Rule #1: don’t try to outsmart Google

Face it: if your website was hit by Google’s recent updates (Penguin or Panda), you used spam tactics to promote your website.The allegedly smart tools that offer a ‘fully automated way to get your website on Google’ aren’t that smart. It’s not possible to click a button and – BOOM – your website is on Google’s first page. It is possible to exploit loopholes in Google’s algorithm for some time. Websites that do this will get high rankings for some time but they will also suffer badly as soon as Google detects them.

Fact: spammy SEO tools that promise quick and easy solutions by exploiting weaknesses in Google’s algorithm will cost you a lot of time, money and work in the long-run. Many businesses have experienced this.

Rule #2: accept that normal business rules also apply on the Internet

Many people think that everything has to be free and easy on the Internet. It still costs money to attract customers and you still have to offer a good product and good service.Fact: there are millions of businesses on the Internet and all of them compete for high rankings on Google. There is no fast-track that will bring your website to the top if you’re not willing to invest time and effort.

Rule #3: make sure that your website has a good infrastructure

Your website won’t succeed if it has a poor design. If you want to get high rankings, you need a fast-loading website that is on a fast server. You must also make sure that your web pages are error free so that Google can index your pages without problems (IBP can help you with that).Fact: if you’re serious about your website, don’t use the cheapest web host. Slow pages can influence the rankings of your web pages.

Rule #4: realize that you are responsible

If your website has been penalized by Google because of the spammy backlinks, don’t complain that your competitors that haven’t been penalized also have these bad backlinks. They might have high quality backlinks that outweigh the bad backlinks by far. Fact: SEO is about your own success, not about your competitors. Focus on things that you can control: your website, your SEO strategy, your customer service and your marketing.

Rule #5: take control

Stop searching for gurus or secret tricks that promise to solve your problems. Take control of your success:

  • Find your unique selling proposition, identify your audience and make a plan.
  • Create a valuable website with great content. If your audience likes your website, they will share it with their friends.
  • Advertise your website: SEO, paid advertising, even traditional advertising

Fact: no one is as much interested in the success of your business as you. Don’t trust the gurus. Accept help but don’t stop thinking.

Rule #6: set the right goals and act now

SEO is not about getting backlinks. It’s also not about getting high rankings on Google. It’s about getting sales. It’s about improving your business.Focus on the things that will have an impact on your business. Stop searching for the latest trick. Start working on your success now!Fact: procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.

You will save a lot of time and money by avoiding offers that seem to be too good to be true. It’s very likely that you will pay a lot more if you opt for the ‘quick and easy’ and ‘fully automated’ solution that will lead to a penalty and lost revenue.