SEO 'should be incorporated from the beginning'

21/07/2008

Businesses that make search engine optimisation (SEO) the heart of their online operation from the start of a website project could be more likely to see success than those who do not.

This is according to Julie Batten of the ClickZ Network, who said that the best way to improve the chances of hitting online success is to build in SEO from the beginning of a website development project.

While it is not impossible to optimise an existing site for search engines, it may be difficult to do so without rebuilding entire sections of the website, she warned.

Key SEO areas to focus on when beginning a new website include incorporating keywords into text and reviewing wireframe development to see where extra textual elements can be added, Ms Batten explained.

"SEO advice and guidance at each stage will go a long way to ensuring that a search engine-friendly website is built from the outset," she commented.

Chris Boggs of Search Engine Watch recently claimed that SEO needs to be "a lifelong engagement" for all websites, rather than being a "one-time fix".