is seo simple?

there are loads of articles helping people on SEO. but isnt SEO just making a website that applies to the www standards?

# meta content
# image alt tags
# etc

these things all help increasing your Search engine rank. but if you just program like it is supposed to your site will automatically have a good SEO ranking


what else than good programming skills are needed for SEO?

SEO is quite complicated IMHO.
The things you just mentioned are about on-page optimization which is about the easiest part of SEO.
The fun really begins when you start off-page optimization. This includes for example trying to get quality backlinks to your sites. It takes a lot of trial and error, especially for a beginner (like myself).

SEO can be easy if you already have websites which pass serious linkjuice.

You got the basics done.

Keywords, Descriptions, Title Relevancy

Then there are backlinks (strong backlinks), good content

Do not use the exact same title tag on every page on your website
Do not spam the description or keyword by stuffing meaningless keywords
Do not use doorway pages - intro flash pages etc..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by firetown

SEO can be easy if you already have websites which pass serious linkjuice.

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I've always liked the term "black magic".

There were some sites that just seem to "make it", no rhyme or reason. Try to replicate it, and blamo, nothing...

In my own personal experience its been one part SEO, two parts luck, and 10 parts "Black Magic".

I'll say this to answer the original question though. Is it easy? Its all relative. Its certainly not brain surgery, but at the same time, not everyone can do it well.

I truly believe you get a feel for things. There is no perfect formula, or set of instructions to follow. What works for one site, does not always work the same for another. SEO is an acquired skill that requires constant honing, continual re-learning and more importantly, frequent UNLEARNING.

Good Luck!

Yep, thats where its all about. Continue and don't give up (like so many things in life), eventually i guess it becomes 'second nature'.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mia

I've always liked the term "black magic".

There were some sites that just seem to "make it", no rhyme or reason. Try to replicate it, and blamo, nothing...

In my own personal experience its been one part SEO, two parts luck, and 10 parts "Black Magic".

I'll say this to answer the original question though. Is it easy? Its all relative. Its certainly not brain surgery, but at the same time, not everyone can do it well.

I truly believe you get a feel for things. There is no perfect formula, or set of instructions to follow. What works for one site, does not always work the same for another. SEO is an acquired skill that requires constant honing, continual re-learning and more importantly, frequent UNLEARNING.

Good Luck!

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So math is like magic to you?

:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shawn

So math is like magic to you?

:D

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Math is absolute. SEO is more trial and error.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mia

Math is absolute. SEO is more trial and error.

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Read my post here http://www.netbuilders.org/site-prom...where-761.html

Is that the black magic you are talking about? I can pm you the url, but since it is my son's design on the main page I would be embarrassed to publicly show the site until it has been updated.
:D

SEO is pretty simple, in that it's mostly just link building.

But figuring out how to convince people to link to my sites is a mental exercise that has kept me awake for many nights.