Optimizing your site for search engines?

[Centaurion]

I just finished making a simple website for my business and now I need to wh0re it big time to the search engines. This is where everything goes tits up. I have no idea on how to optimize my site for search engines, or how to put in key words.

Anyone here kind of enough to give me a tip or two in layman's terms?

cheers

 

[Bible_Belt]

It is difficult to do well at SE optimization. Many people are competing for top results. You might consider ppc advertising through overture or google adwords. I think backbreaker has experience with ppc advertising.

It's easiest to optimize for more obscure key words, because you have less competition. Pick out key search terms that are as specific as possible. Then look at your competition and model after them. The exact formulas that each search engine uses are a secret, and web masters have to guess at what works best. A different web page can be optimized for each search engine. It is generally accepted that linking to popular sites and having other sites link back to you will increase your placement.

I worked on se opt for a mortgage company for a while, but I got frustrated by the way in which the companies that are getting top results are doing it by cheating in various ways. One way to cheat is "cloaking," which is showing one page to the se but another page to the web site visitor. I reported several pages to Google, but they don't seem to care. It's probably too hard to police. Maybe paying a company to use tactics such as cloaking on your behalf is a smart business decision. It is frustrating to try and follow the rules but lose in the competition to other companies that are breaking the rules.

 

[Taviii]

Content will give you higher ratings in Google not keywords. I think they are overrated. There is an entire business that makes money from this field though, seo websites, seo consultants etc.

Anyways here are some tips from a bigger article on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seo

Some methods considered proper by the search engines:

* Using unique and relevant title to name each page.
* Editing web pages to replace vague wording with specific terminology relevant to the subject of the page, and that the audiences that the site was developed for will expect to see on the pages, and will search with to find the page.
* Increasing the amount of unique content on a site.
* Using a reasonably-sized, accurate description meta tag without excessive use of keywords, exclamation marks or off topic terms.
* Ensuring that all pages are accessible via anchor tag hyperlinks, and not only via Java, Javascript or Macromedia Flash applications or meta refresh redirection; this can be done through the use of text-based links in site navigation and also via a page listing all the contents of the site (a site map).
* Allowing search engine spiders to crawl pages without having to accept session IDs or cookies.
* Developing "link bait" strategies. High quality websites that offer interesting content or novel features tend to accumulate large numbers of backlinks.
* Participating in a web ring with other quality websites.
* Writing useful, informational articles under a Creative Commons or other open source license, in exchange for attribution to the author by hyperlink.

Here is the first form of seo: write this in your head section

<META NAME="description" content="A professional, affordable web design service that guarantees your success on the web. We also design customized Logos and Business Cards for your small business.">
<META NAME="keywords" content="cheap Website Design, custom website design, small business websites, customized graphic design, customized logo creation, corporate logo design, business card graphic design, customized business card design, Lexington website design, Kentucky website design, professional website design, business logo design, professional business cards">

This are the keywords used for a web design site. I think you get the picture.

Other than that don't link to obscure website, and dont go overboard with the seo, that means if you write and article about cycling then don't write "cycling" all over the page. I good seo will be to write other words related to it like: Tour de France, Lance Armstrong, Ivan Basso, bike, tourism etc

I hope this gives you an idea around this field.

Good luck!

 

[Don Ronny]

There are many ways to get SEO on your site...most people think meta-tags and keywords are the key, but they are just icing on this cake.

1. Make sure you are using semantic layout separate from presenation. In other words, all your layout and formatting is done via CSS to leave your content clean for search engine bots to pick through. (It also makes your sight more accesible to the general public) This means no using nested tables for layout, no font or color formatting in the html...save it for CSS and link to that wth the appropriate class tags.

2. Use clean URLS. This is especially important for dynamically generated pages. For example

www.abc.com/id3529?php = BAD
www.abc.com/section/category/articlTitle = Good

3. Use headers as much as you can to break up the logical flow of your document. Be smart about it.. <h1> tags are for your page titles <h2> is subheading, h3 is sub-sub, etc.

4. Submit your site to search engines:
• Google - http://www.google.com/addurl/
• The Open Directory Project - http://www.dmoz.org/add.html?• MSN Search - http://search.msn.com/docs/submit.aspx?• Yahoo Search - http://submit.search.yahoo.com/free/request

5. Link to as many sites as you can. When making a reference to any outside sources, dont just mention them, make some <href tags for chrissakes!

6. If you are a serious developer, do yourself a favor and Download FireFox and the web developer plugins. With just one key-command (ctrl-shift-s) you get a good glimpse of what the search engines see.

