I'm new to webmastering, and this would be a very very stupid question: But what is search engine optimization? I mean, how do you optimize your site for search engines, especially Google?

I keep hearing keywords. I put the keywords in my meta-keyword tags. Is there some other way I can "optimize" and "use" the best keywords?

Thanks.

It's hard to answer such a generic question in only one thread.
Tip: everything you need to know is on this forum. Just go fish the information. look around

try to read some of this for info http://www.seomoz.org/article/beginn...e-optimization.

SEO means Search engine optimization

Wikipedia will help you for more: help

Eugene it's not a stupid question, but one that can't be answered in a single post or thread as others have mentioned. Spend some time here reading through different threads. It'll be confusing at first, but it will start to clear up the more you read.

The link mokmok69 posted is a good one to check out. The SEOmoz guide isn't the end all and be all of SEO, but it should help point you in the right direction.

As far as the meta keyword tag is concerned, it's pretty much useless. The tag is too easy to spam so search engines don't give it any weight in where pages rank anymore.

Keywords are important though. Keywords are what people type into a search engine. You want to identify what those words might be. It's relatively easy to figure out a few of the more common words people might use, but it takes research to find the many many words and phrases they really use. You also want to identify words and phrases that are important for your site.

For example if you sell real estate in Boca Raton Florida you might think the phrase 'real estate' is important, when in truth most people who are searching for real estate aren't looking to buy property in Boca Raton. A better keyphrase would be 'real estate boca raton,' since it eliminates people looking in San Diego and Detroit, and Kansas City, etc.

Me I also want to know more about SEO and it is good for you to ask that question, so anyone who knows about that subject or a guru could answer and for me to learn again. lol

Originally Posted by euges429

I'm new to webmastering, and this would be a very very stupid question: But what is search engine optimization?

That's not a stupid question at all. I was asking the same thing a few months ago. After searching the web, reading what some bozo "gurus" had to say, I finally stumbled upon this forum and have learned a ton. The mods/administrators here are very responsive, know their sh#% and the community is very helpful. Even for a SEO newbie like me.

So, keep reading this forum and follow the info on the posts above. It may all seem overwhelming at first, but don't worry, it takes time, you have to view it as a "process" and not expect overnight results.

Its the method for improving a websites rank in a Search.

Seo is all about increasing your site's ranking in search results to make it more visible and accessible to visitors every time they type for a keyword/key phrases related to your site's content.

SEO means Search Engine Optimization which helps you to improve you rankings in search engines by keywords and increase your traffic which is the visitors to your website.

IMO...SEO- process of getting high ranking positioning on search engine so that your site will be visible to your targeted audience thus acquiring traffic and convert that traffic into sales...

Search engine optimization in other words designing and optimizing your website based on the design and quality guidelines put forth by the search engine.

Hey euges, I sent you a private message with the link of my blog. I don;t wanna do self promo on the main forum.
Also you could read this article http://www.directtraffic.org/on_page_optimisation.htm will help you understand the two big parts of SEO: on page optimization and off page optimization. It is well written and pretty simple. I think it will give you a clear idea of what SEO consist of.

Please ask any questions you want.