Search engine optimization is the process of improving search engine rankings for keywords that are relevant to your website in order to generate more internet traffic.

Of course many search engine optimization companies will try to trick the search engines into providing you with better search results, but the problem with that is: 1) in a best case scenario, it will work for a short time (until the engines catch onto that trick) and then, when things change, you'll wonder where all your business went; 2) in a worst case scenario, you can get booted from the engine altogether.

Search engine optimization isn't rocket science. It involves you giving the search engines what they're looking for. And what THEY want is to give people sites that are RELEVANT, REPUTABLE, and USEFUL.

So here's how you feed the search engines:

• Build a website full of real content with focused pages and keywords.
• Make sure the content is written for the visitor as well as the engine so that it's useful (and helps you to make sales).
• In this way, you hope to win links from other sites. You can also exchange links with related sites, though this doesn't establish reputation as well as incoming links.
• Cross-link keywords from pages within your own site to relevant pages on your site.
• Keep your website fresh. Keep tweaking or outright changing certain pages, and add others. Use interactive content like forums and blogs to let visitors keep things fresh as well.

While some SEO (search engine optimization) companies will help you to build outside links to your site -- and I believe this can be done in a positive way -- you want to be cautious with this. If an engine notices an enormous number of links suddenly coming to your site, they may believe that you're spamming to get links. (Abusing the link exchange system or posting nonsense notices on forums just to build links back to your site.) If you're considered a spammer, you're in trouble.

What they really want to see is that people are pointing to your site for a reason. So give them a reason to point to your site, and then contact people for site reviews, some link exchanges, etc., over time. Do visit forums, but contribute quality content there as well. Then include a link to your site in your signature. If you build up links over time like this, while also developing a solid web site, your search engine rankings will climb. Most people don't have the patience to do it all the right way. See where you can go in 6 months!

I don't help to build up your outside links through link exchanges or forum posts. But I am available to write articles for you and place them online where the links to your site will be most valuable. And of course I can build the content on your website as well, crossing keyword links between pages, and so on.

My rates vary too much per job to quote here, because there are too many factors involved. But get in touch and I'll provide you with a competitive quote and let you know what I believe your site needs and why.