Search Engine Optimization

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of finding the targeted keyword phrases related to a website, and to ensure that the website places well when those keyword phrases are part of a Web search. "http://www.marketingterms.com/dictionary/search_engine_optimization/" Being able to search for the website on Google/Bing/Yahoo is similar to free advertising especially if the website contains all the keywords for that particular search. When there are more people that searches under the same keywords, it will lead a particular site to be read the most and is then put under the first 10 search results.

According to the article "Ten Tips to the top of the search engines", i've learned that the best websites can easily make it up to Google/Yahoo/Bing and one of the "tip" is that when creating a website, one should be creating for their target audience -- for people's possible needs instead of focusing for the search engines. It is very simple but I am sure it is something that many web developers forget/lose track of during the web designing process. Also one should design and categorize the site based on the possible keyword searches otherwise it will be difficult for researchers to find the information they want. One last important point i learned is that one must make sure that the site is "link-worthy" so that other sites e.g. facebook/twitter and other social networks/popular sites will find your site useful and then link to it and ultimately boost visitors.

As for the site "Set it but don't forget it", I learned that developers must create a website as un-defective as possible so that there will be less re-creating to do. For example, the website should be made under high usability so that it wont be difficult for web developers to later on implement extra information/changes.

Both articles gives web developers some quick tips however i think the second site could have added additional things since the article is relatively new. I think the search helps me to think what and how I should design my sites in the future for optimal use by users/researchers.