Anyone looking for tips about search engine optimization will find an overwhelming number of suggestions online. For small Web staffs with limited time, just a few guidelines are a good start.

Effective SEO is not a one-time effort, but something to be done every day with each content activity on the site. The results should be reviewed at least monthly if not weekly. These 10 tips are the result of both experience and research:

1) Page title: Use specific keywords such as the topic, of course, but also possibly the site name (a branding opportunity) or even geographic location if the site is local.

2) Meta description: Describe in less than 160 characters the content on the page. This is mainly useful to attract searchers to click on the link when they see it in the search results.

3) Page headlines: Another opportunity to use a relevant keyword.

4) Quality of content to keywords: Do match the content on the page to the keywords. Don’t attempt to capture traffic with inaccurate keywords.

5) Anchor text: Think of the link not just as a link but another opportunity to use keywords.

6) Global and topical site popularity: The more outside sites link to a site, the higher the ranking. The faster the links are added, the higher still. Links from other sites on the same topic will increase rankings.

7) Quantity and quality of text around the link: Balance good, objective writing with intentionally using keywords in the content as long as they are accurate and objective.

8) Quantity and quality of internal links: A document will rise higher in the results if more pages within the site link to it.

9) Quantity and quality of external links: Linking out to high-quality sites that are relevant to the topic will improve results.

10) Age of site, link and document: All three add authority to search results.