Natural search engine optimization (SEO) is a key component to any online marketing plan. While there are a number of industry standard action items that should be incorporated into any good SEO plan, understanding the overall strategy and timing is key. The search game is an art and a science. Here’s the bottom line on natural search engine optimization from BottomLineSearch.com.

What is Search Engine Optimization?

Search engine optimization is the process of optimizing one’s website and implementing promotional strategies for best results in the search engine results pages (SERPs).

Top 10 Ways to Rank High on the Search Engine Results Pages:

1. Choose a good domain name - Choose a domain name that incorporates a main keyword for your business. Keywords within your domain should be separated by a hyphen. For instance www.Auto-Supplies.com becomes a high contender for the keyword “Auto Supplies” faster than www.AutoSupplies.com or the brand name of your Auto Supply shop.

2. Website directory structure - Category and product pages should be created and organized in a parent to child relationship structure. An example being: www.Auto-Supplies.com/Exterior/Convertible-Top.com. Note how a “Convertible Top” product belongs to the “Exterior” category and how we maintained the hyphen between key words.

3. Choose target keywords, and choose them wisely. Is it advantageous for you to target the second and third highest searched terms in your industry rather than the first? Remember, you can often get ranked faster and using less resources on the less competitive search terms. The second and third highest search terms together, could even amount to the same amount of search volume or more than the highest searched term would by itself.

4. A Linking Strategy - links from highly ranked, authoritative websites pointed to your site are key in creating search engine relevance. The website referring to yours should have been in existence at least one year and have a Google page rank (PR) associated with it. Including your target keyword as the anchor text on the web site that is referring to yours can boost your rankings on that keyword. When it comes to the target number of inbound links, make sure you don’t start off with too many because search engines will consider that spam. Aim to have built up the same amount of inbound links for any target keyword in a years time, that the top Google contenders already have, with the volume of links increasing month after month. A great way to get links is social networking, reaching out on blogs, forums and exchanging links with other website owners.

5. Content is still King - the Search Engine’s have evolved to having a good understanding of what a web page is about, without the key term needing to be repeated over and over again. In fact, keyword stuffing can get your website blacklisted. Write good, natural content not overdoing keywords, but including them as needed in titles and content so that it still reads well. Write the content for the user and add SEO enhancements, don’t write the content for SEO.

6. Coding - Have clean, compliant code. There are a number of utilities where you can scan your website’s code and check for errors. Also, include meta tags, heading tags and title tags that include your target keywords.

7. Images / Alt Tags - Remember text is preferred over images by the search engine spiders, because search engines cannot read images. Instead, use alt tags that describe your image.

8. Add a site map to your website if you don’t already have one. Use text links in your site map.

9. Update your website content frequently. Adding a blog is a great way to do this.

10. List your websites on directories such as the DMOZ and Yahoo Directory.

You will also want to manage your progress and results as you embark on your natural search engine optimization plan. Engaging in your own SEO is a great way to learn and always try to rely on data when making important decisions. Also remember, Bottom Line Search is here to help with all your SEO needs!