Everyone who runs a website should be familiar with Google and their search algorithm; how they rank and index websites in their search engine. Being familiar with Google’s algorithm guidelines can go a long way to getting a website ranked higher in search engines.
One of the first steps in SEO is to have a site that follows Google’s guidelines–this is the easiest step to take and builds the foundation for future SEO efforts. Without following Google’s guidelines for a website further SEO efforts can be negatively impacted.
Google has recently updated their guidelines, and below are some of the key tips to help Google find, crawl, and index your site:
Design and content guidelines
- Every page should be reachable by at least one static text link
- Think about the words users would type to find your pages, and make sure that your site actually includes those words within it
- Make sure that your title elements and ALT attributes are descriptive and accurate
Technical guidelines
- If using a content management system make sure it creates pages and links that search engines can crawl
- Test your site to make sure that it appears correctly in different browsers
- Monitor your sites performance and optimize load times
Quality guidelines
- Make pages primarily for users, not for search engines
- Avoid tricks intended to improve search engine rankings
- Think about what makes your website unique, valuable, or engaging. Make your website stand out from others in your field
These are a few steps to begin optimizing your website for Google and building a foundation for a strong SEO strategy.
To read the full set of guidelines go to: Best Practices: Helping Google Find, Crawl, and Index Your Site
