Gaining top search positions for your chosen search words and
phrases has become more and more competitive as search engine
optimization firms use new, more effective techniques to place
their large clients. The little guy needs every possible advantage
to have the visibility necessary to bring search traffic. This is
becoming more costly as new paid inclusion programs are launched by
each of the major search engines seeking to "monetize" free search.
In order to rank well at any search engine it has become critical
to use the basic techniques of appropriate content and page
architecture to provide search spiders with indexing and ranking
scorecards. We all know by now that metatags, including title,
description and keyword tags as well as image alt text is important.
Most of us know that using keywords liberally in body text and
creating descriptive hypertext links within body copy is helpful.
Most of us know also that using keywords in TEXT based page
navigation links (not image links, such as buttons) increases
ranking and improves your score at major search engines.
For a concise overview of this information for new webmasters, visit:
http://website101.com/metatags.html
Suppose you are doing all of the important items above and still
need that extra little edge required to gain visibility in the
engines? Here are a few techniques to tip the scales in your favor.
1. Gain link listings from large Targeted high traffic sites that
are complementary to your business. Sometimes paid listings in these
types of directories is well worth the cost of entry. One such
directory would be the small business section of Business.com,
$199 will gain your company dramatic link relevancy increases in
Google and it's search partners. Specialists should consider sites
appropriate to their professional category such as Law and legal
sites for paid directory listings. Try contacting the "guide" at
About.com for a link from your subject category for an often over-
looked and valuable link from a guide site at About.com. (It's Free)
http://www.business.com
http://www.about.com
2. Consider programs such as the very new "Search Partner" program
at FastSearch.com where they will not only offer a site
"intrasearch" facility to allow your site visitors to search only
your web site, but their spider recrawls your web site on a bi-
monthly basis to be certain to index new information and assure
fresh listings for sites that make frequent changes. This two-in-
one program costs $149 yearly to start. Fast also partners with
the Lycos Network and provides search results for several
international engines as well.
http://fastsearch.com/index.php?dproducts&cinternet&spartnersite
3. Consider a paid subscription to the well known and extremely
useful "Submit Director" service which allows instantaneous ranking
algorithms for your site on an as-needed basis so that you can see
your site precisely the way the search engines do. This valuable
tool provides multiple charts, graphs and page analytics to allow
you to carefully craft and then tweak to your hearts content. A
very worhthwhile investment for a one year subscription gives you
an edge very few small business webmasters are even aware of. This
program is heavily used by professional search engine optimizers.
$149 for less than 50 pages and $189 for up to 100 pages.
http://www.submitdirector.com/
4. The venerable First Place Software has just introduced the latest
version 1.60 of their Web Position Gold ranking, submission and
reporting tool and has version 2.0 in beta testing now. Those who
have used this excellent software for their doorway page creation,
submissions and reporting functions are well aware of the time-
saving and instructive nature of WPG for top search positioning and
should consider purchasing or upgrading now to gain an edge on the
late adopters. $149
http://website101.com/WPG.html
5. Keep your eyes peeled for new developments in search such as
the brand new Wisenut.com search engine. Wisenut has leapt out of
the starting gate with the bold claim that they outperform and
index more of the web than the current leader Google. We'll see how
that claim holds up as the competition to dominate search on the web
offers a tough nut to crack. New programs, new partners and new
players could bring new chances to place your site in the top ten
of at least a couple of the major search engines.
http://WiseNut.com
Searching for the best option for your limited web promotion budget
will certainly lead to some of these choices over others, but with
everyone beginning to charge for submission, listing and ranking,
you had better make some choices and get moving if you want to be
visible to the search engines and it's imperative if you find your
site ranked below #30 at any of the major search engines.
About the Author
Mike Valentine does Search Engine Placement for the Small
Business http://website101.com/Optimization.html
WebSite101 "Reading List" Weekly Netrepreneur Tip Sheet
Weekly Ezine emphasizing small business on the Internet
http://website101.com/arch/