If you must use 'refresh' set the time to a minimum of 15 seconds. Design a navigation structure that allows search engines to crawl the important content pages from the home page. This can be done easily using transparent image files and setting them as hyperlinks. Remember that using Java, Flash software or 'Frames' to facilitate navigation, can often present a 'closed door' to search engines, preventing key areas of your site from being indexed. Use the alt-attribute and name images descriptively.
Some search engines read the alt text and it can help, though marginally.
Name pages using keywords. If your site uses 'Frames' there are important techniques that go beyond the scope of this report. Many search engines cannot navigate through the Framed section of a site, unless the Frames are prepared in a specific way. As a minimum, ensure your designer includes a detailed description about your business, products or services on the 'noframes' page, and ask them to research more specific information about Frames and search engines. Having an 'about us' page in HTML is always a good strategy when using dynamic content pages or 'active server pages'.