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When I first started researching SEO it was a completely different set of rules. Simply finding good information proved to be a challenge, let alone keeping up with the tactics that worked. Anyone savvy enough to find a way to rank rarely shared the strategy with others.
Today you simply need to search for “SEO” and there is so much good information available the issue becomes “Where do I Start”. If you are new to Search Engine Optimization it is important to focus on the basics, especially if you have a limited budget. Sometimes a simple change to a title tag, url or meta data can achieve the goals you are aiming for, buying you time to learn how to maintain high rankings. Just know if you are trying to rank for something like “credit cards” or “airline tickets” you may want to rethink your business plan unless you have a massive budget.
Here are a few easy changes that could be all you need to fight another day:
- Change your Title Tags
- Change your Meta Description
- Change your Meta Keywords
- Get links from your friends
- Create static URL’s on important pages (301 re-direct old urls to the new page)
- 301 re-direct either the www or the non-www version of your domain (so all pages would be one or the other not a mix)
- Submit an xml sitemap to Google Webmaster Tools
- Submit your site to DMOZ
- Make sure the content you currently have is searchable (i.e. not images of text)
- Add alt text to images
If you complete this list (not in any particular order) your rankings could improve over time. Remember to be as relevant as possible when selecting the words to use with these suggestions. Additionally you don’t need to make all of these changes at once. It is better to make small changes over time and see how the search engines react, that way you can pinpoint what change helped/hurt your rankings.
Chris
