February 10, 2009
The Place to Begin: Producing Valid Code
The purpose of this book is to provide the webmaster who has previously built sites however without a strong emphasis on search engine optimization to learn how to construct sites within the parameters of true search engine optimization practice and procedure.
It is assumed that the webmaster is already familiarized with many of the terms associated with beginning html coding and standards; however should a true novice get a hold of this book on Beginning SEO then it has been suggested a good read through of at least the first four chapters of a beginning book regarding html is recommended.
You may refer to the “For Dummies” series of books in this regard. One of the best books on the market in order to better understand code is the one entitled: “HTML, XHTML, and CCS for Dummies.” You may also be able to pick up a copy of this particular coding book at the library. It is full of information and is very easy to understand.
If you wish to get a good grasp of HTML there is also a disk included with the “HTML . . . for Dummies” book where you may further hone your programming skill set.
You will find a great deal of information herein such as how to deal with your daily programming and web mastering activities in relation to an SEO campaign.
All of the information provided herein is vital if you wish your site become properly optimized. Therefore, it is recommended you give it a good “read through” after reading at minimum four chapters of a beginning HTML book such as the one I’ve suggested.
If you are further advanced and just need to put SEO in practice, it is best if you’ll read the book thoroughly and then put what I’ve suggested into use
Then sit back and wait. Results are not immediate. Patience is crucial as you will discover within the contents of this book. However, persistence will have a favorable reward.
If I were to ask a good many users today what is SEO, the answer from the more informed as to the subject-matter would come up as: Placing keywords within Meta tags and submission of your website to directories and search engines.
In theory it would be correct that inserting keywords within Meta tags is an important element of SEO and whether or not you submit your site to search engines and directories is debatable and is more relational to other practices of which you engage in coordination with SEO theory. They in their answer would be on the right track.
The place where you should start the practice of SEO is when you first design your site. When first asked to write about this subject, the first book I pulled off the shelf was a book regarding HTML. I did this before even considering looking up anything on the subject of SEO.
Should you have a reasonable understanding of HTML?
Yes, I believe you should. Whether you make your full-time living as a webmaster, SEO consultant or are merely curious as to how SEO can benefit you and help you make profits with your website, I believe a basic understanding of HTML coding to be of fundamental importance.
If you are generally unfamiliar with code, I suggest you start with HTML however; SEO should also be practiced whether you are designing a site using HTML, XML, CSS or XHTML.
Just remember this: Your whole objective in the practice of SEO is to make your site easier to find by users and search engines alike.
The search engines will need to “run” through your code; therefore, you must follow procedures if you wish to reasonably compete as to site ranking on the “net.”
Let’s move to the second area that is essential in producing code and that is using XHTML (markup) for its original purpose. Herein I supply key ingredients relative to SEO practice and procedures.
The structural elements of XHTML include the following tags:
1. <html>
2. <head>
3. <title>
4. <body>
If you are working with CSS then the basic structure would appear as follows:
<div id=”wrap”>
<div id=”header”>
<div id=”logo”></div>
</div>
<div id=”navbar”>
<ul>
<li>Item1</li>
<li>Item 2</li>
<li>Item 3</li>
<li>Item 4</li>
<li>Item 5</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div id=”content”>
<h1>Title<h/h2>
<p> . . . <p/>
<h2>sub-heading</h2>
<p> . . . </p>
</div>
<div id=”footer”></div>
First this may appear as “Greek” to you; however, consider this: The layout I just provided is structural in nature. This may seem a bit confusing at first, especially if you have been a user working with programs like Excel where you use cells and tables.
The difference between the two formats is one form is termed a layout that being the “Excel” and the other is structural, (relative to CSS).
Of course, if you are one who is use to cells and tables then you have become accustomed to defining what you place inside your cells. There is a distinct dissimilarity when dealing with structural formats as presented with CSS in opposition to programs like “Excel”. However, if you use the structural format I’ve shown above, you will be able to easily write CSS code as each design you will manufacture uses this same structural format.
If you would like to become more familiarized with this structural format, copy precisely what I’ve given you here. You will begin to see the logic employed when using this form.
Chapter One – The Place to Begin – Producing Valid Code
From: Search Engine Optimization for Internet Beginners By Mike Crooks
Filed under Search Engine Optimization by admin