What key search engine factors rank websites best?

What are the secret key Search Engine Factors?

What factors do search engines use to rank websites?  This question is very important for business owners that want to drive traffic to their websites.  Whether they want to sell products or services, understanding how their website can be found easier than their competition is critical to their success.  The reality is that no one person actually knows the exact key search engine factors and their weights in the algorithm, but we do know what works when we test and collect data over time.   Also, understanding why search engines are in business helps us figure out the best strategies for getting your website ranked well for search terms that will bring the right people to your website.  Click on the following link if you still want to learn more about what SEO or Search Engine Optimization is.

One of the main things to know is that Google makes money by selling ads.  We all wish they were just providing an incredible search engine for us for free, but that’s not reality.  There’s nothing wrong with them selling ads.  It helps local and national businesses thrive when done right.  The point is, that they will only continue to sell ads if they are the best search engine in the world.  They have more than 2,000 full-time engineers working on the “algorithm” and clearly artificial intelligence.  There’s no way any of us are going to out-think Google.  What we can do is realize that it’s all about the user experience on our website and provide the most relevant, valuable, helpful content we can.  I call this the old-fashioned approach to SEO.  Do the right thing and over the long haul, you will end up on top.

secret factors search engines use to rank sites

Search Engine Algorithm??

This is not a comprehensive list, but includes the main criteria search engines use to rank web pages (Google, Yahoo! & Bing).  This should be very helpful to you.  If you want help with keyword research or SEO for your company, please feel free to contact us at Jim@summitbusinessmarketing.com or call us at (530) 426-8404.

  1. The main goal for search engine companies  is to make it as easy as possible for their clients to find exactly what they are looking for.
  2. The user experience is simple, easy to navigate, answers their questions, provides valuable information and clear contact information
  3. Domain age
  4. Page Rank [PR] – this is a logarithmic scale – for example a webpage with PR 4 is 100 times better ranked than one with PR 2
  5. Number of times your page has been indexed by the search engine – the more often you make changes or add content, the more often the “spiders” will index your site
  6. Valuable, unique content with relevant keywords/keyphrases [KW’s].
  7. Domain name contains KW’s
  8. Website title contains KW’s
  9. Site Description contains KW’s AND is super compelling for conversion – get someone to click on your site!
  10. KW’s in Header Tag – use large Header font
  11. Photo tags contain KW’s
  12. Videos are tagged with keywords and have a link back to your site (Hint – Google owns YouTube)
  13. Page backlinks (backlinks from sites with high PR are much better than a high number of backlinks from lower PR sites)
  14. Content added and updated regularly
  15. Local or industry specific directory listings are consistent with business name, address and phone [NAP]
  16. Domain backlinks
  17. Backlinks from .edu or .gov websites (these are considered good resources)
  18. Yahoo Directory – this costs money
  19. DMOZ directory
  20. Google cache age

Regularly updated and new content is the key.  Then use the above 20 tips to leverage that content.  Be sure to ask your clients what information would be most helpful to them.  Use their frequently asked questions to come up with new content ideas.

If you really want to rock your SEO, whether to do your due diligence on who to hire, or to do it yourself, I highly recommend this book (just click on the image for more information):

Image of local SEO secrets book by author Jim Kaspari, Folsom CA

I update the book regularly and didn’t hold back any secrets … enjoy!

To Your Wealth,

Jim Kaspari

Summit Business Marketing

Smart Business Coaching, Web Design . SEO . Marketing Consultation

p.530.426.8404 | f.440.425.6094

Jim@SummitBusinessMarketing.com

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