If one were to distill all of the considerations associated with search engine optimization (not withstanding the new developments in semantic search), I’ve been asking myself if it isn’t possible to summarize 3 immutable laws of SEO. Hearken back a moment to elementary science and roll with me, so called laws are considered invariable facts which may be disproved if new facts or evidence contradicts them.
Content, Attribution, and Access
Now, I’m still toying around with this idea; rather, the specifics therein. Essentially, I’m considering the 3 primary colors of SEO – the 3 things from which all other opportunities extend. When explaining SEO to the uninitiated or ultimately uninterested, can we be this simple?
Content… and let’s keep the discussion straightforward
– The more of it you have, the more available to Google to be indexed. (I suppose these are principles?)
– Images, flash files, videos, PDFs, and scripts, for all intents and purposes, are not content. We’re talking text. (and the principles aren’t laws but guides)
– The density, frequency, depth and breadth of terms within your content dictates the subject.
Attribution… aka “links,” but that’s such a SEO-y term
– If people attribute credit to your content, it carries more weight.
– Attributing others is good karma; especially if attribution is due.
– What does internal attribution mean? Links on your site should accurately reflect what users will expect to find.
Accessibility
– Which is easier to consume? Organized content or a pile of newspapers and books?
– If you can’t remember the URL (website address) of one of your pages, Google can’t either.
– Consider internal attribution; do you link to your own content? How does one navigate the site?
To characterize the laws would be to validate, universally, that the strategies behind content, attribution, and accessibility can be applied consistently from one site to the next. The context and weight of the application varies, given the unique strengths and weaknesses of your site, brand, competition, and keywords, but the laws themselves remain true. To optimize your website to appear prominently in search engines, there are three fundamental truths:
1. Make your site accessible
2. Optimize the content
3. Foster attribution
Poke holes in this for me. Is this a simple way of understanding SEO?
Context in which the content is viewed may be a useful parameter. What is intent of the visitor? To learn? To find out if the product/service fits his/her need? This means filtering the content to the visitor’s needs. How can you do that effectively?