SEO Checklist Part II

Off-Page Optimization

After you’ve worked on the on-page optimization for your website to make sure it is pleasing to your site visitors and the search engines, it’s time to begin the second phase, off-page optimization. Off-page optimization refers to SEO strategies done outside of your website to maximize its performance.

These strategies are becoming more and more important as Google places more emphasis on relevant, in-pointing links to sites. A good number of these links means you have developed yourself as an authority on your topic, and other websites, or people, trust you. These links will also provide you with a website’s life-blood, TRAFFIC!

Directory Submissions:

There are numerous directories on the Internet that accept paid and un-paid submissions. These directories categorize websites by content type, so you will need to choose the best category for what your website provides. You’ll generally be able to give your listing a title, short description and link to your website. Don’t ever pay someone to “submit your website to 200 directories,” this is not looked highly upon by search engines.  BestCatalog.net has developed a great list to get you started.

Article Submissions and Marketing:

This is by far my favorite strategy for off-page optimization; it accomplishes everything you want. It not only develops good links back to your site within the article directories, but it gives you the opportunity to have your articles syndicated, or spread around the Internet, and the opportunity to be seen as an expert in your field.

How it works:

Write informative articles about  your niche area. If you own a Chocolate Shop and want to promote your website through Article Marketing, write articles on How to Make Chocolate, What Wine Goes With What Chocolate, 5 Reasons Why Chocolate is Good For Your Health, etc.

Choose some article directories, here’s a great list from SEOResearcher.com. Create an account, and submit your articles. You are able to place something called an Author Bio at the end of each of you articles. Within your Author Bio you can give a brief description about you, or your website, and place html links, usually two, back to your website. If an article directory doesn’t allow you to place links back to your website with the Bio, move on to the next one.

Social Networking

Social networking sites include sites such as myspace, facebook, youtube and digg, and that is just scratching the surface. There is an incredible amount of social networking sites to participate in, here’s a nice list from Wikipedia. This strategy can be time consuming, as the idea is to basically get “social” with other people using these sites. The benefits to your website in the realm of traffic and links can be outstanding, but staying engaged is a key factor. 

Off-page optimization is about promoting your website as an authority. This is an on-going process, and something you should work on often, possibly every day. Once you start to see results in increased traffic and search engine rankings, it will become addicting. As always, strive to please your site visitors; this is at the core of SEO, and what the search engines want.


Author Bio with html
Josh Bill is the Owner of E-Learn About and an accomplished writer and Search Engine Optimization Specialist. Find more articles on <a href="http://e-learnabout.com/seo-checklist-2.php">Internet Marketing</a> as well as a variety of other topics at E-Learn About on the web at http://e-learnabout.com.


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