SEO Tips from 50 Ways To Make Google Love Your Website

Last year, I picked up a book called "50 Ways To Make Google Love Your Website" when I was running an online wedding favor company and was in the midst of planning our website. The book didn't really cost a bomb but was jam-packed with advice on how to improve your website's visibility to Google search engine and remain my favorite book so far. 

I admit that  I am not an expert in website programming much less a SEO expert but I highly recommend this book to anyone that is just starting out online. Read this book before you design your website and it will definitely make your site visible among the ten of thousands of other local online business competing for the same targeted audience as yours. 

These are just some SEO tips that I gleaned from this book. I am going to make it ultra simplified here, so, if you need further details, pick up the book yourself, you will be doing yourself a great favor.

SEO Tip #1 : Plan your website's name in advance using "Google Adwords, Keywords Ideas" 

Google Adwords Keyword Tool Example

This is the most important part especially for a new start up that has no brand recognition in the market, having the right website name is essential in driving traffic from natural search engine result. For example, if you are thinking of creating a website on Malaysia property market, naming your website as www.propertiesmalaysia.com.my is much better than www.PROPERTYAGENTABCcom.my unless you are a very famous property agent with reputation that supersedes you. 

If you compare the famous Malaysian Property website www.iproperty.com.my which has a monthly local search of 60,500 against properties malaysia monthly local search of 14,800 at least it's not too bad especially for a start-up. Now, you can also do variations with your local language say www.rumah-malaysia.com.my which has a local monthly search of 22,200 and compare it with your website's name local monthly search to see the stark difference. 

SEO Tip #2 : Title Your Page

Title is very important and you must make it as informative as possible both to Google and to the human recipient of Google's search results. You should:

• Title every page

• Write in sentence but be aware that only the first 66 characters will appear in Google search results

• Capitalize All Your Words In The Title Like This

SEO Tip #3: Add Meta Description To Your Site

Meta Description is your chance of describing to the human searchers what they will find if they click on your website. Google don't really care about what appears in your meta description, it's just a temptation for the humans to click, what Google do care about is that click which equals to relevance to Google and that relevance will translate to higher natural google search ranking for your site. Do not tempt users with descriptions of things that they will not find in your website because if they click on your site and then close the browser all within a few seconds, this results in irrelevance to Google and Google will not display your site again the next time the same keyword is queried. 

Clever use of title and meta description

For example look at www.iproperty.com.my search result again. The sentence "Malaysia Property For Sale and Rent" in blue is it's title while the sentence "Looking to Buy, Sell, or Rent Malaysia Property and Real Estate? Search Malaysia's No 1 Property Classifieds for Free Today!" in black is their meta description. Notice the clever use of terms relating to property such as Buy, Sell, Rent, Property and Real Estate? These are terms commonly used when searching for properties. 

SEO Tip # 4: Reference Your Images. 

Sometimes search results comes from Google Images, so do reference your images by:

• Naming your jpg files with mont-kiara-condo-for-sale.jpg instead of DSC123456.jpg (hint - I name my jpg file using the adwords keywords tool too)

• Writing an alt text description in HTML like this <img src="/images/mont-kiara-condo-for-sale.jpg"alt="mont kiara condo for sale"/>

Remember Google is essentially blind to images, so you have to describe their attributes to google and the most essential image attribute to Google is its alternate text description which in the example above is "mont kiara condo for sale"

SEO Tips # 5 : Create a site map for your site and submit it to Google, go here for more information.

SEO Tips # 6 : List your business on Google Maps for free for better visibility.

These are just the basics to get you started and the few that I use quite often whenever I write my blog posts. To really unlock the power of diy SEO, I would strongly suggest you pick up this book and make it your dearest companion. 

Get yours from Amazon today!

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My First Google Adsense Payout

Kuala Lumpur For Kids: Top 5 Places to Visit

This is my personal take on the top 5 places to visit in Kuala Lumpur with kids. 

1) Kidzania Theme Park at Mutiara Damansara

Kidzania KL

The newest addition to Kuala Lumpur's theme parks, Kidzania is an indoor entertainment theme park that allows kids to role-play adult activities and earn "Kidzos". From firefighters, CSI officers, dentists and much more. Independent kids age 4 and above will surely find this theme park a blast. Read more about it on my post here or find more information on Kidzania on their website here.

2) Petrosains Discovery Centre

Petrosains Discovery Centre

Petrosains Discovery Centre is a Science Discovery Centre that uses fun and interactive approach to tell the story of science and technology of petroleum. Occupying level 4 & 5 of both Tower 1 and 2 of the Twin Towers, Petrosains covers a total exhibit area of more than 70,000 square feet and requires at least 2 hours to fully explore the area. Read more about it on my post here or find more information on their website here.

3) Aquaria @ KLCC 

Aquaria @ KLCC

From piranhas feeding, a touch pool of horse shoe crab and bamboo shark, face to face experience with an octopus to seeing giant water rats for the first time, Aquaria @ KLCC offers an exciting time for the little one all near the convenience of KLCC Suria Shopping Centre. Read more about Aquaria at my post here or find more information on their official website here. 

4) Sunway Lagoon Theme Park

Sunway Lagoon Theme Park

So famous that it doesn't need any introduction. Consists of Water Park and Wild Life Park to amuse the toddlers and up and Amusement Park and Extreme Park for the bigger kids and the kids at heart. Get more information on their official website here.

5) Snow City at I-City, Shah Alam

Snow Walk at I-City, Shah Alam

Not too many tourists here, mainly because of it's location (difficult to get taxis here, best to arrange one that will pick you up back) and because of the lack of amenities. Still, if you don't come from a country that has winter as one of it's seasons, this is one place you won't want to miss out. The snow walk is huge with big snow slides and tube rides, igloos, animal ice scultures and what nots. Kids will surely love this place. Do note that you have to come prepared with proper bottoms and shoes as they only provide jackets. Read more about it on my post here. 

Day Trip From Kuala Lumpur:

If you would like to venture further, you may want to consider Sungai Congkak Waterfall,  Genting Highlands, Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary or Farm in the City.