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7. Don't use
wrong words. Website owners love one-word search terms because they seem to get lots of traffic. The reality is that only a fraction of Internet users entering a broad search word want what you have to offer. Go for search terms using two, three or four words that will help visitors qualify their interests.
8. Don't ignore link building. Hunt down links from other websites that have content and categories that relate to what you offer. If you sell sweaters, find a specialty guide about sweaters or a portal about clothing.
9. Don't overwhelm your pages with keywords. You might not write
same keyword in succession 10 times, but you can make
mistake of too much repetition. Mention your strategic search term several times throughout
page, but promise yourself not to force its use too much.
10. Don't use long URLs. If you use a database to maintain
website, you may end up with long URLs with several session IDs and parameters that produce many question marks and equal signs. These lengthy URLs can hinder search engines from properly indexing
pages. Work with your developer so as to limit them or to remove them altogether as much as is possible.

Michael Murray is vice president of Fathom SEO, a Cleveland Ohio-based SEO firm. A member of Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO), he also authored the white paper, "Search Engine Marketing: Get in the Game."