Tanner Hobin

Search Engine Optimization Steps for Success: Part 1 of 4

“Ok, I have a pretty website that I just paid an expensive designer to build…now what?” If this is a question you’ve been pondering you’re in luck. The following is a simple step-by step process for jump starting your Search Engine Optimization efforts.

Search engine optimization as a whole is a very involved process. I would suggest setting aside an hour or two a day to devote to SEO. There are tasks that you will perform once, tasks that will need attention monthly, and tasks that can be done daily.

One time tasks include:

• Submit your site to all major search engines and directories
• Create and submit an XML sitemap to Google Webmaster Tools and Yahoo! Site Explorer
• Create robots.txt file to allow crawlers access to your site

Monthly tasks include:

• Add fresh content or refresh old content on your site, this includes individual page meta data
• Check Google Webmaster Tools for errors and adjust accordingly
• Look for opportunities to cross link your pages using quality in-line text

Daily tasks include:

• Build links
• Build more links
• Build more quality links

So this article did nothing but prompt more questions, right? Fear not, this is the first article in a series of 4. Look for Search Engine Optimization Steps for Success: Part 2 next week. In the mean time though, feel free to contact me with any immediate questions.