|
|
I’ve always been interested in television and the Nielsen ratings. But keeping track of a large populations television viewing habits
can be a difficult and non-precise. Nielsen ratings rely polling and user
feedback amongst other reporting tools.
The internet, on the other hand, is much easier to track. That’s
why Google and other search engines use Alexa. Anyone can download the add-on to a browser and it tracks
which sites you visit. Thus, Google uses this data as part of its algorithm
when determining natural search rankings.
Now think about it…who goes to your website more than you do? No
one…
Download Alexa and you are bound to increase your page’s
ranking!
Another cool tool by Google is Page
Rank. This works similarly to Alexa and tracks traffic
to the site and the number of links. To quickly get a Google Page Rank on any
website just install the Google toolbar. Page
Rank is one of the original core features of Google, one of the reasons why Google
search results contained more relevant information. Page Rank ranks web pages
based on inbound links weighs but not all inbound links are equal. And inbound
link from a small website such as the Marietta Journal does not contribute as
much to a Page Rank as a link coming from a large site such as CNN or the New
York Times. Therefore, pay attention to this number, any number greater than
four is awesome, when joining sites and directories. Remember: quality NOT
quantity!
By using tools such as
Alexa’s tool bar and the Google Toolbar you can gauge the quality of your
inbound links and work to build a stronger network of websites that link to
your store. But there is one caveat to this Page Rank is not the sole tool
Google uses to place sites in search results, relevant content is also
important. A link from the New York Times may give your site a large boost but
if someone is searching locally for restaurants in Marietta a link from the
Marietta Journal, a local newspaper, could be just as important.
|
Currently rated 0 by 0 people
|
|
|
|
|
Subscribe:
Email  |
RSS 
|
|
|
|
I have continually stressed the importance of links in regards to optimizing your storefront to ensure that your site is ranked high in search engines, Alexa and Google Page Rank. While there are three types of links: inbound, outbound and reciprocal, it is important to understand to which sites to link your URL. In the world of the Internet, linking sites is a form of association. You are saying “think of me when you are on this site, we are friends, etc.” Therefore, a rule of thumb and suggestions to link by:
1. Content must be related!
As I stated before, links are considered association not only to customers, but search engines as well. Before adding an outbound link, make sure supporting context exists. With inbound links, you don’t want to risk putting your website in a negative light. Check the Page Rank of the sites you are associated with—yes, it is a popularity contest…but hopefully without all of the drama! This is especially useful when determining whether or not to pay to be listed in a directory. Even if the site is popular, content still must be related! Have a purpose for the link or you will be penalized when the spiders crawl.
2. AllinURL
Searching for sites that use the same keywords you do is a great way to find new sites to which to link your site. You don’t want to link to competitors, but you should respond to blogs and forums. This will help expand industry discussion and you can sneak in your URL for contact information or as a hyperlink. For instance, if you are responding to a blog to which you disagree, include a hyperlink to the page on your site which helps prove your point. This is also a great chance to add more links to deeper pages on your site. (Yes, I do encourage comments to my blogs…I get lonely!)
3. Blogs
We all love blogs, or we wouldn’t be here…and they are a great way to encourage customer-generated content and outbound links. For instance, I have written many blogs in response to an article. Adding the link to the article helps both sites because search engines perceive this as credibility, social interaction and related content. Truly, I do it for the sole purpose of educating my readers and avoiding plagiarism…
Blog rolls are another great way to expand your blog. Add an RSS feed of another blog on a topic that your readers might find interesting. Again, this increases credibility, association and outbound links. Additionally, with greater information on your site, you are likely to gain repeat visitors.
4. Quality, not Quantity!
To sum it all up, it is important to remember that when you create links on a daily basis it is QUALITY not quantity! This includes the factor on content, page ranking and credibility. The Internet is a great place to create loyal customers and gain brand awareness, but you are constantly molding your brand image. Be sure this is done with careful consideration… not everyone’s brand can be strengthened through the help of a tree frog.
Now, go link crazy!
Webster
|
Currently rated 0 by 0 people
|
|
Tags: e-commerce solution, link, search ranking, page rank, alexa, hyperlink, outbound, inbound, reciprocal, site optimization, SEO |
|
Categories: SEO, RSS, User Generated Content, Ecommerce Blog |
|
|
|
Subscribe:
Email |
RSS
|
|
|
