| As you well know, getting a good listing on the | | | | Google, you may think that Google has become |
| search engines can really help get some good, | | | | the search engine of choice. And while Google is |
| quality traffic to your site. | | | | gaining in popularity, |
| But how do you get a good listing? That's the | | | | Fact Number 5: Google still hasn't captured |
| million dollar question. | | | | Yahoo's number 1position. |
| Rather than explain how search engines select the | | | | Even though Google isn't number 1, |
| top sites or how to trick them into listing your | | | | Fact Number 6: Using 'good advice' on how to |
| site in the top 10, let's learn some of the facts | | | | improve your Google position will also help you |
| about search engines. | | | | with your placement on Yahoo and many other |
| Now in case you're wondering why I don't just | | | | search engines. |
| give you the 'magic' formula or algorithm for | | | | Some of 'good advice' for getting a good position |
| getting a good search engine placement I'll give | | | | is to have a site with good content and to use |
| you: | | | | your keywords within your content. But the web |
| Fact Number 1: Search engines change their | | | | has become so big that there are now thousands, |
| formula frequently in an attempt to keep quality | | | | even hundreds of thousands, of pages competing |
| sites at the top of the listing. They do this | | | | for the same keywords. |
| because of all the attempts to 'trick' or 'fool' them | | | | Because of this explosion in the number of pages |
| and, to stay popular with their users, they need | | | | available for generic keyword searches, |
| to list the most relevant sites first. | | | | Fact Number 7: Search engine users are now |
| Fact Number 2: Every search engine has it's own | | | | adding more descriptive terms in their searches. |
| formula for determining the sites and the ordering | | | | Another fact that most people don't realize about |
| of the sites it will list. And even though they all | | | | search engines is that: |
| use many of the same factors in their formulas, | | | | Fact Number 8: Search engines don't rank or list |
| there is no 1 formula that will work for all of | | | | web sites, they rank and list web pages. That |
| them. | | | | means every page of your site has the potential |
| As for giving you some of the tricks that others | | | | to be listed if you set it up properly. |
| have tried to use to get good search engine | | | | Since we're getting into the realm of less known |
| placement, I'll just say that the tricks that have | | | | search engine facts, let's talk about how |
| worked in the past like using misleading meta tag | | | | Fact Number 9: Search engines use their own |
| keywords and embedding hidden keywords don't | | | | traffic tracking information to help determine |
| work today and the new tricks like creating lots | | | | which sites to list. If they see that they have a |
| of 'spam' sites using automatic search engine page | | | | top site that continually gets visited for a brief |
| creators won't be working much longer. | | | | amount of time and the searchers usually come |
| Fact Number 3: Search engine owners know the | | | | back and continue looking, the search engine may |
| tricks being used and develop ways to filter them | | | | determine the site is of little value and either |
| out. | | | | move it down on the list or remove it. |
| Now that you know that there is no 1 'magic' | | | | The last fact isn't really about search engines but |
| formula and using a 'trick' won't work for long, | | | | has been included to help you measure your |
| you should also know: | | | | progress as you work to improve your search |
| Fact Number 4: Search engines do 'black list' sites | | | | engine positions. |
| they consider 'spam' and block them from being | | | | A couple of terms you've probably seen many |
| listed. | | | | times are 'Google Page Rank (PR)' and 'Alexa |
| Because of all the articles and products about | | | | Traffic Ranking'. |