[ Okay, so maybe not the ONLY guide you'll ever need, but I got to reel 'em in with a good title. ] 

So... You have your first website and everybody wants to tell you all kinds of stuff about "how to be number one on Google."  Some people actually want to charge you for something called SEO! 

It's tiring; It's frustrating.  You probably want to rip your hair out.

You start to think that maybe nobody actually truly knows what makes Google "tick" and that makes sense...because Google doesn't tell anybody what makes ITSELF tick.  If Google doesn't say, how can you trust a so-called SEO?  And write him a check?  You've got to be kidding me.

If all that weren't enough, Google's algorithm (the equation that allows it to find your page) keeps changing.

I am going to clear up a couple of major misconceptions with this post.  Some of you will disagree with me.  To those people:  You go ahead and do things your way and move along. 

Why the attitude? 

Because I am going to back up everything I say with fact-- sprinkled with a little common sense.  Nonetheless, I still fully expect to attract those who feel the need to "argue SEO".  Ugh.

If you can't understand facts or you are vehemently opposed to common sense, I don't want to argue with you.  Sorry.  I simply do not have the time to expend energy toward the unnecessarily-opinionated, when I have so many readers who are eager to learn how to market their websites effectively.  It's a "time management" thing and that is all.

(If I seem too harsh, please remember that I am only addressing those who are opposed to facts and common sense.  You are not one of those people, so I am not addressing you!)

Okay, here we go.  The number one point is actually the most important thing to know regarding Google search engine optimization (SEO) and it doesn't require any special skill at all.  Anyone can do it.  In fact, you already know what the number one most important Google SEO technique is, if you really think about it!

1.  When you need some information-- when you are doing some research-- Google always seems to deliver, right?  Heck, I made it through college Googling things!  I have found the most obscure information... 

Google delivers quality, accurate information to us.  

Okay?  That's what we call a fact.  That's why Google's stock costs so much.  It's a fact that Google's stock costs a lot.  Relatively speaking anyway.

Let's move on to the common sense:  If you agree that Google's engine's main drive is information, than why is your site so devoid of it?!?  (Information, that is.)

What phrase would you like to target?  Chicago Real Estate?  Well, I guarantee if you create a site with 5000 pages, and every page is another unique article about Chicago Real Estate and nothing else, you will be number one in the Google search engine results when people search for Chicago Real Estate.  I absolutely guarantee it.

Of course, you don't have the time or energy to create a 5000 page website to promote your real estate business.  So do the next best thing.  Create a 50 page site.  Create a 180 page site.  Just kick the crap out of your competition's stagnant 5-page site.  (Your competition has a silly 5 page site with "About Me", "Chicago Schools", "Current Listings" -- this is a joke compared to your 180-page super-site jammed with info and links.) 

Every other day, add a page to your website (or blog) and make it about one thing and one thing only:  Your desired target phrase(s).  After a year, you'll have 180 pages if you do it every other day.  Do it every single day and you will have a 365 page supersite stuffed with information about Chicago Real Estate.  An information powerhouse and Google loves ya.  

Your competition won't be able to touch you and you will make the Googlebot happy by providing information to It's users precisely about that which It's users search for.  It's so simple, it's brilliant.  Forget tricks and SEO gimmicks.  Just provide the needed information and Google will thank you with good search engine positioning.  It's academic.  It's common sense.

Provide information, just as you would expect it to be provided to you when searching for a particular thing and you will get the results you want.  Link to other pages.  Be part of the web.  Be the best source of information for the topic that you covet and you will be number one for that topic.  That's how Google works.  Common sense or no?

Now, you can stop here if you want, but I have two more darn fine SEO techniques if you want 'em.

2.  Make sure that your site is properly coded for all visitors.  Visit your website right now.  Hold your mouse over an image.  Does an image description appear?  No?  Well, alt image tags are considered "good coding" and make your site accessible to the handicapped (and people using certain mobile phones, text browsers, you get the point). 

If you hold your mouse over the gentleman above this text, left hand side, you will see the alt text "hear no evil", which is the body language he seems to be using.  A blind person can't see the image, but they know what is there...sort of.

If your site isn't accessible to the handicapped, you are at a serious disadvantage (and I unintentionally created a ridiculous irony).  This is just more common sense.  If you were designing a search engine algorithm and somebody said, "Hey boss!  If two sites are identical, but one isn't handicapped friendly and one is, which one should come first in the results?"

Wouldn't you agree the handicapped friendly site is a better site?  Well, Google is even smarter than we are.  I've added alt tags and watched a site move from page 6 to page 1 in a matter of days.  But, again, this makes sense.

3.  Be honest.  Don't spam email addresses or the search engines.  Don't "keyword stuff" ten different pages; instead, write thirty pages that use the keywords naturally.  If you are dishonest, you will get caught.  Honesty is always the best policy with SEO.  Do you buy Viagra from spammers?  Heck no!  Okay, so I'm getting tired already.