This article will look at organic optimization techniques for the search engines, basically ethical optimization without a paid placement program in place. I would say this is my favorite way of optimizing websites. You bring in traffic by using content that works, linking strategies, and adding value via interactivity and a great user experience, not paid search listings.
Money will definitely be spent in the areas of site redesign and probably in getting content (you may actually have to hire writers to get content) but then again, if you are a web designer who is building your own websites on a low (or nonexistent) budget, organic SEO is definitely the way to go. It may take some time, but you will actually grow in real time experience as you move towards your SEO goals.
The Myth of Overnight Success
There are few things that get to me more than the assumption that a large goal (such as getting to number one for a keyword on Google's SERPs) can be done overnight. The easiest SEO I have ever done for an unknown site was done over the course of a month, via content refreshing alone. The key word was unique (blue interface), and the competing web sites were half asleep while we worked.
The issue with this myth is that customers actually believe it. They post jobs such as "We want to be number one in the following key words" then list close to a dozen key words, and everything has to be done under a budget of a thousand dollars and in record time. Organic SEO works, is adaptable and ensures high rankings on SERPs over the long time despite changing algorithms, but nobody can guarantee anything in a month.
Ethical SEO, Unprofitable?
There is a train of thought that says ethical SEO is doomed to failure. The black hat SEO blogs routinely post that white hat SEO techniques do not work, and that websites practicing SEO are going to be banned anyway. I personally believe that they are suffering from serious bouts of conscience, making them lash out at SEO practitioners who do not march to their drums. With a few of the following techniques in place, being banned will definitely be the last thing you need to worry about, and you are guaranteed to build a world class brand that will transcend the Internet alone.
Search Optimization 
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