We recently published our web page and can't find it on google.  We
aren't sure what we are doing wrong (if anything) or what we can do to
get on the first page of a google search for our key words.  We would
consider our key words to include:  fall prevention, seniors, safe,
independent, home.  Our website address is: 
www.safeandindependent.com.  Any help would be appreciated.

Hi Loubelle ~

You didn't say whether or not you have actually submitted your site to
Google for inclusion in its index, but I can see that your domain is
relatively new (only registered on October 25th of this year).

If you haven't submitted your site, you can do so using Google's 
"Add:URL" page, here:
   - ://www.google.com/addurl.html

Please notice, though, that there is no guarantee when or if your page
will be included in Google's index:

     "We do not add all submitted URLs to our index, and we
      cannot make any predictions or guarantees about when or
      if they will appear."
   - ://www.google.com/addurl.html


Google's FAQs indicate it can take up to eight weeks to be included, though:

     "5. How long does the Google robot take to index a URL
         once it's been submitted?

      Depending on the timing of the submission and of our crawl,
      the entire process can take between six and eight weeks."
   - ://www.google.com/webmasters/faq.html#delay



===============================================
The Best Way to Be Included in Google's Index
===============================================

Google suggests a better way to be included in its Webmaster Information:

     "The best way to ensure Google finds your site is for your
      page to be linked from lots of pages on other sites.
      Google's robots jump from page to page on the Web via
      hyperlinks, so the more sites that link to you, the more
      likely it is that we'll find you quickly."
   - ://www.google.com/webmasters/1.html#A2


And it explains its technology in "Our Search: Google Technology":

     "The heart of our software is PageRank?, a system for
      ranking web pages developed by our founders Larry Page
      and Sergey Brin at Stanford University. And while we
      have dozens of engineers working to improve every aspect
      of Google on a daily basis, PageRank continues to provide
      the basis for all of our web search tools."

and its PageRank in "PageRank Explained"

     "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. In essence, Google interprets
      a link from page A to page B as a vote, by page A, for
      page B. But, Google looks at more than the sheer volume
      of votes, or links a page receives; it also analyzes the
      page that casts the vote. Votes cast by pages that are
      themselves "important" weigh more heavily and help to make
      other pages "important."

      Important, high-quality sites receive a higher PageRank,
      which Google remembers each time it conducts a search. Of
      course, important pages mean nothing to you if they don't
      match your query. So, Google combines PageRank with
      sophisticated text-matching techniques to find pages that
      are both important and relevant to your search. 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 your query."
   - ://www.google.com/technology/index.html


As you can see, links TO your website will greatly enhance the chances
your site will be included in Google's index.

A word of warning, though, don't establish just "any" links, try to
establish links from relevant sites (for instance, a link from a site
dealing with senior issues or health care, etc., would be very good).
Google specifically warns against participating in linking schemes,
and you may be penalized if you do so:

     "...pages/links with the sole purpose of fooling search
      engines may result in permanent removal from our index."
   - ://www.google.com/webmasters/2.html#B3



==================================
What You Can Do To Enhance
Your Chances of Getting Listed
==================================

Google offers specific recommendations and suggestions on web design
and content in order to increase your chances of being included.
Here's what Google suggests in its Design and Content Guidelines:

    "* Make a site with a clear hierarchy and text links.
       Every page should be reachable from at least one static
       text link.

     * Offer a site map to your users with links that point to
       the important parts of your site. If the site map is
       larger than 100 or so links, you may want to break the
       site map into separate pages.

     * Create a useful, information-rich site and write pages
       that clearly and accurately describe your content.

     * Think about the words users would type to find your pages,
       and make sure that your site actually includes those
       words within it.

     * Try to use text instead of images to display important
       names, content, or links. The Google crawler doesn't
       recognize text contained in images.

     * Make sure that your TITLE and ALT tags are descriptive
       and accurate.

     * Check for broken links and correct HTML...
   - ://www.google.com/webmasters/guidelines.html



==============================
Web Design and Content
Building Trust & Credibility
==============================

Before you submit your site to the various search engines, however,
you might want to consider the information you're presenting, and more
importantly, *** NOT *** including on your site.

You are selling your videotape, "How to Stay Safe & Independent In
Your Home". You are asking your visitors to turn over their name,
address, credit card information, etc., to purchase this videotape,
yet you don't mention the price on the page at all! Without that price
mentioned, I can guarantee you lost 80% of potential sales. You should
include the price.

In addition, there is no information about

   * how long it takes to get the video,
   * what your return policies are
   * who YOU are (you're asking for *our* information)
   * how, besides email, can we reach you
   * what are you doing with the information you collect about
     your visitor?


     "[Visitors] want a statement cataloging all fees associated
      with a transaction; a statement of how the site will use
      their credit card and other personal information; an
      explanation of when to expect delivery of products; a
      statement of the site's policies for returning unwanted
      items; a listing of how to reach the site's staff with any
      problems; and the site's privacy policy. In fact, six in
      ten users (59%) find all of these very important and an
      additional 23% picked five out of six as very important."
      [From Hypermart's "The Value of Credibility and Trust of a
      Website Online"]
   -http://websitecredibility.hypermart.net/


You might want to read the article and add that information to your
website. It is sure to help turn visitors into customers.



