Optimizing for search engines doesn't have to be a tough job. But you need to pay attention to detail. It is often little things that you do to your pages that will improve your ranking in search engines. Sometimes, it's also little things that can get you banned from same search engines. Pay close attention. First we will cover some things you can do to improve your ranking. Then we will get into what not to do.

* Did you know that some search engines read alt tags in your images? You don't have alt tags? Better include them in all your images. These tags were originally meant for browers that don't support images. This way, people with older browsers would have an idea of what image is about. However, you can place keywords in these tags. Use 2 or 3 word keyword phrases, as this is what most people search for. If your site does not have images, Don't despair. You can use a 1x1 pixel clear image, (which doesn't show up on your page) just to give yourself a place to include alt tag. Use these images as spacers.

* Your pages are probably peppered with headlines here and there. Instead of just using a larger font size for these headlines, use header tags instead. ( H1, H2, etc.) Search engines think that most important information is in header tags. Be sure to place your most important keywords here. If you don't have headlines on your site, start using them. This is better than meta keywords!

* The most important meta tag is title tag. Your title tag is within head tag. It is what shows up on your search engine listing and in title bar at top of your browser window. It is a must that you place your very best keywords here. Don't just put keywords in title tag. It must make sense. Most search engines put a very stong emphasis on title tag. Get it right and get listed.

* Use comment tags throughout you pages, especially near top. The search engines like to read these, and by having keywords, keyword phrases, and other pertinent data here you will boost your ranking. Comment tags do not show up on your page. They only appear in code. A comment tag begins with < !--- and ends with --- > Be sure to leave a space between tags and text.

The keywords you are using MUST be reflected in page content, BODY, of web page you are trying to improve or build.

There are many places you can, and should place your keywords to help you get a higher ranking in search engines; remember, this is ultimate goal. People searching for you WON’T find you if you don’t use your keywords throughout your web page!

TOP Seven Areas to Place Your Keywords in BODY of Your Web Pages:

1.Beginning and near top of web page. 2.Headlines (Headings) and Subtitles. 3.Links. 4.Site Address in Links. 5.Name of Images. 6.ALT (Image) TAGS. 7.Background Images.

This month we'll look at top first four, one at a time, and next month we'll finish up with last three.

We continue building and organizing your web page from last time by inserting BODY TAG: This TAG is automatically inserted for you by FrontPage and probably other web page design software after your ending or closing HEAD TAG

1. Beginning and near top of web page : Here you want to type in a paragraph, or more, of information about your services, products, or yourself, being sure to incorporate and use KEYWORDS you have selected for that page. Get your most important and relevant keywords as close to top of your web page.

Many designers and beginners put logos, images, or banners near top of their web page. Bad mistake! This can cause some of search engine spiders to be “caught in web,” so to speak. They can’t read image, so they stop retrieving information from your web page and web site; they move on to another web site to spider. They might be able to retrieve first few lines on that page, and those lines of text might get used as description of your site when someone is searching for you. Since search engines seem to be in a constant change of what they want, it’s important that your first few lines of text be your most important information, with your most important keywords in there!

According to wordtracker.com, “Make first 25 words in body of your page keyword rich…Spread your keyword phrases throughout body of page in natural sounding paragraphs. Put a keyword at end of your body text as well.”

Another trick you might try to boost your keyword relevance is by putting your keyword phrases in bold in your BODY text.

2. Headlines (Headings) and Subtitles: The headlines, subtitles, and titles in BODY of your web page are considered headings. Not to be confused with HEAD TAG I wrote about in issue 5 of OverHall IT! (http://www.overhall.com/issue5.htm )

Heading TAGS are numbered, one,

, being most important and largest. The Heading TAG is written as:

,

,

, and so on. The ending or closing TAG is written as:

Heading TAG Sample:

OverHall IT!

3. Links are usually presented on your web page as blue text and underlined. Links to other pages on your web site or to another web site are always written same, with exception that you place web address (URL) of web site or page that you want people to go to. It is also another place you can place your keywords. Below is an example of a link to my web’s home page:

Click here to get organized

Notice opening TAG is and closing TAG is . After first quotation sign you type in web site address or web page you are linking to. Next, insert another quotation mark, then a bracket, after which you type text that you want to be blue, underlined, and containing your keywords; words that a person will click on to move to web site or page you have linked to. Then your closing TAG .