Google Search Engine Optimization Guide
Google search engine optimization (SEO) is your key to success for getting noticed on the web. It's one of the best ways that you can drive traffic to your site for FREE! Learn the facts about what Google is looking for when they decide what your rank will be. Use SEO properly to get the results you want.
How Does Google Rank Your Website?
Before you even start trying to achieve Google search engine optimization, it's a good idea to know how Google figures out your ranking. What determines the rank you are in when people search for keywords related to your website? Google actually has a specific algorithm, which is basically a formula that determines the rank of the keyword(s) given website specific keyword(s). The overall process is called PageRank Technology -- it is trade marked. Only the Google folks knows what this algorithm is - it's sort of like the secret sauce found on the hamburgers at your local McDonald's. The point is it works for them, for their advertisers and for the visitors who use their search engine.
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The algorithm is extremely technical, but to put it simply, usually the formula is used to looks at things like your overall web content, the page titles on your site, the number inbound links, your site's outbound links, and how much time visitors spend on a website, etc., etc.. If you want to learn more about how Google ranks websites you can read about it at www.google.com/technology.
Google Search Engine Optimization Tips
Now that you understand a bit more about the way Google determines rank, it's important that you learn how to optimize your website so it can work well with the Google search engine. These important Google search engine optimization tips can help you to improve your ranking when used properly:
Tip #1 - Pay Attention to Page Titles - First of all, you need to pay attention to page titles. Google does look at the page titles on your website. In some cases website editors merely give pages random titles such as "New Page" or "Page 1." Whether you or your web designer builds your web pages make sure that meaningful page titles are created. I strongly suggest that the all important keyword for any given page is included in the title also.
Tip #2 - Build Inbound Links - Inbound links are very important to Google ranking. The more inbound links you have to your site, the better you are going to perform on Google rankings. This Google search engine optimization point is a must for any serious website developer. If you don't have many inbound links to your site, you need to build them. Yahoo! and DMOZ (The Open Directory Project) and just two of many website directories that can help you build inbound link credibility once you list with them. I must tell you the theirs cost money but, there are free ones on the web -- just Google them! ;-) Warning! Be wary of using submitter software that submits your website to hundreds or in some case thousands of free directories. Re: Many of those directories are of poor quality. They usually have a backlog of thousands of sites to review before they ever get to yours.
Tip: Link popularity is increasingly more important for your site to rank well with the search engines these days. Here's a FREE tool you can use to see your website's backward links. It's called the Link Popularity Tool on AddMe.com. You can use it now or down the road when you're ready. BTW: AddMe submits your site to a select few of directories... Search Engine Submission - AddMe |
Tip #3 - Add Plenty of Content with Relevant Keywords - Google also looks at the overall content on your site. This means for search engine optimization you need to have plenty of quality content that includes relevant keywords. In real estate it's location, location, location -- on the web it's content, content, content! Don't try keyword stuffing to get better rankings - it won't work. In the good old days, (...back in the 1990s that is), many webmaster wannabes tried those tricks -- don't do it! In fact, trying to fool the SEs, especially Google, could backfire because your site may get blacklisted.
Tip #4 - Develop Text Links with Your Web Page Keywords - Developing links with keywords that are imbedded in your text links can also help you to optimize your site. In other words, come up with creative ways to work your keywords into you text links.
Google looks closely at the links that you have on your site. So, instead of just using plain language in a link, use keywords in your text links.
Ranking well with Google is an excellent way to... ... bring in more traffic to your web site. Of course in order to do this, Google search engine optimization is necessary. Optimizing your site for Google is not difficult and it may take some time -- but, it's well worth it. By adding page titles, building inbound links, and creating content with good keywords you can achieve excellent rankings with Google.

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