Have a WordPress Website with No Rankings?
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The Truth About Getting Organic Search Engine Rankings
So many gurus, packages, and quick fixes — what is one to believe? I read somewhere, and I don’t remember where, something like: “Believe that getting great rankings are within your reach if you are willing to earn them.”
Very true. However, “earn” is an understatement. I’ve seen many credible businesses with excellent websites get hammered by Google for doing nothing wrong other than what worked the day before.
I’m not talking about folks trying to game Google. I am referring to those trying to play by the rules and playing on the game board that the search engines created.
Then, the rules change without notice…
Because the rules and algorithms can change at any time, leaving the average small business unable to recover quickly.
That’s why I chose the methodology for brand building many years ago. As a result, the approach has allowed my sites to garner great referrals and word-of-mouth recommendations.
This approach helps to minimize (not negate) the need for me to worry or fret about search engine rankings. I have this luxury because I’ve worked hard to build my brands for over two decades.
There is No Secret Formula
Say it out loud — “there is no secret formula.” You have to be prepared to work hard for the long term. As with anything — there is nothing you cannot do yourself if you want to roll up your sleeves.
But first, you must wrap your head around what it takes to position your website for potential organic (free) rankings. It won’t just “happen.” Submitting to directories and search engines will not be impactful.
Who doesn’t want to be in the top 5, 10, and top pages for organic listings? Everyone.
Every. Site. Owner. Out. There.
The Indexed Web contains at least 4.51 billion pages (Thursday, 04 January 2024). So, how do search engines decide who gets listed and where? Let alone the coveted handful of above-the-fold or top page of any search engine?
Hundreds of Ranking Factors
Your organic (free) listings are gained by how your website is ranked based on a combination of each search site’s unique variables (algorithm). Google has oodles of variables.
Things like relevancy to the searched term(s), popularity, responsiveness, social signals, trust, and site speed/performance. Don’t forget a healthy dash of “no one knows for sure what else” will determine your site’s ranks.
Then, to muddy things up further, these algorithms evolve without notice and are rarely a transparent process.
Are we having fun yet?
Shuffling or adding keywords in your Meta keyword tag won’t do it — search engines ignore that tag. Likewise, keyword stuffing your content is also a no-go. Stuffing your content with keywords just for search engines makes your content unreadable to your website visitors.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) isn’t the end-all-be-all either. First, you have to have a well-rounded, intelligent, long-term marketing plan for your site that includes certain basics such as:
So, are you ready to get your head in the right place and understand the reality of organic rankings?
Here’s what you need to wrap your head around.
Knowing up front that it will take time (years)…
…and more effort than you can probably imagine. Only time will allow you to be viewed as more relevant than the sites already online. Especially those in the organic positions you seek. You are going to have to work on it.
Putting a plan together by doing keyphrase research …
Check out the various search engines to be aware of the competition. Do some solid research. Note the number of sites successfully ranking for your target terms.
This gives you a real-world understanding of the level of competition you will be up against. You are starting at the bottom of the barrel. Only the cream rises to the top. (So Google says.)
Knowing what your target visitors are searching for…
What do they need to know about? What problems do they want to solve? That’s what you write about. Several free tools assist you in investigating what keyword phrases your target market is using. Use these tools to your advantage.
FREE: Find new keywords for your market…
To “top” the sites already out there…
You have to do just that. Top the top websites.
If you do not have anything unique and of quality or value to offer, you’ll never push those who already hold these positions out of your way. May the best, most determined marketer win.
Adding new information to your site on an aggressive basis.
Daily or weekly – make a schedule and stick to it. Resources, white papers, “how-tos.” Even commentary based on your experience will add value and naturally work wonders as keyword-targeted pages.
Let your sparkling personality show through. That’s what will set you apart. There is only one of you!
Then, plan on having lots of patience. Lots.
Work Towards Being the Best
Create a plan to do what it takes to make your site the best. Whatever that takes.
THE site for your niche product or service, and your rankings will improve — over time. Online success is not on your terms or what you are willing to do. You compete in the marketplace as it is, or you are irrelevant.
There are no shortcuts or trickery for fast top 5, 10, and top page organic results. If someone tells you otherwise, they are trying to use what you don’t know to get into your pocketbook.
The good news is that you’ll get your rankings if you commit to continuing to build your website and, more importantly, building your brand to be exactly what your target market is looking for.
The bad news? You have to keep working at it to maintain those rankings. No one can tell you how long that will take for your particular site.
Online there is no rest for the weary. No set-and-forget. Wrap your head around that too.
At your service,
P.S. Links to more WordPress SEO articles are below for your convenience.
