Author: Ben Norman
Publisher: In Easy Steps, 2009
Pages: 192
ISBN: 978-1840783827
Aimed at: Non-technical website builders
Rating: 4
Pros: Good advice, well explained
Cons: Repetitive
Reviewed by: David Conrad

Getting to number one on Google is a common ambition and if you are a complete beginner at the task then this slim book will tell you the basics. All SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is guess work, as search engines don't make public how they do the job, and this book repeats the well known folklore in a fairly digestible form. It tends to be a little repetitive in offering the same advice and same warnings at each section but this isn't unreasonable if it is assumed that the reader will dip into the book rather than read it cover to cover. On the other hand the book is slim and there few words per page so a one-sitting reading isperfectly feasible and does ram home the repetition.

As well as the standard advice about keywords and making your site search engine friendly, it also provides advice about using a range of free tools - mainly Web CEO and Google's own free tools.

Getting to number one isn't guaranteed by the techniques described but they are all sensible and well explained. If you are new to running a web site the book will get you up-to-speed but it is aimed at the complete non-technical user.