Advanced Optimization Tips

PaperStreet Takes the Guesswork Out of Search Engine Optimization

Search Engine Optimization does not have to be guesswork.  There are formulas for success.  This article outlines some advanced tips that are common to achieve top rankings.

Note that this article assumes some knowledge of web design, optimization including the fact that content is always the important factor, followed by inbound links to your site, proper page code, and a proper focus on your relevant keywords.

1.  One Domain
You may have alternate domains, but all other domains should redirect and the redirection should be a 301 redirect. Your web host should know how to do this, but all domains should redirect into one domain.  It also helps to choose your oldest domain and/or the domain with the most inbound links.  Typically these are the same.

2.  File Types
Feel free to use php, htm, html, asp, jsp, cfm, and a ton of other web extensions.  Google, MSN, and Yahoo will index just about any file type these days without ANY difference in ranking.

3.  Links
Obtain inbound links from other sites, but do it slowly.  Make sure that you do not join any link farms, link programs, or suspecious sites. Links to your site should remain static and not be moved around.

4.  Content
Every page should have keyword rich content. There is no hard rule for amount of content for each page, but try to make sure that your page has around 250 to 300 words, or four to five paragraphs, and you should have success. You should mention the primary keyword at least five times and secondary terms two to three times in the content on that page.  Finally, you should also mention each keyword phrase (exactly) in the content.

5.  Graphics
Graphics are not indexed by the search engine and neither is Flash.  Spalsh pages and all Flash sites are a waste of time if you are trying to rank high in the search engines (although they certainly look pretty). Just keep in mind that any text that is created as a graphic cannot be seen.  If you have graphics that you want seen by the search engines should be removed and replaced with actual html text.

6.  Page Names
Page names are a part of the algorithm.  It is better to title page names with keyword phrases in them, but it is not absolutely necessary.

7.  Anchor Text
A great way to increase rankings of subpages is to have anchor text as either the main menu or footer menus.  These links should have absolute paths and title attributes that utilize relevant keywords.  These links should be simple text and html code, and will provide a more clearly designated path for the search engine spiders.

8.  Title Tag
This is the most important tag.  This should relate to your keyword phrase.  A good example is for law firm web design would be “Law Firm Web Design – PaperStreet – Lawyer Web Design”.

9.  Meta Tags
Meta tags (keyword and description) at the top of each page must be able to be made unique.  If individual include files or headers need to be created, please do so.

10.  External Files
Put all JavaScript client-side scripting into an external .js file and put all stylesheet and formatting information into an external .css file.

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