So you have created your website and taken time to use key Search Engine Optimisation techniques. The next phases in this life cycle are concerned with the processes you use off-line to maximize the performance of your website. Below is an overview of what you can expect.

Month 4 - Google acknowledged your site. Some traffic and orders come to your site.

In the meantime continue to do the following:

• To run a modern site you need to have referrals available anytime. To keep an eye on this get a quality logger/tracker. Change host if your current one does not allow referrers.
• Regularly check your linking system to ensure search engine spiders can crawl effectively over your site.
• Submit your website details to niche directories for your keywords.
• Find sites that have links pages or who exchange links Freely. Try to swap links with one fresh site per day. Just send them an e-mail and request a swap. If they refuse don’t worry and don’t give up.
• Keep up with writing the content each day. Write topical articles and minimize ‘blog’ type personal stuff. Study the ‘webspeak’ that works with the visitors and develop your writing skills. Write for speed of reading; use text breaks, short sentences, bullet points etc. Remember surfers scan not read.
• Avoid gimmicks on your site or anything that appears to be spam or unethical.
• When you receive a request for a link, make sure you check out the site. Do not link with a site just for the sake of it. Check them in Google and get their pr value, look for listings in directories, check the topic and site is similar to yours.
• Use other ways to advertise your website. Tap into social bookmarking sites, forums and mailing lists. Read as much as you can from the top forums for internet marketing.
• Check out keyword suggestion tools for new ideas for fresh content pages.
• Do regular web traffic analysis and study your logs. Give search engines what they need to get to your site. In your logs look for the keywords people are using. Found a new word? Build a fresh page around it. Study these logs carefully. Keyword optimization will ensure better conversion rates of visitors to customers.

Months 5 to 12 - Orders trickle in. Google and other SE’s have not featured your site.

• Keep up to date with developments in your keyword sector. Find out what the big sites are doing and get ahead of the game. Prepare pages in anticipation of a big site coming out with a new product. Networking is important for the ongoing success of your website. Interact with colleagues in the forums. Your learning accelerates by networking not just reading or lurking around. It can bring you tips, links and will keep you aware of what is new in the internet world.
• Be prepared to make notes. If you are aiming to build a page a day, you will need to be inspired and have a way to record that inspiration. Keep a note book of your ideas as they come so that you do not forget them.
• You should know what comes next... Google loves content - quality content. After a year you should have over 400 pages of broad based content with a wide range of keywords. You will be placed well under a good range of keywords, receive more reciprocal links and put your in a good position to start making your site create money for you. You should be seeing around 500 to 2000 referrals per day from search engines. More pages will increase the possibility of more referrals.

Month 19 - Your site has finally begun to feature on page 2 or 3 of the Google listing and other SE’s. Consequently your orders increase.

Continue optimizing your site and you can expect to see your site feature on page 1 of Google’s listings and other search engines for most key phrases and words.

It should be apparent that creating a money making website entails a lot of patience and hard work. If you follow these basic steps of search engine optimisation (optimization) and commit to learning and updating your knowledge success will surely follow. Start to check out sites and forums that are available to help you in your Endeavour to create an internet business. Have fun and stay positive.

Michiel Van Kets provides articles for Dave Glynn, who owns Searchenginesensation.com. They are part of Atomic Web Solutions and offer professional search engine optimisation (optimization) and web marketing services including pay-per-click campaign setup and management.