An SEO strategy (also known as search engine optimization plan, or SEO strategy) is the choreographed process of strategizing, planning and implementing measures designed to increase search engine rankings for websites. Simply put: an SEO strategy helps you get more natural traffic. However, it's not as simple as that. You will need to have a plan in place before you can even begin to implement SEO strategies. This article provides tips on how to go about building your plan of action.
SEO is a very technical field. Don't assume that just because a website has a low page rank that it is not being optimized effectively. The ranking of a website (PR) affects many things including its popularity, effectiveness in search terms and relevance with search results. When an SEO expert advises you to build an SEO strategy, he/she is not telling you to leave it to chance. It requires detailed research and analysis of keywords and competitive scenarios. There are various tools available online for conducting keyword research, including Google AdWords Keyword Research Tool and Microsoft Internet Explorer Keyword Research Tool.
Your SEO strategy should consist of on-page optimization. This includes optimizing content; otherwise known as content optimization, including meta tags, title, H-tags, keywords etc., as well as off-page factors like directories, search engines, content farms, etc. On-page SEO is much more important than off-page SEO. The reason is that on-page optimization tends to attract more visitors, which translates into potential customers. Many SEO consultants suggest using off-page SEO only after on-page optimization is complete. Also, keyword tools and keyword research tools are usually part of an SEO consultation package.
Technical SEO, also known as web search engine optimization (WSO), includes strategies related to search engines, such as crawlability, indexing and ranking. Web spiders use these algorithms to index websites. Various techniques may be used to improve a site's crawling speed, among others. There are also strategies related to links, such as link popularity, directory submission, article marketing, blogs, directories and more. In technical SEO, a ranking is given to sites that have the most number of links.
On the other hand, a basic SEO strategy is building high quality, relevant and useful content. For this reason, most SEO consultants recommend writing at least one quality list post per day, and one blog post every week. This way, you can start building the needed targeted traffic, as well as create link popularity.
One of the most crucial aspects of on-page SEO is creating a keyword list. This consists of both the long tail keywords, as well as the popular search terms. The long tail keywords, however, should not include too many general-phrases, because they will be difficult to rank for in the search engines. On the other hand, popular search terms are those that have enough demand to rank well in the organic or PPC listings.
Besides having a keyword list, an on-page SEO strategy still works! One of the key elements of SEO, which still works, is generating the necessary directories, backlinks and keywords. If you do not have any backlinks or directory submissions, you will not reach the level of success of a higher SEO level. And, without any backlinks, it will also be difficult for your target keyword to get a good ranking. However, if you manage to build a decent directory, backlink portfolio or keyword list, then your website will still rank well even if there are no significant SEO factors in place.
When you are done with your target keyword list, be sure to make an effort to work on your off-page SEO as well. It is advisable to first rank for popular keywords on popular search engines and then rank for popular keywords on less popular search engines. This is because some of the most successful campaigns, even those using very sophisticated SEO strategies, have used this method. In fact, this is an important strategy to work on, because it will give you a clue on what SEO factors to employ when choosing a good seo tactic for your site. Finally, after you have optimized your site, you should still work on your off-page SEO; adding your site to the listing pages of popular directories and backlinks pointing to your site.