Search Engines and How They Work

Search Engines and How They Work

If you're doing any type of business on the internet than search engines like Google and Yahoo! could play a large role in the success or failure of your business. Even though most internet user have experience using search engines, many don't know how the engines work.

For website owners it is important to understand how, at least at a high level, search engines work so they can take advantage of the website traffic that only search engines can deliver.

Search Engines are special sites on the Web that are designed to help people find information stored on other sites. There are differences in the ways various Search Engines work, but they all perform three basic tasks:

- They search the Internet - or select pieces of the Internet - based on important words,

- They keep an index of the words they find, and where they find them, and

- They allow users to look for words or combinations of words found in that index.

Early Search Engines held an index of a few hundred thousand pages and documents, and received maybe one or two thousand inquiries each day. Today, a top Search Engine will index hundreds of millions of pages, and respond to tens of millions of queries per day.

Before a Search Engine can tell you where a file or document is, it must be found. To find information on the hundreds of millions of Web pages that exist, a Search Engine employs special software robots, called spiders, to build lists of the words found on Web sites.

When a spider is building its lists, the process is called web crawling.

In order to build and maintain a useful list of words, a Search Engine's spiders have to look at a lot of pages. How does any spider start its travels over the Web? The usual starting points are lists of heavily used servers and very popular pages. The spider will begin with a popular site, indexing the words on its pages and following every link found within the site. In this way, the spidering system quickly begins to travel, spreading out across the most widely used portions of the Web.

To increase the likelyhood that the spiders find your website make sure you are listed on high ranked websites like Merchant Circle. You can create a free business page and blog that will not only increase your chances of being found but also be another place for potential visitors to find about about your website.

Submit your business listing for free to the MerchantCircle.com business directory.

Once the spiders have completed the task of finding information on Web pages, the Search Engine must store the information in a way that makes it useful. There are two key components involved in making the gathered data accessible to users:

- The information stored with the data, and

- The method by which the information is indexed.

In the simplest case, a Search Engine could just store the word and the URL where it was found. In reality, this would make for an engine of limited use, since there would be no way of telling whether the word was used in an important or a trivial way on the page, whether the word was used once or many times or whether the page contained links to other pages containing the word. In other words, there would be no way of building the ranking list that tries to present the most useful pages at the top of the list of search results.

To make for more useful results, most Search Engines store more than just the word and URL. A Search Engine might store the number of times that the word appears on a page. The engine might assign a weight to each entry, with increasing values assigned to words as they appear near the top of the document, in sub-headings, in links, in the META tags or in the title of the page. Each commercial Search Engine has a different formula for assigning weight to the words in its index. This is one of the reasons that a search for the same word on different Search Engines will produce different lists, with the pages presented in different orders.

You can get a customized Page Critic Analysis Report from Webs 4 Small Business that tells you how YOUR webpages should be set up to make sure give the search engines what they are looking for when they review your page.

An index has a single purpose: it allows information to be found as quickly as possible. There are quite a few ways for an index to be built, but one of the most effective ways is to build a hash table. In hashing, a formula is applied to attach a numerical value to each word.

The formula is designed to evenly distribute the entries across a predetermined number of divisions. This numerical distribution is different from the distribution of words across the alphabet, and that is the key to a hash table's effectiveness.

When a person requests a search on a keyword or phrase, the Search Engine software searches the index for relevant information. The software then provides a report back to the searcher with the most relevant web pages listed first.

Not sure what keywords you should use? Picking the right, or wrong ones, can make or break your chances at online success. Consider getting a customized Key Word Report from Webs 4 Small Business that tells you which keywords you should and should not consider for your site. These keywords are specific to YOUR website not a generic list of keywords.

So, why are search engines important to business website owners? Simple. You need traffic and Search Engines have lots of it. And, their purpose is to drive traffic to sites that they think match their visitors' needs.

The way to get a portion of that traffic, is to optimize your website (you've likely heard of Search Engine Optimzaiton or SEO). That way when a someone searches for a keyword that is relevant to your website, the search engines includes a link to your website in the search results. That puts traffic and potential visitors just a click away from you website.

Visit Webs 4 Small Business to learn more about how we can help you optimize your website.

You can also 'jump to the first of the line' with Paid Search Engine listings. Find out how you can get Guaranteed Website Traffic from search engines.

