So, you've bought your domain, got some hosting. Now what? You need to make sure that your web site is as friendly as possible to the search engines so that they send you some traffic. This process is called "search engine optimization" or SEO for short. It is probably the most important - and most neglected - part of web site development.

Here are some tips to help your SEO web site development.

1. Don't use frames

Frames may help you to control the layout of your site but they are a nightmare as far as the search engine robots are concerned and will make it difficult for your site to be crawled by the search engine spiders.

2. Make sure there's text on your pages

This even goes for the page featuring that expensive Flash movie that you're currently forcing visitors to your site to watch (or more likely press the "skip intro" link). Search engines don't know what's written on images or animations. They can only read text (the images search is their best guess based on the text on the page and the video search is based on the description of the video). So make sure they have text to read!

3. Separate style and content

This means using CSS as much as possible to control the layout of your pages. That way the spider can read more of your content if all the "this is how it should look" stuff is self contained in its own CSS file. The biggest snag with this is that CSS needs to be really well written if it is to look nice at different screen sizes, on different browsers and with varying amount of text on the page. Test at least in Internet Explorer and Firefox and play around with the width of the browser to see how well or badly your site copes.

4. Use a title tag

HTML design programs are good at putting in really generic titles such as "Page 1" or "Home Page" but they're almost certainly not what you want the search engines to think your site is about. Change the title to something meaningful. If possible make your title catchy and make sure it's short enough to be completely displayed when the search engine results are shown. This is basic SEO but you'd be amazed how many people don't do it.

5. Put in a meta description tag

Despite what you may read, the description tag is useful. It isn't often taken into account when Google or whoever decide which results to show, which is why some people say it isn't important. But it's normally used as the extract that's shown below the blue clickable link to your site. So if it says "XYZ home page constructed with Dreamweaver" instead of something interesting, that's what will likely show up below your title. And if it's blank, you're giving the search engines free reign to put whatever they want there.

6. Keep it simple

Spiders like simple. Despite all the advances in the internet, they're fairly dumb and the easier you make it for them to understand what your site is about, the more they will reward you.

Your business can benefit from an online presence because of the flexible nature of online presentation.

It is possible to establish a cut off date for the sale of certain products and then use the same date to establish a new line. This can be accomplished through an automated dating system in web builder technology. You can even assign a certain product to show up in the clearance section of your site months ahead of time if you wish.

In a brick and mortar business environment there is a lot of work that has to be done whenever there is a change in sales promotions or when items need to be repriced and segregated for clearance sales. Staff members are required to stay late or come in early to make sure the new prices and displays are ready for the consumer.

In the world of online business you can create all the changes you want whenever it is most convenient. Because content information is tied to a dating system the web builder software will recognize those changes down to the minute.

If you've promised your customers a special sale beginning at a specific time it is possible to manage this change hands-free. When the time comes for the sale to begin the new information is assigned to the location you predetermined for it and customers gain immediate access to the sale prices.

Imagine the day after Thanksgiving, but without the hassle of actually having to show up for work on time. Many businesses enjoy the flexibility of making changes to their business site well in advance of the date the changes are to be put in place.

This idea may stand in stark contrast to the way you run your website. In many cases the only changes that can be made are alterations directed by the web designer. Often a web designer lacks the ability to make immediate and/or timely changes to your website. Businesses that use a web designer often need to make multiple requests for work to be completed on their site.

The growth of self-directed site design is due in large part to the need businesses have of being able to make immediate changes to their site if necessary. Due to the immediacy of the web it has also become important for businesses to learn to manage those changes quickly.

In a feat that might rival The North Pole and its inhabitants, webs builder technology seems to operate on a magical plane where things systematically change without the need for direct human intervention.

If you're a website owner have you ever had trouble managing even the simplest changes when you need changes made? It can be frustrating to know that the alterations of your website are contingent on the ability for someone else to view your needs as a priority. If your web designer doesn't view you as an immediate concern then you simply have to wait until they are good and ready to help.

Orchestrate your own business symphony by making sure every instrument comes in on time.

Let's say you have a website. You probably feel pretty good about it. You have a presence. People can find you. You're out there. Sure, these are all good things; the only problem is everyone has a website. A website is the bare minimum.

A website is only just enough.

As a small business owner, as an entrepreneur as an upstart you must standout. You are the underdog. Underdogs don't out hustle the more established folks by doing just enough. And if you only have a website, you are only doing just enough.

Want to build your business and exceed your goals?

Do more than just enough.

Hold on, let's get down to it. If you consider how advanced the internet has become in just the last 5 years, if you only have a company website you aren't doing just enough.

You're doing less than enough.

You're doing enough to exist, but not enough to excel.

You're doing enough to be counted, but not enough to go over the top.

I'm sorry. I really like you. I wish you the best, but the truth is you're behind the curve.

You can change it, but to do that, first you need to change how you see the web and the possibilities. You've got to decide if you're serious about your business? Is your business concept a winner or a loser? Can it work? Is it working? What to do about it? More of the same isn't the answer. Making your website more pretty isn't going to cut it. You need to diversify.

I may be blunt, but I'm not exaggerating. Like John McCain says, "Time for some straight talk".

A business website should be only one piece of your web presence. You should also have a presence on every social networking website out there. You should have articles related to your business all across the information superhighway. You should belong to all the major (and some not so major) business networking sites. You should have a video on YouTube, a Face book, a MySpace and a Squidoo page. You should be everywhere other business owners congregate, share ideas, exchange referrals and talk shop.

You must be there.

No excuses.

No exceptions.

Sure, it takes time to set up marketing mechanisms across the many websites that are available, but it's time well invested because your company website isn't the end all to be all of generating buzz and finding leads on the internet, your website is just the beginning.

Make a commitment to your business and cease and desist looking at those social networking sites as options. They aren't options, they are necessities.

If you need more reasons to justify putting your resources into more than a company website, just take a look at Barack Obama's surge. Obama-mania owes much of its energy and support to the social networking sites that it uses. Get involved and secure some of that same viral power for your business. 99% of it is free and 100% of it is good business.

Welcome to the first day of your new way of looking at promoting your business on the net.

Go get started yesterday.