search engine optimization

could it take me longer to get to this?? I know, I know..
Here's the scoop - this site (for all you who have felt the need to email me and point out that this page was essentially blank) is not a *business* site. It's my site to *play* with as I have time.. Which, if you know me at all, then you know I never have any.. I really need to learn to say NO more often. Anyway.. going to start with the basics and add as I can.

search engine basics:

what is 'website optimization':
everyone will have a different take on the exact meaning of this term. My take is.. website optimization is the act (art) of creating (coding) a website correct, visually pleasant, and content informative. These factors are not exclusive but inclusive - they all work together to make a site that is useful to the surfer and crawlable by the search engines.. directories will like them too!

there are no real *tricks* to be had.. they went out the window long ago.

so if that's what your looking for, the door's that way.

next installment: Where to Start?

Forums for real time, real live conversations regarding search engines and webmaster issues in general.

•   SEO .::. Spider-Food.net
  
  
•   SEO .::. SearchEngineForums.com
  
  
•   WebMaster .::. GetHighForums.com
  
  
•    WebMaster .::. SiteOwnersForums.com
  
  
•   SEO / WebMaster .::. WebmasterWorld.com
  

my articles

Google for beginners

This is just a rough draft of a page I have been working on for those new to Google. It's mostly an information resource, lots of links directly to Google (many of the more common questions are answered at Google, they just are not easy to find :)