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If asked where to begin with SEO, I would have a one word answer: Keywords!

Whether creating a new site or optimising an existing site, keyword research is always my first step. Part of that process is, indeed, asking the questions “Why am I best?” or “What sets this site or its product apart from the rest?” Knowing what the market is looking for, in terms of search, will strongly influence everything else I do.

So if asked where I begin this process, I would start with:

1. Keyword Research – The List

Make a list of all the keywords you think someone might type into a search engine that should logically bring them to your site or one like yours. Brainstorm with colleagues, friends and family members. Better yet (assuming you have a website and traffic) ask customers what words they searched to find you or if you don’t have a website yet, ask customers what they think they would use. Look at competitors’ sites to see what terms you may have missed.

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Ask ten different SEO specialists to list the steps of search engine optimisation, and you’re likely to get ten different answers. Most, however, will agree on the basics, even if they disagree on the number of steps, their sequence or what to call them. Here, I am listing what I consider to be the essential steps, in the most logical sequence.

1. Initial Analysis
You need to know your starting point before you can plan a journey… so first, you must determine a baseline. Aspects to consider here include market potential and type, and the current validity of your page in terms of code, the WAI Guidelines. Consideration must also be given to the competition, both present and future. When you have determined your starting point and your desired destination, you’re ready to begin.

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