How to get top 10 search results for your web pages

Posted on 25. Jun, 2009 by Pete Hollier in Search Optimization

Developing a Top 10 Ranking Web Page

It is the objective of virtually every business with an Internet presence to obtain a Top 10 ranking in Search Engine Results Pages for keywords and phrases relevant to their businesses.

Considering the number of businesses in each niche targeting the exact same keywords as your business this is not an easy task. The competition for top Search Engine results is enormous.

To obtain this much sought after position in Search Results requires both on-page optimization and off-page optimization. Off page optimization includes tasks and initiatives such as: link building, directory submissions and Social Media programs which occur in places other than your actual web page or blog post.

The Search Engine Algothrim

The Algothrim’s used by Search Engines focus on two main factors to determine where a web page or blog post is placed in the Search Engine Results Pages. The two factors are relevancy which is determine by the page content and trust which is determined by numerous factors including links from other web sites pointing to your web page or Blog.

Developing a Top 10 Page

The primary focus of this blog post will be to identify the on-page optimization issues which you can complete to improve the likelihood of your web page obtaining a Top 10 ranking in Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs).

The first question which you must ask yourself and answer honestly is: Does your web page or Blog post deserve to be in the Top 10 results? In most cases, unfortunately the answer is no.

So what do you have to do to achieve the Holy Grail of Search Optimization, a Top 10 Placement?

Starting on the path to the Top 10 Search Results

Most businesses will have an extensive list of keywords and keyword phrases which are relevant to their products and services, this list must be narrowed down to the most mission critical terms for your business.

Once you have determine the preferred keywords, search the Search Engine you wish to rank in using the keywords and phrases and take a close look at the competitors pages which are achieving top 10 results and determine what they are doing on their pages which you are not.

Check The Competitors Back links

Back links are links from other web sites which point towards the receiving web site.

An analysis of the Back links of the competing sites will provide insight into how difficult it will be to remove these sites from their current positions. Back links are an important factor in the Search Engines Algothrim’s ranking decision process.

The off-page optimization criteria to improve, is the number of inbound links to your web page or blog post. Although obtaining high quality inbound links is a time consuming task, it does pay dividends and is a must if you wish to obtain Top 10 rankings.

To find the number of back links go to Yahoo and search the following: linkdomain:yourcompetitor.com -site: yourcompetitor.com. Once you have done this for comparisons sake, check your own domain.

If your web site has significantly fewer Back links you will need to develop an effective link building program if you are ever going to have a chance of obtaining a top position for the selected keywords and keyword phrases.

Qualities of a Top 10 Web Page

If I had to state there was one single issue which dominates on-page optimization I would have to say content. However, it’s just not that simple.

Keyword rich content which is very, and I do mean very relevant to the topic is imperative, but keyword content on its own will not enable you to achieve the results you desire.

All Organic Search Engine Optimization requires a Holistic approach, it is the culmination of the finer points that builds the strength of the web page or blog post enabling it to achieve high rankings in Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs)

Keyword Optimization

A good rule to follow is to optimize for one keyword or keyword phrase per page or blog post. So many issues such as the prominence of the keyword or phrase in many areas of the page make it difficult if not impossible maximize the potential of more than one keyword or keyword phrase per web page or blog post.

That does not mean you can not have similar terms or phrases included within the content as words relevant to your keywords also have a role in the Search Engine Algothrim’s in determining relevancy. But do keep in mind  and focus on the keywords and phrases you are optimizing for.

The use of the keywords within the content of the web page or blog post must be carefully considered with regards to placement, prominence and density within not just the content but page URL’s, Titles and META Description, Keyword and Alt tags.

A Few Things to Keep in Mind

Web page structure: Be sure to use a well structured page including Keyword in URL, Title, Description, Alt, Anchor Text and Heading tags.  In most cases use of the keyword once or twice is recommended, anymore than this and Search Engines may consider this Keyword stuffing or spam and your web page will be penalized accordingly.

Word Count: The word count is also important as a general guideline; between 600 and 900 words are recommended in the main text areas of your pages. With the URL, titles etc mentioned above, check the number of words used in those elements of the top 10 pages and calculate the average to determine how many words you should include on your page.

Keyword Prominence and Density: Where on the page the keywords and phrases appear is also critical. It is generally recommended to endeavor to keep your keywords and keyword phrases toward the beginning of both the general content and the other web page elements mentioned above.

I briefly mentioned density for the web page elements, with regards to the main content text again evaluation and averaging of the current top ranking pages will be required. A ball park figure on keyword density would be somewhere in the area of use no less than 15 times and no more than 30 with the main body text.

In Conclusion

The process of analyzing the top ten pages and editing your content to match the criteria is time consuming. However, it must be kept in mind that these are the page that have done well. Careful evaluation and action on the points mentioned are the starting point from which your web page of blog post begins it’s climb to the top 10.

It will take time and it will take tweaking and although there is no guarantee you will make the grade, you will be providing high quality content for the visitors who do end up on your web site.

Written by: pete@seowizardry.ca a Web Site Performance Consultant

Want to use this content on your web site? If you would like to use this article on your web site please contact pete@seowizardry.ca for an html version. All I request is you provide Pete Hollier and Seo Wizardry with a reference to this article and provide a link back to www.seowizardry.ca