DIY Search Engine Optimization Prep

I frequently have merchants approaching me about doing Search Engine Optimization (SEO) work on their website.  You can make your website code clean, fast, and good for search engines, but there is more to SEO than just clean, fast code.  Some merchants will hire a Search Engine Optimization or advertising firm to enhance their website and improve their website's search engine rank.  However, in many cases, I would suggest that a merchant take much of the SEO into their own hands and do it themselves. The reason for this is that you, as the merchant, know your product and your clients the best.

To start, before going to your website, clear your browser's cache (typically under Tools > Clear Recent History) then look at your website with fresh eyes, as if you were a potential client.  Answer the following questions, making notes of things you see or notice.

• Did your website load in a timely manner?
• Does your home page instantly convey what your company is about?
• Is there a call-to-action "above the fold?"
• Can your customers purchase within 2 clicks?

If you found issues with any of the above questions, make sure you tackle those first, before making changes to your meta tags, keywords, etc.

If you haven't already, make sure you have Google Analytic Tracking Code on all your pages, your Google Analytics is setup for e-commerce tracking, and that you have submitted your website's XML sitemap to Google.

The first step in doing your own SEO is checking Google Webmaster Tools (where you have submitted your website's XML sitemap),  on the left click on "Optimization" then "HTML Improvements" and fix any errors or messages found in this section.

Check back for the next step in doing your own SEO.