(Search Engine Optimization)
SEO means techniques for helping search engines index a webpage and feature it as far up as possible on the list of results for a given search phrase. SEO techniques include building backlinks pointing to your webpage (a method many people swear by), and writing the page’s content in a way that zeroes in on a particular search phrase.
See my “SEO: The Art of Search Engine Optimization” lens for an introduction to SEO and simple how-to.
Tools
- Wordtracker's Free Keyword Tracker Tool
- Webconfs.com’s suite of free SEO tools
- Google Adwords: Keyword Suggestion Tool
- Seo Book's Free Keyword Suggestion Tool (and annoying popup)
- SEOmoz’s Tools (some free, most free with registration)
Blogs
Articles / Blog Posts
- SEO, Keywords and Squidoo Tags Case Study by Spirituality
- Very basic info about the difference between Squidoo tags and search engine keywords, and how to optimize both.
- Improving a Lens’ SERPS Case Study by PotPieGirl
- Several-part-tutorial on helping a Squidoo lens crawl its way onto the front page of Google.
- SEOmoz's Analysis of Google's 2005 Patents
- Professional SEO experts scour Google's applications for patents as a way to uncover how Google's search algorithm works. This patent is several years old, but contains a lot of the key factors that SEO experts guessed were important.
- SEO Myths and the Powers of Repetition by M. Martinez
- A lot of the “common wisdom” you hear about SEO, even from experts, is dead wrong.
- Optimizing for MSN
- Webconfs on how MSN's search algorithm differs from Google, and how we can use that to get more traffic.
- Optimizing for Yahoo
- Search Engine Guide's comments on how to target another popular search engine that does things differently from Google.
SEO Checklists
Use with a grain of salt, since Google is continually changing its algorithm, and you never know the expertise of those putting these checklists together. However, I originally learned how to optimize webpages by following the first link below, a checklist on what parts of your page help or harm SEO.
- Webconf’s 15 Minute SEO Checkist
- In-depth list of Google Ranking Factors updated through June 2007
- SEO in practice: free e-book with in-depth information
