Search Engines are built to help the searchers. Search Engines strive to put the best fit/standard websites on top rankings so that searchers get their required info within few clicks.

How do Search Engines know a website’s standard and its relevance with searched keywords? What are the steps you should follow for a complete SEO to improve your website’s rankings?

This article covers Search Engine Optimization in two levels - the first is On-page optimization, and the next is Off-Page Optimization. An effective On-page optimization together with good Off-page optimization will improve your Search Engine Rankings.

On-Page and Off Page Optimization

1. Define your Business & Target Audience

The first step in any business starts with analysis.Determine what kind of services your website is to provide and what kind of audience you want for your website?

2. Don’t Purchase a New Domain

If you already have a good domain name don’t try to purchase a new one, as some search engines look for the age of the website as a ranking factor.

3. Choosing your Domain Name

If you are planning for a new website, try to get a domain name with keywords included. If you target regional customers, you can have your domain based on the region, say for example .uk or .au or .in

4. Make your Website look Clean & Simple

Now you have a domain name and you know whom you want to target. Website design is the key factor which keeps your visitor to stay for a while in your website and navigate your services. Make sure your website design has a good feel & look, clean and simple.

5. Evaluate your Website

If you have an existing website, and now you want to do SEO for it, then evaluate your website:

                   Navigation structure - think in a visitor’s point of view - Can someone navigate and reach the product/services they are looking for? Make your navigation user friendly, no visitor should leave your website due to confused navigation.

                    Check for W3 compatibility of your website.

                   Check for any broken links in your website and fix if any.

Your website should load fast so that it doesn’t check on your visitors’ patience.

6.Observe your competitor

Find your competitor websites.Analyze and gain knowledge on their tactics, the keywords they use, the techniques applied. With the help of this analysis you will learn what is working and what is not working, which will help in your SEO process.

7. Forums

Participate in your industry related forums & discussion boards. Post your comments, thoughts and also provide a link to your website (without spam).

8. Blogs

Having your own official blog helps to post your company’s updates, product release, etc., and also inbound links. There are directories for submitting blogs. Submit your blog with proper keyword tags which helps in your blog listing.

9. Articles

Write keyword & content rich articles on your own and post in article junctions available online. There are article junctions which accept articles in HTML format, so you can include your links with good anchor text. Write fresh articles on your topic, post and see your traffic increasing.

10. Press Releases

You can post Press Releases, which also works like Article junctions & directories; however it should look more like a Press Release and not like an article.

11. Bookmarks

Social book marking - it serves two purposes: It gets you incoming links and it popularizes your website in your community. Make sure you put keyword rich tags for your bookmarks.

12. Classifieds

You can see some websites displaying free classifieds. You can put your advertisements there with link to your website