Learn how Google relates to your business.

1. Google doesn’t automatically know what your website is about.

In order for Google to catalog your website in their search database, you need to have text on your site that explains what your website is about. This can appear in both the content that visitors see and in the metadata that only Google will see.

2. Google doesn’t have feelings.

If Google favors one website over another, it’s not because it likes one site’s owner better or thinks that one site has better pictures. Google’s organic rankings are based strictly on a mathematical algorithm. That equation filters the information in Google’s database and provides the search results you see on the web. If you’re not happy with your ranking, you have to analyze your website in terms of the criteria used in Google’s algorithm, not what a human might think about your website versus someone else’s.

3. Google is by far the most popular search engine on the web.  

From September 2010 to September 2011, Google had 90.7% of web usersover Yahoo! (3.76%) and Bing (3.7%). Although our optimization services still cover all three, it’s obvious that Google is the preferred search engine around the globe.

4. Google gets it wrong sometimes.

Even though Google works very hard to make their results more accurate, every once in a while Google does something wrong. Sometimes it returns a result for a website that’s not there anymore, or a result with false information. Most of the time this will clear up with time as Google updates its database, but if it doesn’t you can visit the Google Webmaster tools and (after creating a free Google account if you don’t already have one) you can report a bad site.

5. Google hates scammers and spammers alike.

You know the old expression “If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is”? That’s the case with a lot of SEO companies who promise you specific rankings, especially the coveted top spot. Some of those scammers might be able to get you to #1 on Google, but not for long. Google is constantly updating its algorithm to keep out the spam because it hates to be manipulated. Good, honest SEO uses the right combination of keyword rich content, good navigation and site structure.

What kind of relevant search engine traffic is your website getting?

When it comes to search engine optimization (SEO), it’s a common misconception that all traffic to your website is good. In fact, one of the most important components of SEO is finding the most relevant traffic to bring to your website. What do we mean by that? Here’s an example…

Wally is St. Augustine’s premier postage stamp collector. He has an inventory of every postage stamp ever made in the history of postage stamps. To get more traffic to his online retail store, Wally optimized his site so that he comes up #1 on Google for “stamps”.

The problem with Wally’s plan, however, is that  of the people who search for “stamps” online are either looking for rubber stamps (which Wally does not sell) or current mailing stamps from the U.S. Post Office (which Wally also does not sell). So while Wally’s getting tons of visitors to his website from his high Google ranking, none of them are purchasing his productsbecause they are searching for a different kind of stamps.

Understanding what people are looking for when they search for something on the Internet is a critical part of the SEO process. That’s why it’s sometimes better to optimize your site for more specific terms (like in Wally’s case, “collectible stamps” or “American stamp collections”) rather than the more open ended, general terms.

Get a free SEO evaluation from Old City Web Services.

If you’d like to find out more about your current page rankings and how we might be able to optimize your site to get more traffic, please call (904) 829-2772 or send an email to us at letusmarketyou@oldcity.com.

For more information on SEO, read some of our previous blogs on the subject:

·       – What is Search Engine Optimization?: http://bit.ly/qN2BBJ

·        – Under the Umbrella of SEO: http://bit.ly/gBn2qn

 

5 Things You Need to Know about Search Engine Optimization

If it seems like we talk about search engine optimization (SEO) a lot, it’s because it has quickly become a key factor in creating a successful marketing campaign. Odds are that by now you’ve heard of SEO and have an idea of what it is, but there are still some questions on your mind. We want to provide you with a little bit more information about how you can put the search engines to work for your business, with a little help from Old City Web Services.

1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is NOT the same as Search Engine Marketing (SEM)

Consider the difference between SEO and SEM as the same difference between having the newspaper write an article about your business versus paying for an advertisement in the same newspaper. Both methods will reach the same audience, but people will perceive them differently.

2. Search engines are changing constantly.

The algorithms that each of the three major search engines (Google, Bing and Yahoo!) use to determine search results are constantly being updated. Why? Because some websites “spam” the search engines by flooding them with massive amounts of content and keywords to give themselves top ranking even though they don’t provide any relevant information

3. Inbound links act as votes in your favor.

Websites that offer a link to your website from theirs act as “votes” for your business in the eyes of a search engine. But beware, not all “voters” were created equal.  So-called “link farms” that offer to add you to their list of links are seen as “spam” in the eyes of the search engines. Stay clear of those and look instead for legitimate businesses that already have excellent rankings and offer traffic that would be relevant to your website.

4. Extra domain names can help if you have extra content.

Your domain name carries a lot of weight with the search engines. However, having multiple domains that “point” to your website do not offer an added advantage. The search engines will only catalog the content of your website with its permanent domain. If you want to put extra domains to good use, create a single page (called a “splash” page) with unique content (slightly different from what is on your website) and provide a link to your main domain. This will put the extra pages into the search engine databases while also acting as a traffic funnel to your website.

5. Specific titles can make your pictures and videos count.

Search engine databases can only process text information. So in order to make sure that the pictures and videos on your website are picked up by the search engine crawlers, make sure that you title the picture or video files with a unique description (like “st augustine sunset”) instead of generic letters and numbers (like “DSC2939383”). Where possible, add captions as well to provide additional content.

Start increasing your search engine traffic right now.

Old City Web Services can offer search engine advice and assistance tailored to meet your business’ needs. Our staff includes a dedicated SEO Specialist who keeps up with all the latest search trends so that your business can stay on top of the competition. Call or e-mail us today to schedule a free consultation.

–   Old City Web Services