7. If you have lots of images, consider signing up for free image hosting service such as www.flickr.com

8. Sign up with www.pingomatic.com

9. MOST IMPORTANT!!! Your site content must be updated regularly to improve rankings. If you dont update your site, the search engines start to forget about you (along with your public) Keep things fresh and up to date so you are offering value and incentive for repeat visits.

10. Know your target audience. Use stats software to see which platforms and browsers visit, along with which countries are most frequent. Google has bought an excellent piec of technology called Google Analytics (formerly Urchin Analytics) It is free but there is a waiting list. you can sign up here... http://www.google.com/analytics/ This software ties in with Google Earth so you can actually zoom in and see the houses of the people who log onto your site. Its the next best thing to being GOD!

There is a LOT more to SEO, in fact people are charging good money for site optimization...but as long as you do your homework and take a few precautions, you dont have to pay them a dime.

If you are serious about educating yourself, check out http://www.seochat.com/

That should keep you busy for a while!

 

[Centaurion]

Thanks alot for all the good info. And I really appreciate all those links.

I've realized that I know jack about this, and that I need to do some serious reading on this topic. I was thinking of smarting small, maybe emailing all the people I know about my website and then take it from there.

One more question though, I've used MS Frontpage to make my website - whats the best program to use?

 

[Taviii]

The best is to code it yourself, but if you don't know that use DreamWeaver or GoLive.

FrontPage is the worst possible solution. You would be better of with a free WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) html editor than with FrontPage.

 

[Don Ronny]

Yeah...Frontpage will not give you clean code.

It is best to code your sites by hand, and its actually a lot easier than it seems. I learned everything I know from reading two small paperback books...

For HTML:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/03...f=pd_bbs_2/103-9914067-9299837?_encoding=UTF8

For CSS:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/15...103-9914067-9299837?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

If you are broke, you can find wealth of information at the following sites

http://www.alistapart.com
http://www.mezzoblue.com
http://www.andybudd.com
http://www.456bereastreet.com
http://bitesizestandards.com
http://graphicpush.com

As for software, assuming you are on PC, the best software I have ever used is http://www.coxsoft.com/web-authoring/top-style-pro.htm

 

[Centaurion]

well my site is up and running

www.anatolyatourismcenter.com

now I have to focus on SEO.

 

[Bible_Belt]

Nice site, especially compared to some of your competition. There are hardly any properties for sale yet, though.

Design-wise, I think it looks very professional. The only small change I might suggest is linking the logo image to go to your home page.

Now that I look at some houses, real estate seems cheap in Turkey. This house looks like a castle for only 150 grand. The pool is the size of the community pool in my town.

http://www.bodrumestate.com/home/index.asp?w=pages&r=1&pid=59

Property for Sale in Bodrum,4 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 2 balcony,roof teras, Around 180m2 living area, in a complex with swimingpool, close to everywhere of yalikavak, needs to redesign to 155000USD dolar

Why is it all so cheap? Are buyers worried about war in Israel or nearby?

EXCEPTIONAL values can now be found in Turkish property due to the current uncertainty in the International Environment. We do not believe that these favourable buyers'' conditions will last, with a sharp re-bound in property prices expected in the region in the near future.

 

[Centaurion]

I've got some : http://www.anatolyatourismcenter.com/Real_Estate/SALE/for_sale.htm
more coming in the next few weeks.

heh 150,000 USD is expensive, Bodrum is regarded as the place to be for the hi-so/jet-setters of Turkey.

Real Estate prices in Turkey today are on the same level as Spain's in the mid 1980s, this can inturn be linked with the average wage, which is low. Foreigners coming to Turkey have an incredible buying power compared to locals. Right now is the perfect time to invest in a property in Turkey, as it seems very likely that Turkey will be accepted into the EU in 2008. If that happens prices will soar. (*cough*greatinvestment*cough* http://www.anatolyatourismcenter.com/Real_Estate/SALE/sale_projects/atc_2006.htm)

For 100,000 € (125,000USD) I can get you a friggin mansion right at the heart of the Turkish Riviera! (my sales pitch of the day )

:rockon:

 

[Bible_Belt]

What are the annual property taxes and insurance? How much is rent when the apartments are rented out? Are there "community dues" or some other sort of monthly fee, like Condos have in the US?

 

[Centaurion]

There is an indepth FAQ at my site that will answer most of the common questions. Here is an excerpt :

Are there any extra taxes or fees on top of the purchase price?

Yes. In addition to the quoted price there are certain costs involved. They are as follows :

• Compulsory property tax (3% of the registered property value). One off tax to be paid when the TAPU is received.
• Solicitor’s fee starts from € 250 and it covers a meeting with him, the preparation and signing of contracts and his services throughout the purchase process.
• Notarus Publicus Charge (about € 150) for giving us the Power of Attorney to handle the documents relating to the property in your absence.
• A 3% agency fee covering all our expenses associated with the purchase. To be paid together with the deposit.
• Compulsory earthquake insurance (we also recommend a full home and content insurance)
• Compulsory earthquake tax.
• Utility connection.

