When is including a meta description tag important (and when isn’t it)? How can you optimize SEO benefits from internal link building? How does Google view search quality, from the inside? What key weapon in the SEO arsenal do many companies overlook?

Read on for all of this and much else in some (more) of the best articles and blog posts written about SEO to date this year.

How to Optimize for Google – Part 1 of 3 by Internet Search Engine Database

In part one of this series, SEO pro Scott Van Achte provides a comprehensive guide to the factors that need to be considered on-page website optimization, including title and meta tags, synonyms, headings and navigation. Even for experienced SEO practitioners, this post serves as a good reminder of what not to forget.

When, Why and How to Construct a Meta Description Tag by Search Engine Guide

The ubiquitous Stoney deGeyter delves into the details behind the meta description tag, demonstrating how its value lies more in generating higher click-through rates than purely SEO.

The Importance of Internal Linking, and How to Do it Right by Search Engine Guide

In another post from Search Engine Guide, Scott Allen provides an in-depth guide to maximizing the value of internal links, which, as he points out, provide two key benefits when done right: improving search engine rank and usability.

Introduction to Google Search Quality by The Official Google Blog

Since Google is the most important search engine for SEOs, it’s helpful to understand how its engineers view search. Udi Manber, VP of Search Quality, provides a glimpse behind the curtain. He doesn’t share any deep, dark secrets in this post, but does reveal some interesting information, such as the reduced importance of Pagerank and the sheer volume of changes Google makes to its algorithm each year (more than 450 in 2007; no wonder search positions for individual sites are so volatile).

Cheap SEO: it’s about quality, not price by Internet Business

U.K.-based SEO consultant Brian Turner makes a compelling case for buying SEO services based on your specific needs—but most definitely not on price. As Brian bluntly points out, “”Buying SEO services by price point alone is definitely in invitation for poor quality services, and even worse, can invite a penalty in Google. India has probably done more than any other country to position itself as the ‘SEO spam’ capital, with a huge number of companies fighting to offer the cheapest service that delivers the smallest results.”

Gain the competitive edge with SEO by iMedia Connection

Craig Macdonald, VP of Marketing and Product Management at marketing analytics provider Covario, outlines a “a strategic, scalable system for success” at SEO. His advice, which includes setting up a search “center of excellence” and performing sophisticated analysis, is targeted primarily at very large enterprises, though other pieces of information—such as noting that page file names are much more important to Google than Yahoo results—are more universally helpful.

The new SEO: organic search by iMedia Connection

In another noteworthy article fro iMedia, Andrew Rodrigues of Geary Interactive explores how the emergence of social bookmarking, blended search, link competition and other developments have forced a more strategic approach to SEO.

How to Take on a Major SEO Client by Search Engine Watch

When it comes to SEO, size does matter. William Flaiz, VP of SEO at Razorfish, offers a guide to SEO for very large websites, from site architecture and internal linking strategies to social media and reputation management.

The e-mail newsletter: a key weapon in your SEO arsenal by DMNews

Loren McDonald, formerly of J. L. Halsey and now with Silverpop, provides a step-by-step guide to search optimizing the email newsletter articles housed on your website.

Google Previous Query Reason For Crazy Google Rankings? by SiteProNews

This posts suggests that Google’s “previous query” feature may be one explanation for volatile search rankings, though as one commenter points out, later changes to the algorithm may have blunted this effect somewhat.

Previous posts in this series:

Best of 2008 (So Far) - SEO Guidance, Part 1
Best of 2008 (So Far) - SEO Guidance, Part 2
Best of 2008 (So Far) - Search Engine Marketing, Part 1
Best of 2008 (So Far) - Cool Web Tools, Part 1
Best of 2008 (So Far) - Social Media Optimization, Part 1
Best of 2008 (So Far) - Blogging for Business, Part 1
Best of 2008 (So Far) - Web Marketing Research, Part 1
Best of 2008 (So Far) - Website Design, Part 1
Best of 2008 (So Far) - SEO Link Building
Best of 2008 (So Far) - Search Engine Marketing, Part 2
Best of 2008 (So Far) - Social Media Optimization, Part 2

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Contact Tom Pick: tomATwebmarketcentralDOTcom