Although search engine optimization is not new, SEO is more important than ever. Indeed, if you do not have your site optimized, then you won’t receive much traffic from the search engines. Your website can live or die based on search, and how you respond will profoundly impact your bottom line.[edgtf_section_title type=”standard” position=”left” title_underscore=”yes” title_underscore_size=”large” title_tag=”h4″ disable_break_words=”no” title=”Your Scope”]What is the subject of your website? It is essential that it has a relatively narrow focus on a single topic. For instance, if you cover the automotive sector, where the field is vast, you can concentrate on classic cars, new cars, car reviews or a particular brand, such as Kia or Buick. Narrowing your focus can help you stand out. That is especially important when you are launching a new site and are going up against some big-time players.[edgtf_section_title type=”standard” position=”left” title_underscore=”yes” title_underscore_size=”large” title_tag=”h4″ disable_break_words=”no” title=”Keywords Matter”]You know which keywords are essential to your business; you should identify them and use them frequently. That means making a list of those keywords with the intent of succeeding with each one. Use keywords everywhere: in your titles, headings, within your articles, on the sidebar of your website, in the “alt” tags, the website’s description, you name it. Of course, you do not want to stuff them, and that is why it is important that you use each one, but balance them out throughout your website. Use variations on a preferred keyword theme too. For instance, if your site is about “used cars,” use might also use such terms as “pre-owned vehicles” and “certified pre-owned cars.”[edgtf_section_title type=”standard” position=”left” title_underscore=”yes” title_underscore_size=”large” title_tag=”h4″ disable_break_words=”no” title=”Link Like You Mean It”]Some of the best links on your website are to other pages and articles already on your site. Be careful here that you do not do this haphazardly — your links should point to relevant pages. For instance, if your conversation is about aftermarket parts, then find other articles on your site to link to with that topic emphasized. Then link from your old pieces to your new items to cover all bases. A robust internal linking scheme makes it easier for your related pages to rank with the search engines.[edgtf_section_title type=”standard” position=”left” title_underscore=”yes” title_underscore_size=”large” title_tag=”h4″ disable_break_words=”no” title=”Site Load is Critical”]People love to add those little widgets, photos, and resources that give their site some pop. After all, when you are small potatoes, you need every edge to help make your website stand out. What you do not want to do is to burden your website with unnecessary information, what could slow down your site. Sure, the self-loading video looks great, but it is slowing down your site, and your visitors are leaving before it finishes loading. That’s never a good thing![edgtf_section_title type=”standard” position=”left” title_underscore=”yes” title_underscore_size=”large” title_tag=”h4″ disable_break_words=”no” title=”Frequent Updates Are Smart”]Your website is battling other websites. And that means your content must be on level ground with these other sites. It is crucial for you to update your content regularly, at least three-to-four times per week, if not more. That means adding new content and also going through your older material to add links and update your information. Fresh content gets the priority from the search engines, so don’t neglect this.[edgtf_section_title type=”standard” position=”left” title_underscore=”yes” title_underscore_size=”large” title_tag=”h4″ disable_break_words=”no” title=”Social Media is Important”]Your off-site work should also join your onsite SEO efforts. That means a presence on social media, one that is visible, strategic and well done. Use the top social media websites to tell people about the changes on your website. That means making use of Google Plus, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Build your presence on those sites to bring people to your site.[edgtf_section_title type=”standard” position=”left” title_underscore=”yes” title_underscore_size=”large” title_tag=”h4″ disable_break_words=”no” title=”Your SEO Efforts”]Your SEO efforts will never end, but that is a good thing. You need to maintain your visibility, something you can do by keeping tabs on your analytics and making adjustments as needed. Also consider hiring an SEO services company to help your campaign, which would enable you to concentrate on what you do best: build your business.

If you’re interested in having your own website, or have any questions, feel free to contact me. I can be reached at (417) 812-6313 or at my website,  www.thomasmckee.com.

Thank you,

Thomas P. McKee.