Well…how come it’s not there?!? Okay, Okay. Here’s what to do first. Slow down and take a few deep breaths. Don’t panic.
Okay, ready?
Good. Let’s take a look at how Google works and how getting great listings in Google works.
Rule Number One: There Are No Secrets
Getting listed in Google is not some sort of magic. You don’t need a Google shaman or Google voodoo guru to get your site listed. In fact, you don’t even need an SEO expert for simple, straightforward results. Here’s the thing that most services providers don’t want to tell you—Google tells you exactly what to do to rank well in their search engine!
You can see it with your own eyes if you’d like…here’s a link their Search Engine Optimization Guide.
Rule Number Two: Getting Listed Takes Time
You can’t force the process. Sometimes it takes a few days or even a few weeks for Google to find your site and spider it. That’s for brand new sites. If you’ve been around awhile, chances are you’ll get picked up closer to instantly than weeks. But remember, it does take time sometimes.
The only thing you can do to help prod this process along is to make sure Google knows about your new content. One way is to actually submit your new website or webpage to them for review (this is pretty much obsolete though). The other more practical and most effective way that comes with bundles of bonus points down the road is to get incoming links pointing to your site from other popular, relevant websites in your niche—Google will see these and find your site on their own without any extra intervention.
Oh, and back to those bonus points for a second—Google sees incoming links to your site from other quality sites as votes of popularity. It’s simple, the more links—or “votes”—for your site over time, the better you’ll do in the search engine rankings.
Rule Number Three: The More You Deliver, The Better You’ll Rank
It’s not rocket science. Just provide great content for your visitors, provide lots of it, and keep it fresh. And yes, you’ll need to mention your search term (keyword phrase) and related terms on the page here and there—but don’t force this. Just by providing great content, you’ll already be very likely to use the keyword term naturally, the way Google likes it, on the page anyway.
This is exactly what Google wants. You make great content for your visitors. They use it to keep their customers (the searchers) happy and satisfied with their services. It’s a win-win for all involved.
And in a nutshell, that’s all there is to it. You can read the SEO Guide they provide if you want to learn more about how it all works if you’re ambitious and really want to grasp the nuts and bolts of the process. But just remember, if you’re frustrated that you’re not seeing your site in the search engines for your targeted search terms, just follow the above 3 rules and repeat.
