So after all your optimization efforts, you finally reach the Google front page for your chosen keyword. You reach the 9th or 10th position at first, you think life’s good but it can get better. Normally one would aim to reach the top position, but there are times that our chosen keywords are so saturated that the difference between the first, second and third positions are about a thousand inbound links each.
First thing’s first
Make your <title> as catchy as possible. Controversial if practicable. This would go well with the next steps. By the way, I’m assuming that by now you already know search engine optimization methods. After all, you’ve already reached the front page. After the <title> comes the very important first paragraph of your page. Good practice would be to include a short description of what people can expect if they click on your search result. Keep it short and simple. Good practice also tells us that our keywords come first. For example on the keywords Paris Hilton: “Paris Hilton goes to jail” is better than “Serving time: Paris Hilton.”
Aim for the top-fold
The top-fold of the search results (or any other site) is the part which is viewable after the page loads. It is the part where you need not use the scrollbar to see content. In Google, six search results show up on the top-fold. This would vary on different screen resolutions. Here is a screenshot of a Google search for Angelina Jolie that shows the first six results inthe top-fold.
Because you made a catchy <title>
Naturally, your page will standout among the search results. Take note that the <title> has the biggest font in the search results. Imagine you are at position # 6 with the title “Britney Spears in a gold bikini” and the # 1 spot says “Britney Spears filmography.” Even if I were really searching for Britney Spears’ filmography I would still go back and see that gold bikini page.
The first paragraph
Then we resort to the first paragraph if the title trick fails. Again we visit our Angelina Jolie screenshot. Look at search result # 6 (AskMen.com). Notice how simple and straightforward their description of what you can expect when you click on their page. This works well especially for searchers who avoid visiting useless pages like spam sites.
Maintenance
Always remember that there is someone out there trying to compete for your search ranking. Remember to always update your page because Google takes notice of this. By updating your page, you are telling Google that your information is still valid and not outdated.
Why not the first?
Strive for the best right? Try to make it to # 1. A number one search result will always have a higher click count. That’s just the way it is. Time is also factor before reaching the top result. Work it gradually and let it take it’s natural course. A sudden burst of incoming links might make it to # 1 overnight, but will not last.
