A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a post about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for the beginner. This time, I aim to go a bit deeper, taking you ever closer to truly understanding the art of SEO. In the last post, I wrote about the importance of keywords, what was involved in a search engine’s algorithm, and pointed out the differences that existed between on-site and off-site SEO. Today, I will address the importance of your site’s code in regards to SEO and how altering it will enable site engines to find freelance writers sites:
How to Change Aspects of Your Site’s Code:
Before telling you what needs to be altered in your website’s code, you need to understand how to change it in the first place. In general, the easiest way to edit your website’s HTML code is by clicking on your site’s edit HTML button. Once you have made the desired changes, you save in order to view your changes.
Optimizing Your Site Code:
The search engine’s algorithm, powered by their engine bots, do not just read your website’s text, or content, they also read and tabulate your website’s code. This code is broken down into several subcategories, each of which needs to be optimized to create a site that will be easily found by search engines. Although there are several categories to cover, today we will touch on just a few, which are listed below:
Title Tags: A title tag identifies the title of your site, telling the search bots what your site is all about. For example, my site on search engine optimization might be entitled:
<title>All About SEO for the Beginner by Brandie</title>
When coming up with codes for your title, make sure you use your keywords in the title itself. To improve your search engine results even further, create a unique title tag for each of your site’s pages.
Meta Description Tags: Although the main meta description does not have a huge impact on your site’s search engine ranking, it will tell site visitors what your site is about. Therefore, it can make a significant impact on whether or not someone decides to visit your site once your site is found by the search engine. Answer the following questions when creating your description: why should readers visit your page? Why should they visit now? And why are you the best at whatever it is your site offers?
Sitemaps: The best way to understand sitemaps is to consider them a road-map for search engines. You want to give the search engine bots directions to each page of your site. The easiest way to accomplish this task is by utilizing tools such as XML Sitemap Creator, which will create a sitemap for you.
Other: Links, site, and URL structure and alt tags are also important aspects of code in regards to SEO optimization and worth exploring. Until then, happy SEO-ing!
Brandie P is a level 5 author at WriterAccess who loves to read, do yoga, watch college football (GO DAWGS!) and spend time with her family, although not necessarily in that order. Her ambition is to one day write a book, about what she isn’t sure, which is why it’s still a goal and not yet a reality.
