The Google Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide

In this article, I'll cover the main points of Google's Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide. This valuable ten-point checklist explains the most important steps you can take to "improve your site's interaction with both users and search engines."

Please download the guide and keep it handy. Refer to the guide as you read this article. As you read through the guide, keep in mind your website should be appealing to both Googlebot and the human users who visit your site.

Before we address the steps individually, we'll follow Google's format by explaining the difference between paid (or sponsored) links and Google's "organic" search results. On any Google search results page, you are likely to see paid search results in addition to those returned by the search engine. Naturally your goal is to rank higher in the organic (non-paid) search results. Your page rank is an indication of your website's popularity. Also, links from organic search results are preferable because they are free.

The higher your appearance in the search engine results pages (SERPs), the more visitor traffic you can expect from the search engines. Since a large part of page rank is based on inbound links to your website, search engine traffic can be compared to positive word-of-mouth advertising.

The Title Tag

The Title tag is a bit of HTML code that goes within your webpage. The Title tag tells Google the name of your page, which is displayed in the Title Bar of your browser window. Google recommends you use your business name, followed by three areas of focus, for your Title tag. (More on this later.)

Google recommends that you use unique titles for each page. Since each page title is unique, it represents your best opportunity to describe the page. Ideally, your "three main focus areas" should consist of keywords you expect visitors to follow in searching for your site.

Use of a unique title tag allows you to more specifically describe your webpage. In Google's search results page, the title appears directly above your short "meta-description." To get an example of this, go on Google and see how your site is actually listed.

Always use the title tag to (1) remind Google of your business name, and (2) provide Google with several relevant keywords describing your site. Example:

Foothill Web Design - Business Web Design, SEO and eMarketing