seo for the next six months

Here's a list of some things to consider when looking to rank your website high in the search engine rankings. Of course this is not a bible, and in today's fast changing Internet environment, you have to use common sense when applying any SEO work to your site. However, there are several factors that seem to always benefit website owners. Let's cover a few Let Google know your pages change a lot. Use a "last modified" header or a time/stamp Use raw HREF and not JavaScript for links If you use dynamic pages make sure you use a rewrite rule to make your pages search engine friendly Your pages should be mainly text and less code or HTML Make sure your website is cross-browser compliant Look for Inbound Links. One way links are best Only do indirect linking for cross-linking purposes Make your pages small and fast loading Add surrounding text to your anchor text to further clarify your theme. When looking for links consider this: on topicl links from related sites are probably best. Most likely this will require you buying text advertising from someone. Before you do, make sure they are not selling PageRank. If they are, you may end up hurt by a ban. Second in importance are: one way "organic" links. Last but not least are link exchange links. They are still counted but are in danger of being downgraded. Link indirecty if possible and avoid the cookie cutter exchange programs. Last but not least, make your site worth visiting. Search engine traffic is a start and not the end all of all web marketing. Make sure your site is usable and contains information that people can use."

I think everyone needs to be prepared for PPC. Life above the fold is getting tougher.

i have no money. ppc makes me unhappy.

People who don't have money normally have time. So you can use time. If you make tons of pages and trade links and all of that you will get ahead in the search engines. If you can put effort into it you can succeed.

:( or you can be like me, a full time student with no money or time

No time or money is a bad combination. The only thing left for you to do is to make quality content. Content so good that people are forced to find it!

The current indexes in Yahoo and Google are the easiest I've seen since I started June of 2003. These are simplistics algos. I even see a return of the high keyword density pages ranking in the top 3. But do you really want a a page that reads: Webmaster forums are forums for webmasters where many webmasters will find a forum. Even worse are the pages that look like mini-directories with tons of links and little or no content. Google loves pages that point at other pages.

SEO is affecting good design. :cry: