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Off-Page Search Engine Optimisation Simplified

By Jason Kendall

We've discussed the basic premise of Search Engine Optimisation, (including factors pertinent to 'on-page' optimising) in an earlier feature. However, what really matters concerns off-page SEO. It's rather like a voting scheme. One website volunteers a link or vote to another website. They're suggesting the site is worth looking at.

There are 2 main bits to the link. First, the actual URL or web address of the page they are pointing to. Then secondly the keyword phrase. This will be highlighted on the web page. That page can then be seen as receiving one 'vote'. In other words one 'vote' to push the website up the natural listings.

This is always how it works. The page being targeted and the Anchor Text are permanently linked to each other. Otherwise it doesn't work! The anchor text notifies the Search Engine about the page's content - and thus what search term it should come under. This is vital to understand: Anchor texts are responsible for all the searches your site appears for.

Can you see therefore why a 'Click Here' link serves no SEO purpose? The phrase 'CLICK Here' is what we've voted for! Who would choose to search for Click Here? No-one of course.

And that's exactly why you must consider your anchor text carefully. It signifies the keyword phrases that you want to rank for. (While we're on the subject - a search for CLICK HERE will always show Adobe Reader download in position one). Do Adobe think 'CLICK HERE' is an important term? No way! It's just that millions of websites have a link using those words to download Adobe Reader.

So to count a 'vote' for a web page, the Search Engines always go to the anchor text. It is the logical thing to do. Google wants to emulate what a real human being is looking for and would like to find. In several ways it doesn't matter what your page is about. The Search Engine 'knows' your page is about 'green buses' if that's your highlighted anchor text. It's undeniable!

Of course, it's not quite as simple as that... The Search Engines also take into account a pages' title and its wording. Plus a whole bunch of other factors as well. Just as an example - they'll look at the spread and relevancy of the 'voting' sites.

However, let's be quite clear - the most important thing by far for SEO is a stuff-load of back links! Plus the back-links have to have the right anchor text phrases and be from many different and varied sites. How much 'clout' a donor site has is very relevant also - Back links that come from well-rated websites carry a lot more weight than links from less established sites.

It takes knowledge and skill to identify the best keyword groupings for your site. (Research your competitors well before you plump for yours.) It really boils down to one thing: When someone is looking for your product, what words do they use for their search? Find the answer to that, and you've got your keywords.

However, you can't just use your 'best guesses! Quite often, the phrases you'd expect to see don't rate very highly. We all have different ways of expressing ourselves. You may think to Google "quality mattresses" if you're hoping to sleep better. A different person though may choose to write the words 'I need to sleep better'.

It's simply not worth relying on supposition. It can't be over-estimated how important it is to investigate, measure and test all the phrases to be used. How much visibility your site gets is absolutely dependent on this. Compare it to an entry in a physical printed Business Directory. You won't receive any calls if you're listed under an inappropriate heading. Search Engine Optimisation can only be effective with painstaking and detailed keyword research.

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