Q: How can I be #1 in Google for my keywords?
A: In order to gain ranking for specific keywords, you need to add them to your site frequently—as relative content. Let’s say for example that you want to rank for the keyword phrase “healing and transformation.”
Google will scan indexed sites for this term—frequency is a huge part of this. So, the question is: How often does this string of words appear in your site? AND—how much competition do you have?
Now, let’s consider a term that is specific to your brand. For this example, we’ll use the phrase “Sand Spirits Cards” because it appears frequently throughout the site of the person who submitted this question (thank you Pam). The competition for this phrase is very low – so of course her website comes up as number one.
Can we make your site come up for “healing and transformation” simply by optimizing your site for that term? No. Because millions of other sites have optimized their sites for that term too. So, what can you do? Write about it more often – include this in headlines of blog posts – have a weekly tip called “Pam’s Weekly Healing and Transformation Tip.” Include this phrase in the body of the page too (in the tip – but don’t over do it, that would be considered stuffing, and you would get dinged for it). Include an image with your tips and title the images “healing and transformation image” and include a description and alt tag; and include links in your site that use this phrase as anchor text – so for example, you would highlight healing and transformation and then link it to a page that specifically addresses how to achieve “healing and transformation,” as I have done here. Once you attain a reasonable amount of relevant content and repetition for this phrase, Google will start to see that this term is indeed very relevant. ALSO – if you can get other sites to link to you using healing and transformation as anchor text you’ll really start to gain points.
Thanks to Pam Hale of Through a Different Lens for this valuable question.
Pam Hale Trachta, founder of Through A Different Lens, offers ancient practices and contemporary creative tools for healing and transformation. Educated at Stanford and Columbia Universities, Pam has created a unique body of work woven together from her varied experiences as a teacher, life coach and spiritual counselor, photographer, fundraiser, consultant to non-profits, and shamanic practitioner. Her original products and processes help people shift the way they see, so they can become artists of their own lives. Pam offers workshops, retreats, private and organizational consultations, shamanic coaching circles and leadership seminars for women. She is the creator of the Sand Spirit Insight Cards and workbook, author of numerous articles on personal growth, and is a popular speaker.
Do you have a question you would like answered? I’d be happy to post it here. Send it on over and I’ll post it in the next few days, be sure to include your URL, a link to your photo, and your bio as well. I’m happy to use specific anchor text, just let me know.
