A Look At Search Engines
Facts are that noone fully understands the algorithms used by search engines. At best, educated guesses are made because Google isn't telling and if they're not telling, we don't know. Unfortunately, most people rarely get to the educated guesses and move right on to the schemers and self proclaimed SEO specialists. They make claims of having figured out the algorithms used by Google and other engines. Commonly, what you read about, such as how to fool google and other search engines is more likely to get you into trouble or suspended rather than boosting your rankings.
Chances are, that for your purposes, search engine optimization can be a rather simple thing. You make sure your meta tags are correct and relavant for those engines that use them (Google does not).
Next, you fill the content of your pages with keywords used in your meta tags, each about 3 times and highlighted, if possible. You do nothing to your site that is going to get it penalized by the engines. You do it simple, you do it right, and you do your homework.
Beware of over optimizing to perfection, Google especially, is likely to lower the rank of your site. Be sure your navigation is clear and that it flows from page to page. Be leary of javascript and flash which hinder spidering of your web site. Finally, link to pages on the web of importance and get them to link back to you. Now you are ready to submit to all of the engines.
Note: Optimize and submit accordingly: Yahoo, MSN and then Google. This is the true pecking order of importance according to their overall search engine rankings on the internet. Bet you didn't know that, huh?
Myths encountered are varied and many. That is why at NPS we do a complete analysis of your site, your competition and those sites already ranking onto the first pages of Yahoo, MSN and Google. By making comparisons, we can better optimize your site to be just a little bit better, which will not put you on the first page, but when the time comes and your site works its way toward better results, it will be seen and unhindered by the engines.
How do you get onto the first page? The engines don't put you there, you do. You can't get there without spending the time and money it takes to get there. We can only assure that your page will be permitted and read by the engines. How you get there has nothing to do with Google or any other company. This is the mistake most people make and the foolish promises SEO companies make. If you want visitors to your website, you are going to have to advertise. Whether in print, on TV or online, your advertising budget must include promoting your website. Do you think eBay and Yahoo advertise on TV for the fun of it? They are number one on Google, MSN and Yahoo, yet they spend millions in advertising each year. Why? Because that is what you have to do. There are no get rich quick schemes in life or on the internet.
Of course, there is more to it than this, but that's our job to take care of and that's what we do. It is enough for you to know that things are not as complicated as they may seem when it comes to SEO and that if you really want to make money on the net, you have to spend money on advertising; just like any other business.