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Managed Internet Advertising Service for Small Businesses Announced by Riverbank Consulting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nov 19, 2007 – Raleigh, NC — Riverbank Consulting, Inc.,leading edge technology and internet consulting company for small businesses, today announced that it has launched a managed internet advertising service for small businesses. Delivered through its Webs 4 Small Business service Riverbank Consulting can now assist Small Business Website owners by providing guaranteed, targeted traffic and buyers to their websites.

Once of the biggest challenges small business owners face is effectively leveraging the Internet to grow business. Many spend substantial amounts of money on a business website, but don’t realize any benefits from the investment because visitors can’t or don’t find it. Paid advertising services offer businesses the opportunity to rapidly gain exposure for a new website, or revitalize an existing one.

Aubrey Jones, President and founder of Riverbank Consulting, Inc. noted that "having a business website alone is just not enough, you also have to make potential visitors and buyers aware of the website to generate targeted traffic.” “Paid advertising, such as Pay-Per-Click, is an excellent way to drive targeted, quality traffic to a business website. Like any marketing effort, however, without expert management the investment can be ineffective and unnecessarily expensive” added Mr. Jones.

Small Businesses will benefit from this new service by setting their own budget, as low as $99 per month, and allowing Riverbank Consulting experts to ensure that the investment is effective. Leveraging well known services such as Google Adwords (TM), Yahoo!(R) Search Marketing and Microsoft (R) AdCenter, Riverbank Consulting determines the right mix of online advertising to meet the business owner’s objectives as well as his or her budget.

“Small businesses need exposure for their websites and they also can’t afford the time or effort it takes to create traffic organically. This services let’s them jumpstart their website traffic” notes Mr. Jones.

This new service provides small business owners with guaranteed, targeted traffic for as low as $99 per month, with no long term commitments. By including managed paid internet advertising in their overall marketing efforts they can quickly see the results of their investment in the Internet. Learn more details about this new guaranteed traffic service at their website.

About Riverbank Consulting

Founded in 2006, Riverbank Consulting, Inc. brings big business technology and internet experience to small businesses and organizations without bringing the big expenses and time requirements. Through a variety of services Riverbank Consulting allows organizations to take advantage of the technology it needs to become and stay efficient. Founder and President, Aubrey Jones, brings over 13 years experience building, supporting and managing large scale commercial internet solutions as well as non-profit internet solutions.

Riverbank Consulting, Inc. provides Raleigh, NC and Triangle Area small businesses local, on-site consulting services. Through services like Webs 4 Small Business services Riverbank Consulting also offers global internet technology services.

Are you a Small Business Insider? Become one today by subscribing and receive a free internet marketing course.

What You Should Look For When Selecting An SEO partner

Every company offering SEO related services promises results but few deliver on that promise. To be the exception when it comes to delivering on that promise a SEO partner must take an approach that ensures quality results that meet YOUR business objectives.

There are lots of 'unethical' approaches to SEO that can actually get you banned from search engines. Unfortunately, some SEO companies still use these as a 'quick-fix.' Unfortunately, you get left holding the bag. Make sure the SEO company can explain their approach in terms you can explain and if they can't you should keep searching.

Here's what to look for:

First, they should demonstrate that they understand your business need.

Just giving you a questionnaire is not enough. At the beginning of any engagement, they should take the time to understand your business objectives. Your business is unique and a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach rarely actually fits every business. By taking the time to understand your business they should be able to tailor their services to best meet your business objectives as well as your budget.

Look for a free consulation to get started. Quality SEO Partners like Webs 4 Small Business will take the time to understand what you need before they 'put you on the clock.'

Second, they should use a proven model of optimization that offers 'realistic' expectations.

Ignore marketing hype like "Rank #1 in Google in 24 hours" Search engines do not make public the process or rules they use to crawl, rank pages or index website pages. Further the processes and rules change often as the search engines attempt to increase the value of search results. Of course if your keyword phrase is "one of a kind white unicorns hand made by a grandmother in Peoria" then you actually have a good shot of # 1 ranking if anyone actually ever searched for that. Otherwise, it takes time and lots of work to get high rankings.

To compensate for this lack of public information, an SEO partner should rely on a proven model to ‘uncover’ the rules.

1. Analyze – Determine where your pages rank today. From this you can learn what may be ‘right’ about these higher ranking that can be applied to other pages. Webs 4 Small business provides a FREE SEO ranking report to gets you started or you could select a full customized ranking report that gives you all the details about where you website is strongest and weakest.

