This is a checklist that a company can use to ensure Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
for a website. In the rapidly changing world of the internet, SEO is a vital tool to ensure
proper exposure of a company’s website. This checklist ensures the website has proper
keywords, proper navigation, and considers other factors such as page sizes and quick
loading features. This checklist can be used by small businesses or other entities that
want to ensure their website contains proper keywords for search engines.
NAVIGATION
Internal links include keywords: makes moving around your site easier.
Internal links are operable: broken links are frustrating to your customers.
Internal links require only two clicks and no more than four clicks: having to drill
down repeatedly becomes tiresome to your customers.
Internal links are appropriate for lower-level pages: if you don’t need it, don’t include
it.
External links include keywords: again, this optimizes clicks on those links.
External links are operable: this cannot be over-stressed – if your links are broken,
your visitors will leave your site frustrated.
Site contains no more than one hundred external links: you really want folks to stay
on your page.
Site is linked from other reputable sites, especially .gov and .edu sites: this lends
credence to your site.
No link spamming apparent: it’s easy to tell if you’ve done this, and could get you
booted off popular sites.
OTHER FACTORS
File size does not exceed 100K per page: otherwise, the page will take too long to
load.
Where hyphens are used for spaces in URL, only one or two are used, and no more
than four: keep it simple.
Pages are kept up-to-date and fresh: visitors will stop coming back if the site is the
same-old, same-old all the time.
Links are frequently checked to ensure they are still working: your links absolutely
must work.
Page themes are consistent: just as in print layout, avoid chaotic themes, as it
confuses your visitors.
Older sites have new pages on a regular basis: you need to give folks something new
to look at, or they will stop visiting.
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Unique content: no one wants to see the same thing on every site they visit.
No illegal or offensive content: this can turn potential customers off immediately.
Site contains visual extras such as graphics and photos, not just text: make it
interesting!
Limited number of, or no frames; one page at a time is the best rule of thumb.
Alternate textual descriptions for Flash pages; you want the site to be searchable with
text – you cannot search pictures or video.
Limited number of password protected areas (or none, if possible): having to enter
information over and over not only scares folks away, but makes it a hassle to visit
your site.
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