What is Web development SEO?
Believe it or not, search engine optimization starts with the server. Web development SEO is the specific focus of optimizing a web site starting with the server in mind.
OK, but what does this mean?
Search engines know that nobody likes to wait for a page to load. The time it takes for a page to load in a browser has become a real factor in search engine optimization. When I develop a website I take advantage of APC (Alternative PHP Cache) which helps speed up how fast a page loads in the browser. This is just a starting point.
From there, I do everything I can to make sure a web site validates with the web standards as set out by the www.w3.org. All the major browsers strive to meet these standards. When HTML fails to strive for this compliance a website which looks great in one browser can be completely broken in an entirely different browser. Standards also mean a website is likely to render faster in the browser.
To be Fair
The web is constantly changing. Sometimes these changes mean it is impossible to completely make the validators happy. For instance, webmasters are often challenged by the addition of social media buttons being added to websites and find the generated codes from Facebook, Twitter, or Google send up flags when trying to validate. Usually this is a case of these sites being ahead of the curve, meaning the generated code is taking advantage of new ideas. So to be fair, validation should always be looked as a tool, not a law set in stone.
Web Development SEO Also Means…
Once a web site is built it still needs to have content. However, there are principles on how to make that content stand out in a crowd of competition. Once upon a time, this meant stuffing a page full of as many keywords as possible to get the top link. This was good for getting a search engines attention, but it not so good for people who expected real content. Today, search engines are far more sophisticated. Keywords are still important, but SEO should never just be about keywords. Even if you have a top link, when the reader arrives on the page they need the content they expected to find. Aesthetics are important as well as finding relative content. When people are sticking around then something must be right.
My Job as a Web Development SEO
I envision my job as stepping up for my clients in areas where they do not have expert knowledge. I am doing this right now, on this web page, with you. As far as I am concerned, every moment dedicated to reading what I am writing makes you my client for as long as you are willing to give me courtesy of reading my content.
Some of the details of what I do include design, developing functionality, and especially helping others with their business in the area of search engine optimization (SEO).
My goal is to partner with local small businesses and help these companies reach their goals. I am not a faceless corporation with a push button “solution” for creating a website. Those kind of options rarely, work. It’s generic and it produces generic results.
If my goal sounds compatible with your goals, then I encourage you to read through some of the other articles on my site. For instance, my article on Tips for Hiring a Web Developer, might give you some good tools for who to hire. Heck, I think its a great idea even if you think my goal doesn’t sound like its in your companies best interest.
