• Get listed, with a link to your site in local or category-specific directories. Local directories include Yahoo! Local, Google Places, and Yelp. To find category directories, do a web search for <your topic> directory. For example, if you’re a realtor, try Kansas City realtor directory, or Brookside business directory.
• Be sure each page has a unique title that makes sense out of context, and fits in about 60 characters.
• Take a few minutes to summarize your page content via the page/meta description. Do so in about 160 characters.
• Make your web content conversational. Be sure it answers your visitors questions. A great book on writing for the web is Letting Go of the Words: Writing Web Content that Works. I also have a post on Writing for the Web.

I’ll be presenting at the Kansas City WordPress group on December 9, 2010 at 7 p.m. RSVP and learn more.

Agenda for SEO 101

1. SEO & why it’s important
2. SEO Factors
3. Tools for SEO
4. SEO & WordPress

SEO 101 Slides (PDF-file)

Use SEO tools to evaluate your progress

Online SEO Tools

• SEOmoz Tools – A comprehensive suite of SEO tools (some require paid subscription)
• Yahoo! Site Explorer – Examine who’s linking to your site.
• SEOmoz Term Target – Assigns a letter-grade to a page that represents how well certain keywords are targeted.

SEO Browser Extensions

• SEOmoz Toolbar (Firefox and Chrome)
• SEO Site Tools (Chrome)
• Quirk SearchStatus (Firefox)
• SEO Quake (Firefox, Chrome & Safari)
• SEObook – SEO for Firefox

WordPress SEO Tools

• All in One SEO Pack – Allows you to customize just about everything related to SEO.

Learn more about SEO

• Google Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide (PDF file)
• SEOmoz Search Engine Ranking Factors – Report from collective wisdom of 37 leaders in the world of organic search engine optimization.
• SEOmoz Beginners Guide to SEO
• SEO Infographics from Elliance – Learn SEO visually with these infographics.