Posted on the 10-25-2009
Things that have an impact on optimal search engine ranking are often viewed as very secret as they protect the integrity of the Internet. Google and other search engines don't want webmasters to know their ranking methods, let alone give you their list of top ten tips for better search engine ranking. A search on a typical phrase like "diy tools" can return thousands or even millions of websites that match the search. Only a tiny part of which are actually useful. As a standard, only the first ten results are shown on the first page. Every website owner wants to the listed in the first 10 as users will tend to use click within the top 10. That's the reason it's important to know the top ten tips for better search engine rankings is so important.

Let's review what most professionals consider to be the top ten tips for better search engine rankings.

1. Choose good Target Keywords - understand how your audience think. Your webshop sells groceries for home delivery. If someone queries a search engine for "online supermarket" or "groceries delivered" you of course want to claim one of the 10 sought after spots on the first page of the search results. If a different page on your website is focused on "snacks and chips", then you should give that page it's own keyword "snack foods".

2. Use the main search keyword in the title tag of your website. It is key to position your main keyword or words so that they show up in the title of your web page. Something like "Hot-diggity-dog Doggie Bandanas" might catch they eye of your target users. A catchy title doesn't hurt, either.

3. Make use of your keywords and phrases in the body text of your site. Only when it makes sense though. Don't go crazy and put it everywhere. Search engines doesn't like it and might penalize your web page for doing "keyword stuffing".

4. When other sites link to you, the words they use for the link are vital. This is the anchor text, which is the clickable text of a link to your site. You should contact the other websites who are helping support your content and let them know what you prefer the anchor text to be.

5. Inbound links - It's simple, more is better. Inbound links are very important. This is the part where you need to put on your salesman hat and aim at getting as many other websites to link to you as possible.

6. Ensure that sites linking to you are somewhat related to the category you work in. There's no point in having a website selling fishing equipment have an inbound link to "Make-up for girls".

7. Age matters when it comes to websites. Over time you will get more hits and that improves the chance of it appearing in the top 10 results list. It's impossible to age your site overnight - but hey, such is life. Have patience with your website.

8. Relevant Content - a snappy title with a great target keyword isn't worth anything if the page content is not relevant to the keyword. Make sure to make keywords a natural part of the content.

9. Include HTML links on your website's main page that link to other relevant content in deeper parts of your site.

10. Probably should have put this on at no. 1 on the top ten tips for better search engine rankings. Spamming is not the way to go. Pilling your keyword into meta tags like there's no tomorrow is pointless. Along with using hidden text - although tempting, it's one of those things that the search engines can spot a mile away.

Written by Rune Risom, a respected and innovative online search marketer through the last 12 years. For a limited time you can get great seo help tools from his professional seo services company, SEOsupporter.com