It is well worth your time to learn and apply a few basics to increase your web site's search engine rankings and consequently the amount of traffic to your website. These techniques are commonly referred to as SEO, or Search Engine Optimization.

• Create a site with unique, valuable content, products or services.

• Place primary and secondary keywords within the first 25 words in your page content and spread them evenly throughout the document.

• Research and use the right keywords or key phrases to attract the type of customer that you wish to target.

• Use your keywords in your site's Title, META tags, Headers, etc.

• Keep your site design simple so that your customers can navigate easily between web pages, find what they want and purchase your products and services.

• Submit your web pages to the search engines and directories. This means every web page, not just the home page. Hire someone to do this for you if necessary. For best results, perform manual submission. Don't use an automated submission service.

• Keep track of changes in search engine algorithms and processes and accordingly modify your web pages so your search engine ranking remains high. Use online tools and utilities to keep track of how your website is doing.

• Keep an eye on your competitors and the top ranked websites to see what they are doing in respect to design, navigation, content, keywords, etc.

• Use reports and logs from your web hosting company to see where your traffic is coming from. Analyze your visitor location and how they found your website, whether from search engines or links from other sites, and the keywords they used to find you.

• Make your customer visit easy and give them as many ways to remember you as you can in the form of newsletters, free reports, reduction coupons, etc.

• Demonstrate your industry and product or service expertise by writing and submitting articles for your website or for article banks so you are perceived as an expert in your field.

• When selling products online, use simple payment and shipment methods to make your customers experience fast and easy.

• When not sure, hire professionals. Paying their fees makes more sense than spending your money on a website which no one visits.

• Dont view your website as a static brochure. Treat it as a dynamic, ever-changing sales tool and location. The search engines like to see change and growth in your web pages and will reward you with better rankings.