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.theistudio.com
One of the most popular ways to generate free traffic... Read More
Viral Marketing DefinedIt is allowing others to giveaway and use... Read More
Did you know that web linkage is responsible for a... Read More
Since everyone is so obsessed with ways to increase our... Read More
When people look to submit their sites to the major... Read More
It's a strange world, this place we call the internet.... Read More
This interesting idea is likely to drive your competitors nuts.It... Read More
1. Add a message board to your web site. People... Read More
There is so incredibly MUCH you can do to successfully... Read More
As a home business, one of the ways you probably... Read More
Would you like to get unlimited viral traffic to your... Read More
Web site traffic refers to the number of times your... Read More
So what is this all important secret? It can generate... Read More
>When many of my clients first come to me for... Read More
Building a web site is only the first step in... Read More
Do not pay anyone or any service to submit your... Read More
Creating a simple links page to exchange links for the... Read More
There's nothing new about using joint ventures to get traffic... Read More
Here's the "How-To-Do-It Guide" for driving search engine traffic right... Read More
I am not going to bore you by loading this... Read More
Traffic is one thing, but targeted traffic is everything.You have... Read More
This article will be continually updated with your feedback and... Read More
Using an e-signature is one of the easiest, most effective... Read More
A reciprocal link is when a web site links to... Read More
Sending out link requests is a time-consuming business. So wouldn't... Read More
licensed cleaning services Park Ridge ..One of the most popular ways to generate free traffic... Read More
1: Original and Fresh Content Present your visitors content they... Read More
For the sake of this article let's forget about search... Read More
Proper Use Of Meta tags For A High Google RankingGoogle... Read More
Traffic. We all know that without it our sites will... Read More
When you are building links to increase your link popularity,... Read More
As a home business, one of the ways you probably... Read More
Just launched your website? Now what?You are finally ready with... Read More
"How Can I Double My Sales?" - that must be... Read More
There's nothing new about using joint ventures to get traffic... Read More
One thing you can never have too much of online... Read More
I cannot stress the importance of targeted traffic for the... Read More
In this article we will look at how to get... Read More
Establishing inbound links through reciprocal link exchanges is a very... Read More
It official Yahoo has dropped Google and will be using... Read More
Dear Friend,Many people like to listen to all the graphic... Read More
Many top gurus promoted mini-sites as the cheapest and easiest... Read More
If your new to the internet marketing world, you might... Read More
There are many "offsite" promotion tactics that work well to... Read More
It's about time someone let the cat out of the... Read More
This interesting idea is likely to drive your competitors nuts.It... Read More
Every website needs a link exchange program. Every week, set... Read More
To improve our website ranking and internet presence we need... Read More
I am not a web designer or search engine optimizer,... Read More
Though each web site is different, it is possible to... Read More
Traffic Building |