If you wanted to get a higher place in search engine rankings but haven't started yet there may just still be time.

PJ Fusco from the Clikz Network explained that you really should have been looking at Christmas-specific SEO web design as early as July, but that the opportunity for a seasonal sales bonanza may not quite have gone.

"If you find yourself panicking in November, there are still a few tactics you can implement to try to improve your search-engine visibility in Google and MSN," she said.

Unfortunately it's too late to make an effort for Yahoo, "although you could opt for a surge in your paid inclusion efforts if you find yourself flush with online marketing dollars".

Ms Fusco's tips include refreshing the XML sitemap, using holiday URLs from last year and getting some last-minute links by providing online giveaways.

Even if these SEO web design tips don't work this year, they should at least help to "bake a long-term optimisation strategy all throughout the next year", she concludes.

But if November is probably too late to begin Christmas search engine marketing, when is the latest that it can be left?

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