14 Search Engine Optimization Tips

1. Focus on building the site's reputation by participating in other related sites - consider using blog posts, email, forums and other related means.  This helps build cross linking to improve your domain visibility.
 
2. Keep the site content up to date.  Add what may be of interest to viewers who are searching the internet.  Consider write-ups on events, why certain communities are popular, etc.  The goal is to keep the existing visitor base and bring in new visitors.
 
3. What might the visitor type when searching?  Keep the content relevant and use words and phrases that visitors might use.

4. Include an e-NewsLetter.  This can be used to contact clients once a month, encourage site visitors to sign up for the newsletter, and generate referrals.
 
5. Are there additional services to offer on the site?  What can you offer that no other site offers.  
 
6. Add the site to available Local Business Centers on popular search engines.  In addition, if there are other businesses that you regularly interact with, add them as a resource. Such as www.buzztown.com.
 
7. For Real Estate websites, adding the Search Properties tool (Killer IDX - http://www.successwebsystems.com/) will allow visitors to stay at your site while searching for properties of interest.
 
8. Include informative text with extensive use of key phrases.  Keep in mind, search engines cannot "search" the .pdf attachments.
 
9. Review and update all pages description meta tags.  Ensure the description on each page informs the viewer of the content.
 
10. Add/update a XML sitemap (a page with links to all pages of the site).  This is a way to tell some search engines (for example, Google) which version of a URL is preferred.
 
11. Update site to meet latest W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) standards.
 
12. Use text instead of images for navigation – this makes it easier for search engines to crawl.  Use ALT tags for all images with text descriptions.
 
13. Update "anchor text" which is the descriptive text about the page the link is going to.  As an example, use “Visit our Featured Property” as the link instead of “click here for more info”.

14. Add video to your home page website. It will greatly increase your browser visibility.