If you want new customers to be able to find your site, you need to keep a three letter abbreviation in mind.

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. All this loaded web design term really means is that you need to pay attention to the things that Google and Yahoo! say are important.

Search engines use programs called spiders or bots to visit websites and index site content. This data is behind the search results that come up when you search for keywords on your favorite search engine.

It is important to note that search engine spiders can only process text. That means that images, audio, or Flash-based content is basically invisible to them. So, that 700x200px banner image that contains your “mission statement” is completely ignored by the search engines. While it may look good to you, a bot can’t tell if it’s a picture of a watermelon, a fire truck, or your carefully crafted explanation of your organization’s existence.

Many site designers don’t take this into consideration when creating a site. They might be able to put a visually appealing site together, but they don’t stop to think about the relationship between design, functionality, and search engine accessibility.

If you’re ready to speak with an expert about optimizing your small business website for the best possible search engine rankings, let me know. I would be happy to review your existing site and point out any recommendations I may have.