SEO Explained - Keywords and Backlinks

In it's simplest form, SEO can be defined as the technique of making web pages and sites accessible to search engines through two main considerations: keywords, and backlinks.

Keywords are actual text (not pictured text) that define what we do, and who we are, online. They exist on our pages, in titles and descriptions. If a Realtor has a web site in Winnipeg, Manitoba - his keywords are his company name, and - more importantly: winnipeg real estate. It is very beneficial to have our keywords in our domain name, and on our pages in bold.

When keywords exist on other web sites in the form of hypertext (a "clickable" link), and link to our pages directly - they are known as backlinks, as depicted in Fig. A below. Site A is the web site we wish to have stronger SEO. Site B is shown with a backlink to Site A.

Backlinks are very important to SEO. Having many sites (other than our own) online that contain this keyworded hypertext, leading back to our site - is very beneficial. It creates an association - between keyword phrases, and our domain (site) within the search engine database. Google, Yahoo, and MSN search engines all count the number of backlinks we have, and use that in their assessment of how high we will rank for the search of those keywords.

Proof of this methodology exists everywhere. On Google, when the keywords "send money" are searched, which company has used those keywords, best, in their SEO campaign?

(Click here to see)