What is SEO?
Search results from Google and alike are ranked using a strict formula, which numbers the results according to relevance. SEO or Search Engine Optimisation in a basic sense, refers to writing content which can improve this ranking.
Improve exposure. Gain customers. Increase sales.
SEO is vitally important, considering some sources have quoted figures that around 79% of Google users find what they are looking for on page 1 of results, or they try a new search. If your business does rank on this first page, you have a distinctive advantage over any competitor who ranks lower than you.
Web traffic can be quantified in terms of exposures (people who view your website) and conversions (people who act on information on the website). If your website has been designed and developed correctly, you can certainly increase sales, gain customers and claim market share by simply increasing your website exposures. The higher your website's search engine ranking, the more exposures you're likely to get.
It is impossible to guarantee a particular search rank for any specific search term, as ultimately the entire search engine and its algorithms are under the control of a third party. However, as website developers and SEO specialists, First Time Solutions are able to implement a thorough 3-stage process which offers your business the very best chance of being ranked highly.
SEO at First Time Solutions
First Time Solutions high level SEO refers to three (3) separate processes.
1. Research and Data Analysis
First, identification of appropriate keywords which represent search patterns conducted by your target demographic, users who are looking for your company, or companies such as yours:
- Analysis of search volumes and competition for chosen keywords.
- Analysis of competitor sites and rankings.
- Determine which chosen keywords are practical to target; based on competition and search volumes.
- Creation of search keywords and phrases hotlist, for use in page development and content writing.
2. On-Page Preparation and Optimisation
Second, is the process of preparing the site itself, individual pages and their content for search engines. This includes:
- Ensuring the site is accessible and standards compliant.
- Development of well written, natural, relevant content, with use of keywords and phrases where possible.
- Accessible alternatives are provided for all image and flash components.
- Creating individual page titles and meta descriptions.
- Using an XML site-map which allows search engines to easily find and locate pages on the site.
- Use of controls which indicate you don’t wish Google to index particular pages (helps retain rank).
- Careful and natural use of keywords in page titles, headings and anchors.
3. Off-Page Optimisation and Back-Links
The final part of the strategy is back-links. A back-link is a link from an un-related third party website to your site.
- Google has a patented algorithum for this called PageRank
- Back-links increase the rank of the site being linked to (by transferring some of the “rank” of the source website to the target website).
- The quality of a back-link is based on the relevance and rank of the source website.
- The most desirable back-links are from high quality, highly ranked authorative sites.
- Back-links generally occur naturally as people discover your site and discuss the site and company.
- You can help by encouraging third party contacts in the industry to link to your website.
- First Time Solutions can discuss with you strategies to help build high quality back-links to your site.