SEO, when broken down to it’s fundamental roots, consist of 2 important factors you must optimize for:

1) On Page Factor, also known as “On Page SEO”
2) Off Page Factor, also know as “Off Page SEO”

Before we jump into exactly what those factors entail.  Let me answer a more important question.

WHY do I need to optimize for these factors?

When you type in a keyword into the Google search box, how does Google know how to answer your keyword request with the relevant content that you are searching for?

To explain that process would be a science in itself, however, you would benefit to understand how Google determines what your site it is all about.

So let’s say for instance, you just created a brand new website and you want to start ranking for a particular keyword.  That Great!  The first thing that needs to happen before you can rank for your keyword is Google needs to determine what your site is about so it can properly rank your website according to your keyword(s).

That’s where “on page” and “off page” optimization comes in at.  This is your chance to tell Google or other search engines what your site is about and what you want to rank for.

How this works is like this;  you may of heard of the term “Googlebots” or  “Search Bots” (for other search engines), but the principle is the same.  A search bot is a computer software that is created by the search engine company.  It’s function in life is to go out on the web and search for content and report back to the search engine’s database with information it found.  Search bots obtain this information by “crawling” (fancy word for examining) you website to figure out what your site is about.  If you done your On Page Optimization correctly, Googlebot should walk with a good understanding about your site’s content.

This is where On Page Optimization comes in at.  Do not overlook this process!
Here is a list of the several key factors that are “crawled” by the search bots:

1) Title Tags
2) Meta Tags: Description & Keyword
3) Header Tags: <H1>, <H2>, <H3>.
4) URL: If possible, you will want to get your keyword somewhere in your domain.

You will want to make sure you have your keyword within those factors

Here’s an example from my ROI Unlimited site I developed.
Currently it’s ranking #3 on Page 1 of Google for the keyword term “roi unlimited”:

 

Here’s a snap shot of some content on that site.  You will see the keyword “ROI Unlimited” with in my header of the content:

So as you can see how the on page factors can help the search bots determine what your site is about what about Off Page Factors…

Off Page Factors are the biggest factor for ranking your site for your particular keyword.  This process will tell the search bots exactly what your site is about based on backlinks.  In all intensive purposes…Backlinks are the life blood of any SEO campaign.

What exactly is a backlink? 

A back link in simple a clickable link back to your site from another site.  Some things you want to keep in mind when you create your backlinks.

1) Use anchor text with your keyword(s) in your backlinks.

A keyword rich anchor text is a link with your “keyword(s)” pointing to your site.  For example… Below I am creating a backlink to my ROI Unlimited website using the keyword “roi unlimited” as my anchor text:

ROI Unlimited

You can see it points to roi-unlimited.com using my keyword “ROI Unlimited”

The more keyword rich anchor text links to your site, the more the search engines will recognize what your site is about and start to give you some attention for that keyword.

2) Get backlinks from niche related sites.  Remember a backlink is more or less like a vote of authority or confidence if you will.  Site A links to Site B because Site B has good relative contant based on Site A’s content.  When you get enough backlinks this way, your site will become more of an authority site for your keyword(s), because you have the “votes” of many niche related site.  Google will then see your site as important and you will see your site climb up through the search engine rankings.

Here’s what you don’t want to do: For example…let’s say I have a site on “Dog Training” and I get backlinks from sites that deal with “Car Racing”…This is counter productive is several ways.  First of all, when the search bots crawl that Car Racing site and find your backlink to your Dog Training site, it will not create a clear understanding how you site has anything to do with car racing (you don’t gain any authority here).  Second, if any readers of the Car Racing site sees your link to Dog Training…there’s a good chance hell will freeze over first before they click you link.  Now if you had a link to your “High Performance Car Parts” site linked from the Car Racing site, you have a good chance of people clicking on that link because it’s related.  You always want to make sure you create Traffic to your site from your backlink campaigns as well as ranking in the top 5 of Google….Why waste a link?

So as you can see, On page and Off page factors will set up the stage for you to rank well in the search engines for your given keyword(s).  Just be sure you follow these core principles to help establish a solid SEO campaign.