Search Engine Submission, Link Exchange and Link Building
Part 2: Search engine submission, link exchange & link building
What is it? Search engine submission and link exchange is the process of letting the search engines know you exist and how much of an authority you are on your selected keyword phrases. You may have a new website or an old website, but if you have never submitted it to the search engines, then how will they know to go to your site and check it out and add it to their directory? Some sites get lucky and are found by chance, but there is never a guarantee of that!
Would you like to know if your website is indexed in Google? Go to Google and type in: site:www.yourdomain.com . This will show you the title and description of the pages of your site they know about. If they are all the same or they don't have a title or description listed, chances are very good that your site is invisible to your target market.
For instance, if your website was submitted properly to a major search engine, (let's use Yahoo for this example) then Yahoo would send out investigators or SPIDERS to check out your site and find out what it is about. This is where your search engine optimization comes into play. Once it knows what your site is about, it files it in the correct place in its base of websites. Then it makes sure to come back and check out your site every 7 to 10 days (sometimes more frequently) and see if you have added new content, updated it and made improvements. This is a good thing, because everytime Yahoo visits your site is a chance for you to move up in rank.
Now, Google on the other hand, puts a lot of emphasis on link building. Especially one way links from quality sites that are similar in theme that link TO your site. To Google, links are like votes. As in the presidential race, some links carry more weight than others. Your and my vote are important, but not nearly as important as our Senators votes. The more votes you have, the more Google see's you as authority on your keyword phrases*.
*One important point to make about link building & link exchange is that there is no sense in doing it if you do not do it properly. Most websites will ask you for a TITLE and a DESCRIPTION for your site. It is crucial that the title be one of your Keyword phrases. The reason being is because that tells the search engines what your site is an authority about. I.e. lets say your Title is: Seattle WA Real Estate - and you sign up for a hundred good links with this title, then that will tell the search engines that you are an authority on Seattle WA Real Estate and will raise your ranking in the search engines. It's good to focus on 1 or 2 good keyword phrases to begin with. Then over time as your site gains recognition and staying power, you can add more.
Search Engine Link Building
Link exchange or Reciprocal linking is one type of link that is very easy to get and use. It requires only that you place a link on your site back to the website that links to you. It's the "You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours" theory. You are voting for them, and they are voting for you. Now...many SEO experts are in disagreement on whether link exchange and/or reciprocal linking is good or bad. I am of the opinion that if you do it right and don't abuse it by linking to all kinds of junk sites and link farms, then you can not harm your site in the least bit. the key to this is to only trade links with relevant quality websites. If they are considered an authority by the search engines on a similar subject as you, then their vote is a quality vote. The trick is to separate the good ones from the bad. AND NEVER participate in link farms.
One-way linking is a bit harder to get - but gives your site a lot of credit. This is like having an renowned art gallery giving credit to an artist for his work. Again - you have to make sure you use those keyword phrases. Depending on your industry, you will have to search long and hard for these sites and then you will likely have to convince them to link to you. hey, if it wasnt hard, the vote wouldnt be worth as much! It is important to point out that some of these one-way links should be from directories and sites you have to pay for to get into. By paying for a link, you are telling the search engines that you are serious about your site and what it is about. You give your site more credibility and search engines like that.
SO.......How do I start helping you with your search engine submission, link exchange and link building?
- Perform Search engine analysis report
- Create Submission/directory List
- Create Link exchange list & formatted code
- Create Free one-way direct link list
- Create Paid one-way direct link list
First, I will research your site and see how much the search engines know about you. If you are already in the search engines, then I need to make sure that it is done properly.
Second, I will research and create a list of all of the places that you need to be submitted to and create a format for each Keyword Phrase.
Third, I will create a list of relevant quality link exchange and reciprocal linking sites.
Fourth, I will create a list of relevant, quality, free one-way link sites.
Fifth, I will create a list of relevant, quality paid for one-way link sites.
Plan of attack: Search Engine Submission and Linking (SESLEB)
Once I have determined all of the above, I will give you a proposal detailing all of the tasks I will complete. These may include but are not limited to; submitting you to all of the major search engines, signing you up for relevant blog sites and article directories, verifying your site, adding you to business directories, creating & submitting your sitemap to yahoo and google, completing a link exchange plan, a one-way link plan and a one-way paid for link plan, installing Google Analytics on your site and finally setting up a weekly report to show you how people are finding your site, where they are coming from, and what keywords they are typing in.
Time Frame: This is the biggest question most people ask. There is not specific time frame that I can give you. Search engines are finicky and each has their own set or rules. Some search engines take weeks to rank your site, some take months. Some rank right away but take time to rise. Some never make it in one search engine or another. There is never a guarantee.
My guarantee: You don't pay me a dime of the SESLELB work I do until your site shows up on the front page of Yahoo &/OR Google &/OR MSN for any 1 of your Keyword phrases.
So what are you waiting for? You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Give me a call or fill out one of the forms at the bottom of the site or to the left and I will get in contact with you.
Back to Part 1: Search Engine Optimization
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