=================================
If You're In Business,
Look Like A Business
=================================

One of the most important things you can do as a business is deciding
on where your Website is hosted. Although you have gone to the trouble
of designing a Website, you are using a redirect from your registrar
to your web space on cox.net.

There are many reputable hosts with reasonable rates on which you
should host your website under your domain name. If you need help, ask
those you know for recommendations and then check the Web Hosting Talk
site to see what kind of a reputation they have. If they're not
reliable, believe that it will be on Web Hosting Talk. Their site is
listed here:
   - http://webhostingtalk.com/

Another reason you should reconsider the present hosting set-up is
that your website is included within a frame, and there is, quite
literally, nothing there for Google to index.

Google specifically the use of frames in "Reasons your site may not be included"

     " Google supports frames to the extent that it can.
       Frames tend to cause problems with search engines,
       bookmarks, emailing links and so on, because frames don't
       fit the conceptual model of the web (every page corresponds
       to a single URL). If a user's query matches the site as a
       whole, Google returns the frame set. If a user's query
       matches an individual page on the site, Google returns
       that page. That individual page is not displayed in a
       frame -- because there may be no frame set corresponding
       to that page."
   - ://www.google.com/webmasters/2.html#A1


You might want to carefully consider other alternatives than the
present setup you are using.



==================================
Submitting Your Site
to Search Engines & Directories
==================================

Google also recommends listing your site with the Open Directory
Project (DMOZ.org) and Yahoo!

     "If you are having difficulty getting listed in the Google
      index, you may want to consider submitting your site to
      either or both of these directories. You can submit to
      Yahoo! by visiting http://docs.yahoo.com/info/suggest/.
      You can submit your site to Netscape's Open Directory
      Project (DMOZ) by visiting www.dmoz.org. Once your site is
      included in either of these directories, Google will often
      index your site within six to eight weeks."
   - ://www.google.com/webmasters/1.html#B2


A search on DMOZ.org shows you are not listed with the Open Directory Project. 

You may want to list with the other major search engines. Nielsen Net
Ratings - http://www.nielsen-netratings.com/ - lists the major search
engines, which I have included below, and that will get you started.


 * Google -
   - ://www.google.com/addurl.html

 * DMOZ -
   - http://dmoz.org/add.html

 * All The Web -
   - http://addurl.alltheweb.com/add_url

 * Alta Vista
   - http://addurl.altavista.com/

 * Hotbot & Lycos InSite (requires registration)
   - http://insite.lycos.com/searchservices/

 * Yahoo! -
   - http://docs.yahoo.com/info/suggest/

 * Teoma -
   - http://ask.ineedhits.com/sitesubmit.asp?id=30129


MSN's search submit is located here:
   - http://search.msn.com/

which takes you to LookSmart, a "for-pay" listing, and can be found
here:
   - http://listings.looksmart.com/?synd=zdd&sid=prt100933&chan=zddresults

Just a logical observation: If you are listed on other important
engines, it is pretty certain you will also be listed on MSN.com, or
you can use the LookSmart submission.



==========================================
Important Google Links For Your Reference
==========================================

Here are some important links from Google's Webmaster Information and
Webmaster Guidelines. Webmasters who follow the guidelines and avoid
Google's "Thou shalt nots" usually have no problem getting listed and
showing up under the search terms they desire.

   * Google Today (absolutely the best information you
     can read about the "how and why" of Google's results
     - ://www.google.com/corporate/today.html

   * How Do I Get My Site Listed on Google?
     - ://www.google.com/webmasters/1.html

   * My Web Pages Are Not Currently Listed (a good 'primer'
     on how and why Google works so well)
     - ://www.google.com/webmasters/2.html

   * PageRank Information (covers both Google's PageRank and
     SERPS)
     - ://www.google.com/webmasters/4.html

   * Webmaster Guidelines (contains both the dos and don'ts)
     - ://www.google.com/webmasters/guidelines.html

   * Google Facts & Fiction (can  you buy your way to a
     high ranking in Google?)
     - ://www.google.com/webmasters/facts.html

   * Search Engine Optimizers (some good advice on what to look
     for if you're going to hire a Search Engine Optimizer)
     - ://www.google.com/webmasters/seo.html

   * Frequently Asked Questions (pretty much what it says, but
     definitely worth wading through)
     - ://www.google.com/webmasters/faq.html



=======================
Summary
=======================

There are design concerns (the way your page is set up in frames)
which could keep your site from being indexed by search engine
crawlers.

In addition, there hasn't really been enough time for your site to be
indexed and included in Google's Index, provided you have submitted
the site.

The best way to be included is to establish links TO your site from
other relevant sites, and to avoid participating in linking schemes
and link farms.

There are definite design guidelines which I have offered and which
Google recommends that you will no doubt want to incorporate in your
site to enhances the chance of your site being included in Google's
index, and there are other directories and search engines to which you
should submit your site once you are ready.

There is no substitute for good design principles to enhance your
visitor's experience; even Google suggests you design the site for
your visitor.


Search technologies
====================

I used bookmarked resources which I work with on a daily basis for the
information presented in this answer.


If you follow the Google's Guidelines and pay attention to how to make
the best site for your visitor - to establish his trust and your own
credibility, you should have no problem being included in Google's
index for the keywords you desire.

Best wishes,

Serenata
Google Answers Researcher

You have been a wealth of information and we are so appreciative.  You
gave us answers we haven't been able to find.  Thank you.