Introduction to Extreme SEO Makeover
As I mentioned in my last post, over the next few weeks I’ll be transforming my “Extreme SEO Makeover” seminar into blog form. In today’s post I’ll give an introduction to the topic and how I came to put this approach together.
What is SEO?
This is a valid question, especially given the confusion surrounding the practice. (No, Fox News, SEO is not scamming.) According to Wikipedia:
SEO is the process of improving the volume or quality of traffic to a web site from search engines via ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ search results.
A bit wordy for my tastes, and not terribly explanatory. I once heard a client describe SEO in this way:
SEO is ditch digging by rocket scientists. It’s a lot of hard work done by very smart people.
I sort of like this one, except I know he definitely wasn’t talking about me. My own definition is a bit simpler and to the point:
SEO is the art of making a web site that can easily be found by your customers. It’s a combination of off-page activity (link building) and on-page activity (optimization).
SEO is not an activity unto itself. It’s a process of increasing the flow of customers to your website. It is (and should be) results-oriented. Moreover, the presence of good on-page optimization makes your off-page link building that much more effective. In military terms, SEO is a force multiplier for off-site activity, while lack of optimization is a force-divider that decreases the effectiveness of your link building efforts.
The Extreme SEO Makeover
The best point at which to begin optimizing your website is during the planning stages – right at the beginning. When building a house, knowing what you want before the architect draws up blueprints and the builders pour the cement foundation are keys to getting a positive outcome. Changes down the line can result in delays at best and partial demolition at worst. Similarly, integrating SEO considerations into the planning stages can ensure you have optimal site architecture, page structure, navigation, and a host of other considerations that will get you the best site possible.
Of course, that scenario doesn’t happen nearly as often as we’d like. Rather, we end up in a situation where the website is already built and we’re called in afterwards to SEO it up some. This could be because the client payed somebody else a bunch of money to build the site, or because your company chose an open source solution that comes pre-built. Regardless of the reason, you’re not allowed to tear it all down and start over, but to just make it better.
I found myself in this position too many times, and began making notes to make certain that I covered all the right steps. Over the course of several of these projects, I found that I had the makings of a solid process (and a good seminar) that proved itself over and over again.
Over the next several posts, I’ll be sharing that process with you. Enjoy!
Extreme SEO Makeover blog series
- Seminar Feedback
- Introduction to Extreme SEO Makeover
- Identify your Keywords
- Keyword Research
- Measuring your Status
- Aligning Keywords and Pages
- Optimizing Pages
- Trust but Verify
- Conclusions
