By: nlnunez
You’ve heard all the hype about blogs and websites earning tons of cash, you’ve researched a bit and found out it could catapult you from obscurity to fame, and you’re not afraid of hard work. Finally, you try your luck and launch your own blog. So far, so good. It looks a bit empty, so you type-out your first post, critique it thoroughly, and put it up for the world to see. It will only be a matter of days before someone finds their way into your site. Weeks pass by, but all you get are a couple of visitors who don’t even bother to leave comments. You post a few more articles but with less enthusiasm this time. In the end, your commitment to continue falters because of the lack of traffic. It seems rather pointless to persist. Ultimately, you just give up.
If this sounds like you, don’t fret. Most beginners have good intentions when they start a blog or website. They seriously want to deliver quality information that can help a lot of people. The only problem is that they lack a basic understanding of search engine optimization (SEO). SEO is the backbone of internet success. It is the process of designing and developing your website in order to make it more appealing to search engines such as Google, Yahoo!, and MSN and ensures that the website will be indexed and cataloged in the rankings. You want to shoot for the top ten in search engine rankings. If you rank anywhere outside the top ten, your chances of getting traffic greatly diminishes. Ranking outside the top thirty basically makes your website nonexistent. The next time you use a search engine, pay attention to the top ten websites that appear based on your search query. These are websites that have mastered SEO and, hopefully, have the best content available. Notice that you rarely need to go beyond the top ten to look for additional information. This is what SEO does for your website. It’s a cutthroat competition for the top ranking, and those who disregard SEO will certainly fail in online business and blogging.
Modern search engines’ ancestor is a program called Archie. In its infancy, the internet contained very limited hosted files and a manual search was still possible. Archie created a database out of all public directory listings and enabled users to look through the list until they found the file they were searching for. This basic formula is far removed from today’s search engines. Popular search engines such as Google, Yahoo!, and MSN employ sophisticated algorithms that allow them to crawl, index, and search websites accurately. The technology has developed to a point where fly-by-night websites that attempt to profit from traffic but provide little value are quickly identified and weeded out, leaving the best sites available. With the millions of websites in existence today, search engines save us the trouble of having to look through all of them in order to find what we want. They are an indispensable tool. Going against the rules of search engines or thinking they are unnecessary to online success will certainly lead to failure.
Unfortunately, there is no way to accurately pinpoint the specific criteria that search engines look for in a website. These algorithms are the closely guarded secrets of their respective companies. The programs used are also dynamic, changing with the times and never remaining locked in a specific position. What was true in the past may no longer apply today. However, despite the fluid nature of search engines, there are basic aspects of a website that must be properly configured in order to have a fighting chance for the top ten. These include, but are not limited to, the site’s popularity, age, inbound and outbound links, content quality, and targeted keywords. A large number of books teach website owners how to properly organize these elements in order to maximize SEO. They are usually written by people who have studied search engine trends, experimented with numerous websites, and have largely figured out what works and what doesn’t in SEO.
There are also those who use their knowledge of SEO in shady ways. Commonly called “black hats” – a reference to early Western movies where outlaws wore dark-colored hats – these individuals have mastered SEO but lack the patience to improve website value and quality. They employ tactics that skyrocket them to the top ten even if their website is relatively new. Common methods used to manipulate search engines include keyword stuffing, hidden text, doorway pages, multiple unrelated links, and redirects. These methods are now the bane of search engines and are part of the reason why the algorithms used are constantly being upgraded.
All those involved in website building and online business exist on a spectrum. On one end are the newcomers who refuse to learn SEO and only focus on creating content, while on the other end are black hats who are keen on attracting traffic but disregard website quality. Neither group is effective. The naïve beginners will eventually lose steam and quit. They are like entertainers who hone their craft but never make it to the limelight. The black hats will occasionally profit in the short run, but once their underhanded tactics are discovered, their website will eventually be banned from the rankings. Those who comfortably find middle ground, working on SEO while still producing quality content, will be the ones to reap the rewards in the end.
Proper SEO management and strategies are your royal flush in the struggle for traffic. Too much, and it could destroy your reputation. Too little, and it won’t be effective. Just right, and it will lead to your victory.
