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				What is S.E.O.? S.E.O. stands for Search Engine Optimization and it is one of the more important areas of website building. It is the process of improving the volume and quality of traffic to a web site from search engines via "natural" ("organic" or "algorithmic") search results.
		There are many techniques used by webmasters to get a web site to "rank" high when people type in various "keywords" or "keyword phrases" into the search engines and directories. As the world wide web has grown over the years, the competition for top placement has become more intense. Experienced webmasters must continually hone their skills to outsmart the competition. They also have to attempt to understand the changes in the algorithms (or criteria) that the search engines use to sort websites. The techniques that I use to accomplish this are closely guarded secrets that I don't reveal to anyone. My clients do become aware of some of them as I involve them in the process of selecting the best URL for their site and the writing of their first few pages. The rest of the process is kept secret, even from them. (Click the "NEXT" button in the bar to the right)

Custom website designs by Kern Vore and associates

Torrance, California

Search Engine Optimization

What is link anchor text? I've recently began reading a couple of webmaster forums and I keep seeing people refer to "link anchor text". Can you tell me what it is so I won't feel like I'm in the dark?

In a nutshell, link anchor text is the "clickable" part of a text link. For example, consider this link:

<a href="http://www.customwebsitedesignwebsite.com">This is the link anchor text for this link</a>

On the page, the link would look like this:

custom website designer

Now, on to what link anchor text means in the context of SEO:

Google uses the link anchor text contained in links pointing to your web pages to help rank your pages for search terms.

For example, if you have a bunch of back links ( on other sites pointing to your web page) with a couple of your keywords in the link anchor text, your page will likely be ranked pretty well in Google when someone does a search on those keywords.

Let's say you have 50 back links to your page, all with the link anchor text "Best Golf Clubs". All other things being equal (which they rarely are of course), your site will likely rank very well in the Google search results for Best Golf Clubs, as well as in a search for just Golf Clubs.

The problem is, there may be many thousands or even millions of web pages in the Google index about Golf Clubs, which would make Golf Clubs what is known as a "competitive search term".

When you're dealing with competitive search terms, search engine optimization (SEO) becomes critical to getting a good ranking for that term.

Using your keywords in the link anchor text of as many inbound links to your web pages as possible is one of the most effective SEO strategies that you can use. Of course, "keyword rich" link anchor text is even more effective when used in combination with other SEO techniques as well.

When requesting a link exchange with other websites, it is to your advantage to provide the link that you want them to use, including good link anchor text with a keyword or two in it. If possible, provide the exact HTML code for the link!

Otherwise, the other webmaster might simply use your website name as the link anchor text, depriving you of your coveted "keyword rich" link anchor text, and the search engine rankings boost that goes along with it.