SEO - Search Engine Optimization

SEO or Search Engine Optimization is the creative science and art of editing Web content so that search engines will find the information one produces on the Net. Professional SEO is a successful integration of several disciplines including marketing, public relations, copywriting and HTML programming. Web content that may be optimized includes Web sites, news content, graphics and FLASH. One element which is critical for an optimized site to work is the driving of Internet traffic to that site. This is where Web 2.0 has begun to play a crucial role.

Google defines SEOs as "agencies and consultants who provide useful services for website owners, including:
reviewing and providing recommendations on your site content or structure, technical advice on website development: for example, hosting, redirects, error pages, use of JavaScript, content development, managing online business development campaigns, keyword research and SEO training."

The best time to retain an SEO is before you create your Website, Blog and or construct and disseminate a news release.  By employing an SEO before you begin work on design, graphics and text, you are then able to ensure that the content is designed to be search engine-friendly.

Some useful questions that Google suggests that you ask an SEO include:

• Can you show me examples of your previous work and share some success stories?
• Do you follow the Google Webmaster Guidelines?
• Do you offer any online marketing services to complement your organic search business?
• What kind of results do you expect to see, and in what timeframe?
• What's your experience in my industry?
• How long have you been in business?

SEO professionals need to respect and understand the power of their profession. If one optimizes content correctly millions may be able to view it. SEO professionals need to establish rules of ethics whereby their optimized content can be viewed as an objective contribution to the Internet and not as unwanted misinformation or SPAM.