Successful Search Engine Positioning
Search Engine Positioning - What You Need to Know
What Is It?
Search engine positioning, ranking or placement all refer to the process of ordering web sites, or web pages, by a search engine or directory so the most relevant sites appear first in the search results for a particular query.
Why Bother?
The objective of successful search engine positioning or ranking is to maximize the number of qualified visitors to your website. We know that the majority of Internet surfers use search engines to find what they are looking for. We also know they use specific keyword phrases too when they search for products and services.
57% of internet users search the web every day and 46% of those searches are for product information or services. Source: SRI International
The objective of successful search engine positioning or ranking is to maximize the number of qualified visitors to your website. We know that the majority of Internet surfers use search engines to find what they are looking for. We also know they use specific keyword phrases too when they search for products and services.
It's common sense that if you want to provide the Internet audience with a website that provides information on your products and/or services - you need to make sure it is easily found!
Yes, you need to promote your website address to your customers, and we encourage you do so, but successful businesses don't rely on a single tactic for high exposure. Don't neglect the growing number of Internet users that are using the web to look for your products and/or services. Keep a step above of your competition!
Where?
Your website should be listed in the top search engines for strategically selected keyword phrases important to your target audience. Let's assume your business markets "call accounting software." One of your main objectives should be to highly position in the organic listings for Google, Yahoo, MSN and other top search engines when the keyword search for "call accounting software" is performed. Focus should be placed on the top search engines as they have the largest viewing audience and will generate the most traffic. Furthermore, many larger search engines feed the smaller search engines.
Top Search Engines and Directories
Don't forget industry-specific or regionally-specific directories that provide targeted traffic. They are very important to your overall Internet search engine ranking success as well.
Pay per click programs offered by Google, Yahoo and Miva are a few of several pay per click programs that offer a means to fast search engine exposure for very specific keyword searches. The cons are that these programs can become very costly. There is an industry-held suspicion concerning fraudulent click throughs. It's highly recommended you do your homework before you set up a pay per click program if you want to reduce costly mistakes and maximize your return on investment.
When?
Now! Don't wait! Although you will see some search engine positioning results within weeks, solid search engine positioning is a long-term process taking several months before we see desired results. Search engine databases are growing everyday which will likely result in further complexities and longer time periods before website owners realize their ranking objectives.
How?
Search engines may use hundreds of factors to rank websites and index millions of pages making the whole process complex and time consuming.
Each search engine uses it's own "algorithm" to rank websites, which scrutinizes the web page content in quality and quantity; link popularly, titles, descriptions, keyword Meta tags and much more. There are also design and technologies that will trip up search engine software or situations some search engines don't deal with as well as others. Although there are possible "work arounds", a website's design and the technology used should be a carefully considered in your search engine marketing strategy.
First of all, your website must be optimized for targeted keyword phrases. It's best to review your current website and create a Search Engine Optimization plan. It may include a redesign or new website development to ensure your website is completely search engine friendly and targeted to popular search phrases related to your business. Once your website is completely prepared for search engine spiders or bots (programs the crawl website on the web), you are ready to submit your site to major directories and the top search engines. Most top search engines and directories will not accept an automated submission and openly state it is a violation of their policies.
Who?
There are many search engine positioning programs offered on the Internet. They range from automated submission programs priced from $9.95 to in-depth search engine marketing programs at $8000/ month. Your business objectives, your target audience and the competition in your market should determine the level of your search engine program.
Can I submit my site and be listed myself? Yes, but a submission, whether it is manual or automated, won't ensure a listing. You may get indexed but it's likely your site will be buried so deeply in the search results it may as well be invisible. We all know very few Internet surfers scroll past the first few pages of the search results.
Most business professionals just don't have the time to invest doing submissions properly. First they have to gain the level of knowledge required for successful search engine positioning in the short term. Then they have to invest more time to keep up with the rapid changes in the industry in order to maintain long term search engine placements.
GetOnSearchEngines offers very affordable "search engine programs" for smaller business targeting a very specific audience to custom SEO programs for medium to larger business in highly competitive markets.
