SEO, or Search Engine Optimization is the fine art of optimizing your web site to rank properly on the various web site directories on the web, or in the year 2008 mostly Google. 96% of web directory users do not go past the third page of results making your ranking extremely important in getting visitors to your site.

We do a considerable amount of Search Engine Optimization with relatively good results, though sometimes it takes months before those results become apparent. Many designers do not design for SEO and as a result random traffic from the web is sparse. We recommend some tips for good Search Engine Optimization for your site:

1. Make sure to focus on key words that make a difference. If established web presences have already consumed the most popular key words, then trying to break into them will be next to impossible. Try to find key words that are not overly used. Even if a one off keyword gets you 1000 searches a month rather then 50,000 it is better then being on page 25 of the 50,000 a month keyword.
2. Once you have your keywords, remember that Google relies on things such as Density of keyword as well as proximity. Google reads your site in blocks of text, be sure to have your keywords as close to the beginning of your text blocks as possible. Instead of a title being "nteractiveTHINK, Inc: Web Application Specialists' a more effective title would be "Web Application Specialists: interactiveTHINK"
3. Try to find place that will link to you, as linkbacks are highly effective for Google to decide your page is more relevant to another. SEO professionals often suggest trying to amass more then 250 links across the web on relevant pages back to yours. Try paid link directories though reciprocal link services are a bit suspect.
4. Make sure to use header tags in your web project. Google uses the H1 and H2 tags to determine subject headings and it is impossible for Google to distinguish a CSS class name as a heading or not. You are much better off modifying a H1 heading with stylesheets to accomplish the same thing.

The art of SOE is a difficult one indeed, and unfortunatly success today does not guarantee success tomorrow. At interactiveTHINK we design with an eye towards search engine optimization and develop accordingly.