Getting your site indexed in Google is probably the most sought after goal of every company who has a website. Since Google controls around 57% of the worlwide search audience, it is really at best that for a business to really be given a chance at the online stage, it should be listed at least in the top 5 pages of its desired keywords in Google.

So here is what we have for you to get you started

Websites are all created for a purpose. May it be to entertain, inform, or sell goods and services; a website’s success will depend on how good it is in following the RULES.

Yes, that’s right. There are important rules or guidelines that should be played if you are to have a shot on turning your investment into a gold mine. Rules imposed by the power-players of the Internet universe: the search engines. It still gives me the chills when I think of them as gods of the Internet, Google being the supreme ruler.  Most of these rules were non-existent before. And because of this the search engines were subjected to abuse, manipulation and trickery. Fortunately for us (and unfortunately for some),  search engines wisened up (thanks to Matt Cutts), thereby again tipping the scales in favor of relevant results. 
 
No website becomes successful without the blessing of the search engine gods. But fear not! Though it may seem that they are so distant and they hated us. Search engines did not leave us to crawl and rot in the dark. All you have to do is look.

Google isn’t really hard to please. It doesn’t ask for something that is impossible to give. Scribed below are things to consider if you are to remain in Google’s bosom:

1. Quality content
Content is king! And this will still be the truth in years to come. There is nothing more pleasing to search engine gods than to optimize your site such that it offers unique well-written content. A search engines aim is to serve up what it believes to be the most appropriate and relevant website for any given query to the end user. 

2. Use Structural (Semantic) Mark Up and Separate Content from Presentation
A proper semantic structuring of your mark up helps search engine big bosses understand the content of your webpage. Making proper use of heading elements is essential because search engines give more weight to the content within the heading elements.

Using CSS to separate the design elements from the content makes for much leaner code and makes it easier for search engines to find what they’re looking for, which is content.

3. Titles and Meta Data
Title tag and Meta data are still essential to your pages. These are the ones that were subjected to abuse in the past.  And because of this their potency isn’t as powerful as before when it comes to influencing page relevancy. Still, everything must be done if vying for Google’s love.  Meta Keyword tags provide little or no effect in influencing page rank. Though stuffing this with a lot of your keywords might trigger Google’s wrath and be stricken by lightning. What you put in your Meta Description tag spells the difference in a visitor checking out your site, and may then convert into sales or anything, or simply make a potential visitor be enticed by your competitor. Meta description tags can do magic. Titles however still carry a lot of weight. The title is a declaration of your page’s contents might be. Use this divine weapon wisely.

4. Keyword Research and Effective Keyword Use
Success for Google’s love begins here. Try to put yourself in other people’s shoes. What keywords would you use to find your products or services? What does your competitor use? There is no need to guess. Powerful magics of “keyword research tools” abound. Great tools come free. You need but only search.

After the refinement of your keywords, apply their power to the following tools:   Title, Meta Description Tag, Meta Keywords Tag, Header Tags <H1> <H2> <H3>, Text or content, Alt tags, and links.

5. Quality Inbound Links
The search for quality inbound links is the one that will take longer to do and would also take long before taking effect. This will also be the one to help you in the long run in climbing the steep Google Page Rank. But heed my advice: there are good links and bad links. Good links are links from other web pages that are regarded highly by the search engines and are contextually relevant to the content of your page. Bad links are links from web pages that aren’t regarded highly or potentially banned by search engines and have no relevance to the content of your page. A lot of quality links will grant you favor from the gods.

Google loves us. And it doesn’t want us to fail. That is why it gave us these guidelines. We need only acknowledge its authority, walk straight and not turn to aggressive and unethical means. And definitely, we will see you at the top.

Following the Google guidelines and playing it safe is a real investment for long term results. Enjoy!