So this last year has been exciting, like always Google keep knocking out new features and will continue to do so. That’s what makes SEO for me an exciting industry, your never get bored! For those small businesses in Spain that are looking to make a successful SEO campaign in 2011 it is essential that you stay ahead of the rest and use every resource you come across to market your business. I have put together a check list of the most essential techniques for the start of the new year for companies in Spain looking to re-evaluate and implement the latest Google signals.

Keep going with your Social Media!
Social Media is still booming and after Google announces this week Facebook will also be a part of our SEO regime in that Google will be taking into account Facebook as a signal. Twitter as we all know have already jumped on the Google bandwagon and real time search results from Twitter are now indexed. LinkedIn is the other big Social Media giant that from a professional point of view is essential for making new industry friends and contacts.

Google Places, maps and Local search for the small business
Now you may not think so but Local search for small businesses trying to make their presence on the web is one of the best options you have when your website is lost in the Google ocean of websites! Get your business registered with Google Places if you have not already done so. Although it is tempting to go for the big keyword searches, it is amazing how much traffic you can achieve by keeping things closer to home with local search!

Keep a check of your On-Page Optimization
This is something that many forget about, On-Site Optimization is and should be a continuous revision. Go check for new keywords and any outdated content and information that no longer relates to your website. Keeping on top of things keeps your website clean, updated and SEO friendly.

Search Engines coming out of your ears!
There has been allot of talk on the Bing subject this year after it was announced in August that Bing have taken over Yahoo Search Results.  Bing is expected to be planning some big shifts in some Search areas which mean that you cannot afford to just ignore them! Get optimizing for Bing and Yahoo now!

Its all going Mobile mad!
Yes you’ve got it… Mobile websites. This is going to be BIG. The future of searching from your mobile and interacting whilst on the go is going to be the next huge leap in Search technology with the expectancy of 40% of Search will be done through mobile phone devices. So dont wait until every Tom, Dick and Harry have theirs… Get your website optimized for mobile phones now…

Its got to be fast and efficient.
Speed is something that this last year Google announced as a signal, make sure your images are optimized, that your website dose not contain half a page of Flash and try to cut down page size on every single page of your website. It is not just from a Search Engine point of view but also an interactive one. If I hit a website that takes over 7 seconds to load then im off to find an alternative. You have to think about speed.

All in all SEO in 2011 is going to see even more changes in the way search engines use their information. As always, unique quality content will as ever play a big role in the success of websites and those precious blog posts should continue no matter how small scale you are. There looks to be some change coming in the Spring for link building tactics and there has been rumours that links will be mainly weighted and valued by relevance to content.

If there is anything you would like to add to this list, please comment below.