Viewing Source Code

I went to Author’s web site and viewed his source code to see if he practiced what he preached. To see source code of a web page all you have to do is select "View" button in Microsoft Explorer and click on "Source". Here you can view Title, Description and Keyword Meta files that are so critical to high search engine position.

Indeed, author did exactly what he was recommending to his clients. His meta files were text book.. The HTML code had word search engine listed in meta title section once, in meta description once and in meta keywords three times. The code was very clean and should produce good results using keyword "search engine"

So next thing I did was go to three main search engines, AltaVista, Northern Light and Lycos. I typed in keyword "search engine" and what do you think happened?

Well, none of three search engines listed Author’s Web site in any of first three pages of results. And everyone tells you that if you are not on first couple of search results pages, well…just forget about being found.

Directory Listings

This brings us to point of this article. Search engines are not only resource on which to list your site. Another option is purchasing a listing with a directory. A directory is a Web site where users search a limited number of web sites, not entire web.

Maybe your site is a "900 lb. gorilla?"

What's with all jargon today?

Glad you asked.

A slick new "Visibility Index" opened recently that you should try. It measures your website's visibility on web by counting up all links to your site. But rather than simply telling you how many links you have across world wide web, this one rates you from "limited presence," to "contender", "player" and even "900 lb. gorilla."

The site also lets you enter up to four other URLs so you can compare yours to them. What's more, results show your URL among lots of popular sites on web.

Not only is this free tool fun to try, it can reveal important information about your web presence.

Give it a go at: http://www.marketleap.com/publinkpop/

I just ran my http://www.bizweb2000.com site through and it was interesting to see it wedged between www.Coke.com and www.SouthWest.com, but a bit shy of www.MarthaStewart.com and www.GeorgeWBush.com. (See, I told you it was fun!)

But all fun aside, whether you find your site in limited presence category, or even "Contender" or "Player", you should always be working toward one goal -- getting more links.

Not only do lots of links bring obvious --- lots of traffic, they also help you in another important race; search engine ranking. Major search engines have been relying more and more on link popularity as a deciding factor in where they rank sites in their results pages.

- Could you become a gorilla?

OK, so how many links can you really get? Well, let's be honest. A lot has to do with your overall business budget and specifically, your marketing budget. If you think you can get to 900 lb. gorilla - that's half a million links - you could be setting yourself up for disappointment.

Take a look at "gorilla sites". Every last one is a giant company with big marketing dollars, including presence on television, radio, and like.

So how about next category down, "player" - with 100,000 links or more? Is it doable with a small or home business budget?

Why not! Sure, it would be quite an accomplishment on a limited budget, but it is possible. You just have to have a plan. And I'd like to help you with that right now...

- Put a powerful "get links" plan in place.

So how does a site start moving up list?

Simple. Get links. Or better yet, have a powerful plan to continually get links.

But getting other sites to link to yours takes a bit of originality. You can't just slap up a "link to us" page and hope job gets done. (Well, you can, but don't expect too many quality links!)

Here are three link strategies you should consider. They are not used at too many sites, they work well and they can put you ahead of most of pack...

1. Pre-license all your best stuff.

If you ever create your own tips, articles or content for web or email newsletters, consider pre-licensing it to others.