All too often I find site owners are confused (or in denial) about how to achieve the search engine rankings they desire on the SERPs (Search Engine Result Pages). So, I am pleased to offer you my version of "Organic Listings 101."
Several times each day I get approached by site owners wanting to be in the top 5, 10, top page for organic (free) listings. The organic results are those that display to the left and below "Sponsored Sites" or "Sponsored Results at Google, MSN and Yahoo!. These "Sponsored" advertisement boxes are part of Pay Per Click programs where site owners bid for positioning.
What we're going to discuss today are the free listings that are gained by how your site is ranked based on a combination of unique variables (algorithm) of each search site. Which, to muddy things up further, evolve without notice.
"You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you mad." ~Aldous Huxley
Let's first set the stage so that we have realistic expectations here. When I started my consulting practice back in the early 90s, it was relatively easy to get found. The volume of sites and the level of competition were not one iota of what they are today. Fast forward to 2005 and you have close to 12,000,000,000 (yes, that's billion) pages with a good 10,000,000 being added daily.
So how do you get visibility in the SERPs? Shuffling or adding keywords in your Meta tags won't do it. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) isn't the end-all-be-all either. You have to have a well rounded, smart long term marketing plan for your site that includes certain basics for you to rise in the organic rankings.
Issues for consideration to gain improved organic listings:
=> Look at your Web marketing plan as a long term effort. New sites are in Google's sandbox for 6 months or more, and it will take time and effort to be viewed as more relevant than the sites that are already online in the free positions you seek.
=> Part of putting your plan together is to do a search with your top keyword phrases on the various search engines so that you are aware of the competition and the volume of sites already successfully ranking for the terms you are targeting. This gives you a real-world understanding of the level of competition you will be up against.
=> Understand that how your Web site ranks has nothing to do with how good you are at what you do. It has to do with how good your site is and how good others including the search engines think your site is. That requires a long term realistic marketing plan to grow your site to be the best most comprehensive resource on your product or service for your site visitors. It doesn't happen overnight or just because you say you want it to.
=> Forget about trying to rank for one-word keywords-much too difficult and in some cases downright impossible. Concentrate and target 2-3 word phrases instead of one-word keywords and you'll get more targeted visitors as well. There are several tools to assist you in investigating what keyword phrases your target market is actually using. Use these tools to your advantage!
=> Make sure each page within your site targets and is optimized for only one or two, 2-3 word keyword phrases each. Niche is what works for organic listings! The more you are about; the less you are about any one thing. Search results are based on numerous factors; one being relevancy for the terms the searcher is using. If you are targeting 10, 20, 30 terms per page, that page is not strongly about any given topic vs. another site that has a page or pages concentrating on just one or two phrases each. Keep in mind that less is more when it comes to targeting keyword phrases on a page by page basis.
=> To "top" the sites already out there, you have to do just that! Top them! What makes your site better and more valuable to your site visitors? If you don't have anything unique and of quality or value to offer, you'll never push those who already hold these positions out of your way.
=> Plan on adding new information to your site on an aggressive basis. Daily, weekly, minimally monthly! Resources, white papers, "how tos" not only add value but will naturally work wonders as keyword targeted pages. Offer the type of information those seeking your product or service will find useful and search for and that other sites will want to link to. Don't even think of cheating and using content generating software?You'll get nowhere with that approach. You need to have well written content of value; not keyword stuffed ramblings.
=> Plan on having lots of patience. Rome wasn't built in a day and attaining great organic listings no longer happens in a day, a month, or even a year. Any business that hopes to succeed needs to take a consistent and informed long-term approach. This applies to organic listings ten-fold.
Yes, without a doubt all of the above recommendations require your time, effort and a realistic understanding of how organic listings are accomplished. But this is the reality of how great listings, over time, are attained. It is really quite simple-strive to make your site the best it can be; THE site for your product or service and your rankings will improve!
There are no short cuts or trickery for fast top 5, 10, top page organic results. If someone tells you otherwise, they are trying to use what you don't know to get into your pocket book. Make a commitment to continually build your site to be the best it can be to your site visitors and your organic rankings will happen. Web sites and rankings are a work in progress after all!
