Search Engine Optimization for Site Discoverability

Honors Capstone Project

1

Advisor(s)

Dr. Ian Kropp

Confirmation

1

Document Type

Paper

Location

ONU McIntosh Center; Dean's Heritage

Start Date

21-4-2026 5:00 PM

End Date

21-4-2026 5:15 PM

Abstract

Search engine optimization, or SEO, is a process that aims to use an understanding of how search engines like Google choose what pages to display first to propel their own webpage to the top of the search results, which greatly increases the likelihood that it will be clicked on over other sites. This then allows the information contained on that site to reach a greater number of people. For my Honors capstone enhancement project, I am providing SEO to my team’s capstone project, which is a website for the Hardin County Healthy Lifestyles Coalition. While many site-building platforms (called content management systems, or CMSes) do provide SEO, they often do so at a price. Focusing on this as my enhancement allows me to provide this service to our site for free, which will make the site much more affordable to maintain in the long run. Also, it allows me to fine-tune the SEO to our site specifically, rather than using a one-size-fits-all tool provided by our CMS, which will provide better performance and overall results. This enhancement is important because the site contains important information for Hardin County residents, such as locations of emergency services, and if it doesn’t appear at the top of a quick Google search, someone in an emergency situation may not be able to find the information they need quickly enough.

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Apr 21st, 5:00 PM Apr 21st, 5:15 PM

Search Engine Optimization for Site Discoverability

ONU McIntosh Center; Dean's Heritage

Search engine optimization, or SEO, is a process that aims to use an understanding of how search engines like Google choose what pages to display first to propel their own webpage to the top of the search results, which greatly increases the likelihood that it will be clicked on over other sites. This then allows the information contained on that site to reach a greater number of people. For my Honors capstone enhancement project, I am providing SEO to my team’s capstone project, which is a website for the Hardin County Healthy Lifestyles Coalition. While many site-building platforms (called content management systems, or CMSes) do provide SEO, they often do so at a price. Focusing on this as my enhancement allows me to provide this service to our site for free, which will make the site much more affordable to maintain in the long run. Also, it allows me to fine-tune the SEO to our site specifically, rather than using a one-size-fits-all tool provided by our CMS, which will provide better performance and overall results. This enhancement is important because the site contains important information for Hardin County residents, such as locations of emergency services, and if it doesn’t appear at the top of a quick Google search, someone in an emergency situation may not be able to find the information they need quickly enough.