5 steps to getting your website noticed
Is your website hidden away?
Most organisations now have a website but many of them are hidden away.
If you can get a good 'ranking' on Google and other search engines you'll find it can make quite a difference. There are hundreds of more in-depth online guides to 'search engine optimisation' but here's a start:
If you can get a good 'ranking' on Google and other search engines you'll find it can make quite a difference. There are hundreds of more in-depth online guides to 'search engine optimisation' but here's a start:
1. Be consistent with your keywords
You'll gain credibility if your main keywords (e.g. "catering company doncaster") appears in the title of the page (the text at the very top of the browser), regularly throughout your site and also in your metadata (the hidden text that you can edit with administrator access to your site).
2. Get a link to your site on other websites
Strong links are vital
Most search engines decide which sites are important by seeing how many other sites are linking to them. For example, if you can get a link to your site on the BBC website it will make your site appear more credible and will push it up the rankings. So, when you are sending out a press release, always include your website and it might just get included.
But...be careful who you associate with. If you link to 'spam' sites or so-called 'link farms', Google will not think of you as credible.
But...be careful who you associate with. If you link to 'spam' sites or so-called 'link farms', Google will not think of you as credible.
3. Get yourself on directories
There are a number of directories such as UK Small Business Directory or the Small Charity Directory, many of which are free. There are also general directories which help with search rankings if you can get on them, such as Dmoz.
4. Use a free trial of Google Ad-words
Click and search for 'adwords' to get £30 free
Internet advertising is only expensive if you want to appear at the top of Google everytime someone searches for a general term like 'cupcakes'.
However, the chances are that you want to grab the attention of people seaching for something more specific, such as 'Cupcakes in Yeovil' or 'Cupcakes in South Somerset'.
These very specific phrases are much cheaper and a free trial will last for weeks with no obligation to buy more adverts. To make it last longer, you need to turn off the option to advertise on the whole Google 'Display Network'.
£30 free trials are available through various sites - I used TopCashBack (search for 'adwords'). Please note - this link will earn commission for the site.
However, the chances are that you want to grab the attention of people seaching for something more specific, such as 'Cupcakes in Yeovil' or 'Cupcakes in South Somerset'.
These very specific phrases are much cheaper and a free trial will last for weeks with no obligation to buy more adverts. To make it last longer, you need to turn off the option to advertise on the whole Google 'Display Network'.
£30 free trials are available through various sites - I used TopCashBack (search for 'adwords'). Please note - this link will earn commission for the site.
5. Put yourself on the map
Getting yourself on Google Maps is simple enough, as long as you have an address that Google can send a postcard to for verification.
