Search Engine Otimization Class for Web Developers: Where To Start

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Google's new Caffeine search engine mechanism is alive and well, and web developers have to remain vigilant to keep up with the latest Search Engine Optimization techniques. This class on SEO for web developers will teach you the basics and help you put some Caffeine in your website.

Search Engine Optimization has always been an important topic for web developers, and still tops the list of concerns for website owners. With so many different opinions on SEO coming from so many different directions, it's hard to know where to turn for tips that will help your site get to the top of the search engine rankings, and keep it there. Let's start with the basics and work our way to the top of those rankings right now.
Focus, Focus, Focus: What Message Is Your Website Trying To Convey?
The first thing you will need to figure out is your website's primary focus. If your site primarily sells black turtleneck sweaters, well, you shouldn't have a problem knowing what the focus is, however, for the rest of us, it's not so cut and dry. What if your site sells clothes in general, or a wide assortment of items? Or, like HTMLGoodies, focuses on a broad spectrum of topics (web development), in an area where there is already a lot of competition? Focus!

Recent reports point out that people almost exclusively use search engines to find what they are looking for on the web. And that usually, they won't go beyond the first page of results to find the sites they will visit. Search engine rankings are vital if you want your site to be found, and can be the key to your site's success, or failure.