Basics:

Avoid using Flash-based websites, search engines can’t read them very well

Use a unique, descriptive Title on every page, try to use key words and phrases

Use a unique description for every page

Use menu navigation built with HTML unordered lists and descriptive text

Use Header tags throughout to describe content

               H1 tag on the page header

               H2 tags used for page descriptions

               H3, H4, etc. tags used on pages as needed

Include an Alt Text description for every photo

Maintain a blog and update it regularly, it’s best if the blog is part of your site’s domain

Include cross-links between pages on your site, and between your site and your blog

Include links to other, relevant web pages

Use descriptive link text, not something generic like <click here>

Swap links with other websites

Post comments on other people’s blogs with links to relevant content on your website

Advanced:

Register you website with Google, Yahoo and Bing

Register your business with Google, Yahoo and Bing, add Google key to your website

Create and publish a sitemap.html page

Create and post a sitemap.xml page

Register your sitemap.xml data with Google

Set up (and use) an Email address for you domain (i.e. craig@craigstocksarts.com)

Read Google’s SEO Guide, available at http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2008/11/googles-seo-starter-guide.html

Tracking:

Sign up for Google Analytics, add tracking code to your website (free)

Set up Wordpress stats on your blog (free)

Explore GoDaddy site stats (the free version)