Everyone who runs a successful small business that relies on website traffic should know about “search engine optimisation” and how important it is that search engines can find your site.

And let’s face it, these days by “search engine” we basically mean Google.

But can we put a figure on how important it to be seen on Google’s first page for any keyword that might relate to your service or product?

Yes, we can. And the figures are somewhat extraordinary.

According to seobooks, the world-wide Search Engine Optimisation training experts, a top Google ranking may well mean tens of thousands of dollars in your back pocket.

The company used data from a leaked AOL report that showed a number 1 Google spot meant a site received more than 42 per cent of the total number of 4,926,623 clicks, but if the site dropped to number 5, it only received 4.9 per cent of clicks, and a number 10 ranking 2.99 per cent.

Seobooks determined that based on this data, sites ranking 8, 9, or 10 may be able to increase traffic for that keyword 1,400 per cent by jumping to the number 1 rank. Even jumping from number 8 to number 3 can triple your traffic.

So, if you are at number five and you get 2000 clicks a month, and you have determined that the value of each click is $1, you receive $2000 each month.

But, if you were at number one, you could see an 850 per cent increase in your clicks, making it 17,000 a month, or $17,000 – an increase of $15,000.

We do know that some things can improve your ranking – keyword density, fresh content, a social media presence among others – but no-one really knows exactly what algorithm Google uses to choose its top spots.

And even if anyone did know, the algorithm keeps changing. Most recently, was talk of the “Panda” update, which left some established websites out in the cold.

It’s difficult for the average business person to keep track of the changes, which is why many are turning to experienced internet marketers, such as Direct Sites Online, to improve their Google ranking.

Contact us now via info@directsitesonline.com.au