Link Farms - Web pages created for purpose of providing outgoing links to other web pages, usually without regard to content or subject are frowned upon. Linking to a Link Farm can have adverse effects as well.

Employing such techniques will rarely prove to be of any benefit to search engine rankings and are likely to get you banned from a search index all together.

6. Having less than 100 words on your home page.

As your home page is usually first page a spider visits, it is important it has an ample supply of keywords for it to determine how it should index your web site.

7. Not incorporating a site tree or text links off of your home page.

Again, because search engine spiders read text only, it is extremely important to give it "food" it needs to help index as many pages as possible on your web site.

8. Not having a links page.

Most of major search engines use link popularity as a key method of determining how high a web site will get ranked within their search engine. Starting a reciprocal linking program by trading links between like-minded web sites will increase your "popularity" online.

9. Having little keyword rich content

Have you ever noticed that most of high-ranking sites seem to have a lot of content? This is because they have learned importance of having "spider" food online. Keyword rich content also helps build your credibility and makes your site more appealing when trading links.

10. Link Farms and get rich quick schemes

Nothing in this world is for free. There is no such thing as an automated search engine optimization tool that works all of time. Many of these "spam" emails do not even pre-qualify their prospects - I have heard of even Google receiving a spam email! Optimizing your site takes time and patience. But if done right, pay-off could be extremely large and provide you with a significant source of sales or referrals from new prospects.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (c) Todd Jamieson 2004 ----- Todd Jamieson, EnvisionOnline.ca (www.envisiononline.ca)