We often get asked the question about Search Engine Optimization and what’s included when we build a website. About 4 years ago we stopped offering full service (off-site) optimization. What exactly does that mean? We don’t build linking relationships, get sourced backlinks or offer reports in relation to ranking and relationship management.
We build WordPress websites and each of those is optimized for ranking well in the search engines.
On-Site Optimization Comes Standard
Our WordPress Framework, Respondo Pro is built and updated consistently with all necessary improvements and enhancements to meet the needs of all modern web browsers (how people search and find your content). Respondo Pro is a WordPress theme builder that accounts for all browsers, operating systems, devices and it loads fast too!
The infrastructure and code hierarchy are already accounted for by virtue of the use of WordPress, the Premium Yoast SEO plugin and our Framework.
WordPress
WordPress, straight out of the box, comes ready to embrace search engines. Its features and functions guide a search engine through the posts, pages, and categories to help the search engine crawl your site and gather the information it needs to include your site within its database.
WordPress comes with several built in search optimization tools, including the ability to use .htaccess to create apparently static URLs called permalinks, blogrolling, and pinging.
SEO Plugin
Yoast SEO (formerly known as WordPress SEO by Yoast) is the most complete WordPress SEO plugin that exists today for WordPress.org users. It incorporates everything from a snippet editor and realtime page analysis functionality that helps you optimize your page’s content, image’s titles, meta descriptions and more to XML sitemaps, and loads of optimization options in between.
Respondo Pro
While WordPress establishes the right infrastructure, Respondo Pro adds the right customization of design to enhance the User’s Experience on the site. Respondo Pro Framework and its associated shortcode plugin give you all the tools you need to manage the front end look of the site. it’s born out of the necessity for a perfect mobile experience while also attending the needs of all other devices and screen sizes.
Mandatory Content
Either you’ll pay us to create your Title Tag, Meta Descriptions, Content, Alt Text or you’ll provide that content to us for inclusion on the site. These pieces of content are essential when trying to rank pages on a website.
Title Tag
The title tag is an HTML title element critical to both SEO and user experience that is used to briefly and accurately describes the topic and theme of an online document. The title tag is displayed in two key places: Internet Browser – Title Tags display in the top bar of internet browsers. Search Result Pages – Search engines display title tags in their results along with another less important on-page factor, the meta description tag.
Meta Description
A meta description is an HTML and XHTML element that describes your page to search engines. While the perceived (and real) importance of meta data has depreciated, the attribute still plays a significant role in SEO rankings.
Page Content
The page content must be specific for exactly the topic in question. It should align perfectly with your Title and Meta Description. Don’t wander off on topics, stay on topic! Add value and make the message clear, interesting / entertaining / useful. Properly use Headers (H1 – H6). While you’re at it, make the page look great!
Alt Text
Alt text (alternative text) is a word or phrase that can be inserted as an attribute in an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) document to tell Web site viewers the nature or contents of an image. The alt text appears in a blank box that would normally contain the image. Simply put, each image must have alternate text to describe the image).
Considerations (301 Redirects)
If we’re rebuilding a site we’ll want to make sure all pages you have on your old site are redirected to the correct (new) page on the new website. This process is a 301 redirect. We’ll want to ensure all pages (wanted) are properly 301 redirected.
Website Launch
Every website online resides on a sever (or servers) and in order for them to be found online via search engines a few things need to take place.
WordPress & Plugin Settings
Ensure all WordPress settings (in addition to the SEO Plugin) are configured to allow access to spiders / robots! Sounds cool! + The sitemap get’s created, which is important!
Web Crawler / Robot / Spider
A web crawler (also known as a web spider or web robot) is a program or automated script which browses the World Wide Web in a methodical, automated manner. This process is called Web crawling or spidering. Many legitimate sites, in particular search engines, use spidering as a means of providing up-to-date data.
XML Sitemap
An XML sitemap is a document that helps Google and other major search engines better understand your website while crawling.
Google Webmaster Tools
Google Webmaster Tools (GWT) is the tool for Google to communicate with site admins. Google Webmaster Tools helps to identify issues with a site. Verification established.
Bing Webmaster Tools
Similar to Google Webmaster Tools (GWT), Bing provides data for site owners to use to address potential search issues, and serves as the tool for Bing to communicate issues to site admins. Verification established.
If you’re considering a web build we’ll handle all the technical stuff for you as a standard service (what we do for every site whether agency or direct client). Rest assured, the site will work on all devices and will be seen as intended by all search engines.
If you want, we have a brilliant content writer available to assist with the creation of on page content, titles, meta descriptions and alt text. And we’re also happy to help with your 301 redirects to ensure the pages you have keep their value.
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