Good news for the small business owner looking to move up in the Google search rank – your collection of high quality articles and pages rank higher than a high volume website filled with low quality articles.
Google now values quality more than quantity by screening out websites with high-volume and low-quality content. In this new focus search ranking rewards go to the sites with high-quality content and relevant search results.
Social Media Examiner recently published 7 tips to help your business move to the top of Google’s new ranking system. Here is an overview of the tips:
#1. It’s all about the user
Look at your site through the perspective of the user searching Google. Google’s number one objective is provide the highest quality and most relevant search results possible. Your site content should provide excellent relevant information for a search term.
#2. Content: Focus on quality over quantity
It’s better to have fewer high-quality pages than many low-quality pages. It is still true the more pages indexed for a search term increases your site’s chances of getting a high Google rank, but pages or posts offering little value can negatively impact your site’s ranking.
#3. Links: Focus on quality over quantity
It’s better to have a few in coming links from high-quality sites than a high number of incoming links generated from article distribution sites. A great way to generate high-quality links is by guest posting. Wrap your links in important keywords – a link around “Portland Oregon Commercial Realtor” would be more effective than a link around your name.
#4. Make the most of social media, social sharing and social search
The impact of the Facebook Like, Twitter and the Google +1 buttons on search results hasn’t been document yet, but the mere fact they exist is enough to include them on your site. Google refers to their +1 button as a tour guide for the web. Providing relevant useful content that people “like” and want to share is best way to stay on the “tour”.
#5. Let search engines know you’re there
Tell Google about your content and make it easy for users to find by using meta titles and descriptions that closely match the content on the page. The short paragraph showing in the search returns should provide a clear description of the content and encourage users to click to site.
#6. The truth behind duplicate content
It’s not that Google penalizes websites for duplicate content; Google just doesn’t show it in the search results. When choosing between pages with the same content, Google tries to present the most relevant and original content and omit the rest.
#7. Don’t overdo the advertising
Be sure that advertising does not interfere with the content on the page. Google tends to equate pages jammed with advertising with spam low-quality websites.
High-quality content that people what to share has always been the keystone to good SEO, but Google’s new focus strengthens and rewards this more than ever.
Sue Surdam | Artizon Digital | WordPress Specialist and Social Media Solutions | 503-577-1035
Frank Paiano says
November 6, 2012 at 2:05 pmHi, is it best to move your site up in Google on your own rather then to buy links that supposedly gives you high page rank? I see a lot of those but I’m skeptical 🙂
Sue Surdam | Artizon Digital says
December 25, 2012 at 9:13 amYou are right to be skeptical, buying links is generally not a good idea. What Google whats to see are links to your site from other sites that they consider high quality and relevant to your site. Paid links are often from low level websites with spun content that creates articles with little to no value. Low quality back links will not increase page rank.