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
Do you ever wonder what the point is in spending... Read More
Traffic-generation is a hot topic for marketers. In particular, "free... Read More
#1 Make sure your business card includes a persuasive "FREE... Read More
If you are looking to increase the number of visitors... Read More
Sub-domains are websites that are located within a directory of... Read More
Who else wants traffic that buys? I for sure do,... Read More
Why submit to a Directory?Every webmaster is looking for ways... Read More
You have to search a lot to find what is... Read More
1. Trade links with other websites. Websites that are related... Read More
I cannot stress the importance of targeted traffic for the... Read More
If you own a business online, would like to increase... Read More
Increasing your website traffic does not have to be a... Read More
Does anyone really enjoy the tedium of spending hours upon... Read More
If you are only looking at Search Engines too send... Read More
Need more traffic? There's a lot you can learn from... Read More
It's pretty well-known that one of the best ways to... Read More
Google doesn't only exist at http://google.com/ - Google also has... Read More
For many years now, getting traffic from search engines when... Read More
Search engines have become so intimidating lately - most people... Read More
If you have a link directory on a website, how... Read More
This is part two of an article series which will... Read More
Link Popularity refers to the number of links coming from... Read More
Today Internet has over 36,000,000 web sites, and statistics says... Read More
Should link exchanges be used? What are link exchanges? Do... Read More
You may have heard many times, that getting the e-mail... Read More
residential cleaning services Deerfield ..There are many easy ways to get your name out... Read More
IntroductionBanner exchanges allow you - as a website owner -... Read More
You get a flash of inspiration and an interesting topic... Read More
OK boys and girls. Today we're having a pop quiz.I... Read More
Web sites are a major part of the tourism marketing... Read More
Building a web site is only the first step in... Read More
All of us want to increase traffic to our web... Read More
Want to know the #1 misconception among Internet marketers and... Read More
Their is an old Saying it goes something like this... Read More
Just launched your website? Now what?You are finally ready with... Read More
This is the 2nd day of "Free Traffic Course" and... Read More
1. Trade links with other websites. Websites that are related... Read More
Most webmasters keep their prized web traffic generating systems to... Read More
There will be a lot of people unhappy about what... Read More
Online marketing is an area where you can find a... Read More
Exchanging links can be a great way to build relations... Read More
1. Add a message board to your web site. People... Read More
One of the most popular ways to generate free traffic... Read More
Be picky about who will link to you; shoot and... Read More
I know what you're thinking, oh great another article about... Read More
It's all about location, location, location!In the past...back in the... Read More
What good is a website without traffic? A website without... Read More
The more traffics you get at your website, the more... Read More
It's been several months now since I've been promoting my... Read More
Do you know what kind of sites are suitable link... Read More
Traffic Building |