Does Your Business Website Need New Friends?

When Google's recent "Panda" update was released, and then later digested by search engine optimization experts, two groups emerged: those who were pleased to see that the world's largest search engine was cracking down on junk articles and duplicate content, and those who wondered how to begin the slow process of climbing back up the rankings from the bottom. Hopefully, your business web design team put you in a position to be in the first group, and you're now enjoying some prime search engine real estate. Whether you were or weren't, however, there's one thing that has become clear: Google and the other major search companies are having to go farther than ever to determine which sites are legitimate and which ones aren't. As part of that process, they aren't just ignoring certain types of links and content – it seems like they are actively targeting low-quality sources of content, along with the businesses they link to. In other words, if you're trying to get the most out of your search engine optimization campaign, then it might be time to find some new friends for your website to link to and from. Here are a couple of ideas to get you started: Scrutinize your link building strategy. Have you been purchasing links, or getting them from copied or spun articles? If so, stop now before you do even more damage to your website. Don't give links for no reason. It can be tough to say no to friends and colleagues, but if another website isn't closely related to yours, then think carefully before giving a link – it could cause the search engines to have second thoughts about your site. Or ask for unrelated links. In the same way, don't just ask anyone for a link to your site. Only request one if it makes sense to assume that some of their readers might want to check out your content. Focus on your customers. Speaking of content, think less about what search engine spiders might be looking for and more about what actual humans want to find on your pages. It's a much better long-term strategy, both for SEO and your profitability. Google and the other major search engines have no choice but to pay attention to the company you keep online. Don't give them reason to think less of your business website by giving or taking low-quality links. Business Builders can help screen links, and will work with other businesses to get you the link-backs that convert to new customers.