The importance of having a high Google search rank is well documented and a question that I get asked all the time is how do I get my website or listing ranked #1 on Google? Sorry to break this to you, but there is no magic button that can magically push your page to the top.
There are a few things that anyone can do, regardless of web experience. If you don't know the difference between a meta-tag, anchor text, H1 or H2 headline texts, don't worry this post isn't going to go into the technical details. Below is a basic guide to some elements of a web page that even a novice web user can understand and complete to improve the rank of their page in Google and other search engines.
1.) Does the page title contain search-friendly terms?
As an example, look at the URL of this blog post. It contains terms like SEO, Real Estate and Optimization. If someone searches for SEO tips for real estate, my page will most likely rank higher than one that used a format such as activerain.com/marketing-blog or other generic example. Use the keywords and search terms that you want to rank high for in the page title (or URL). Some larger websites don't always offer you the ability to change this if you aren't the web admin, but sites like AR are a great place to learn how to label page titles correctly.
2.) Are you using social media?
Regardless of what you think of social media, it is a great way to direct traffic back to your page, blogs or listings. Even if you have zero followers or likes, it still is another link back to your web page. Posting links to your blog posts or your listings via social media will increase your pages value in the eyes of search engines. More back-links equal higher ranks on Google. You must have at least 1 back link (incoming link) from any web page that Google can find to remain indexed in search results. Social media is a very easy way to bump up the number of incoming links to that site.
3.) Are You Being Original?
If your writing sounds like everyone else's, why should anyone read it? Not only that, how will anyone find it outside or your friends or family? We all know that content is king in SEO, but the key to SEO success is to be UNIQUE! The way search engines rank your page are constantly changing and the formula is updated almost daily, but the importance of developing original content will never change. Show your personality and be you!
4.) Are you using enough text on your page?
Newsflash - Google is a computer, and cannot see your pictures or Flash animations. Pictures help with the look of your page from a design and readability perspective, but aren't adding much value to your search rank. Text included in graphics falls under the image category and Google can't read that text either.
Be sure that you have enough text that Google can effectively recognize the keywords and important content. So how many words should you use? I've read varying opinions, but it seems that the most effective range is no less than 250 words, but no more than 1000 for optimum SEO.
5.) Does your page include links?
Stuffing your page with a hundred links is a surefire way to get your page ranked lower in organic search. However, you need to include some links within your page to give it value. I would suggest more than 2 links but less than 5 for a blog post or web page. Make sure these links work and direct the user to a reputable site. Providing broken links or sites that Google views as bad sites, is very harmful to your sites ranking.
If you are doing these basic steps correctly, congrats you are heading the right direction. What other easy wins have you found with SEO and page rank? And as always, thanks for reading.
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