Getting on the First Page of Google

Whenever we begin talking with a new small business client, one of the very first questions they ask, almost under their breath as if it were some kind of secret black-hat thing is: “Can you get me on the first page of Google?”

Of course we answer, “Of course.”

We wouldn’t be a very good Internet Marketing Team if we couldn’t do the MOST IMPORTANT MARKETING TASK which is: get on the first page of Google.

Fast.

Getting on the first page of Google is like the meat in the sandwich. It’s the happy ending of the movie. It’s the pickles in the pickle jar.

If you have a website, you MUST be on the first page of Google.

But here’s the problem. Most people who own small businesses have a lot of misconceptions about what being on the first page of Google means. And they don’t understand that there are 3 ways to be on the first page of Google.

What does being on the first page of Google mean? It means that for YOUR TARGET MARKET and for the KEYWORDS THEY’RE SEARCHING FOR, you show up on the first page of Google.

If you live in Ohio and sell bicycle rims you do NOT want to show up on the first page of Google for someone living in Los Angeles searching for chrome rims for his low-rider.

You want to show up on the first page of Google for people who live within a 30 to 50 mile radius of your store who are searching for bicycle rims.

There’s ways to make that happen. Fast.

And that brings us to the 3 ways to get on the first page of Google’s results pages.

First way to get on the first page of Google: Adwords

• Set up an Adwords account.
• Do a good job of the keyword discovery process.
• Do a good job writing your ads.
• Have a relevant landing page ready.
• Use a proper bidding strategy.

If you do these things, you could be on the first page of Google very quickly.

Second way to get on the first page of Google: Google Maps

• Go to Google’s “Local Business Center” page
• Click on the link that says “Add new listing”
• Follow the directions

Done. If you are in a non-competitive market, this could get you on the first page of Google in less than an hour for free! If your market is more competitive, it might take longer.

Also, there are ways you can expand your circle where you show up. There’s no way of knowing this for sure, but many people believe that your store’s PROXIMITY to the person searching has something to do with your listing position on Google Maps.

When you first get started, we think your radius is very small. But there are things you can do to let Google know your site is extremely relevant to people within a larger radius.

As you do those things, you should see your listing show up on the first page of Google in a larger radius from your address. And you should also see your listing climb higher on the A, B, C’s of the map listings.

Third way to get on the first page of Google: SEO

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. This is the process of getting Google’s web-robots to catelog your site and proclaim it is SO relevant to your market and the keywords they search that you deserve to be on the first page of the search engine’s results page.

SEO can be extremely difficult and time consuming. And you can be “Here today. Gone tomorrow.” SEO is beyond the scope of this article.

We hope this has helped you in YOUR quest to get your business website listed on the first page of Google.

Good luck!