" in your content title. The title is very critical and one of the critical items a search website uses for ranking. It's also the hook that draws a surfer to your website.

So while we're talking about the title, I suggest a title length of around 50-80 characters (including spaces). Leave main keywords near the beginning of the title in case a user ever resizes the window.

Good Example:

"Search Engine Optimization Tips And Tricks For Google"

Poor Example:

"How To Do Important SEO For Websites."

In the end, when it comes to search engine "optimization," there is also a list of what NOT to do:

• Don't use huge strings of keywords without relevant content

(You may be labeled as a spammer and blacklisted from the search engine(s) you're trying to climb.)

• Stay away from pop-ups

• Stay away from excessive load times and lots of flash animation

If you apply these simple techniques you'll soon be noticing an increase in your search engine rankings. Contrary to what some "professionals" may have you believe, search engine rankings take time. Keep utilizing these techniques and you'll get there.

To Your Success,