Optimization? Unless you work for Google, odds are, you've probably never heard of the term SEO. It stands for Search Engine Optimization. With several billion web pages out there today, the odds of people finding you are pretty slim. That's why search engines are such powerful tools. Is it any wonder that Google's IPO debuted at $85 a share and rose over 120% in the first 2 months?

So how do you get high rankings on Google's search engines? Do you pay the local mafia to work your way in? Do you have to have friends in high places? No! All it takes is a little care in developing your site, and you can end up at the tops of all the search engines.

Here are some of the most basic search engine tips:

• Text - First of all, make sure to use plain text (vs. image text). Search engines can't read images. Second, make sure to use the same words or phrases that your users might be searching for.
• Alt Tags - Use them. Alt tags are just text that's used to describe any images you have on your site. For example, hover your mouse over the image of the checkmark. Most browsers will display an alt tag over it.
• JavaScript Navigation - Don't use them. JavaScript can do wonders for a site, but search engines can't read JavaScript, so try to avoid using it for navigation (links).
• Frames - Don't use them. Although frames can make some things a little easier, search engines tend to get lost when they try to read frames.
• Meta Tags - Use them. Meta tags are pieces of code that describe the details of the website, such as key words, a description of the site, the date of the last modication, the author, and more. Search engines use these tags to properly add your site to their databases.
• Page Titles - Use them. A page title is simply the title of the webpage. It's a simple thing to do, but it's all too often overlooked. For example, the title of this page is "Soarin Solutions - Search Engine Optimization".

How can Soarin Solutions help me? The search engine optimization tricks listed above is just the beginning of the things you can do to help your search engine rankings. Soarin Solutions always keeps these SEO tricks in mind while developing your website. If people can't find your site, then why even have one?