If you are new to the field of website design or internet marketing, a good first step in your journey to become an acclaimed Internet guru would be to read a search engine optimization tutorial. These tutorials give you a blow by blow account of SEO techniques, tactics, and resources (for those who are not so clued in, SEO is an acronym for search engine optimization).

This article contains a brief outline on SEO processes, some simple tips, and an overview of popular search engines, in general. This is intended as preparatory material for those who are serious about using a search engine optimization tutorial.

What Is Search Engine Optimization?

The aim of the process is much simpler to understand than the various technicalities associated with it. Its objective is to make a particular website come first in search engine results for a given set of keywords.

Suppose you want to start a website that sells used laptops. No one will know about the website, if it does not come in the first two or three pages in the search results of popular search engines like Google, Yahoo, and MSN. You may have the moolah to advertise your website on television, newspapers, and other popular websites. However, none of these can match the SEO process in terms of long-term visibility and the ability to reach out to the targeted customers.

Take the example of the website that sells used laptops. When you opt for paid advertisements for the website on television channels, newspapers, or the other popular websites, you are indeed conveying the message to a large number of people. However, how many of these suitably enlightened customers are likely to buy used laptops? On the other hand, more than 90% of the people who search the internet for keywords like "used laptops", "second hand laptops" or "pre-owned laptops" are likely to buy a laptop. It is this segment of people that you want visiting your website.

Unlike the conventional marketing options, SEO processes enable a website to communicate directly with the members of the target audience. In addition, SEO campaigns are more cost-effective than other forms of marketing and advertising.

An Overview Of SEO Techniques

A good search engine optimization tutorial provides detailed descriptions of various SEO techniques. Here let us look into some of the important aspects.

One has to understand that the SEO process is not a onetime process. It is a continuous process aimed at achieving long-term goals. The algorithms of search engines in ranking the pages keep on changing all the time. Therefore, even if your website comes first in the search results at present, it does not mean that it will stay on top forever. Some other websites with better SEO processes may come up. Or the conditions of page ranking of the search engine algorithm might change.

Broadly speaking, SEO techniques can be classified into two: on-site optimization and off-site optimization. As the names indicate, on-site optimization refers to the SEO techniques carried out within a particular website, while the off-site optimization refers to the SEO techniques carried out in the internet using other websites. A reputable search engine optimization tutorial can provide in-depth analysis of the various practices and tools associated with both the techniques. Here one will have to settle for a synopsis.

On-site Search Engine Optimization

The following is a step-by-step procedure for on-site SEO procedures. One has to keep in mind that most of the on-site SEO techniques are carried out for a single web page, not for the whole website. However, the first two steps are relevant for the whole website.

The first step is getting a domain name. In fact, even before finding a domain name, one has to find some good keywords. You can use one of the keyword management software utilities (some of which are available for free on the internet) to understand the search profile of the keyword.

Two things are important here. The first is the competition for that keyword, which indicates the number of websites that have already been using that keyword. The second is the frequency of search, which refers to the number of times people have used that keyword. Ideally, you have to select a keyword which has less competition and more frequency. Normally, the competition is higher for keywords with higher frequency.

Select a domain name that should contain one of the keywords. Always opt for .com extensions, as most search engines give priority to this extension over others.

Selecting a good server to host the website is the second step. Make sure that the server is not considered 'tainted' by the search engines. Some servers are blacklisted because they host pornographic websites or scam websites. In addition, it is also important that you get a static internet protocol address for your website.

The third step involves making the html coding friendly for search engine algorithms. One can do this by adding some simple html codes to the existing design. Visit a good search engine optimization tutorial for more details on this aspect.

The fourth step is to create keyword-rich content. One should not write articles that are stuffed with keywords. One only has to prepare good and naturally flowing content about the keyword.

Off-site Search Engine Optimization

Search engine algorithms consider the number of back links to a particular website in the entire Internet to determine the page rank of the website. As a result, in addition to onsite-SEO techniques, webmasters need to carry out an off-site SEO campaign to get a decent page rank.

The off-site SEO techniques include getting directory listings, submitting articles to article directories and ezines, posting various blogs and commenting on other blogs, getting listed in various social book-marking websites, and maintaining affiliate marketing websites. The articles and blog entries should be well-written and rich in keywords.

Popular Search Engines

Although there are a large number of search engine websites, only three are considered big enough to warrant a separate search engine optimization campaign. These are Google, Yahoo, and MSN. Google is the clear leader here and accounts for more than 50% of the total Internet searches. Yahoo is a distant second, closely followed by MSN.

Different search engines utilize different algorithms. For example, for a particular keyword, the results in Google and Yahoo will be different. It means one has to carry out different SEO techniques for each of these search engines. It is always better to refer to a free search engine optimization training course to learn further about SEO techniques.