Search Engine Optimization, better known as SEO, can be bewildering to many people, especially beginning ecommerce entrepreneurs. True, there is quite a lot to know, and it can be complicated.

But it might help to keep these three basic principles in mind when you are trying to make sure your website is search engine friendly and optimized to the max:

1. One of the catch phrases of the real estate business can be applied to keywords: location, location, location. Where your keywords are located in your content has much to do with how the major search engines will rank your web pages. Google researched about what parts of a web page most viewers look at the most. Those favored places were at the very top of the web page, then the bottom of the web page, and then the middle of the web page….in that order.

Top
Bottom
Middle

Therefore, you want to be sure and use your primary keywords in those locations!

2. Proximity and placement of keywords. Again, location is a huge factor here! Where your keywords are placed and used in relation to other words will have a tremendous impact on how effective they are in SEO. For example, look at these two words: “horse” and “race.”  Where each of these words is placed in proximity to the other makes a BIG difference in meaning!
Horse race
Race horse

So, it isn’t enough just to make sure your keywords are in your content, you need to be sure that they are used in the proper proximity to other words, in order to be most beneficial to you. If you were selling betting systems for horse racing, you would naturally be better off with “horse race” than “race horse.”

3. Keyword density is the last in the trilogy, and it is crucial to your success or failure with the major search engines such as Google. Ideally, you should aim for around 4% keyword density. Any less than that and you’re risking being overlooked. Any more than that and you’re risking being dropped by Google for “black hat” keyword use. So, strive for a happy medium in keyword density!

These three basic principles can go a long way toward helping you utilize SEO for your ecommerce business!