Empirical modeling is considered from the perspectives of a general scheme for the Strategy of Empirical Research and Optimization Process (SEROP). This approach intends to facilitate the understanding of the necessary steps to arrive to mathematical models able to appropriately describe the behavior of a group of controllable independent variables related to a certain response. Aspects connected with definition of the problem, variable s identification and optimization stages are discussed. As an example of SEROP application, it is presented the empirical modeling of the basic extraction of alginic acid from brown algae.89105Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)