Web Sites and Search Engines
- It takes time to move up in the rankings
- Getting listed near the top is difficult, but might not be necessary
- Customers will search for your business name and find your site
Getting listed
Most people who are considering a Web site eventually have this question: How can I get listed with Google and the other main search engines? The answer is not simple.
First the bad news
With millions of sites on the Web, there is no way to be certain your site will be listed near the top when a user searches for you with keywords (such as, “web site developers”).
You can pay a service to register your site with the major search engines. Fees can be reasonable, but the routine must be repeated at least bimonthly to ensure results. You can also pay the search engines directly. Such costs can exceed $500 per year.
Paying for a listing does not ensure a high listing order. This continues to be a function of Web site structure. Site design and the coding that makes the site work are necessary elements. Page title, keywords, image tags, and other source coding are still the main determinators of how well your site's pages perform against other pages in a list of search results.
Now the good news
It is also true that not paying does not eliminate you from a search engine. The chances are very good that its “webcrawlers” — the search engine's automated system that explores the Internet — will find your Web site.
With all the site-design issues covered, three additional steps ensure your site's rankings improve. First, it's important for your site's content to be updated regularly. Old and static pages are noted by webcrawlers and steadily move down the search engine rankings.
Next, your webmaster should submit your site to the major search engines bimonthly. This is not just a safeguard against moving down, but “reminds” the search engines about your site's existence and, combined with all the other techniques listed here, can help your site move up in the rankings.
Finally, remember it takes time to move up. There are millions of sites on the Web. Moving to the top rarely happens quickly. You can expect to wait months or more than a year to make the (preferred) top two pages in a search-results list. The approach described here, however, helps to ensure that once there, your site will stay there.
The best news of all
There is no need to be discouraged. Most of your potential customers will search the Web for your business name, either because they heard of you or have your business card. In this situation, your site will be listed at or near the top of a search-results list (if it has a good, unique name).
Learn why you should have a Web site, and what we do to create a site for you.
Also see:
What will your site do for you?
What does a Web site cost?
What are the steps?
Why choose us?
Contact us for a free consultation. We are happy to answer any questions you might have — even if you intend to use another Web-site developer.