Cheaters Never Win: Why It’s No Longer Easy to Get on the Front Page of Google

The Internet is filled with countless web pages, each vying for a spot at the top of the most popular search engines: Google, Yahoo! and Bing, to name a few. In order to properly optimize the search engine ranking of a business, keywords and metadata must be used. Producing quality updates and content on a regular basis is also very important to being placed high, particularly on Google. Most people want to place high on Google’s search pages because it is the most used search engine on the Internet, by far. But Google changes its search algorithms on a regular basis now and instead of informing businesses of the changes like it used to, the Internet giant has decided to make its modifications on a more covert level. According to experts, this is giving users a better experience because many companies would use SEO to have themselves show up on searches that were not relevant to them.

For example, a Thai restaurant hoping for more hits on its website may include keywords and metadata that suggested it was also a pizza shop because many people enjoy eating pizza. The problem is that this is a shady practice and is rather misleading. Other companies would stack keywords on each page and post links on certain websites that acted as if they were linking to the companies’ websites. Google, sick of these behaviors because they were not necessarily honest to the users searching for the businesses, decided that it would no longer share its algorithm changes. Instead, it has been weeding out businesses that use illegitimate practices to place highly and pushing them deep into the search results.

These issues often apply to companies that are trying to serve consumers on a national or international level. Desperate for customers in a competitive field, they may use unaccepted tactics in order to achieve a hire search ranking. Businesses that are locally focused may not have as tough of a market to compete in. Businesses looking to compete locally do have options such as submitting their information–including their websites–to local search listings online. In addition, opening social media accounts can be helpful, but only those that are kept active. Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising is another possibility. Corporate Conversions is aware and adept at implementing these and even more complex strategies, and can help you put your business prominently on the virtual map.  As a Yext Certified Partner, we have access to a great number of useful and easily manageable online directories and Yext’s co-branded business listing diagnostics scan.

By having a legitimate website with honest statements about your business; concise, accurate metadata; and fresh, keyword-friendly content, you should be able to compete online. Combining this with other approaches like PPC campaigns and a social media presence is a sure-fire way to establish your presence with Google. Contact Corporate Conversions to talk with us about the best strategy for your business online.