Without implementing the above, you are left with only one choice in order to get visibility to those searching for your product or service. You will need to invest in a well planned Pay Per Click program and the corresponding budget necessary to reach your goals.
About the Author:
Judith Kallos is an authoritative and good-humored Technology Muse who has played @ http://www.TheIStudio.com for over a decade. Check out her popular Software, Programming and Web Design Cheat Sheets @ http://www.LearnAndThrive.com
There is one golden rule, which is inherent in this... Read More
For the sake of this article let's forget about search... Read More
Winning the traffic exchange game can be done. I was... Read More
Digital Economy : What Is e-Marketing : Internet Search Engines... Read More
OK boys and girls. Today we're having a pop quiz.I... Read More
If you could get high quality traffic that would grow... Read More
Online statistics shows that about 10% from online visitors make... Read More
Do you know that you can promote your home business... Read More
I don't know about you, but when I built my... Read More
Recently the wife and I were watching Million Dollar Baby.... Read More
I have an ingenious concept in store for you!I am... Read More
Not so long ago I had read an article about... Read More
Nowadays there are just too many people trying to give... Read More
By doing one thing solve other people's problems.That's it this... Read More
(Continued from Using Traffic Exchange Programs Part 2)Hello again!In the... Read More
One problem with websites is that they often go neglected... Read More
I cannot stress the importance of targeted traffic for the... Read More
Exchanging links can be a great way to build relations... Read More
Want to know the #1 misconception among Internet marketers and... Read More
1. Add a message board to your web site. People... Read More
If you're feeling a bit of confusion and frustration about... Read More
If you want to get something from others, the fastest... Read More
The one thing that any new Webmaster hears when searching... Read More
We all need traffic. It's the life-blood of an online... Read More
Bill Huang sits down at his computer. As he connects... Read More
There are some extremely irritating things that have become an... Read More
Linking - what a mess if you don't know what's... Read More
Webmasters have so much information available to them on the... Read More
Is website traffic convertible to cash? The answer is yes.... Read More
IntroductionBanner exchanges allow you - as a website owner -... Read More
So, you've spent hundreds of thousands on a state-of-the-art website.... Read More
Targeted traffic: the demographicAssuming your business is motorcycles, my first... Read More
Would you like to get unlimited viral traffic to your... Read More
I just had to get into the fray! I'm new... Read More
Link development can be an absolute nightmare. It takes up... Read More
Traffic. We all know that without it our sites will... Read More
Overview:Many leading search engines and b2b web sites offering online... Read More
Targeted website traffic is the lifeblood of any website looking... Read More
Getting links to your website all over the Internet is... Read More
There are many ways to get free traffic to your... Read More
You have just uploaded your web-site and it looks great!You... Read More
Link popularity has been written about ad nauseum, but most... Read More
To increase web site traffic, you first need determination, a... Read More
Five tips to effectively schedule your content.In order to get... Read More
Traffic is the food that every website needs in order... Read More
This is the first article of a three-part series. I... Read More
Search engines have become so intimidating lately - most people... Read More
A funny thing happened to me three months ago. I... Read More
Let's talk traffic and how to get it. Your website... Read More
It's a common story. Someone builds a great site, populates... Read More
>When many of my clients first come to me for... Read More
Yes, if need more web traffic, this free list building... Read More
Yesterday, I got stuck in a traffic jam. It wasn't... Read More
(Continued from Using Traffic Exchange Programs Part 2)Hello again!In the... Read More
Want to Make Free Money on the Internet?One of the... Read More
This interesting idea is likely to drive your competitors nuts.It... Read More
By doing one thing solve other people's problems.That's it this... Read More
How to increase your website traffic with zero cost'. It's... Read More
If you have a link directory on a website, how... Read More
For the sake of this article let's forget about search... Read More
Exchanging links can be a great way to build relations... Read More
What good is a website without traffic? A website without... Read More
Link Popularity refers to the number of links coming from... Read More
If you are looking for an immediate increase in your... Read More
So, you've spent hundreds of thousands on a state-of-the-art website.... Read More
A reciprocal link is when a web site links to... Read More
Traffic Building |