Las Vegas lawyers - attorneys legal directory
Google Search Engine Optimization Tips
By Bob Schwartz, CRS, GRI ©2007 Promotions Unlimited all rights reserved.
This material is subject to copyright and any unauthorized use, copying or
mirroring is prohibited.
Having your firm's Web site rank well in Google takes hard work and a little
luck. Due to Google’s huge traffic, a top rating here will definitely pay
off in obtaining new legal clients. These tips will work, but unless you or
someone you hire follows through, your web site will never be using the full
potential high search engine placement affords. Note: most web site
designers do well at designing, graphics/colors etc., but do not know much
about optimization and look over all or most of these vital steps.
Below are ten tips to get you started on improving your legal web site:
1. Start out slowly. If possible, begin with a new site that has never been
submitted to the search engines or directories. Choose a relevent domain
name, and begin by optimizing just the home page. *Note – It is very
important that you OWN your domain (http://www.sacramento-ca-lawyers-attorneys-directory.com).
There are a number of web site design companies that produce sites and
register domain names for their clients, but actually retain ownership of
the domain. Also, many free/low-cost sites are really sub-domains of the
sponsoring company. One should never use such a sub-domain site . . . even
for free! Sub-domains usually look like: www.sandiegolawyerforyou.com/yourfirmname.htm
Most intelligent web surfers know sub-domains are free or low cost. You can
create a negative impression right at the beginning. Also, you’ll be
printing your web site’s address on your business card, letterhead,
advertising etc. What happens if the company who owns the top level domain
goes bankrupt, or decides to double your cost of the sub-domain? You are not
in control under a sub-domain, and in essence are promoting another’s
domain. For domain registration and name availability, visit
www.websitetrafficbuilders.com. Also, to research domain names, check out
our free download of Domain Name Analyzer.
Even though you can register a domain for one year at a time, I would
suggest you register for at least three to five years. Keep in mind, if you
neglect to renew your registration, you will automatically lose your domain
name. Someone could re-register it for their own use and benefit from the
traffic and standing you built.
2. Learn basic HTML. Many search engine optimization techniques include
editing the behind the scenes HTML code. Your high rankings can rely on
knowing which codes are necessary and which aren't.
3. Choose keywords wisely. The keywords you think might be perfect for your
site might not be what people actually use to search for your service.
Choose two or three highly targeted phrases for each page of your site.
Never shoot for general keywords such as "law" or "legal."
4. Write at least 200 - 250 words of visible text copy based on your chosen
keywords. This is a crucial component to high rankings and a successful Web
site. The search engines need to "read" keyword rich copy on your pages so
they can successfully classify your site. Use each keyword phrase numerous
times within your copy for best results.
5. Create a good Title tag. HTML title tags are critical because they're
given a lot of weight with all of the search engines. You must put your
keywords into this tag and not waste space with extra words. Do not use the
Title tag to exhibit your company name or to say "Home Page." Think of it
more as a "Title Keyword Tag" and create it accordingly. Add your company
name to the end of this tag, if you must use it.
6. Create Meaty Meta tags. Meta tags can be valuable, but they are not a
magic bullet. Create a Meta Description tag that uses your keywords and also
describes your site. The information in this tag often appears under your
Title in the search engine results pages.
The Meta Keyword tag isn't quite as vital as the Meta Description tag.
Contrary to popular belief, what you place in the keyword tag will have very
little weight under which keywords your site is actually found, and it's not
given any consideration whatsoever by Google. Use this tag, but do not
obsess over it.
7. Use extra "goodies" to improve rankings. Things like headlines, image alt
tags, header tags <H1><H2>, etc.), links from other pages, keywords in file
names, and keywords in hyperlinks can together boost search engine rankings.
Use any or all of these where they seem fit for your site.
8. Use caution when submitting to directories such as Yahoo and the Open
Directory Project (DMOZ). Having directory listings are a key component to
getting your site spidered and listed by Google. Making mistakes in the
submission process could cost you gravely as directory listings are not easy
to change later in the game. Therefore, it's important to read Yahoo's How
to Suggest Your Site and How to add a site to the Open Directory before
submitting.
9. Don't expect immediate results. Getting high rankings takes time; there's
no getting around that fact. Once your site is added to a search engine or
directory, its ranking may start out low and then slowly work its way up the
ladder. Some search engines measure "click-through popularity," i.e., the
more people that click on a particular site, the higher its ranking will go.
Be patient and give your site time to mature.
10. Don't constantly "tweak" your site for better results. It's best not to
make revisions to your optimization for at least three-to-six months after
submission. It usually takes the engines at least that long to add your
optimized pages to their databases. Submit it, and then don't think about it
for a while!
If you've utilized these tips and still can't find your legal web site in
the engines, the first place to change would be your page copy. If you used
less than 250 words of visible text on your pages, this is probably your
culprit. Also, double check your keyword density, and make sure that you
only targeted two or three phrases per page. Soon, you'll see the fruits of
your labor with many top ten rankings in Google and the rest of the search
engines!
If all the above sounds too difficult, you can benefit from a free trail
download of Internet Business Promoter (IBP). IBP is a multi-award winning
web site promotion software tool and offers everything you need to
successfully promote your law firm's web site. IBP is a suite of 10
professional web promotion tools that can help you with all areas of web
site promotion and search engine optimization.
* Our legal directories have so many page one search engine standings, to
preserve computer time, we only run our search engine reports for our page
one standings. Not counting the paid 'sponsored listings,' because it is
estimated over 60% of web surfers pass over these paid listings, we are
always gratified when our key word phrases reach the first position.
The table below will show just a small sampling of our PAGE ONE, POSITION
ONE standings on Google, Yahoo & MSN.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bob Schwartz, is the founder of Promotions Unlimited (search engine
optimization) an Internet legal directory (CA, TX & Las Vegas) publisher and
search engine placement technology analyst. You can contact Bob via e-mail
at seo711@gmail.com or visit his San Diego legal directory at:
www.sandiegolawyerforyou.com
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