Hi, Soapman ~
Please note that Google Answers Researchers are not privy to the inner
workings at Google, nor are we privy to their closely-guarded search
engine algorithms. Therefore, we cannot answer for Google on what may
or may not have happened from one crawl to another; but can offer
knowledgeable suggestions and information to be of help to you in your
desire to increase your page ranking.
There are any number of reasons a site's ranking and changes are made
from one "Google Dance" to another, which are discussed on Google's
information pages here which may be of help. Reasons can vary, and
there is a discussion of some of them. Please note, too, that the
specific answer to your question won't be revealed. The best you can
do is use the suggestions made by Google and others who offer good
information.
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/2.html#B1
There are techniques which can help, such as analysis and rewriting of
keywords, manipulation of body text and editing of alt tag attributes,
structure analysis and theme creation. These are just some of the
techniques that help to get your site noticed above all of the
competition in the huge sea of sites that are search engines.
Priding itself on being "... an easy, honest and objective way to find
high-quality websites with information relevant to your search",
Google explains the matter of page ranking.
1. Page Rank -
In its explanation of page ranking, Google states, "PageRank relies on
the uniquely democratic nature of the web by using its vast link
structure as an indicator of an individual page's value."
Google's ranking information mentions the importance of links,
explaining that relevancy is important. In other words, merely signing
up with as many linking pages as possible won't help, and indeed, may
be seen as attempts at manipulating your pages, which is definitely
detrimental to your ranking, and in some cases, have caused sites to
be dropped from a Google listing at all. It is not so much how many
pages your site links TO, but how many *relevant* pages link to your
site that can help increase your page ranking.
In its discussion, Google says, " Google goes far beyond the number of
times a term appears on a page and examines all aspects of the page's
content ** (and the content of the pages linking to it) ** to
determine if it's a good match for [a] query." (Emphasis added).
Google's Page Ranking information is found here:
- ://www.google.com/technology/index.html
2. Page Rank Changes -
Google explains why a page ranking can change, stating, "You may want
to check and see if the number of other sites linking to your URL has
changed. This is the single biggest factor in determining what sites
are indexed by Google, as we find most pages when our robots crawl the
web and jump from page to page via hyperlinks."
( ://www.google.com/webmasters/4.html )
To find out who links to your site, use Google's link: tool, which is
explained here:
- ://www.google.com/help/features.html#link
And be sure to read all of the information and tips for webmasters
here:
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/4.html
3. Try tweaking your title -
Website Traffic Test Tube states, " suggests tweaking your title and
keeping the size to within 65 characters. Your titleS (you have two
title tags within your header) read as follows:
<title>Wildflower Soap Company: Glycerin soap and bath salts for
gifts, wedding showers, and baby showers</title>
If the search term you're trying to rank higher in is "glycerin soap",
and you feel that is the most important term, put that first within
your title and then only a few times within the rest of the page.
Your descriptive paragraph, beginning with the words, "We are
committed to to offering ..." mentions the phrase "glycerin soap" six
times. In addition, you use the term at least another ten times on the
page. That can be perceived as 'spamming' the phrase, instead of being
beneficial, it can be detrimental to your ranking.
Website Traffic Test Tube -
http://www.traffic-test-tube.com/search-engine-articles/google-ranking-tips.shtml
4. Other sources and suggestions for increasing your page rank -
Because all search engines constantly change and guard the algorithms
used to return the best information to their users, no one can really
guarantee top rankings, unless they put you under search terms that
are so obscure or irrelevant no one would ever think of using them. So
the best way you can increase your own page's rank is to study good
information from those who understand how search engines work.
Among the Internet's foremost experts on search engine rankings is
Danny Sullivan's Search Engine Watch. The site is full of information
to help increase your page rankings. This is considered among the best
information you can use to help achieve your ranking goals.
- http://searchenginewatch.com/
Ad2Go.com has some very down to earth information with some good links
you may want to peruse as well:
- http://www.ad2go.com/ads/Google_Tips_and_Toolbar/
5. What you can do for your own site -
Besides the discussion of tweaking your title above and toning down
the number of times you are using the search term "glycerin soap" on
one page, you should take note of the Design and Content Guidelines in
the Google Information for Webmasters. Note the recommendation to
"[c]reate a useful, information-rich site and write pages that clearly
and accurately describe your content"
With regard to links, make sure the sites that link to your own site
and the pages you link TO are relevant to your own site and not just
link spamming sites. Google states, "Don't participate in link schemes
designed to increase your site's ranking or PageRank. In particular,
avoid links to web spammers or "bad neighborhoods" on the web as your
own ranking may be affected adversely by those links." Think about
banner exchanges and those types of links, which don't really do you
any good and may in fact cost you in page ranking.
Submit your site to DMOZ if it isn't already. (See Google's
recommendation)
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/1.html#B2
Make sure your HTML is correct (get rid of one of those <title> tags
in your header).
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/
** Search terms used -
- Google ranking
- search engine tips
- link relativity
I bet that by using some of the information here, plus the helpful
suggestions referenced in the links above, will help you with your
page ranking.
Good luck!
Serenata |
