SEO starts when you decide to create a web presence, so firstly you decide what you want to achieve with your web presence, is it a Value Proposition, what is the USP, what makes it different, what are you offering that will interest anyone, is it a viable business, write it up, prep the content, the text and the images.
Prepare a design or layout plan to incorporate all the functionality you will need. Get this planning right initially and it will save a lot of time and expense afterwards. Work with a competent commercial web designer who will create a coordinated 'Look' or 'Brand' , a feel for the whole site, using just a few colours, with no Flash or moving parts, some logical relevant quality images and then use a capable qualified website developer, who can make the site work with any Browser or digital browsing tool and make it easily navigable or searchable from any page - do not force the visitors to think too much, so use people who have done this work before and can prove their success.
Register a Domain name
yourself like
www.meanweb.com a URL or TLD in the country where you intend to trade like
www.meanweb.ie for Ireland - using a name that reflects the nature of your business in this case 'web'. Register the .com too and any TLD that seems logical.
Then create a web presence, a website using
MeanPress a .Net solution or Joomla, PHP or Wordpress whatever and post in the created content.to the logical place making sure that the site has very simple but effective Navigation. Add in the Sitemap when finished.
Step TWO
Create an account with:
Google - name@google.com and in products find Webmaster and register your website for Analytics - get the Tracking Code offered and insert it in your website using the instructions provided
Twitter - as in
www.twitter.com/meanweb - used properly Twitter will allow you tweet useful messages, Offers Tips etc to people who are Followers, who want to hear what you have to say, or see what you are offering and possibly ReTweet it to their contacts
Facebook - create a Business Page as in www.facebook.com/meanweb - this is not social this is business, so not personal information. Once again FB will allow you promote to Followers.
LinkedIn - as in
http://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelmacginty or www.linkedin.com/meanweb this website is Social Media for Business, a place to find suppliers, customers, employees, business groups and useful information
YouTube - as in www.youtube.com/meanweb - this site will allow you create abd broadcast video clips which can be viewed at your website or at www.youtube.com and can be product demos or presentations
Blog/Blogspot/Blogger - use a Blog to publish useful information that may be reused or promoted by your Followers to their Followers. Ideally have your Blog in your website as in
www.meanweb.ie/blog Make it easy for people to retweet, repost, email or promote your useful published content
Step THREE
Register with Local, National and International Directories depending on where you define your market. Focus on the FREE listings before ever considering any 'Paid for' adverts.
In Ireland just Search your Category such as Web Dublin and check out :which trade directories, links or local portals appear then register with the relevant FREE ones.
www.smallbusinesscan.com
www.local.ie
www.mylocal.ie
www.yalwa.ie
www.yelp.ie
www.mytown.ie
www.citylocal.ie
www.mylocalnews.ie
www.fyple.net
www.smallbusinessbigworld.com
www.lovelocal.ie
www.irishbusiness.info
www.cylex.ie
www.milforddonegal.net
www.thisismilford.com
Step FOUR
Add measured MetaData as in Page Title, Description and Keywords to every single article or page of content in your website, ensuring that the Keywords used match the important key content in each article. Be sure to have easy to navigate, easy to read, useful relevant information presented in an attractive format with plenty of 'Calls to Action' included. 'email us', 'call us', 'offers', 'find out more', 'ask a question' etc etc. Have user friendly URLs or Links. Write the content for the potential customer not for GoogleBot. Poor content will generate poor results. Prioritise the Page Title and Description and have the most important words in here which will all be in Keywords too. For this page our title is Meanweb SEO Tips, the Description, less than 100 characters, is 'SEO Tips Search Engine Optimisation Checklist' and the Keywords, less than 10, are 'SEO Tips Search Engine Optimisation Checklist directories links' Make sure that all images have relevant Alt Tags which relate to the article. Ensure that all Links do go somewhere at all times. Managing MetaData and content well is crucial to successful SEO. Use the Google Keyword Tool to find out which words people are searching that relate to your business.
Step FIVE
Measure the activity on your website, number of visitors, Bounce Rate, time spent at site, pages visited, have the metrics tools required whether that is Google Analytics or a CRM or a Data Miner of some sort, but do measure what happens and continually strive to improve the content and the results, so as to drive the business forward, to generate more and more sales. Keep content as simple and short as possible, delivering your message and your proposition clearly. What is it, what problem does it solve and why should anyone buy it from you specifically. Are you qualified, honorable - do you have happy customers ? Testimonials ?.
Offer FREE advice, in Blog form or Newsletter or anything that will garner visitor details and have them give you their email address or contact details. When you are getting this sort of buy-in you are getting good results.Managing CTAs and expectations well is crucial to successful Sales conversion.
Working with a specialist for direction, much of this work can be done 'inhouse' or can be outsourced, with no cost or at an agreed cost for clearly defined work. Once you have invested in a decent web presence solution you are in the driving seat, so you can dictate what expense or success follows. Now, comment on relevant Blogs leaving a link to your own site as well as writing for the trade in websites or publications. Learn about Links as they are the fuel that will make so much difference to your success in getting new visitors.
Benefits: You can pick the business location or market place, you can 'Laser Target Market' avoiding Mass Media Advertising.. Compared to a Bricks & Mortar store your investment is low, you need little or no borrowings from banks, you need no Security or collateral, your investment is your only risk and in the event that the business fails or you want to retire it you can just cease to trade in seconds. You can build and manage this solution yourself, so you need no staff until you are very successful and you will be if you keep at it. It may take longer than you would like, but you will be successful if you work this plan. Decide on the Lifestyle you desire and go make it happen - you are in control. Look at the investment and decide what is the minimum return you will accept or need and make the solution pay that figure or better. As time goes on, as your solution gets better and better the return on investment will improve and keep rewarding your every effort.
If you read this far, well done, you may well be ready, so email or call me directly to talk more about your proposal. MIchael.MacGinty@meanweb.ie 086 2510117 www.meanit.ie
Getting this far, just sets you up to be able to manage a good web presence and make it generate business. With the groundwork done, you will need to keep adding good content, generating links, publishing interesting articles and refining Keywords. Your online business will reward you for all your effort and open up a bigger market for you.