Search Engine optimisation

[DamanC]

Bit of a long one this, so if its not your thing then you will probably be asleep halfway through this Where to start

 

Im currently redesigning my website (old and current one here - http://www.megabytecomputing.co.uk). Whilst I am at it, I might as well optimise it for google rankings. I currently pay a little for ad words (those little ads on the right) but would like to increase my main ranking.

 

Keywords

 

My keywords currently are awful, half of them are not even relevant and half are missing. This is the first aspect I am looking to improve.

 

Firstly, how many key words should I really have?

 

Secondly do I need to replicate sentences for example have "Colchester, Computers" or "Colchester computers" or Both?

 

Thirdly I have seen "Google search:" at the beginning of competitors keywords, does it actually do anything?

 

Should I tie my 'google adwords' in with my sites keywords, although in theory they should be the same if not very similar?

 

Backlinking

 

Yes, no?

 

There are many people out there claiming if you buy our software, we will back link you everywhere and you will make lots of money. Talking poo or is there any truth to this?

 

Apart from manually adding backlinks, is there a way to automate it on the cheap if not free?

 

Content

 

Its flash! Yes I know I need shooting, but I like it and the new one is again in flash. Google now reads flash sites, apparently very well. Im going to pop it in a simple frame, but is there anything I can do outside of flash that will help with my google rank?

 

Finally, anything else I can be doing to help?

 

Cheers

[Ben-san]

Daman,

 

I've recently joined a group of companies that work together with complimentary skillsets - one is an Online Reputation Management consultancy and the other is an SEO consultancy.

 

From what little I've learned over the past few months (I'm just a beginner, apologies if I'm showing you how to suck eggs), the use of keywords alone, although it works, is a little archaic. I've been led to believe that a good keyword strategy involves good keyword density. Simply put, the more relevant the indexable content of your website is to your keyword-rich title, the better.

 

Another thing to remember is that the order of words in metatags are important too. Bring the least competitive keywords up the reading order (without sounding like a bot yourself).

 

Everytime the SEO guy is presented a Flash site, it induces a sharp inhalation of breath. Frames also tend to have the same effect - but I do think he can be a little stubborn, he's been doing this since the early days of the tinternet. But, I have real belief in the way he talks about this stuff, so I'd do a little more research into how frames affect the spiders. Perhaps call up some of the top ten and study the source code of each one for some tips.

 

I'm not sure about how Google recognises text in Flash content, but I've been told images will always be just images to a search spider. Of course, more images means that your keyword density will be adversely affected too. That includes the ratio of related words between your title and the metatag. Is it possible to integrate these with the way your Flash site is called up?

 

I don't know about backlinking programs. I'm a natural skeptic though... and something tells me that it's that kind of promise is a little far-fetched.

 

I wish I could help you more, but that's as far as my feeble expertise goes, so far. And on a professional capacity, we've just reassessed our business plans and as a result, we're pushing SEO aside to make way for bigger things next year.

 

HTH,

 

B

[Angarak]

http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?t=104127

[Thorin]

Do you have any web stats from your current site? Any decent package should be able to tell you the referral information which would tell you what customers were searching for when they came to your site. This would help you decide which ad words to buy.

 

Backlinking does help, I'd make sure your business is advertised on Yell and any local business listing sites etc.

 

Flash? You need shooting. You should still make sure you have relevant keywords and titles in your metatags in the header of each page.

[DamanC]

Thanks for the pointers guys

 

I have finished the new site and uploaded it. New relevant keywords, title and description added.

 

I have started back linking with a few of the free backlink sites....whether they work or not is anyone's guess. Any recommended tools out there? I have ads with Yell and touch local etc so they should help......