Better Search Engine Rankings (3)
The past two columns were about keyword selection and website optimization. Now it is time for the final step.
Once your site has been made relevant for the right keyword phrases, you should let the search engines know! You can do this by acquiring quality links to your website. Quality links are seen as "votes of confidence" by search engines like Google.
There are free and paid links to be gotten. Good free links include DMOZ.org and Yahoo. Yes, Canadian companies can still register for free through ca.yahoo.com, but there are long waiting times. That is why there is a paid option as well, with a 7-day turnaround. DMOZ is an important directory, but it is rather difficult to get included because it is volunteer-run, and many categories do not even have an editor.
Another free link is from your Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce website, of course. Update your profile today!
Apart from free or paid directory and search engine links you can also try to work on reciprocal links: you can get other relevant websites to link to you, provided you link back to them. It is up to you whether you want to engage in such linking techniques, as more external links may mean that people end up buying from your link partners instead!
For more information: contact your webmaster, or email Nardo Kuitert at nardo@u-cwebs.com.
Nardo Kuitert is an Internet Consultant with Fergus Website Development and Optimization firm U-C WEBS (www.u-cwebs.com). U-C WEBS also offers Internet advertising opportunities on www.ferguspages.com.