Google SEO Starter Guide

So I know this is an oldie, but there is a ton to learn from this little document. Some make SEO this huge under taking (and in many cases is can be), but really what does the search engines want... They want you to find what you are looking for (period). If they fail to do this, you find that their service is broken, and you move onto some other form of searching. This is why there are few at the top.

What I enjoy the most about this Google Starter Guide, is that Google states what you should be doing.

I know this has been done before, but here is a small break down of the PDF. Feel free to download and enjoy:

1) Unique, Accurate Page Title's. Many just think you should place your keyword on every page (i.e. About | Keyword). This is not necessary, and in our opinion a waste of time. If your page is "About" your company, simply write: About | Company Name or About Company Name. If the page is about handle bars and you want to rank for bicycle's, make the title about Handle Bars (and leave it at that)

2) META Description. I am a huge fan of the feature in Webmaster Tools showing you how many of your Descriptions are the same as other pages on your site. When a search engine sees this, it confuses it on not know what that page is about. Not to say you wont rank for good content on that page, Title, header, but the META Description is important to be unique to that page as well.

3) URL Structure. Could you imagine someone asking you what page your handle bars are on, and you respond with mysite.com/folder/folder2/123.html? Now imagine wanting to push traffic to that page through a magazine add. Another way to tell the search engines about you page is to name that page after the content. So if the page is about "handle bars" simply build the page to reflect (i.e. mysite.com/handle-bars). Much cleaner... eh

4) Site East to Navigate. It's amazing how this one goes unseen by developers. I know that this is also a search issue for search engines, so lets make it easy for them to find our pages. Keep your directory structure short and sweet (i.e. mysite.com/handle-bars/mountain-bike-handle-bars). Also look at all the yummy keywords that you have used in your URL Structure. Think this one out when building a new site. Makes it much easier this way.

5) Content! Not going to bore you with writing good content, that one is an absolute given. I don't think it will ever change, so take your time and write what people can utilize.

6) Anchor Text. When linking back to your site (or specific URL), always use the KW in that text to relate to your page/site.

7) Headers. Main thing to take away from this is follow the rule of thumb for Header Tags. 1 - h1, 2 - h2's, 3 - h3's, and so on. Use your keyword in that first h1 to match the Title, META Description, and URL Structure.

8) ALT Image Tag. Why are these important, and why you shouldn't abuse them. SO many people look at these as many do their Title's, and that is PUT your KW in them as well. So even if the image is a pic of your home, people still do: alt= "Home - Keyword". Image ALT tags are to be used for why they were created. For those that turn off their images or have a vision problem. The search engines use that information to help those people truly read what your page is about. So if it is a pic of your home, use an ALT tag that is appropriate.

I think this document really will help you accomplish your onsite goals if followed. And it was pretty sweet of Google to keep it basic and to the point. With SO many theories out there on SEO, this document is a great sounding board.