IMPROVING YOUR GOOGLE POSITION.

Google.co.uk, Yahoo.co.uk and MSN.co.uk are the three most popular search engines in the UK. They are designed to take a users' search term (for example 'UK weather') and return a list of websites which will be most helpful and appropriate (such as 'The MET office', 'BBC Weather' etc.).

At Add Design, when we design a website we always try to make it as google-friendly as possible. When we finish a website, we submit the www. address to all of the major search engines. In time (sometimes several weeks), each search engine will scan the site and index its content and pages for listing.

Once your site is listed it has to compete with all the other websites for position. If you search for your business name and location, for example 'Bobs T-Shirts Ipswich', you are likely to be listed at the top because there are very few other businesses who match the search. However, if you search for a more general term, such as 'T-Shirts', you are likely to be listed far down the list because of the large number of other companies selling T-Shirts.

A search engines' aim is to always return the most appropriate result, so it will always place a larger, more established and more popular website above a smaller, less visited one.

Without resorting to very technical methods (see our SEO service below), there are two main ways to improve the speed and height at which your website might be listed on a search engines.

1. To match the content of your website to the 'search words' somebody looking for a business like yours might type in.

2. To make your website appear more important and popular than anyone else's.

In both cases there are things that you can do which might improve your search engine position, or help your new website get listed.

Insert keywords.

A search engine is more likely to list you if it can match the words on your website directly to the words somebody has typed in. Think about the words people might type in to find your businesses and write a list.
In the example of 'Bobs T-Shirt Shop' keywords might be: 'T-Shirt Shop' , 'T-Shirts Ipswich' , 'T-Shirts Suffolk', 'Ipswich Clothes Shop', 'Bobs Ipswich', 'Bobs Clothing' etc.

Simply send these keywords to us and we can add them to your website for a small admin fee, or for free if you have a monthly hosting account with us.

Add links to your website.

We always recommend that a website has a 'links' section. This is a page which lists and links to other websites on the internet. By adding relevant links (to your suppliers, to other local businesses, to sites with more information) your website becomes better integrated and less likely to be a 'dead-end' for anyone a search engine sends there. If you already have a links page we can usually add additional links for a small admin charge, or for free if you have a monthly hosting account with us. If you don't have a links page, we can usually add one from as little as £35 +VAT.

Put links to your website on other websites

More important that having links on your website, is to have a link to you on other people's websites. This makes your website look more important and increases the chances of a search engine finding you, and listing you highly. There are a few ways to find websites which will link to your website.

Contact your suppliers.

Suppliers will often have a page on their website which lists their distributors. Make sure your company details, and most importantly a link to your website, is on that page. Likewise, business associations (such as The Chamber of Commerce) will have a directory of members which should include space for a website link.

Find directory sites.

Type in the name of your competitor on Google.co.uk. You might find a direct link to their website, but you might also find their details listed on a 'directory' website. A directory website is simply a website which lists the names and contact details of lots of different businesses from a particular industry or geographical location. You want your business details and website address listed on as many directories as possible. Most directories have a 'submit your details' button which will allow you to do this. As well as adding your details to all the directories your competitors are on, you can find good directory sites yourself by typing something like 'Your business type directory' or 'Your town directory' into Google.co.uk.

Two important things to know about directories. Firstly, some will insist on 'reciprocal linking'. This means they will only put you on their website if you put them on yours. Secondly, some will ask you to pay to be listed. Unless you are really sure it will help people find you, we would not recommend paying on any website as there are numerous free ones which will do a similar job.

Ask your friends.

Complementary businesses can always help their search engine position by linking to each other. If you are a pub for example, you might want to add links to a local B&B in exchange for the B&B adding a link to you.

Promote your website address on-line

If you have a very active life on-line - chatting on forums, using myspace pages, putting videos on YouTube - make sure you add links to your business website wherever you can. The more places your website address is posted, the more likely a search engine is to find it and consider it important enough to list.

Add your web address to your e-mails

Likewise, add your web address to the bottom of your e-mails. You can do this using the 'signature' option on your e-mail account. If you would prefer, we can add a link to your website as well as your company logo to your e-mail for you - inquire for details.

Promote your business off line

Searching on google etc. is only one way people will find your website. By promoting your website address elsewhere you are encouraging customers to look you up directly. Places you could advertise your website address include; on business stationery, on leaflets/brochures, on carrier bags, on adverts, in business directories, as part of your vehicle graphics, on merchandise etc.
The more people who visit your website by whatever means, the more important google is likely to consider it.

SEO service

While the methods outlined above can certainly help your chances of being listed competitively on search engines, they will not perform miracles. For businesses where a top 10 position on google is absolutely vital we offer a dedicated SEO (search engine optimisation) service. Using the latest methods and software we can guarentee a top 10 position for your business on some key searches within 3 months. For more information on our SEO service and a survey of the best keywords for your business, please contact us on 01394 460600.