Being a professional in the digital marketing space, I have so often been asked this magic question "How can I be first on Google?". Wow... How can you? And so many have paid from $50 to thousands of dollars to unlock this Google mystery. Well this question is complex and simple all at the same time. Here I've included pointers on how you can improve your search ranking without the technicalities of meta tags and using search friendly URLs etc..
- Create content that is perpetually relevant. While hype and gossip content (then again some gossip content especially exposed secret vids, are always popular) can bring about good traffic in the short run due to current interests in them, but if your content is something that people are forever relevant, it is more likely that other content writers will link back to your article and it's less likely that people will "bounce" (leave without reading) from your site.
- Link your site EVERYWHERE! Wherever you migh have an online profile, remember to include your website. On Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, Forums, even in review sites where you provide feedback. Your link your website to ALL your online profiles.
- Apply common language (/sense). Use words in your content that your audience would be searching for.
If you were your target audience, how would you search for your own site? Don't go too narrow (like requiring to name the street that you are at or your direct company name). If someone were looking for me and for some reason forgotten my URL though it's just (my name)spot. He may have met me at the TedxSingapore event and go searching TedxSingapore Ming or searched using my name on my name card Ng Ming Liang or just Ming Liang Web Marketing. In both instances, I come up right on top. Then again mine is a very personal name and unique event, so it's a little easier to come up on top. If you were doing something more generic like selling guitars online, you might consider winning on phrases which your target audience might use instead of trying for guitars Singapore, you could pick something like guitar effects Singapore, if your particular niche was in guitar effects. It's uphill trying to win just the generic term but if you picked a right niche, you might just beat the bigger boys to traffic. Usually the customers do know what exactly they want when they search. Even something like "(your competitor) sucks" can work. I remember finding tons of payment solutions when I put "paypal sucks" in Google.
- Repeat these words often enough in as many pages and subpages as possible. Yes that's the only way the bot knows if your content is a match or not. It can't read your mind or pictures, it can only read what you write and the closer the match the better it thinks you fit the search requirement.
- Write for others. Be a guest writer in other blogs and free article sites. These sites need fresh content all the time and you need the links.
- Update frequently. This is straight forward, if a site has new content all the time, it's more likely that it's updated and relevant and hence it gets ranked better.
- From above create a pool of content, content is king on search.
- Don't just write... make videos... Yes! Google (the audience) love videos. Make them distribute them and link them back to your site. It's boring to read after a while, it's fun and cool to forward good videos.
- Get credible sites to link you. One tip, look at schools and news sites. Find a way. Sponsor a school event? Internship?:) You know what to do...
- Don't use Flash. If your site is on Flash, Google is blind to it. It doesn't know what you are doing or saying and so it ignores you. If your agency did your site in Flash they obviously don't know what they are doing and are just blinding you with nice visual effects.
- If your business has a location, claim the listing/add the listing to Google Places. Straight forward enough.
Just remember... right words in your content, plenty of fresh content and lots of link back.
This posting is so wordy man... I'll find nice pictures another time. It's late now. Another point about writing articles, don't make it so wordy like me, it's likely that the reader will "bounce".
Like most things in life, if all else fails, hire a professional.
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