What Is SEO?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. In very simple terms this is what makes your website appear higher in search engine results from Google, Yahoo, and Bing. SEO used to be a relatively small bag of tricks that were sold as miracle results for exorbitant prices. Alas times have changed. The old optimization tricks do not have the impact they once did, and in fact some of the search engines identify them and actually penalize the site using them.

The process of search engine optimization takes place on many levels. The most basic level is actually in the structure of the HTML/XHMTL code. Layouts using newer techniques and CSS tend to make for better performance compared to sites with dated table layouts. The next level of SEO is actually the most important, content. Most search engines now read pages like a person would, and the challenge is to give the search engine what it needs, but still have the copy read naturally to a person. Another level of SEO is registering the site with the various engines, and setting up certain files that assist with the indexing of the pages.

This is a very basic summary of SEO. Search engine optimization has evolved into a complex discipline of its own. After all what good is a killer website if no one can find it?