A simple introduction to the old and new ways of SEO and how beginners can use it properly with a few easy steps.

1. How to Optimize Your Website
A simple introduction to SEO and how to
use it properly
By: Nicole Troelstrup

2. Old SEO: A Link Farm Paradise
 Old SEO = Manipulating search engines by using
spammy techniques. AKA “Blackhat” SEO
 Techniques:
1. Keyword Stuffing
2. Keyword Dilution
3. Duplicate Content
4. Directory Submissions
5. Link Schemes (link farms, exchange networks)

3. New SEO: A Content Marketer’s Paradise
 New SEO = Relevancy + Authority (Google)
 Basic Principles:
1. Make pages primarily for users, not for search engines.
2. Don't deceive your users.
3. Avoid tricks…A useful test is to ask, "Does this help my
users? Would I do this if search engines didn't exist?"
4. Think about what makes your website unique, valuable,
or engaging. Make your website stand out from others in
your field.

4. Quick and Easy Techniques for Proper
SEO for Beginners
1. Before you begin: Pick your keywords using the Google
Keywords Tool.
2. Get a Webmaster tools and analytics account. Then,
submit your site!
3. Create a Sitemap that can be crawled by all major
search engines.

5. #4: Meta Descriptions
 Meta descriptions….NOT meta tags!
 Show up on Google Search Results
 Should be around 150-169 characters
 More important for CTRs
 Like title tags, each should be unique

7. #5: Robots.txt Files
 Use robot.txt files to tell Google which pages not to
index
 Used to remove duplicate content from being crawled
 Simple text file
 Add to the root of your domain:
nicoletroelstrup.com/robots.txt

9. #6: Write…The Smart Way
 Quality over quantity
 Some tips:
1. Include outbound and internal links
2. Post to every social network that you’re on
3. Don’t forget about your keywords
4. Make original content
5. Guest post
6. Try to avoid non-HTML articles/posts – difficult to crawl
and index

10. #7: Get on Social Media
 Will not directly help with rankings, but WILL help to
create opportunities
 Connect with bloggers and publishers
 A large following means you’re relevant and
authoritative
 And that = Google Gold Mine

11. References and Resources
http://www.robotstxt.org/
http://www.seomoz.org/learn-seo/meta-description
http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?h
l=en&answer=70897#3
http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?h
l=en&answer=35769
http://www.seomoz.org/beginners-guide-to-seo
http://omgseoblog.wordpress.com/2012/09/17/out-with-
the-old-5-seo-practices-that-no-longer-work/