Search requests frequently return over thousands or even millions of matching results. Getting your website listed on search engines doesn't do you much good if you are number 382 out of 273,993 search results. Most users only visit the first or second search result page. As soon as your website goes live, you want to pay attention to its ranking. You want to be aiming for the top 10 or top 20 positions on the main search engines, Google, Yahoo and MSN. Currently, for example, Google maintains an index of about 8 billion web pages. Considering that huge number, how can you ever achieve a high ranking?
Honestly, it's not an easy task, it takes time, expertise, commitment, and if you want to accelerate the process, money.
How do search engines rank websites?
Search engines use increasingly more complex algorithms to rank web pages. Each search engine uses a different algorithm and none of them publishes the exact rules on how they rank web pages. As general guideline, sites which contain lots of information and see lots of traffic are usually ranked higher. Also, websites which have many links pointing to them are considered more relevant and are ranked higher.
Here are some tips on how to boost your website ranking:
- Submit your site to industry sites and specialized directories
- Include your URL on stationery, cards, literature, e-mail messages
- Create your own link exchange with sites that are complimentary and non-competitive to your own
- Issue news releases including your URL
- Create a blog
- Publish an e-mail newsletter
- Add one new relevant article to your website every week
- Promote your site in mailing lists and news groups
- Actively participate in news groups and discussion groups. Join forums that are interesting to you, and try to help as much as you can. In every message you post, put your URL after your signature.
- Put your URL on all promotional items. Make a t-shirt, or polo shirt, to give out to your best customers, and friends, and be sure it has your web address on it!
- Put printable coupons on your website that people can bring in to your store.
For additional tips, please go to
Web Yodel's Website Promotion Tips
Coming next:
How to achieve top ranking on search engines (Part 2 - Paid Advertising)
