Search engine optimization: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:54, 7 April 2003

Revision as of 21:24, 7 April 2003

Line 1:

'''Search Engine Optimization''' ('''SEO''') is a set of methodologies aimed at improving the visibility of a [[website]] in [[search engine]] listings. The term also refers to an industry of consultants that carry out optimization projects on behalf of client sites.

==History==

Line 5:

SEO began in the mid-1990s, as the first search engines were cataloging the early Web. Many site owners quickly learned to appreciate the value of a new listing in a search engine, as they observed sharp spikes in traffic to their sites.

Site owners soon began submitting their site URLs[[URL]]s to the engines on a regular basis, and began modifying their site to accommodate the needs of [[search engine spider]]s, the software programs sent out to explore the Web. Special features such as the [[Meta tag]] became a common feature of sites that sought out high-ranking listings.

Consultant firms arose to serve the needs of these site owners, and attempted to develop an understanding of the search engines' internal logic, or algorithms[[algorithm]]s. The goal was to develop a set of practices for copywriting, site coding, and submissions that would ensure maximum exposure for a website.

==Controversy==

Line 23:

==Paid Inclusion==

Paid Inclusion is a fee-based model for submitting website listings to search engines. Historically, search engines have allowed webmasters[[webmaster]]s, as well as SEOs and the general public, to freely submit sites for consideration. However, a pattern of abuse began to develop among less-reputable SEO firms, who flooded the engines with non-stop submissions of pages. Analysis of these submissions strained the search engines' capacity, necessitating the creation of artificial limits, including fees.

The fee structure is used by search engines as a filter against superfluous submissions, and also as a revenue generator. Typically, the fee covers an annual subscription for one webpage, which will automatically be cataloged on a regular basis. Search engines still offer free submit forms, but make no promises as to the timeliness of the cataloging process through this channel.