What really is Search Engine Optimization?
Customer Optimization
Posted by Adam Hayes
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is not merely validating HTML, keywords, alt tags, and descriptions. SEO is all about "Customer Optimization".
Too many people do not understand what SEO (Search Engine Optimization) really is and what it is not. Even "Professionals" disagree. I recently received an email from a "professional" that I believe was giving incorrect information:
I believe it is safe to say that SEO is not advertising on the web. SEO is strictly modifications to your HTML code and website. Making sure your website is HTML validated, density checks, the keywords, phrases, content, alt descriptions, anchor titles and so on are in place for the entire website.
I would have to disagree. What is the point of "optimizing" a site if you optimize for words that will never be searched for? Could you truly say that the site is optimized? I will agree that optimization includes valid HTML, keywords, and the such, but if you don't understand your customer's needs you cannot truly optimize your site.
I believe that SEO is all about understanding the customer and then optimizing the site for the keywords that they will use to search for your service or product. This includes creating pages targeting those specific keywords and answering those customer's specific questions. I believe this is a better description of Search Engine Optimization:
I believe it is safe to say that SEO is a part of advertising on the web. SEO is optimizing your site for keywords that customers will use to find to your product or service. Making sure your website is HTML validated, examining density, keywords, phrases, content, alt descriptions, anchor titles and so on so that your site can be placed in front of more of your Internet customers is the purpose of Search Engine Optimization.
If your search engine optimization doesn't put you in front of more customers, doesn't answer more of your customer's questions, or doesn't increase your customer conversion rates, you haven't really, truly optimized your site. I guess you could call this approach "Customer Optimization" that uses the medium of a search engine rather than just calling it "Search Engine Optimization".
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