Introduction - What is SEO

Lets start at the very beginning. SEO or Search Engine Optimisation is the process of setting up a website in such away that it will be indexed by search engines correctly.


What are Search engines
Search Engines are essentially just really big databases that index websites like a directory and allow you to search there databases online using keywords or phrases. Many people are still under the impression that when you search for something through a search engine your searching the Internet, when in-fact you actually searching an online database.

The Search Engines create there database by using algorithms and software that actively adds entries into the database based on the algorithms criteria. Depending on how well your website fits the criteria of the algorithms, effects how relevant they think your site is and therefore how high you will appear in the search engines database.

So Why Do I Need To SEO My Website
SEO Basics are about making sure your website fits the criteria the best it can, therefore ensuring it gets indexed for the correct terms and information i.e. you wouldn't put an entry into the yellow pages index under kitchen repairs if you were a motor mechanic.

If you ever get approached by a company gauranteing your website a top ten or first spot in Google there lying so politely put the phone down. No one can guarantee a position in Google or any other search engine, however if done properly SEO will give you the best chance of ranking highly.

Next: SEO Basics – Page Titles and Page Descriptions

Wikipedia def. of Search Engine