Findlay
Build your website well. Make sure your website is responsive – that it works equally well on pc monitor, tablet or smart phone. Plan to update the site on a regular, timely basis.
And then what? Light incense? Say a little prayer?
Place as many external links as possible, that’s what!
An external link is simply a route that allows a reader to gain more information by “clicking” and then landing on your destination website. The more links that are out there, the more more paths that lead back to your website. If you were to draw a diagram of this, you would see how all of those links are like strands in a spiderweb – with your website in the center. Of course the more strands in the web, the easier it is to catch more flies… or, rather, traffic. It is even better to have a link that is not just on a long, laundry list of link after link. It is better that a link be isolated from series of unrelated information/links. A link, bound all around with keyword-rich text, that leads to another page filled with even more related text is denoted as a valuable resource by the search engines. The website is then rewarded with marked increase in page rank.
With that being said, not all links are created equal. Google and all of the search engines are now considering the VALUE of each link as part of the algorithm for page ranking. A link that is simply a jump to another page or point within its own website counts for very little – other than perhaps making the user experience easier.
There is a place on almost every social media in which to place a link to your website, and that is a good thing for search engine optimization (SEO). They do cast strands of the “spider web” back to the real investment, your website. The search engines are aware that every platform of social media is controlled by the same entity as the website, so the search engines do discount these links. And while they are not the most valued nor important, it is still a good idea to take advantage of the opportunity. Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn all have places to upload a link, so do it!
The most valuable external link (for SEO purposes) is housed in a spot that does not have an obvious connection or influence by the linked site: a listing on a directory type site like a chamber of commerce, Better Business Bureau and the like. These typically require a significant outlay of money, but as long as their page ranking is in good order it may be well worth the money. There are other sites as well – with and without fees: Angie’s List, Yelp, Yellow Pages, and Google Pages. Get on as many as you can afford.
As an alternative, www.flagcityonline.com has been relaunched with a specific nod toward SEO efforts. The fees associated with membership have been kept low. For $24/month a member can create a listing with a specific concentration of keywords. The listing obviously offers a link to a website, catalogs all forms of contact information and also links to social media. If a business or organization has more than one niche or specialization, secondary listings can be created. Each additional listing can be created with different sets of keywords – even if they point to the same contacts and links. These secondary listings can be housed on Flag City Online for only $5 each/month.
www.FlagCityOnline.com is an excellent tool for SEO. There will be no overt ties to the referring website, yet members have complete control over the content of their listing!