If you read The Search Engine Showdown, you know Google is my favourite search engine. Why? Google always offers the most results for any given search (they currently have over 8 billion pages indexed), it's faster than the Audi Quattro we test drove this morning, and 9 times out of ten, in my experience, all the front page results are relevant to my search. In fact, I usually find what I'm looking for within the first few sites listed. I also really respect the fact that two college kids started it (kinda like Abalone Designs!) and that those two college kids seem not to have forgotten where they came from. If you check out the images at Google's press center (http:// www.google.com/press/images.html) and scroll down to the Everyday Life Inside Google section, you'll get a feeling that life at Google is fun.
Google is the most used search engine on the web. In May, 2004, 36.8% of all searches on the web were done using Google. Also during that month, Google powered 54% of all searches done on the web (Read more about these figures here).
Google owes their success to their mind-boggling algorithm. This intricate formula sucks in a web page, considers its keyword density, its link popularity, domain name, how often it is updated, the amount of content in the site, and a myriad of other things that few know and spits out a number called PageRank. There is absolutely no way to be sure how to get your site to number one on Google, but there are a few things that we know can help:
Make sure your site is well organized, visitor friendly and useful. Google seems to like sites that are listed in the Open Directory Project, and my theory is that it's because the Open Directory Project is human edited. This means real human eyes have looked at each site that is included in the directory and deemed it useful in some way or another. If your site has a link on The Open Directory Project, you're on the right track.
Avoid "spamming". Spamming refers to many different things. If you add keywords to your site that are out of context or hidden from plain view, it's considered spamming. Resubmitting your site to Google can be looked upon as spamming. The basic principal is to make sure every page on your site is professional looking, clean, organized and has its own unique information to offer.
Try to trade links with good quality sites that you like, 'cause if you like them, chances are they have something to offer and Google will recognize that. The more good quality sites around the web that have links pointing to your site, the higher your link popularity will be.
Stay away from hi-tech sites unless you offer an alternative. ie. If your site has been designed in Flash, try to offer a plain HTML version of the site. Google can index flash but it's not likely that it will be indexed well, and your ranking will suffer. Frames are also a no-no. Although Google can index framed sites as well, again, the ranking can suffer and more importantly, frames are universally recognized in our industry as hideous!
Keep the content on each page to a decent level. You don't want too much content, but you definitely do not want too little. A good way to judge what a good content level is, is to search for the #1 ranking site for the keywords you wish to target, and see how much content they have. Make your content keyword-rich, but don't make it so full of keywords that it sounds ridiculous to visitors. You want to keep the visitors you get from Google, right?
Google almost always offers you the best resource for your query due to the fact that all of these things matter to them. They are also always trying to find ways to improve on the Google Algorithm so they can continue to offer us the best service. Every once in a while we hear about this new search engine and that new search engine, but no one seems to have been able to catch up. As long as this remains true, these simple tips will be applicable.
Courtney Heard is the founder of Abalone Designs, an Internet Marketing and SEO company in Vancouver, Canada. She has been involved in web development and marketing since 1995 and has helped start several businesses since then in the Vancouver area. More of Courtney's articles are available at http://www.abalone.ca/resources/.
The biggest problem that most are running into seems to... Read More
I was all set to write an article predicting the... Read More
When it comes to promoting your website, you might think... Read More
Google has always been the search industry's innovator and that's... Read More
Recent studies suggest that more than 80% of new visitors... Read More
There is a lag time between the indexing or updating... Read More
The complexities of Google's PR (Page Ranking) System have grown... Read More
Chances are you have been on the Internet and have... Read More
This is another one of the controversial questions in many... Read More
As the undisputable leader in search engines, Google places a... Read More
Everyone knows that if your website has a high Google... Read More
Google now checks the year your domain name was first... Read More
There has been a good deal written about the Google... Read More
Meta tags are an absolute must from a search engine... Read More
With Billions of pages on the internet how do you... Read More
As you surf the web take a look around at... Read More
According to the dictionary, the definition of the word "overture"... Read More
Search engine traffic is the best traffic You can get... Read More
In a fluke, I was able to notice something about... Read More
Many internet marketers blow mountains of start-up cash on their... Read More
Search Engine OptimizationSearch engines still remain the #1 tool to... Read More
Every webmaster would like to see his/her website to be... Read More
If you have ever been into a McDonalds you will... Read More
Keyword analysis is a major part of search engine marketing.... Read More
The higher the PR of your site the higher will... Read More
No matter who you are or how much you pay... Read More
Get Indexed FastWhat does getting indexed mean?The search engines keep... Read More
Welcome to part five in this search engine positioning series.... Read More
Anyone would agree that it is much easier to be... Read More
Onpage search engine optimization are things that you can change... Read More
Google this, Google that, Google Google Google.......My name is Debbie... Read More
What's all the talk about links we hear about? Reciprocal... Read More
Becoming an SEO expert, or a search engine optimization expert,... Read More
Extra, Extra Google Now Gives you feedback. By Creating a... Read More
It's a marketing dream come true: A potential customer, looking... Read More
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) doctrine states that you should always... Read More
Is building a Human-Edited Fully "Democratic" Search Directory Possible?The independent... Read More
I don't mind admitting that every time some new fangled... Read More
Ranking well under the free listings in the major search... Read More
Keyword research is certainly the most important phase in Search... Read More
In today scenario when we talk about Search Engine Optimization,... Read More
In a fluke, I was able to notice something about... Read More
Search engines use algorithms calculate the order in which the... Read More
Getting your website up and running is hard enough. After... Read More
Search engines constantly strive to advance their technology and algorithms... Read More
Running an online business relies to a greater or lesser... Read More
Welcome to the second part of our series of articles... Read More
Ever wonder how or why your competitor gets better search... Read More
Is your website listed on search engines? When people search... Read More
Utilizing effective search engine optimization techniques will improve the page... Read More
For anyone looking to enhance their Google Page Rank (PR)... Read More
If you've been feeling like Tom Cruise climbing up the... Read More
Optimizing web pages for high rankings in the search engines... Read More
SEO (search engine optimization) is a booming businees these days.... Read More
As a search engine optimization specialist I often optimize existing... Read More
The Site Map is a too often overlooked piece of... Read More
To get on Google's top pages can be accomplished by... Read More
Recent studies suggest that more than 80% of new visitors... Read More
As you may already know, keywords are an essential part... Read More
In order to tap the huge stream of targeted traffic... Read More
In today scenario when we talk about Search Engine Optimization,... Read More
We are often asked if professional SEO (search engine optimization)... Read More
I attended the SES Expo in San Jose, CA the... Read More
About directories:A directory is simply a web site that contains... Read More
A very provocative title, isn't it? Based on the latest... Read More
There are a lot of ways to promote your website... Read More
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) |