SEO consultants will tell you that you need to be in the Top 30 or you can
pretty much give up any hope of getting a visitor to your web site.
Yes, there is truth in that Top 30 goal. Occasionally, a potential
customer will make his or her way to the #30 position in search of a particular
product or service. The odds just aren't that high.
Yet, industry research and ongoing search engine user behavior
analysis shows that most people will focus on the first few results. Who
can blame them? It takes a great deal of patience to wade through the rest
of the options.
It's going to mean a great deal more if you can get that prized
search term in the Top 10 (first screen) or even the Top 3 or Top 5 with
the right SEO marketing strategies.
With so much competition, is that even possible? Yes - if you're
realistic. Here's the key: don't spend an inordinate amount of time in the
single keyword "cars" if you offer something more specific, such as "automotive
accessories." You stand a much better chance of getting that coveted top
spot with a more reasonable search phrase.
Don't ignore those single words if they really represent what
you do. Generally, single words have a fighting chance if other SEO factors
are rooting for you along the way, including pages with lots of content,
options to include content up high, other pages featuring the same keyword,
a domain name with the keyword, a page name with the keyword and plenty
of link popularity built around the keyword. You just have to tie it all
together.
Obviously, fewer people search for "automotive accessories"
than "cars." But you'll be able to reach more search engine users - and
prospective customers - if you frame most of your SEO strategy around specific
search engine phrases that adequately reflect what you do. Join the Top
10 Club and reap the benefits.
About the author:
Michael Murray is vice president of Fathom SEO, an Ohio-based
search engine optimization
firm. He authored the “U.S. Manufacturers Resist Natural Search Engine
Optimization and Online Sales Leads” study and a white paper, "Search Engine
Marketing: Get in the Game."
michael@fathomse o.com