6 things you need to know about Google

If you want to sell more, Google is likely to be a key part of your e-marketing strategy. If you’ve got a good Google ranking, you don’t want to lose it and if you haven’t got a good ranking yet, you are probably looking for ways to get one. Lots of things are changing at Google but our July newsletter gives you a quick overview of what’s what…

What is important at Google?

1. Google Search – these are the search results that you see if, like most of us, you use the Google search engine. Good search engine optimization is the key to getting a good listing. If you need help with your optimisation, take a look at our mini series on SEO:
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2. Google Local – do a search for a service in a specific town, e.g. ‘recruitment oxford’ and you see a little map with a list of recruitment consultants who have created their free Google Local listing. If you haven’t got a Google Local entry yet, sign up in their Local Business Centre. If you already have a listing, why not find out how to improve your Google Local ranking?
3. Google AdWords – these are advertisements which appear when selected keywords are entered into the search engine. They are less effective than natural search results but you can control your ad text and the keywords, as well as your bid. A new development to look out for will be Google’s Bidding Simulator which is currently being tested. This will help you set your bids for the optimum number of clicks and position
4. Google AdSense – you can host other people’s advertisements on your website and earn revenues when they click on the ad. This can be lucrative if your site has large traffic volumes and the ads are relevant to your audience. The risk is that visitors get sidetracked and leave your site and, worse still, the ads can be for your competitors. New regulations in the US will be tightening up on the use of cookies and the proposed European Privacy Directive may outlaw cookies entirely. Make sure your site has the appropriate legal disclaimers and opt out clauses
5. Google Sitemaps – in the past, the advice from SEO experts has been ‘don’t submit your site to Google – let it find you’ but the very latest recommendation from Planet Ocean blows that away. Google reports that sitemap submissions have tripled over the past year and they have expanded the number of files they will support in sitemaps. The advice is that if you haven’t already submitted a Google Sitemap, it is more important than ever.
6. Google PageRank – if you have developed a sophisticated linking strategy, you will be affected by a change which Google announced last month: they are now treating the ‘rel=nofollow’ tag in the same way as regular links. If you have crafted a linking strategy to maximize your PageRank, you will be affected. If you’d like to know more about this relatively technical area, please email Kate.

If you are looking for independent strategic advice on how to make the most of your e-marketing or if you want to discuss your Google strategy please call us on 01608 737653 or email me, Kate Barlow for a free, confidential and independent conversation.

Kind regards,

Kate Barlow

You may copy or distribute this newsletter as long as this copyright notice and full information about contacting the author are attached. The author is: Kate Barlow of Branch Out Internet Marketing, The Paddocks, Lower Nill Farm, Hook Norton, OX15 5DG, UK. Contact kate.barlow@branchout-internetmarketing.com or Tel: 01608 737653.

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