There are no formal rules to optimize a website and get it to the top of search engine results. However, there are certain fundamental principles to be followed to get the website listed in the search engine results category.

Search engine optimization involves a lot of research. One has to be at the alert and up to date with the latest industry news and constantly monitor the top search engines for their updates. In addition, there has to be a constant pursuit to search for new ways to improve traffic of the  website and increase its popularity in search engines.Search engine optimization of a website heavily depends on the website design. The website needs to be designed in such a way that it is friendly with the search engines and act as a powerful spot to attract visitors.

Search engine robots are computer programs that favor certain design aspects while detest others. Here are some:

JavaScript

It is a client side coding platform. Though search engines like Google are improving their technology daily, they do not really recognize JavaScript. Therefore, by all means it makes sense to avoid using it as much as possible. At least, avoid using JavaScript for the navigation system of the website. This is because search engines can follow the links to the internal pages of your website.

Flash

This is again a computer program that is used to create animations and visual effects. Several video streaming websites use Flash to display their content which usually comprises of videos and clips Even websites use this program to display their banner ads and charts to attract visitors. Text materials and even hyperlinks can be embedded in Flash. However, search engines fail to recognize Flash and all the content therein remains hidden from the crawlers making it completely useless.

Images

Images and graphics are something search engines cannot interpret. All that the crawlers take with them is the content surrounding the pictures.There are also certain things that you can do to ensure that search engine crawlers index your website well.

Title & Description Tags

These tags make the search engine crawlers understand the website theme and what it is all about. Therefore, make sure to incorporate a relevant title tag and description tag within the code of the website. It would even be helpful for the website visitors as they can see the title tag and description tag on top of the browser window and decipher what the website is all about. However, be careful while choosing the title tags and description tags for your website because they are what will be indexed by the search engines. Use relevant and appropriate words that summarize the purpose and content of your website. Keep them short and up to the point.

Content is the key to a successful website. Update the content on your website regularly and make sure it caters to your clients and target audience.