SEO Guide Part 4 – What is SEO?

Search Engine Algorithms explained

So how does a search engine determine your rank and position in the SERPs (search engine results pages) from all of the BILLIONS of pages that are out there?

All search engines employ a ranking algorithm. One of the main rules in a ranking algorithm is to check the location and frequency of keywords on a web page.

But since many people tried to trick the search engines by cramming the pages full of keywords, as well as cramming the metatags, other criteria have come into play for many of the top search engines.

Algorithms also give weight to link popularity, the number of web pages linking to your site.  Again, there are people who will go out of their way to try to get links by using less than legitimate means. And it is important to note that trading links, also known as reciprocal linking, does not count for as much of a vote as a completely independent link.

Also note that the anchor text of the link influences where you are in the standings; the ideal would be anchor text with appropriate keywords linking back to you.

When performed by a qualified, experienced search engine optimization consultant, your quest for high search engine rankings really can work, but most of us don’t have a great deal of money to spend on experts like this when we are first starting out, and really good ones who understand SEO an can deliver in a 3 to 6 month period are in short supply.

Therefore, with the knowledge of search engines and how they work that you can gain from this site, our goal is for you to do it on your own effectively as your build your site.

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Author: jm

Joan Mullally has been doing business online for more than 20 years and is a pioneer in the fields of online publishing, marketing, and ecommerce. She is the author of more than 200 guides and courses designed to help beginner and intermediate marketers make the most of the opportunities the Internet offers for running a successful business. A student and later teacher trainee of Frank McCourt’s, she has always appreciated the power of the word, and has used her knowledge for successful SEO and PPC campaigns, and powerful marketing copy. One computer science class at NYU was enough to spark her fascination with all things digital. In her spare time, she works with adult literacy, animal fostering and rescue, and teaching computer skills to women.