Most new sites will go through a waiting period for around 9 months before search engines like Google will add them to their index. It’s also known as an aging delay or in Google’s case — the sandbox. See, now you have to pass the test of time.

This is basically a quality control type of move to index those sites that apparently have serious owners building sites with true value. Imagine if Google or any search engine were to have to index every single Web site that went live? They used to — no more.

This move was due to the fact that so many sites have no value to the masses or nor do they last very long either due to site owner unrealistic expectations or low levels of commitment. If you can’t last 9 months; you won’t get ranked.

For new Web sites, the old days of relying solely on the free/organic rankings as the only way of getting your site found is not a plan. Relying on organic rankings alone is not a solid business model. Business on or off-line requires marketing efforts. From Pay Per Click ads until your site gets out of the sandbox, to networking and other promotional activities, the days of thinking you can get found for free or without any effort amongst the 28 Billions sites currently online is simply naive.

So what is a new site owner to do in the meantime? You learn how to pass the test of time! You have this time to learn about Pay Per Click campaigns and strategies. You have this time to get your product inventory, service or delivery methods in place, tweaked and stabilized. You have time to investigate your target market and look at ways to attract their attention whether by networking or integrating other marketing strategies that help to bring you more visibility! You market!

You start your Blog. You start your affiliate program. You write articles and submit them to directories (of course, they have to be valuable — and no hypey-sales-pitchy stuff) so that you can gain more exposure for your new site. You join networks and share your experience and expertise to expose your new site to interested parties.

9 months from now when your site is finally in the indexes, don’t plan on “Top 10″ or even top page. It could happen, but let’s be more realistic that it probably won’t. Good rankings take time and are a work in progress — so don’t buy into the hype to the contrary.

Once you do get in the indexes, we then know what we have to improve upon and the statistical data will begin to accumulate. That data is exactly the information you need to know and review so you then can decide how to best to spend your time moving forward to improve your organic rankings.

To past the test of time you have to use it wisely.

At your service,
Judith

Technology is what is is — we can’t change it — we can only go with the flow. Nor can we think that by disregarding certain things or ignoring others that we can expect the same level of success as the rabid aggressive non-relenting Netrepreneurs that thrive online. SEO is that 300 pound gorilla in the room that many talk about, think they know about, even think they are doing when in fact — let’s be honest here, they don’t have a clue.

The following recipe for SEO Cake gives you the basics that need to be included in your plan, your train of thought, your modus operandi — that is if you want your cake (business) to rise and be enjoyed by those you serve it to…

The Simple SEO Cake Recipe

Ingredients:

1 C. Solid Business Idea
1 C. Astute Market Research
1 C. SE-Friendly, Usable, Research-Based Design
1 C. Best Copywriting
1/2 C. Unique Ingredients Not Found In Competitor’s Cakes

Mix well to form a smooth, lump-free batter. When the batter is ready to launch put in the oven to bake. Read More…

Click on the links above to read the entire article which makes clear that once your cake comes out of the oven, it is likely there won’t be anyone standing round waiting to eat it — that is unless you make folks aware that you have a new cake coming out of the oven, right?

Even if you serve your cake, you just don’t clean up and put the dishes away. Maybe some didn’t like the frosting — then tweak that recipe! Others may have liked your cake but will have suggestions to make your cake even better.

This is truly what SEO is about — ongoing and ever changing, testing then reviewing, asking then modifying so that you end up baking cakes that bring in the doughnuts!

The reality is that although some think SEO is a piece of cake, one cake alone is not enough to open a bakery.

At your service,
Judith