There's lots of talk about ways to improve search engine rankings, and it's clearly a very emotive subject with many people amongst the so-called 'internet SEO (search engine optimisation) experts' fraternity, all of whom often have differing opinions about what gets a website 'ranked'.
From someone who has had all (yes all) his websites ranked on page one in the Top 5 search results for the Top 3 keywords I have targeted (and these are competitive, high traffic keywords), let me share with you now my thoughts on how to get highly ranked and get your websites listed amongst the top 10 search results for your keywords.
I have a simple 3-Stage Approach to getting ranked high. Here, in Part 1, is my first Stage...
Stage 1. Pick The Right Keyword Phrases:
Firstly I would always make sure I target keywords that have traffic. What I mean by that is it staggers me how many people think it's all about getting high up the page by being highly ranked, with total regard for the actual amount of traffic a keyword or phrase gets! What's even more staggering are these 'SEO expersts' that offer their services, usually at exorbitant rates, with promises like "we'll get you appearing in the Top 10 Results on 100 pages" when they don't have any idea what keywords are being identified by you as their client.
Let me be really clear on this - anyone can have a Number 1 position for a keyword! ...anyone - just type in a keyword with say 5 or 6 words in it (known as a longtail keyword), and it is likely to have no competition that you could dominate the Top Number 1 spot for that search. But what you have to ask yourself is how many people are actually typing in that 5 or 6-word phrase? Probably no-one I suspect.
So here's the thing - yes it's easy to get ranked high, like Top 3, for many keywords, but the first thing you need to do is identify are there a whole bunch of people looking for that keyword, because if there isn't, then getting ranked at even Number 1 spot isn't going to make the slightest difference to your business sales, because even at Number 1, if no-one's typing in that keyword phrase and searching for it, then there's no-one that will ever see you at Number 1.
So, before anything - before you 'optimise' your website (I'll discuss this in Part 2); before you look to get ranked high in the search results; before you do anything, make sure that you are clear on the keywords you are going to target actually have traffic, by which I mean there are lots and lots of people typing in that keyword phrase into a search service looking to find you. Get your keywords right first! ...and make sure they are keywords people are using in their searches - in lots of searches! - 15275
From someone who has had all (yes all) his websites ranked on page one in the Top 5 search results for the Top 3 keywords I have targeted (and these are competitive, high traffic keywords), let me share with you now my thoughts on how to get highly ranked and get your websites listed amongst the top 10 search results for your keywords.
I have a simple 3-Stage Approach to getting ranked high. Here, in Part 1, is my first Stage...
Stage 1. Pick The Right Keyword Phrases:
Firstly I would always make sure I target keywords that have traffic. What I mean by that is it staggers me how many people think it's all about getting high up the page by being highly ranked, with total regard for the actual amount of traffic a keyword or phrase gets! What's even more staggering are these 'SEO expersts' that offer their services, usually at exorbitant rates, with promises like "we'll get you appearing in the Top 10 Results on 100 pages" when they don't have any idea what keywords are being identified by you as their client.
Let me be really clear on this - anyone can have a Number 1 position for a keyword! ...anyone - just type in a keyword with say 5 or 6 words in it (known as a longtail keyword), and it is likely to have no competition that you could dominate the Top Number 1 spot for that search. But what you have to ask yourself is how many people are actually typing in that 5 or 6-word phrase? Probably no-one I suspect.
So here's the thing - yes it's easy to get ranked high, like Top 3, for many keywords, but the first thing you need to do is identify are there a whole bunch of people looking for that keyword, because if there isn't, then getting ranked at even Number 1 spot isn't going to make the slightest difference to your business sales, because even at Number 1, if no-one's typing in that keyword phrase and searching for it, then there's no-one that will ever see you at Number 1.
So, before anything - before you 'optimise' your website (I'll discuss this in Part 2); before you look to get ranked high in the search results; before you do anything, make sure that you are clear on the keywords you are going to target actually have traffic, by which I mean there are lots and lots of people typing in that keyword phrase into a search service looking to find you. Get your keywords right first! ...and make sure they are keywords people are using in their searches - in lots of searches! - 15275
About the Author:
Steve Mitchell consistently has his websites ranked in the Top 3 search results, often for strongly competitive keyword phrases. His strategy for getting websites ranked high is simple yet highly effective. He makes one clear guarantee: To get your website ranked in the Top 10 search results, allowing you to enjoy all that lovely free search traffic! Here is how he does it.