Search Engine Optimization, also known as SEO, is the process of enhancing a web site to increase the amount of visitors by ranking as high as possible in search engine results. The goal of an SEO is to push a site up to page one or page two of search results on the most popular search engines (e.g. google, yahoo, askjeeves, msn, aol, altavista, lycos), as many users will not click through more than page one or page two of search results at google or yahoo (as examples).. The key to this process is to review a site from the eyes of a user and also through the lens of the search engine computer programs (bots) that regularly visit sites to index their content.

The SEO process taken by WHATASITE.COM is a manual process of reviewing each page's title, meta tags, photograph descriptions (called alt tags), file names, and most importantly the text on each page. It also involves a review of links to the site and the potential to increase those links

After the first review, the site is then checked using an online service that compares keywords used on your site with those words used by search engine users to find similar sites. e.g. if users tend to use the search term "motels in nova scotia", then that term should be given priority on your site - rather than" accommodations in nova scotia."

It can take some time to run several interations of each enhanced page, but once the pages are in order an online submission is sent to major and minor search engines. Once submitted, the site can take anywhere from two-weeks to two-months (and sometimes longer) to appear on search engines or as an improved ranking.

The cost of an SEO and search engine submission of a site is CDN$59.00/hour and typically costs between $1550 and $300. Larger sites will require a quote. Search engine submission without an SEO is CDN$59.00

Please note that WHATASITE.COM can not guarantee an excellent ranking with any particular search engine as each search company is in control of what submission they accept for a high ranking. If you have any questions about SEO and site submissions, please write or call 902.497.6599 (in Metro Halifax) or 1.800.344.2824 (in Continental North America.)