How can you tell if your site adheres to current SEO best practices? Let's start with some honest answers to the following questions:
- Are the keywords you're targeting relevant to site content?
- Are targeted keywords popular phrases used in search engine queries?
- Do page titles start with your targeted keywords?
- Does your site employ H1 header tags for prominent content titles?
- Is your permanent body copy contextually sufficient and keyword-rich?
- Do text links include targeted keywords that point users to pages within your site?
- Do you use CSS (define) image replacement in graphical navigation on the site?
- Do graphics used in the site have descriptive, keyword-rich alternative attributes that are useful for visitors?
- Does your Web site have a site map with text links?
- Do the URLs of your dynamic, database-driven pages look simple and static?
- Does your site have a flat directory structure?
- Do your site's home page and other key category pages have PageRanks?
- Is your site listed in Open Directory?
- Do you routinely list your site in other trusted, human-reviewed online directories?
- Do all the pages in your Web site have keyword-rich meta descriptions?
- Does your site have a custom error page?
- Do the site's filenames and directory names include targeted keywords?
- Does your site avoid using pop-ups?
- Is the exact same content visible to both users and search engine spiders?
- Do you avoid free-for-all linking offers?