| Previously... | | | | Click through rates on your site are now observed |
| In our article on Understanding Google's Algorithm [ a | | | | by Google as well. If your site is seen on the Google |
| brief explanation was given on what the Google | | | | search results, how often is it clicked instead of the |
| algorithm is and a few general tips were given to help | | | | other 9 sites on the same page? This is tracked with |
| the beginner to optimize their website for it. This | | | | many things in mind, including seasonal click through |
| article will go into much more depth on different | | | | rates as well as current trends among browsers. In |
| tactics to use to further optimize your site for higher | | | | this system, if you own a ski shop online, obviously |
| rankings in Google's search engine. | | | | your site will be ranked higher during the winter on |
| Types of Optimization | | | | certain keywords than during the summer. Likewise, |
| As explained in the previous article, there is a myriad | | | | if you promote a beach resort online, then your site |
| of things needed to be done in order to properly and | | | | will be more likely to be ranked higher during the |
| completely optimize your site to take advantage of | | | | summer months and during spring break than during |
| Google's algorithm. Here is a quick list of the things | | | | the winter or fall. |
| we will be learning to optimize, which will be explained | | | | PR (Google's Page Rank) |
| in further depth shortly. | | | | PR, or Google's Page Ranking system, is a way to |
| Things we will be going over in this article will include: | | | | keep track of how popular your site is. This is |
| Text Links and Optimization, Content Optimization, | | | | determined through traffic to your site as well as the |
| Domain Registration, Whois Information, Click | | | | amount of related sites linking to your own. The |
| Through Rates, PR (Page Rank), Traffic, Frequency | | | | complexities of this system have not fully been |
| of Updates, and IP address. | | | | discovered yet, but the main thing to know is that |
| Text Links and Optimization | | | | the more related links and the more high quality |
| Although briefly explained in the first article, there are | | | | traffic you have coming to your site the higher your |
| new ways of getting good links coming out almost | | | | PR will be. With links from high PR sites, your own PR |
| daily, and having a deeper knowledge of getting links | | | | will skyrocket, bringing you ever higher in Google's |
| to your site from related ones is always important. | | | | search results. |
| As said before, try to stay away from the doorway | | | | The algorithm also takes your PR into account when |
| pages or portals out there, as well as the FFA pages, | | | | working out rankings. The higher PR your site has (on |
| as these will hurt your rankings on the major search | | | | all of its pages), and the longer your site has a high |
| engines more than help them. Be careful who you | | | | PR, the more likely you are to get in the top rankings |
| request links from, in regards to sites that are not | | | | with Google. Even with a page ranking of 6 (out of |
| within your specific category, or at the very least | | | | 10), the results can be astounding, and your ranking |
| make sure they have a section for your general area | | | | within the search results will continue to grow. |
| on their links page, such as a "web services" section | | | | Traffic |
| if you are a web hosting company. | | | | Traffic is also monitored to and from your site, and |
| Links from completely unrelated sites on a page with | | | | even how long your visitors stay. This allows Google |
| links from all different categories from all over the | | | | to accurately gauge the amount of "real" traffic you |
| internet will not benefit your site much, if at all. This | | | | get in any given month, as well as the type of |
| being said, don't worry if a site adds a link to your | | | | visitors you receive and the overall popularity of your |
| own without a request simply because they like your | | | | site. Now, for the younger sites that only get a few |
| site or services or product. The added traffic is | | | | hits a day at most, this will not effect your rankings |
| always a plus, and if you don't already have a lot of | | | | as much as the larger sites with hundreds or |
| incoming links, every little bit helps. | | | | thousands of visitors a day. Instead of focusing on |
| Content Optimization | | | | the amount of traffic you get to your site, focus on |
| Be sure your content is all related to the subject | | | | the quality of the traffic you receive. With more |
| your site is based on. Don't have articles on the latest | | | | visitors that stay longer and actually stay to view |
| video games if you sell furniture, as the keywords | | | | your site and purchase your product or sign up as |
| are much less likely to get picked up, and most | | | | users, you should be able to get better rankings than |
| people looking to buy furniture online don't want to | | | | some of the sites that have three times the volume |
| be bogged down searching through hundreds of | | | | of traffic but one tenth the amount of time spent by |
| pages of video game reviews while trying to find a | | | | that traffic on your site. |
| couch that will match their living room set. | | | | Quality is king, while quantity is simply an added |
