In order to further maximize benefits of writing and posting unique articles, it makes good business sense to optimize articles so search engines list URL's associated with those articles on search engine results pages (SERP's). Ideally, you'd like to see your article URL on 1st page of SERP's so you can capitalize on free and targeted traffic from these listings.

So, what type of strategy can be utilized to optimize your articles for search engines?

There's quite a few different ways but here are some tactics that you may want to use:

Article optimization tactic 1: Choose keywords that complement your USP and name your article page accordingly. When choosing keywords that will be central theme of your article, it is necessary to define what your article will be about, who information in article will benefit, and how it will tie into your USP before choosing your keywords. After you've thought through this, then come up with a list of keywords that will be suitable as central them of article.

Next, decide which keywords you will center your article around based on number of searches that keyword gets per day and by assessing how much competition there is for that keyword phrase. Once you have chosen your keyword phrase for article, name your page.

Example: If 'green widgets' is keyword you wish to base your article on, you may want to name your web page 'greenwdgets.htm' or 'greenwdgets.html' or 'greenwdgets.shtml'.

Article optimization tactic 2: Utilize keyword in title tag. Utilize your keywords that you've chosen for your article in title tag of web page.

Example:

Article optimization tactic 3: Utilize keyword in headline tags. Using keywords in headline tags will increase rankings of your web pages.

Ideally you would use keywords as headline, but usually this doesn't look natural.

Keep h tags before and after entire headline.

Example:

Green widgets: We have most affordable and powerful green widget available anywhere, guaranteed!

by Mike Banks Valentine © October 26, 2004

Google market value has topped $50B, so now they're worth more in dollar value than Yahoo. That goes right in line with being worth more in search value and relevance. (CBS MarketWatch)

I've written before that Yahoo has their fingers in so many pies that they don't have necessary attention on search that Google does. Google only buys companies that offer services, software and add-ons which increase value of Google search experience. http://www.website101.com/arch/archive140.html

Yahoo buys companies when they think they might be able to squeeze some extra bit of profit from them and add to already confusing array of services which take an alphabet soup of 109 Yahoo "properties", broken down alphabetically. http://docs.yahoo.com/docs/family/more/

Yahoo bought up all available search "properties" within last couple of years and, as I said in mid-July of 2003, "Well if it is a horse race, Yahoo may gain on leader Google if they are able to integrate their Inktomi and Overture (and by extension, Altavista and Fast/AllTheWeb) purchases into relevant search results that searchers trust. But all of Jockeys on those horses will be whipping their charges toward finish line with an eye to winning purse." http://searchengineoptimism.com/Yahoo_acquire_Overture.html

The fact is - Yahoo search is no better than Google now that they have bought up all real competitors. Referred traffic from Yahoo search results to web sites is still only one fifth that of Google at 70% versus Yahoo's anemic 15 to 20%. http://searchengineoptimism.com/Google_refers_70_percent.html

The new MSN search may pose a threat to Google if they continue on their current path toward relevant search results. As of October 2004, Google market capitalization of $52 billion with shares hovering around $160 per share price, reflects true value of Google.