From time to time I will get asked how to get a website to be number on Google. I usually chuckle and think if only there was a secret equation or method that we could use to get a number one spot all the time. So here is the truth: there is no secret.
There are many search engine optimization companies out there and each bring their own unique skill set to the table. Unfortunately, some tend to promise results that they can not guarantee. Understand that you should not be working with a company that promises or guarantees a number one spot in Google or withholds what they are doing in their SEO initiatives to promote your website. You are spending good money and you should be kept in the loop every step of the way. Obviously there are some companies that deliver better results than others. However, this is usually due to experience, research and experimentation, common sense, and hard work. Not secrets.
I have given an overview of where you can start on your own in order to get more desirable Google search rankings.
Content
As far as your website goes, content is king. Great content will drive traffic to your site, brand you as an expert and leader, and build a community of customers, potential customers, and fans. There is nothing better for search engines than great unique content. But how do you get it?
Articles and blog posts are an excellent way to generate new content for a website. It is also very important to describe and write about your products and services. Tell your audience about them and why they are so great. Convince them with content. Be creative.
Inbound Links
This is increasingly becoming the most important aspect of having excellent rankings in Google and other search engines. Inbound links are an excellent way to give your website and content more credibility, and Google recognizes that. Where these links are coming from also plays a major role. The more authority the linking site has in your industry the more weight these links will carry.
Inbound links usually go hand in hand with great content, since why would someone want to link to poor content or product listings? Do you have a client base that are willing to write a review of your product or service as a thank you for your awesomeness? Maybe someone is willing to let you write a guest post or article, or interview you or your company. These are a couple great ways to get some quality inbound links.
Some links are great for search engine rankings, and some are great for driving traffic. It is the ones that do both that you really want.
Site Structure
Site structure includes things such as your directory, files, and permalink structure, as well as your internal linking and overall usability of your website. Make sure your website is not confusing for search engines or people.
Titles
Using proper page titles and header titles go a long way in increasing your search results. If you do not currently use header tags (such as h1, h2, etc.) you may want to consider implementing them in place of your current titles.
The Right Keywords
Getting good results in the wrong keywords is useless. There is no point spending time optimizing for keywords that have nothing to do with your business. There are some research tools such as Google Keyword Tool and Wordtracker that will help you decide what keywords you should be focusing on for your business.
Common Sense and Hard Work
Common sense plays a large role in obtaining a number one spot on Google. Do not spam your website, do not stuff content with unnecessary keywords, and do not buy your links. Things like this will all come back to haunt you later. Search engine optimization takes a lot of hard work. Things will not always work out the way we wanted them to. You need to be able to understand why, isolate what is working and what is not, and fix the ones that are not.
So again, there is no secret as to how to be number one on Google, but hopefully these things can get you started in the right direction.
