Links, How Many

We all look out for good links and the more and relevant they are the better it is to have them.
However people tend to overdo this technique and at times it leads to harming the site/s they were working on. There should be a limit (human limit) on the linking activities. For example if one site had 1000 links in three days then it spells like "overdone" in Google's language. Result, the obvious :( This is a typical feature with Link Farms which is considered a big no-no in SEO now. Search Engines penalize sites resorting to such things. Also, there are inbound and outbound links between which there should be a healthy balance.
Links and the practice of linking is crucial just like any other SEO technique and should be evaluated, checked before going ahead for Link exchanges. Relevancy and content should be looked into really seriously :)

Keywords, Do We Use Them?

Many write-ups and many opinions about the "Keywords" thing but the whole idea seems to evolve itself at a very impressive pace.
In fact this is true with all the aspects of SEO. There are umpteen changes and things happen and improve so fast because of SEO being a part of the I.T. world.
No matter what the changes, the basics of SEO remain the same and would always be like this (for a long period of time for now).
Taking the keywords for instance, it is always better to have the keywords in "good" usage in site (not misuse or overuse please!). Also, if you have a blog, use the keywords in the articles in all "relevant" ways and make it a practice to use them.
Again, the effectiveness of a keyword depends on its proper and practical selection and usage.
This ensures the efficacy of your keywords and makes your site keyword "reactive".
The basics remain the same, no matter what the changes in technology.

Watch Out For These !

Hi all !
SEO and its techniques form an essential part of "site identity". Most of us have experience on the techniques while there might be some new-comers in this arena.
Where the SEO techniques have a common aim and purpose in getting the site "there", the mismatch or casual approach to these techniques might work the opposite way.
Let's discuss some of the common errors people could and should avoid at all costs:
A] Avoid duplicate content: within the different pages of your site AND with other sites too. Needless to say that this kills majority SEO and might mark your site as a "copy".
B] Don't overuse your Keyword. This is similar to misuse. Over use of the keyword is taken as a deliberate (and intentional) SEO fixing action by the Search Engines.
C] Do you use ALT tags with images and keywords in your website? If not then please start doing this right away. This makes your site "spider friendly".
D] Avoid using Framesets. Printing & navigation is a problem and Search Engines cannot index them.
E] Make your site navigation navigable. This means your site has to be user-friendly and hence Search Engine friendly too.
We all at times come across sites which have been worked upon to such an extent that you might call them "overdone". Search Engines are getting smarter by the day and they have now started finding such sites which have been optimized recklessly. This is a big no-no.
SEO means making your site "seen" through workable and practical ways. There should be no rush or mindless "SEO-fixing".
If you find someone doing over-SEO then tell them that they might as well loose their current rankings too!

Way to a Good Design !

Hi folks, wishing you all a Very Happy New Year !.
Well,starting the new year with some design "basics"(as a matter of fact,these form a part of my new year resolutions too!)
Starting with these, point wise... :)
A) Fonts: The text is the thing which tells the visitor what our site is about. Style and the way they are arranged and put there makes all the difference. This is equally effective to attract or bore the visitor within first two minutes of their visiting the site.
B) Color: The meaning and harmony that you would put in your colors out there would make at least 50% of the difference. Imagine someone using glaring pink on a Hospital site!
Going further, color should be used in a symbolic manner, as "solid & concrete" personalities (no matter what the shade). This provides character to the site.
C) Images & Graphics: are similar to what you long to see in the marriage photo album of your best friend. Details missing and interest lost. Do not make them "event-less" or "over-detailed". Just be "there".
D) Navigation: How could you best make your site visitor friendly? Easy to understand layout, simple ways to reach the top/bottom of the pages. Well laid out format...no detail is ever enough in making your site "even more" visitor friendly.
E) Connect: How many visitors would find your site worth visiting is directly proportional to how many visitors understood what your site speaks/tells about itself. Just look at the public transport mediums of your town/city. They have signs/spaces for people to follow (going as far as helping physically disabled people too).
What I mean here is that your site should be really simple to "walk around" and detail the visitor what it is about & what things the visitor would find across the different corners (pages) etc. :)
Clearly, there is no end to refining and redefining the design
specifics as no single detail is independent when it comes to making a good website. Moreover, additions to these details is a natural and an essential aspect for the designs to depict today yesterday and tomorrow, all at the same time.