Search engine optimization, high quality web content, keywords and reciprocal links - is there really any easy way to have a clear idea of just what it takes today to achieve a high ranking position in the major search engine result lists?
The truth is that there is no single guaranteed way of making sure your website hits the top spot, but there are a number of things that can be done to give your site the best possible chance. It has to be said, however, that a great deal depends on the market within which your site is based. If you're within a very competitive market, such as insurance or finance, then it is highly likely that you will find it extremely difficult to approach anywhere near the first few pages of the search results.
One of the most important aspects of achieving a high ranking position is to try to identify a niche market if possible. This doesn't mean to say that you have to abandon the market within you are operating, but to try to consider alternate angles, or particular ways in which your business can approach the market from a different perspective. Try to identify ways in which your company or website stands out from many others, and put effort into maximising this advantage.
One of the first points to make as far as website promotion is concerned is the all important search engine optimization, or SEO. But what does it mean to optimize your website for the search engines, and why is it so necessary to pander to these goliaths of the online world?
The answer is simple. In the early days of the internet there were relatively few websites, and in order to find what you needed you either knew the address already, or you used one of the popular search directories. These were usually handpicked websites representing the best sites within their fields, and categorized for easy reference.
However, as the internet has grown, currently offering billions of websites, directories can now only present a very small proportion of the content that's available, and so search engines have taken over as the major way in which people find information. It's a little like having a small library with a simple catalogue system, or an enormous national library with a helpful librarian who knows everything. Being at the top of the recommended sites means more visitors, and consequently, more sales.
Since 99% of people who carry out a search online never look past the first page of results, that means that if you're not in the top 10, you're going to have to share any sales or enquiries with millions of other websites that didn't make it.
But in practical terms what does search engine optimization really mean? There is a great deal of misunderstanding as far as this term is concerned, and much advice offered as far as how to trick or fool search engines into maximising the visibility of your site. Be warned - trying to trick the search engines will almost certainly result in your website falling down the results rather than climbing, or even being blacklisted entirely - not a good move.
The truth is that there is no single guaranteed way of making sure your website hits the top spot, but there are a number of things that can be done to give your site the best possible chance. It has to be said, however, that a great deal depends on the market within which your site is based. If you're within a very competitive market, such as insurance or finance, then it is highly likely that you will find it extremely difficult to approach anywhere near the first few pages of the search results.
One of the most important aspects of achieving a high ranking position is to try to identify a niche market if possible. This doesn't mean to say that you have to abandon the market within you are operating, but to try to consider alternate angles, or particular ways in which your business can approach the market from a different perspective. Try to identify ways in which your company or website stands out from many others, and put effort into maximising this advantage.
One of the first points to make as far as website promotion is concerned is the all important search engine optimization, or SEO. But what does it mean to optimize your website for the search engines, and why is it so necessary to pander to these goliaths of the online world?
The answer is simple. In the early days of the internet there were relatively few websites, and in order to find what you needed you either knew the address already, or you used one of the popular search directories. These were usually handpicked websites representing the best sites within their fields, and categorized for easy reference.
However, as the internet has grown, currently offering billions of websites, directories can now only present a very small proportion of the content that's available, and so search engines have taken over as the major way in which people find information. It's a little like having a small library with a simple catalogue system, or an enormous national library with a helpful librarian who knows everything. Being at the top of the recommended sites means more visitors, and consequently, more sales.
Since 99% of people who carry out a search online never look past the first page of results, that means that if you're not in the top 10, you're going to have to share any sales or enquiries with millions of other websites that didn't make it.
But in practical terms what does search engine optimization really mean? There is a great deal of misunderstanding as far as this term is concerned, and much advice offered as far as how to trick or fool search engines into maximising the visibility of your site. Be warned - trying to trick the search engines will almost certainly result in your website falling down the results rather than climbing, or even being blacklisted entirely - not a good move.