After all, most people venture onto Internet looking for information. If we can provide that information in content-rich, valuable pages, we've done search engines, users, and ourselves a big favor.

With all of these various ranking factors, what is one area that is sorely missing?

How about a site ranking algorithm based on a combination of content relevancy and user popularity data?

"Content" relevancy and "user popularity" aren't as easy to manipulate as link popularity, link reputation, or even keyword placement, so search engine results should certainly be more relevant. After all, anyone who is concerned about relevancy in search engine rankings should want most relevant pages and sites to rise to top of rankings. If our pages aren't most relevant, we have some work to do!

Introducing an Innovative Search Engine Ranking Algorithm

I just learned of a new search engine that actually uses a combination of content relevancy and user popularity to determine rankings. It's called ExactSeek.com.

How does ExactSeek measure user popularity? The engine has teamed up with Alexa, which offers a toolbar that measures activity on Web. By measuring surfing activity of millions of Alexa users, ExactSeek is able to determine user popularity and relevancy of Web sites in its index. User popularity is a far more reliable indicator of where Web sites should rank and gives users some input on search results they see.

Mel Strocen, CEO of Jayde Online, which is parent company of ExactSeek, says,

"Alexa traffic data will be a strong factor in ExactSeek ranking algorithm but not dominant factor, that being page content. Essentially, we've opted to emphasize user popularity over link popularity."

In fact, in an effort to make results even more relevant, ExactSeek.com will be in flux for next week or two as they work to determine how much weight to give Alexa traffic data in ranking search results.

The beauty of ExactSeek.com is that harder you work toward increasing traffic to your Web site by adding new, relevant content, paying for SEO, advertising in various publications, investing in a PPC campaign, etc., better your rankings will be in ExactSeek.com.

Can User Popularity be Manipulated?

I think a better question would be, what search engine results can't be manipulated? The key is to consider relevancy and valuable content, which is something that ExactSeek.com has wisely chosen to focus on.

It's true that not everyone uses Alexa toolbar. However, it does provide results based on an excellent sampling of users on Web. Plus, user popularity will be more difficult to manipulate than other factors, because it is certainly more difficult to manipulate surfing public than it is to manipulate search engines.

Give ExactSeek.com a Try!

ExactSeek.com is innovative in more ways than way it determines rankings. For example, you can check your site's rankings in ExactSeek database from a link on main page of engine. How convenient!

In Conclusion . . .

As search engine industry evolves, we'll begin to see more and more innovations geared toward arriving at relevant search results that aren't as easily manipulated as some of ranking methods in past. One of those innovations is being put into place now at ExactSeek.com: user popularity combined with content relevancy.

Stickiness

Page design and marketing are inseperable. Once you've attracted your visitors, your traffic building exercise has gone well and your site looks good, what are you offering which will encourage return visits? Regular site updates are very useful since your site will appear active and worth revisiting. The most successful sites we've worked on have been regularly updated. After all effort you've gone to in gaining traffic, it's worth considering how to hang on to it.

Messy Code

After search engine robots have visited your site, they'll see meta information first, then they'll scan your page for first chunk of relevant text. A large number of sites have cluttered code (Javascript usually) after meta tags. This will not help your search engine ranking since relevant text will be too far down page. Try hiving Javascript code (or similar) into another file and refer to it from HTML.

Beware of Rogue "Experts"

Before handing your hard earned money over to "Site Submission Experts", be sure to find out exactly what you're getting. They may claim to be able to submit your site to "30,000 engines", but let's be honest, there's only a handful which create almost all search traffic on web, so you can submit yourself. Some firms claim to guarantee you a Top 20 ranked page - yes, if your search phrase is 8 words long. It's not that easy in reality. Reputable firms can help you optimize your pages, and advise you on how best to market your site to your target audience, so best to do some homework first.

Patience

Building traffic is an ongoing activity. After your initial hard work, you should check your pages on engines and "tweak" them if results aren't as you expected. Traffic is oxygen of Internet and your site is dead without it, so regularly give your code a tune-up and resubmit if necessary. Don't oversubmit though. If you look at your server logs, you'll see major engine robots visiting on a regular basis, they'll pick up your changes soon enough if you can afford to wait a week or so.

All best with your traffic building efforts!