200 Factors of SEO
I have been doing search engine optimization (SEO) for about two and a half years now and I am always amazed by the complexity of Google's search algorithm. At the same time, I am always happy to see the reason why some of the most popular sites rank well - because they are good sites that people like to visit and people link to.
Funny thing is, building a great site that people want to visit again and again (especially in the insurance market) is VERY challenging. So to rank well in the insurance market (or other "dry" but competitive markets like mortgages) you have to get technical and try to figure out what makes Google's search algorithm tick.
It looks like people are trying to do just that at Search Engine Watch right now. In the thread "What Are The 200 Signals Google Uses To Rank Pages? " Shor points to Rand's list of Search Engine Ranking Factors. The list really shows how complex the Google algorithm really is (and why it is not easy to fool.)
So if you are new to SEO and you are wondering what it takes to rank well in Google, take some time and read the list. Then go open a PPC account; because the list is guarantee to overwhelm you. :)
But seriously, SEO is overwhelming but not impossible. I wouldn't say don't do it - I would just recommend that you realize that SEO is a long process that requires patience, experience and a willingness to learn.
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Comments
Shocking! -roce6h6p
Posted by: Roy | June 15, 2006 10:24 PM
So if a person has patience and a willing to learn (but no experience) can he or she, by using the links above, turn a home computer and an internet connection into a source of revenue?
Posted by: Anonymous | June 16, 2006 08:21 AM
I had no knowledge of SEO when I started at InsureMe, and in truth, I barely used the Internet at that point. With the help of InsureMe I learned HTML and basic Webmaster skills, and I was allowed work time to tap into available resources to educate myself about SEO. But the one thing that I have always had that has helped me out in my SEO life is money.
If you are planning on making money online, you are going to need money as well. Money to get links, money to pay rent while you are learning, money to attend conferences on the subject, and money for whitepapers, ebooks, etc.
I have been lucky enough to have a company that has paid for my SEO education, and that has been a very good thing for me and the company (at least I hope that is what they think). If you don’t have a company bank-rolling you, you can generate money by doing pay-per-click marketing and reinvest the profits into your SEO education - I know some of our affiliates have done that and have been successful.
Remember that time is everything when you are optimizing for Google. It can take MONTHS to move up the rankings on Google on competitive terms – and that is where the patience part comes in. If you think you are going to master SEO and rank for all the terms you want in a matter of weeks, you are going to be disappointed.
In the end I would not discourage anyone from getting into the SEO world – but I also wouldn’t tell them to quit their day job right away either. There is only one #1 position for the term “health insurance†on Google – and there are hundreds of people gunning for it. I think most people are capable of figuring out the basics of SEO if they really put the time and effort into it, but as they say in Highlander, “there can be only one.â€Â
Posted by: James Omdahl | June 16, 2006 09:22 AM
I agree with you that it is not as easy as it looks to get into SEO. Time, Money and commitment is needed to make a name for youself in this ever changing industry.
Posted by: Khurram Ali SEO | July 1, 2006 10:30 PM