Basics of Search Engine Optimization for Education - Tip #1 - Making Sense

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Tip #1 - Your Web Site Still Has to Make Sense! - I apologize if you read all the way through these tips anticipating that the #1 tip will unlock the secrets of the search engine universe, but instead found something that seems completely obvious. But this is the most important tip!
Please do not get overzealous in trying to pack every last opportunity to include the key phrase in your web site content that your web page ends up reading something like this (this example is optimizing for "College Bound"):
"College bound information resources on the college bound web site help bound your college aspirations college bound..." and so on...
I realize you probably wouldn't go to this extreme, but even more subtle but similar situations happen all the time in the haste to place higher on search engines. This may help to drive more people to your web site, but if they get to the web site and there is even the slightest hint of a lack of credibility, especially in the non-profit and government education world, you will drive them away and will completely undermine the purpose of all this effort in the first place.
So my best advice is to use these tips at least once, because the chances are that your web site can place at least higher than it currently places, but always use common sense and operate within the realms of respectable non-profit content.