Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Twenty-nine of the best sites about search engine optimization, the practice of creating and marketing a Web site in such a way that it ranks highly in search engine results for desired keyword searches. Know of another site that should be listed here? Leave your suggestion at the bottom of this page.

1. Search Engine Optimization at Wikipedia - What does SEO actually mean anyway? This page offers an overview of how search engine optimization is commonly defined, a history of search engine algorithms, “white hat” versus “black hat” SEO and more. (en.wikipedia.org)

2. SEO Chat - Offers a large archive of articles on various aspects of search engine optimization, including choosing keywords, targeting specific search engines (especially Google), search engine news, site promotion ideas, plus specialized tools for Webmasters or professional search engine optimizers, and an SEO forum. (www.seochat.com)

3. Submit Express - They’re #2 on Google for the phrase “search engine optimization” so that would be a good ad for their services, yes? Services encompass “consultation, keyword research, copy writing, redeveloping the Website, creating incoming links, submitting to search engines and finally, reporting on its results.” (www.submitexpress.com)

4. What to Look for in an SEO - An SEO who says he’s got more business than he can handle offers advice on what those needing SEO services should look for (and avoid). (www.isedb.com)

5. SEO Book - This search engine optimization blog is a companion to the book of the same name, written by Aaron Wall. (www.seobook.com)

6. Bruce Clay Inc. - Well-known company in SEO and Internet marketing circles has offices in California and worldwide. (www.bruceclay.com)

7. CEO Says SEO is a Waste of Time - February, 2007 article on Web publishing company CEO Anthony Fallon of the UK’s Warrington Web Works offering the opinion that search engine optimization is a waste of time and money because today’s search technology is so good at identifying site content and ranking it accordingly. (www.webpronews.com)

8. Google Search Engine Ranking Factors - A listing of the top ten factors that can improve your rankings on the Google search engine, plus ten factors that SEOs are not in consensus on but that may be helpful, and a handful of factors that will actually hurt your site’s rankings. (www.seomoz.org)

9. HighRankings.com - Long-time SEO expert and author Jill Whalen heads this Framingham, Massachusetts company. Learn about her company’s services and past successes, read some of Whalen’s many articles on SEO, and see a schedule of her upcoming seminars or conference appearances. (www.highrankings.com)

10. Digital Point Search Engine Optimization Forum - Active forum where you can learn from others who are working to get top rankings for their Web sites. (forums.digitalpoint.com)

11. Wordtracker - Online service helps you discover which keywords people are searching for most often, so you can target your SEO efforts toward the phrases people actually use to search. (www.wordtracker.com)

12. In-House SEO for Big Brands/Big Sites - April 25, 2007 article on the different challenges large organizations face in optimizing for search engines versus small companies with a limited number of Web pages and page authors. (searchenginewatch.com)

13. SEO Clinic: Submit Your Site for SEO Advice - Search engine tracking site Search Engine Journal regularly chooses a site from those submitted and offers free advice on how to improve its search engine rankings. Go here to sign up to have your site considered. (www.searchenginejournal.com)

14. Questions to Ask a Potential Search Engine Optimization Company - Part one of a three part article that provides tips and guidelines for choosing a search engine optimization company. (www.promotionworld.com)

15. SEO Logic - Chicago-area search engine optimization firm offers information on its services as well as a lot of free information on how to do SEO better if you’re going it alone. (www.seologic.com)

16. SearchEngines.com - Offers search engine optimization basics, trends in search engine marketing, thoughts on using paid SEOs, optimization “rules” for the major search engines and more. (www.searchengines.com)

17. Google Ranking Factors - SEO Checklist - A very long list of site quality factors that can raise or lower your site’s likelihood of ranking well in the top search engine, Google. (www.vaughns-1-pagers.com)

18. Search Engine Meets Blog: Happy Relationship Ensues - March, 2007 article says that search engines like the continuously-updated content of blogs, and offers some tips on how to use that fact to your advantage in achieving better search engine rankings. (www.isedb.com)

19. Can You Buy Your Way into Natural Search Rankings with Online Press Releases? - Discusses the use of press releases to gain mentions in the media and elsewhere that will hopefully lead to links which will lead to higher search engine rankings. (www.johnwellis.com)

20. SeoPros - “Not For Profit Organization of search engine optimization consultants and internet marketers developing and implementing a set of ‘best practices’ standards for search engine optimization professionals.” If you are looking for a search engine optimization consultant, this site gives you tips on finding one, offers a directory of SEO professionals and allows you to generate an RFP (Request For Proposal) that you can use to tell SEO professionals about your specific needs in bidding out your project. (www.seopros.org)

21. FreshPromo - SEO firm bills itself as providing “ethical” search engine optimization. Go to the site to see what that means, to see which keyword terms they’ve successfully targeted for their existing clients, and read free SEO articles. (www.freshpromo.ca)

22. SEO Tools - 18 tools to test and improve your search engine rankings. (www.webconfs.com)

23. SEO Inc. - San Diego-area search engine optimization company handles all aspects of getting your Web site in shape for high rankings. (www.seoinc.com)

24. SEO Advantage - Tampa, Florida-based company offers all aspects of search engine optimization and other Web development services. (www.seo-advantage.com)

25. Flexewebs - U.K. search engine optimization company based in London. (www.flexewebs.com)

26. 7 Things Clients Look For in an SEO - Search engine marketer Stoney deGeyter offers thoughts on the most important things companies look for when choosing a search engine optimization firm. (www.mainstreamwebmasters.com)

27. PageRank: Search Engine Optimization - Offers multiple tools to help you in site construction for improved search engine rankings as well as tools to help gauge how your efforts are panning out. (www.pagerank.net)

28. Jump2Top - Miami, Florida search engine optimization company. (www.jump2top.com)

29. Search Engine Optimization-Seo, Seo Tricks - Blog offers tips on different aspects of search engine optimization. (www.seo-07.blogspot.com)