[sblezza]

Hi,
I am looking to launch a new website in the near future and would like some tips on how to get my pages ranked in google and monitor my ranking. Does anyone know of any software i can use to do this? (preferabbly free software is possible) There are lots of articles out there but they all contradict each other, so im a bit lost on what i should and shouldnt do!

Regards
Simon

[urban1977]

Hi there,

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), is a long term project for any website. There are some things that can be done to improve your websites chances as soon as you launch it.

• Make sure the HTML / CSS is valid The W3C Markup Validation Service

• Add a sitemap to you website Create your Google Sitemap Online - XML Sitemaps Generator

• Think about adding an RSS feed to your website it helps search engines spider your content quickly

• Post your website on several related forums or magzine reviews. This helps generate traffic to your website and also helps with link exchange. if other websites link to your website. Then it looks like your website is important source of information

1. domain name is important. www.bernies-golf-shop.com is stronger than www.geocities.com/bernies/

• name your pages properly <title>Mr McKenzie's Chocolate Hourse</title> is better than <title>home</title>

• meta description & meta keywords are being used less & less by search engines these days but dont discount their importance with some smaller engines. Google now ignores them and that is 80% of the internet search engine market

• Content - make sure the content of the website is accurate and well formed. Includes important keywords to describe your products & services throughout the site. use <h1>, <h2> for important keywords & phrases but dont use heading tags out of context.

• all images should have alt tags with accurate descriptions do not name a picture of an apple something that it is not like "golf club", because its not good practice to spam and the poor people that might be using screen readers would get upset! its just not accessibility friendly

• try not to name links on pages like "click here" describe the links properly unless you want to rank highly for "click here"

Thats the basics covered!

Don't expect results straight away you need to wait 1-3 months and then tweak the website.

[urban1977]

SEO software...

Hello Engines: SEO Software, Website Promotion, Search Engine Submission, Search Engine Optimization Software, Ranking Software - I used version 4 a while ago and it did the job. I am sure there is much better software.

Ranking Toolbox: Search engines ranking optimization software for your websites

same company makes both software packages.

Your web server should have stats on it. suggest using that to get basic reports on traffic to your website, but the above software will help you submit your website to other search engines and optimise it slightly.

after 6 months try using google adds and pay per click.

[RockYourWeb]

I agree with Urban1977, I suggest that you have to use google analytic and google webmaster tool for your site too.