Several people have recently asked me about SEO – Search Engine Optimization. They know they need to do it, but are not sure where to start. Cheap, or preferably free is the way to go if you are on a tight budget, and who isn’t! Here is some advice I recently sent to a friend back in England.

* You can utilize Google, MSN and Yahoo and upload info about your site to their search engines. This helps people find you faster. These are all free and also gives you ways to search statistics and tell you the keywords people are searching on and finding your site through.

* Although it can be work, this one is also a free way to get people to your site. You can go out to sites that have blogs (like mine) and pick those that are relevant to your business. Every so often, go and post a comment. I look for sites that a small business owner might visit. When you post your comments, you have the opportunity to put your name, e-mail address and a link to your own page. If you are posting worthy, interesting and informative comments, people will then go back to visit your page. Free and you can also learn things yourself!

* Find other sites to link back to yours. This is a little easier for me because when I create a site for someone, I can put a link to my page at the bottom to say who the site was designed by. However, I have also built up relationships with other companies who have been gracious enough to put a link from their site to mine. This can create traffic back to you.

* Offer freebies, giveaways and contests. People love to think they are getting something for nothing! It doesn’t have to cost you a whole lot, but it will help get your company name out there.

* Finally, (for now!) use every free social networking site you can think of to start building new business relationships. I have two Facebook profiles. One is my personal page, family and friends that I communicate with. The other is for building new business relationships. Gaining their trust and getting to know people. Use Twitter, LinkedIn, Yahoo Groups, anything you can use that will cost you time but not money.

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