Google PageRank Fall Update 2009

At the end of October, Google released it's latest PageRank (PR) updates. Has your Google PR gone up or down on your website? One of our brand new websites has gone from PR0 to PR5 in just two months and we thought we'd give you some insight on how we did this.

As many of you may know, Google PageRank is based primarily on a link analysis algorithm that is similar to a ballot system. When one page links to another page, it is effectively casting a vote for the other page. The more votes that are cast for a page, the more important that page is assumed to be. It is also calculated on the quality of those links. A handful of links from authoritative, trustworthy, relevant pages far outweigh hundreds of links from so-so sites. Keep in mind, the Google algorithm doesn't solely rely on this, and has literally hundreds of factors, but that is a primary factor.

Here are our tips on improving your Google PageRank:

1) Create professional and useful content or applications on your website. When people find your content valuable, they will likely link and reference to your web content.

2) Provide client testimonials to your vendors. They will be happy to post your testimonial on their website and link to your website to show that its legitimate and credible (format the testimonial with a link).

3) Post insightful comments on blogs related to your industry (like this one!). Avoid simply commenting with just "good post". In your comment, demonstrate a shared experience or even challenge their idea with relevant sources. Make sure that in your profile, your name links back to your website.

4) Your partners and clients are also good sources of relevant inbound links. Work diligently at getting links from them.

5) Does your business have other websites. Make sure you create links to your website from your other web properties (but make sure these are not mirror sites).

There are many more ways to get credible inbound links, such as getting a link building campaign done by professionals. Building up Googe PageRank through a link building campaign requires creativity and hard work. The upside is once you've earned a good Google PageRank for your website, the payoff is long term. You'll get ongoing 'free' visitors from Google that you wouldn't have otherwise.

Labels: Google, SEO

posted by Fred @ 5:05 PM

                         

Ever Dance the Google Dance?

For those who know Google well like us, the Google Dance is not a dance at all. It's when Google changes their ranking algorithm significantly to try to get better search results on a Google search. Google calls it 'improving the users experience'. This comes along only 1-3 times a year and is referred to as the Google Dance and is not advertised in advance.

As a result, it's common to see a dramatic loss of search engine traffic if it is not adjusted for. For companies like www.Answers.com, this meant a loss of over 28% of their 3 million visitors a month. That's 840,000 visitors or about 30,000 per day, so you can see how this can be a really big deal for some companies. Assuming that each search visitor is worth at least 50 cents per, that can add up to a lot of money if it lasts a month or more.

As we like to say around here, Google keyword rankings are not a god-given right, and are not static. So once we get you there, that doesn't it will stay unless we continually monitor and make adjustment when necessary. SEO (search engine optimization) is not a one-time event but an ongoing process, across all the search engines, not just Google.

The algorithm changes actually happen throughout the year, but the term Google Dance is reserved for the bigger changes. The small changes will move your listing a page or two whereas GD can put you on the 10th page or worse. Keep in mind, it can also move your listing up as well. I sometimes think this is Google's way of leveling the playing field every now and again. Not necessarily a bad thing...

BTW, there really is a Google 'dance'. I've been to it, and the Googlers really dance at the Googleplex. Free food and drink (of course) abound, but with entertainment like arcade games, volleyball, live music etc. Takes place in August usually...

Labels: Google dance, Google rankings, search engine traffic, SEO

posted by Fred @ 2:05 PM