I also create websites in strict (or transitional) HTML 4. They also include necessary tags and file names to make them very visible to search engines. You can search my name, location, lines of business and see my effectiveness. I cannot get you to the top of a search engine page with generic searches, nobody can. But the more specific the search, the closer you will get to the top. With a very specific search you will be at the top.
Samples (both live and demo) include:

First I start with a simple website. Just a simple web presence with contact information.
Turf Barber


Likewise:
PACMA


The following are “dead” sites either sample trials or expired sites and may not include all necessary files creating some dead links

Another web presence:
LMIC


Next is an old puppet festival website with a PayPal donation link:
Puppeteers of America Great Plains Region Puppet Festival and Conference


The the old style version of Digital Media Presentations:
Digital Media Presentations


An interesting study of two “identical” HTML sites with just slight CSS changes:
CoinTrader1
CoinTrader2


A trial website:
Missouri Alliance for Arts Education