Many times a customer only looks at the Search Engine Results for their chosen key words when it comes to the performance they are getting for their investment into Search Engine Optimization.

Focusing only on the selected keyword phrases that they are paying for, without fully realizing what other residual effects they are receiving.

When a site gets properly optimized, (SEO) it is being transformed into a thought-out navigational pattern to information. This is the same pattern that a search engine spider looks for. Something that should not be overlooked, the easier we make it for a spider to index your site, the better your chances are for getting your site a higher placement in the search engine results page (SERP's) for more than just targeted key words or phrases.

While W3C validation is something all sites should strive for, it is not required for better rankings in all categories but as competition heats up, the more steps done now the less you will have to do later. Does it help now? With 200 separate elements being used for their algorithm, probably. Yahoo engineers have stated that whether a site is W3C compliant or not makes no difference to how it ranks. If it has relevant content, it will get ranked. But ranked and top ranking is worlds apart.

Another element when optimizing a site is that through proper naming of page titles, file names and placement of content make the site all the more relevant to the spider. But having too many occurrences of your target phrases and you will loose ground. Although Google places less value on Meta Tags, they are still an element of the algorithm, and can not be overlooked.

After the site has been coded properly, the program goes up to the next level. Search Engine Marketing is used to drive traffic to the site through various off site means. This off site promotion effort is even more involved.

Here is where the collateral benefits of SEO begin to appear. The off site program drives traffic to the website from directions other than the search engine. Putting information out that in new areas that generate interest in your products and services all pointing back to your site.

An even greater demonstration of a collateral benefit is ranking for keywords and phrases that you aren't targeting. Information put out about your products for example, if your site talks about the different uses of the products, the available colors that they come in and the best way to preserve them, you've just created a multitude of various phrases that your site can get ranked on.

From one well written paragraph, your site could get ranked on each color that the product is available in, the product by name, and options and combinations of each.

This is only a tiny sample of the potential your site has. Remember, each page gets ranked on it's own, so that's why it is so important to make sure every page you have on your site is optimized.

Even your contact/about page is critical because if you have a brick-and-mortar business, by listing your street address, you help the search engines geo target your site. Most search engines are already trying to focus your search results regionally. While it's not a major factor yet, it is something to be aware of.

In conclusion, the next time you start checking Google to see where your site ranks for it's keyword phrases, don't forget about all of the hidden keywords/phrases that are embedded in your site's copy. You might be surprised at how many of those forgotten about terms end up at the top of the pile.

About the author:
The Author has owned his own business for more than 20 years with extensive online marketing experience. For help with your Search Engine Optimizing check out his website. Or visit his LinkedIn Profile.

Article source: http://www.juicyarticles.net/articles/Organic-Benefit-Of-Search-Optimization-731

Article keywords: search optimization, seo, search ranking, first page on google, get found, website promotion, branding,