| Free content sites are always helpful, and although | | | | benefit on today's internet. Work on your quality and |
| the content is duplicate, with the added articles and | | | | then you can focus on the quantity. |
| guides you will attract more visitors, increasing your | | | | Update Frequency |
| rating through the quality of your traffic. Be sure to | | | | Spiders from Google also check the frequency your |
| always include the article exactly as you got it, and | | | | site is updated with their new algorithm. The more |
| include the actual author's name and a link to their | | | | your site is updated, in essence, with fresh and |
| site at the very least. Stay away from tactics such | | | | unique content, the higher it will become ranked in |
| as simply copying another site's front page for an | | | | the Google search engine. If you take a month |
| article, even if you plan on giving an author name and | | | | vacation, leaving your site to gather dust until you |
| a link to where you got the information from. This | | | | come back, be prepared for a drop in your rankings. |
| can be seen as not only duplicate content, but is also | | | | If you update your site daily, on the other hand, you |
| a technique used by spammers to provide a huge | | | | can expect to be ranked much higher (provided you |
| collection of "content" in order to boost their | | | | have fresh, related content) than the sites that only |
| rankings. Once the same information has been seen | | | | update once a week. |
| enough times by the Google spiders, it is considered | | | | Basically, as the old adage says, "You reap what you |
| "duplicate content" and therefore disregarded. | | | | sew." Or, in other words, the more work you put |
| The most important thing to remember when trying | | | | into something, the better results will come of it. In |
| to optimize your content is that writing your own | | | | general, this remains true for not only Google, but |
| articles and information will provide your site with | | | | the other search engines and directories as well. |
| free, unique content. This attracts browsers and at | | | | IP Address |
| the same time impresses the Google spiders. Having | | | | Even the IP address is considered in the Google |
| unique content will even make other webmasters | | | | Algorithm, which can be a good or bad thing, |
| much more apt to link to your site as an "authority" | | | | depending on the other websites that are currently |
| in the field. | | | | sharing your IP. If you are on a specific IP address |
| Domain Registration | | | | that is dedicated to your site, you have little to |
| Another thing checked for by the Google algorithm is | | | | worry about, but if your IP is shared between |
| how long your domain is actually registered for. Many | | | | multiple websites, you could have a real problem. IP |
| Spam sites only register domain names for one year, | | | | addresses are recorded and compared between your |
| leaving it to die so they can move on with an | | | | site and others on the web. If, for example, your site |
| untainted domain name to attempt to spam their | | | | just happens to be on the same server as a |
| way into the top rankings on Google. Keeping your | | | | spammer who shares your IP, not only will Google |
| domain registered for five or more years, although it | | | | delete the spammer from their rankings, but they |
| may cost a bit more initially, will help your rankings | | | | could also delete your site simply for being related to |
| considerably in Google's search engine rankings. | | | | the Spam site. |
| Whois Information | | | | Obviously, there are some simple solutions to this |
| Your Whois information, as stated in the previous | | | | problem, including talking to your hosting company to |
| article, is also taken into account when calculating | | | | get a dedicated IP address specifically for your own |
| your rankings on the search engine. Is your physical | | | | site. This might cost a bit more per month or year, |
| address a real place, or was it falsified? Is your | | | | depending on your billing schedule, but the benefits |
| contact information up to date, including your phone | | | | will be numerous. If you simply don't have the cash |
| number and mailing address? Is your name associated | | | | flow to pay the extra money per month, you can |
| with spam sites from the past? All this information is | | | | search through the sites that share your IP and |
| recorded and worked into the algorithm. Just be sure | | | | report spammers to your hosting company. In nearly |
| to have your actual information used when | | | | every case they will be ready and willing to get rid of |
| registering a domain name, and make sure your | | | | spammers on their server. |
| contact information is accurate. Another tip would be | | | | Overview |
| to use your full name when registering a domain | | | | Again, the basic idea is to keep your site reputable in |
| name, including middle name as well as any titles, such | | | | its promotion practices. Stay away from anything |
| as Junior or the Third, as this will help to prevent | | | | that could possibly classify your site as a Spam site, |
| confusion between yourself and other webmasters. | | | | and keep good, relevant links and content coming. |
| Click Through Rates (CTR) | | | | |