"Search engine optimisation (SEO) is the process of improving the volume or quality of traffic to a web site from search engines via natural (organic or algorithmic) search results. Typically, the earlier a site appears in the search results list, the more visitors it will receive."

There's loads of talk about SEO and a lot of people have made a lot of money doing, well, not a lot. Good web developers build sites that will get found organically under a selection of relevant keywords but to be fair there are now billions of web pages vying for attention so to be at the top of Google under all of your relevant keywords is an unrealistic goal. If anyone promises that they can do it they are either fibbing, cheating or called Sergey Brin. And please bear in mind that Google changes its algorithm (the clever geeky thing which determines who appears where) hundreds of times a year so SEO is never set in stone. 

However, that doesn't mean you should give up. The Google algorithm is designed to pick up genuinely good websites, so it is worth spending the time and effort to make sure your site follows best practice. The top five tips for making sure your site performs well are:

1) Good design
Some of the best search engine optimisation (SEO) results can be achieved by optimising site design and content to work well with the tools and techniques used by search engines to index web pages. Good site design makes it easier for search engines to index your site, and increases your chances of a higher ranking in the results pages.

2) Make your site accessible
The most important part of making a website search-engine friendly is designing it well, which also ensures visitors stay to browse and buy.  Well-written, easy-to-navigate pages - with interesting information and well-designed e-commerce systems - will get repeat visitors as well as satisfied customers.

3) Have high quality content
Regularly updated, well-written and relevant content will improve your SEO and provide other websites with a good reason to link to you. Search engines will also index specific terms or keywords that have been used in your content. Your content needs to describe your products and services clearly, in order both to sell them to your visitors and to help search engines index your site. If necessary, pay to have content written professionally.

4) Improve links to your site
A site's position in search engines results pages depends heavily on the quality, not the quantity, of links to your website. Use search engines to find other websites that have good search rankings for the key terms and phrases that are relevant to your site's products and services

5) Use of keywords in your content
It's important to define keywords or key phrases - recurring terms that are used in the body of your text that describe exactly what your site offers. Choose keywords that are unique to your product or service, so that your site gets qualified leads. Once you have chosen these keywords target their use in your content.

If you would like a free consultation on how to implement best search engine practice on your website, contact us info@whitelabeloneline.co.uk