Search Engine Optimization (SEO) 2.0: Survival of the Fittest With Google’s Universal Search

Darwin’s proposed Theory of Evolution, was an attempt to explain the development of species. The idea of natural selection, that the strong survive and the weak die off, has been integrated into the modern understanding of biology, but the organic world is not the only place where this survival of the fittest takes place. Quite the contrary: natural selection dominates the online business realm as well. However, while circumventing biology can be nearly impossible, utilizing the online marketplace to stay on top does not have to be as difficult.

The key is to understand how to survive. While companies around the world launch websites, only a select few make it to the big time. These company websites receive millions of hits and show up front and center on major search engines. In fact, being featured on the front page of a Google search results list is the best way to stay ahead of electronic natural selection. That task, however, is easier said than done.

Online searches traditionally have displayed results through a ranking system. This system worked by examining the content of the page and rating its overall relevance to the search being performed. The search engine would then present the designated sites by their rank. There are certain drawbacks to such a straightforward approach, though, since this type of ranking only utilizes standard websites. In order to create a more comprehensive search experience, Google drastically revamped its searching capabilities in 2007 with the concept of Universal Search.

Opening up searches, Universal Search includes blended results listed by comparative ranking. Comparative ranking works similarly to traditional ranking, by analyzing the content and determining its relevancy to the search being performed. However, comparative ranking takes the process a step further, weighing websites alongside other online mediums, such as photos, videos, blogs, press releases and more. This goes hand in hand with blending, which provides search results for the full gamut of online mediums cohesively on a single page.

Google’s Universal Search, In this way, has changed the way online prowess must be achieved. Now, companies and website developers must utilize a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) 2.0 approach, focusing not only on content with keyword rich copy, but also optimizing all of their digital media, thus showing they are the best “fit” with a strong, multimedia approach. By incorporating rich media like images and video, websites can increase their comparative ranking, being strong enough to overpower a greater variety of sources.

Search Engine Optimizers must diversify into a number of areas they may not have considered before.

* Blogs mentioning your website can now be used as marketing tools to drive traffic.
* Press releases are listed in the blended news results; used properly, this can be one of your most effective tools. News is ranked chronologically as well as by relevance; by keeping your website prominently featured through regular press releases, you can optimize your search engine results.
* Images are more important than ever before, and tagging them correctly ensures your site gets the proper recognition.
* Including your company website in local online directories gives you one more way to improve corporate visibility.

A Search Engine Optimization (SEO) 2.0 approach is the only way to achieve internet dominance, ensuring online business survival at all costs.

Learn more about SEO 2.0. Also, stop by the NetBiz Blog site where you can find out all about NetBiz Blog and what they can do for you.

The Technological Revolution

In much the same way as the industrial revolution changed the financial landscape of the developed world, the past few years has seen the gathering pace of the latest revolution to affect our world. This time however, the benefits are not limited by accessibility in the same way that used to exist.

Up until the explosion of the Internet into our lives, it was virtually impossible to compete nationally with market leaders in any field, let alone globally. The only advertising mediums were either TV advertising which represents a significant cost barrier to entry, or magazines which are again expensive and quite often niche, national newspapers a costly medium again, or regional advertising in the Yellow Pages. This is one of the most expensive ways of advertising nationally, but until the swift take up of Internet technologies, was a reliable method of finding customers.

At several points throughout history, the organisations that adapt to changes in technology the quickest and the most effectively, thrive where others fall. In many cases, the way has been led by pioneers. Henry Ford is a prime example, he nearly invented the mass production line on his own, and in doing that, cut his expenses, vastly improved the consistency of product quality, and created a huge advantage over his competition.

There is often a significant difference between organisations that move with and adapt to new technological advancements and those that are set in their ways. This is truer than ever now as the technological advancements are always coming thick and fast.

The wall that had previously blocked potential entrepreneurs from fulfilling their potential has been removed by the Internet. Many good business ideas went to waste because of the lack of financial backing, but all that has changed with the arrival of the Internet.

The potential held within the realms of the internet is unreal. A decent website and a year or two of good quality search engine optimisation will cost around 5,000-10,000 in total, and could result in your website being seen by billions of people. Before the Internet, an advertising campaign may have cost in excess of 100,000 and would not have gained nearly as much potential exposure.

Although we have all become accustomed to the Internet’s massive presence in the world of commerce, it is still in it’s infancy. Around 98% of onine information isn’t accessible to strangers becasue it is unreadable to search engines. It is for this reason that, despite the power of the Internet, many good ideas are still going to waste. Search engine optimisation has only recently come to light amongst the public, so what will the Internet be like in 10 years time?

The organisations who adapt now to the technological advances at hand, will be the ones that are on top in 10 years time.

The Internet is undoubtedly the business tool of the 21st century and a fantastic provider of equal opportunity for anyone with a good idea and little bit of money for a website to make that idea a reality.

Get top 10 rankings on Google & Yahoo!

With the Internet starting to mature, online competition is growing. The battle to get in the top rankings of search engines like Google is becoming more and more fierce.

Gaining top spot in a search engine like Google is akin to having a storefront on a very busy high street. Such is the value of gaining high search rankings that search engine optimization (SEO) is very important. SEO is in part the optimization of your website for the search engines so that they can easily gather information about it and rank it accordingly.

For the online marketer this poses a constant challenge in keeping up to date with the latest trends on how best to optimize a website. It can literally make or break an online business if you rely on organic search results.

An important website factor is the page title. You can always find your top ten competitors and analyze their websites by looking at the source code and finding out how they structure their sites to help them rank high. Once you have this information, you just copy their formula with your site. Do this and you will double your chances of ranking higher already.

It all sounds easy and it is. However, all this requires time to go through all of the competition and analyzing what they do. The website title is only one variable. There are many website variables that comprise the on-page factors involved in optimizing a page.

This is an important point. Since the SEO area is so vast and constantly changing, the average Joe will not have the resources or time to research and keep up to date constantly on new developments. A lot of the SEO software have regular updates, some for free and some on a subscription service. This is a valuable feature and can prevent software from becoming outdated in the fast-moving SEO world.

Not only will the software complete things very easily and quickly, it will also provide the results in a comprehensive report that you can easily refer to. Another great advantage of using SEO software is that you can regularly re-analyze your site against the competition to see how it is faring. You will be able to discover what changes are required and then test the results.