Search Engine Optimization

Search Engine Optimization... I have the admit that I had severe doubts whether money-maker-advice.com should include a section on SEO, as it is commonly referred to. There are literally millions of web pages covering this often controversial field.

In the end I decided that simply ignoring the topic is not the right solution and that I owe it to my visitors to at least give them an introduction into this gray field.



Why gray? A couple of reasons:

⇒ Search Engine Optimization has often in the past been associated with finding ways of tricking search engines to get higher rankings in their search results for specific keywords. This is the dark side of SEO, often referred to as "Black Hat" strategies.

⇒ Search Engine Optimization is controversial because although there are millions of web pages covering this topic not a single web page has all the answers. Why? Search engines use algorithms to rank websites. Nobody knows exactly how these algorithms work and on top of that they change without notice. I would guess that even at Google there are no more than three people who knows their algorithm from a to z.

⇒ By focusing too much on Search Engine Optimization we run the risk of not seeing the bigger picture, namely that the most important thing that will ensure the long-term viability of a website is high quality and original content or information.

Search engines do not want us to know their algorithms

Fact of the matter is that search engines such as Google do not want us to know their algorithms. They want webmasters to supply them with great content websites designed for people and not search engines.

Just a word or two about the "dark side" of Search Engine Optimization. It is all about getting artificially high rankings in the search engines by finding new or clever ways of tricking the search engines. Does it work? It either does not work at all or either only works for a small period of time until the algorithms change. As search engines continue to evolve it will become more and more difficult to outsmart them.

Give search engines what they want - High quality, original content

Remember that search engines such as Google, Yahoo and MSN employ some of the most brilliant minds in the world. It is not a good idea trying to outsmart them and it is actually totally unnecessary to try. Simply give them what they want - High quality original content!


Search engines such as Google is dependent on advertising revenue. Advertising can be expensive and advertisers expect Google to only award high rankings to quality websites that provide good and relevant content.

Let's illustrate this very important point with an example:

Most people will agree that Cosmopolitan is a high quality magazine. Being a high quality magazine, Cosmopolitan can charge a premium for advertising space. However, people buy the magazine not to read advertisements but to read interesting and informative articles. Having one of your articles published in the magazine can lead to a lot of positive exposure for you and your company.

High Quality = More Visitors

By the same token, Google needs high quality content websites. Why? Because high quality content attracts more visitors and more visitors equal higher advertising revenue. By the way, this does not only apply to Google but to all websites - High Quality = More Visitors (Free, not paid!).

Compare yourself to a journalist writing an article for Cosmopolitan (except you are compiling a website). The higher the quality of the article (your website content) the greater your chances are of getting the article published in a prominent position. The same concept applies to search engines.

The difference between a magazine and a search engine is that a magazine uses a human editor to evaluate, accept or reject content. In the case of a search engine there is no human editor. Search engines review many millions of websites every day. An impossible task for a human editor.

In the case of Google the "editor" is called a "spider" by the name of googlebot. Not dealing with a human search engine editor is what gives some webmasters the idea that they can trick search engines...Big mistake.

Work with the search engines not against them

Should we ignore or avoid Search Engine Optimization completely? No. Search Engine Optimization can help and guide us in building better websites.

The key is to work with the search engines and not against them. Although our first priority should be to provide our human visitors with high quality original information it will be a mistake to completely ignore the search engines.

The good news is that Search Engine Optimization is actually a very logical process and the search engines do offer us lots of help and advice on how we can improve our search results.

Let's look at the foundation of a commercially viable website, assuming you would like to become a money maker.


Content > Traffic > PREselling > Monetization

Step 1. Content - You need to offer visitors high quality original content.

Step 2. Traffic - You need visitors. Good content will draw them.

Step 3. PREselling - Gain the trust and confidence of your visitors.

Step 4. Monetization - Introduce visitors to your product or service.

The C > T > P > M process is simple, natural and powerful.

Does the C > T > P > M method work?

According to Sitesell, 62% of websites powered by them is listed in the top 3% of all websites. (By the way, they have even provided proof on their website to this effect). This is practical and natural Search Engine Optimization at its very best.

Use C > T > P > M as the foundation of your Search Engine Optimization plan and you are of to a very good start becoming a money maker.