| There are many low cost and free content | | | | SEO process |
| management systems (CMS's). You can also | | | | - The CMS should automatically update its site map |
| commission the building of your own if you have the | | | | and create an XML feed to ensure Google is informed |
| money. Whichever path you choose your first task is | | | | immediately of any site additions. Doing this manually is |
| to ensure the website conforms to the accepted | | | | NOT recommended. |
| industry standards in terms of its construction. Good | | | | - The CMS should as far as possible use clean CSS |
| code is a good plan and it's just as easy to do it right | | | | based design to reduce the ratio of content to HTML |
| as it is to do it wrong. The same goes for SEO. You | | | | on each page. This makes it easier for the search |
| should ensure for example: | | | | engine robots to establish the subject matter within a |
| - Each page allows for Search Engine Friendly (human | | | | page |
| readable) URL's. You should be able to manipulate | | | | - The CMS should promote and assist the use of |
| these. | | | | correct on-page HTML tagging, such as H1 for the |
| - Each page has a unique title tag. Again you need to | | | | most important headings. Again this helps the search |
| be able to manipulate these on a per page basis. | | | | engine robots correctly index a page |
| Keywords in title tags are VERY useful. | | | | - The CMS should ensure canonical issues are |
| - Each page allows for a unique meta description tag. | | | | considered and dealt with. In simple terms each page |
| For the most part Google uses the meta description | | | | should as far as possible have only ONE version. |
| tag for the text snippet it displays in the search engine | | | | All of the above, and more, play their part in the way a |
| results page or SERP. | | | | website performs in the search engines. Ensuring your |
| - Each page allows for unique meta keywords. | | | | system ticks these boxes is vital. Getting this bit wrong |
| Although considered redundant it's better to be safe | | | | will prove expensive. |
| than sorry with meta keywords | | | | So many CMS systems make life difficult for their |
| - The content management system (CMS) should | | | | users. The last thing you want to do is spend money |
| allow for the easy addition of site wide code to aid the | | | | on a site only to discover the search engines can't |
| use of website analytics software a VITAL tool in the | | | | make any sense of it. |