Top 20 on page optimisation techniques approved by search engines.

Ok here we give away some secrets but then this is what this site is all about.  So let’s start.

Each page of your website should be individually optimised for the keywords for that page using the below rules as a check list.

1.       Have your keywords in your URL the first and second words are thought to be best.

2.       Keywords should be found in your domain name with hyphens where possible.

3.       Keywords should also be placed in the title tag of your web page as close to the beginning as possible here a maximum of 60 characters should be used. Between 10 and 60 is a good rule of thumb.

4.       Keywords should also be found in your “description tag”, debunked by many web designers and some SEO companies because Google no longer relies on these due to SPAMMING, this though is still a valuable tool as Google might not rely on it anymore but we have it on good authority that Google will still use it often – in our view better to have it there than not. Max 200 characters.

5.       Your keywords should be found in your keyword tag. Max 10 words. All need to found somewhere on your actual page content otherwise can be considered SPAM or irrelevant. Do not repeat any single word otherwise this is considered SPAM. Google apparently no longer uses this tag but other search engine do so not having does not help you whereas having it may.

6.     Keyword density in your body text should be between 5%-20% for all words although there is some subject sensitivity around this issue and different subject matters have different percentage values.

7.       Individual keyword density should be between 1%-6%.

8.       Keywords should be found throughout the page in H1, H2 an H3.

9.       Keywords should have emphasis – bold, italic etc.

10.   Keywords should be in near proximity to each other for 2+ words directly adjacent is best.

11.   The keywords should be in the order that the search query will be made in. Try and anticipate the search terms that are going to be used and make sure they are in order on the page.

12.   Keyword prominence can be a crucial factor. Towards the start at the page is best and in bold and italic etc is a good benchmark.

13.   Keywords found in your alt tags – often SPAMMED this should be used wisely as can be an important ranking factor.

14.   Keyword should be found in links to the onsite pages includes using the anchor text.

15.   Landing pages or files should contain keywords found in the links.

16.   No broken links – all links should be up to date and active.

17.   Easy site navigation for users and spiders, tree like structure is best maximum of four links deep is the best rule.

18.   Inter website linking well arranged and logical lower level pages need logical links between them if they are to be used.

19.   Keep an eye on your external links – don’t link to link farms and check that the link hasn’t become broken or now pointing to a “bad site”. This is your responsibility to check but bad links can be damaging.

20.  Anchor text on the links going out should be on topic and relevant to leaving and landing page.

This is only a 20 point check list and is not to be considered the prime authority on this subject. Considering Google has over 250 algorithms that they check your site against only knowing these 20 alone will not guarantee top ranking but as a basic guide it is a start.

I dare say there are a few points here that a few SEO’s out there will take issue with but as a general guide this is on target at time of writing.