This a rough estimate of the costs involved when buying a € 50 000 property.

• Property prices € 50 000
• Property tax (3%) € 1 500
• Solicitor's fee € 250
• Notary's fee € 150
• Agency fee (3%) € 1 500
• Complete insurance (including earthquake) € 200
• Utility connection € 260
• TOTAL € 53 860

Once you have received the TAPU there are some annual costs involved as well. We estimate them as follows :

• Electricity € 180
• Gas € 35
• Water / sewage € 75
• Rubbish removal € 15
• Site maintenance € 250
• Council tax € 25
• Satellite TV € 220
• TOTAL € 830

***The property tax is 3% of the declared value, which is much less than the real value.

***The community fee is decided by the community itself, and it usually covers site maintenance (gardeners fixing the garden twice a month, pool cleaning, trash disposal etc) and 24/7 security/janitor.

Here are two price examples for renting out apartments. Both apartments are in a community with private gardens and swimming pools. The 2nd apartment comes with 105m2 store as well.
Apartment 1 - € 2,600/year
Apartment 2 - € 10,000/year

 

[Bible_Belt]

Once you have received the TAPU there are some annual costs involved as well. We estimate them as follows :

* Electricity € 180
* Gas € 35
* Water / sewage € 75
* Rubbish removal € 15
* Site maintenance € 250
* Council tax € 25
* Satellite TV € 220
* TOTAL € 830

Those look like monthly figures. They are yearly? Those are some cheap utilities.

 

[Centaurion]

Those are yearly figures.

 

[Phrost]

Can roreigners buy Turkist RE or does buying one allow you a residency/accelerated citizenship?

 

[Centaurion]

From our FAQ :

What nationalities can buy property in Turkey?

Turkey has a reciprocal agreement on property purchase with 87 countries, including all European countries.Below is a list over some of the countries whose nationalities can buy property in Turkey. For a more complete list, please contact us.

• Austria
• Ireland
• Poland
• Belgium
• Italy
• Portugal
• Denmark
• Liechtenstein
• Spain
• England
• Luxemburg
• Sweden
• Finland
• Monaco
• Switzerland
• France
• Netherlands
• Norway
• USA
• Germany

Are there any limitations for a foreigner when it comes to buying a property?

Provided the property is in a city or a municipality and is not located close to a military zone, foreigners can buy property or land as they wish. Foreigners can now buy property/land in villages as well, something they could not do earlier. These houses in Turkish Villages are becoming more popular as they are located in beautiful areas.

However, before a foreigner can buy a property, the Military High Command of the area must give its approval, something that takes anything between 8 to 12 weeks.


Do I need a Residence Permit to purchase or rent a property in Turkey?

No, a foreigner can buy a property without a Residence Permit. However, if you decide at a later date that you want to connect a phone or want to buy a car, then you will need a Residence Permit.



What kind of Visa do I need?

An initial tourist visa can be obtained when you arrive at the airport or from a Turkish Consulate in your home country. An initial tourist visa at the airport is valid between 1 - 3 months (depending on what country you are from) and costs about € 20. This allows you unlimited entry/exit within the allocated time period.

If you want extend your stay, you can do so by applying to the local Immigration Office in Manavgat or directly to the Head Office in Antalya. It is recommend that you start this application process well before your visa expires as it can take up to 2 weeks if you apply in Manavgat, but it usually takes only a couple of days if you apply in Antalya.

Alternatively you can leave the country and travel to a Greek island by boat for a day trip from Alanya. Your passport will then be stamped for another 3 months.

For more information about Visa requirements, please contact your local Turkish Consulate.

 

[madgame]

Anybody know why the user DonRonny got banned?? I was gonna send him a private message asking him some stuff about SEO/SEM, but I wasn't able to unfortunately...

 

[Centaurion]

I sent you a PM.

 

[Panda 2000]

Wow, I didn't know this many people here were in the web developing business. Nice to see, nice to see.
I'd add something but I'd just be repeating the great posts of the previous posters. A tip I'd give though is to always design with semantics in mind and the rest will follow through. For example, search engines love a good semantic design. A semantic design is that your elements represent what they're intended to represent and that content is as separated from presentations as possible. For example, using tables for layout instead of divs, font tags, using a tags to display images etc., all that is bad practice.
When I make my sites, my HTML tags don't have any styling attributes whatsoever. They only have id and class attributes and those attributes that do not define style.

 

[Centaurion]

Tables are on the way out now. CSS is the way to go.