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:: SEO questions
:: What is a search engine?
A search engine is a program that builds an index of website content, which a person can then search to find relevant web pages. A search is typically carried out by entering a keyword or phrase into a text field. According to Hitwise, the top three search engines -- Google, Yahoo and MSN -- account for more than 96 per cent of all search traffic on the web.
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:: How do search engines work?
Search engines identify relevant content for their search results by sending out “spiders” or “robots” that ‘crawl’ or analyze your site and ‘index’ its details. Complex sets of rules (often referred to as algorithms) are then employed to determine how useful your website is and where it should rank in the search engines’ results.
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:: How popular are search engines?
Google reports that 500 million world-wide searches are made every day. According to a GvU users survey, search engines account for more than 85 per cent of all new visitors to a website.
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:: Why can't I find my website in the search engines?
It can take search engines 30 to 90 days -- or more -- to ‘spider’ and index your website . Be wary of any SEO service provider that guarantees you top rankings ‘overnight’.
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:: What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the art of using scientific-based techniques to gain a website higher search engine rankings. Considering the fact that the likes of Google, Yahoo! and MSN drive millions of Internet users to websites daily, it is by far the single most effective marketing strategy you can use to gain online presence.
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:: Is SEO important to my website’s success?
Absolutely. While more than 85 per cent of web visits arrive via search engines, studies indicate only seven per cent of Internet users will surf beyond the first 20 listings of a search engine. In fact, more than 87 per cent of search engine users would rather switch to a different search engine than browse beyond the first 20 positions.
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:: How do I achieve SEO?
While online marketing strategies such as inbound links score points, many industry authorities are of the same opinion: content is king! This is reinforced by the search engines themselves. For instance:
- Google advises webmasters one of the keys to a high ranking is to "create a useful, information-rich site.
- " AltaVista's FAQ for webmasters states: "Spend your energy and money making your pages as useful as possible to your target audience. The quality of your site is an important ranking factor! Part of improving the quality of your site is thinking about what your audience wants, and the terms your audience might use to search. Write your text so your pages are better matches for specific queries."
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:: What is "white hat" and "black hat" SEO?
White hat SEO methods are those approved by search engines, such as building content and improving site quality. Some refer to white hat methods as organic SEO.
Black hat SEO uses unethical techniques to manipulate search rankings. While these practices can provide short-term gain, they run the risk of being flagged and penalized by search engines.
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:: What is a keyword?
Keywords or keyphrases are the words web users enter into search engines to locate relevant web pages.
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:: How important are keywords in bringing traffic to my site?
Choosing the right keywords for your business and your target market is critical to your website's success. They can make the difference between a top 10 and top 500 search engine ranking.
See SEO case studies.
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:: How do I determine the best keywords for my website?
Before any website can be optimized, you must determine which keywords to target. This involves finding relevant keywords, determining their popularity, assessing the amount of competition, and deciding which words or terms can be best supported with quality content. You need to establish:
- What are your potential customers likely to enter into a search engine?
- How often is that search term used?
- How many websites and pages are you competing against?
- What keywords are your direct competitors using, and with what success?
As a result, web copywriters must perform a keyword analysis to maximize targeted traffic to your website. For instance, measuring the number of daily word searches against the number of competing web pages can help you find popular search terms that have low competition, increasing your chances of top search engine rankings.
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:: What is keyword density?
Keyword density is the ratio of keywords to your total web copy. Search engine spiders look for pages that are relative to a search phrase, so they like to see phrases repeated within the web copy of that page.
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:: What is the optimum keyword density ratio?
To achieve high rankings, your web copy should comprise a keyword density ratio of three to seven per cent. If your keyword density is too low, you might be overlooked. If you’re too high, you might get flagged as a "spammer" and be penalized.
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