2. Target – Every web site is unique. Rather than a set of ‘canned’ optimization recommendations they should determine the right optimization options for your website. To accomplish this they should use a range of methods:

• Expert Review. While many SEO partners have great in-house experience they should also turn to other experts who study search engines to determine the most likely ‘rules’ used to determine how pages are indexed and ranked.
• Best Practices. They should look at the top ranking competitors in your space to determine how they optimized their pages, particularly those aspects that could influence page rankings.
• Learn as they Optimize. They should consider implementing changes to larger sites in stages. Start by optimizing your highest value pages first, then, based on the results modify the optimization approach if needed before continuing.
• It’s More than Google. While organic search results are a key portion of any optimization effort, they should know that it takes much more to get quality traffic to your website. They should be able to help you go beyond the search engines to find your new traffic.

3. Optimize – They should be able to provide the detailed information you need to understand what needs to be done to your website. They should also be willing to let you make the changes rather than forcing you to allow them to make the changes at substantial per hour fees.

4. Analyze - SEO is not a one-time effort. Your business changes, your competitors change, your prospects and customers change and the search engines refine rules. This means you will need to periodically review your ranking and re-optimize your site. You should expect your SEO partner to provide 'follow-ups' to ensure that you got results.

Look for a free follow-up evaluation of your website after undertaking steps for optimization.

Third, their approach should be comprehensive and include all the aspects that bring traffic to your website, not just search engines. Make sure they will provide:

• Detailed Site Analysis - You need to understand from where your site is starting.
• Keyword Analysis - All keywords are not created equal. They should help you understand which ones to use, and as importantly, which ones not to use.
• Page Structure Recommendations - Content, headers, keyword placement, it all matters.
• Engine Submissions - Each engine is unique. 'Submit a link' programs are not effective.
• Paid Search - The internet is like any business, sometimes 'free' isn't worth even that. You may even want to consider a managed Pay-Per-Click service to get you started.
• Reciprocal Links - As with keywords, all links are not created equally.
  

Finally, the right SEO partner should work hand in hand with you to make sure the changes recommended for your website are the best fit for you. They should share their approach to making the changes to your website and should be flexible to make changes in a way that best supports your business needs.

Selecting a SEO partner can be intimidating. With all the marketing hype, it is easy to get fooled. In the end SEO is like any other business service you use. You should be able to understand the benefits, and limitations, it offers and make an informed decision about how to invest your money.

Looking for a hand getting your business website off the ground? Webs 4 Small Business can help you get started with a complete business website for only $249 or you can start optimizing your business website for only $295.

Want great online business information like this delivered right to your mailbox? Subscribe to the Small Business Insider today. As a bonus all new subscribers receive a copy of our full Blogging Crash Course.

Boost Your Online Revenue With a Niche Blog

You already know how valuable blogging can be to increasing the visibility and value of your online business. Having a niche blog is something that can be profitable and easy, or challenging and difficult depending on how you handle the day to day posting. Niche blogs are typically blogs related to one or more specific industries or fields, including hobbies, illnesses, and sports. The more niche, or in-depth a blog is, the harder it might be for people not involved in that niche to get into it. However, people who are interested in the topic will become very loyal because they will find the connection very valuable. It is for this reason that one must think about the best way to make the most out of niche blogs, and finding the right niche is a good start.

Looking for a great blog tool? Create a web blog and newsletters for your business for free on MerchantCircle.com.

When searching for the right niche for any blog, be sure to look at your business's target market, topics that complement you business and your abilities to keep the blog up to date and relevant within that niche. Say you sell specialty items for animal lovers. You might consider a blog (or blogs) about your favorite type of animal, say dogs. To really be in a niche you should consider narrowing it down even further. So from dogs you may go deeper and focus on only one breed of dogs, like golden retrievers. There is always something new to talk about in this field, particularly if you have a Golden yourself. Animal lovers who search for information about their pets are already in the target market for the specialty items you sell. If you keep the information current and relevant you can become a trusted expert to those fans.

Need help finding just the right niche keywords for your blog or website? Webs 4 Small Business can create a Custom Keyword Report that is customize for your business. An SEO specialist will review your site and recommend the keywords you should, and shouldn't, use. Order your

After you have selected your niche blog topic, it's time to become an expert. No matter how much you think you know about your niche blog theme, chances are you could use some brushing up on the topic. One can brush up on a topic by simply doing research on the niche blog theme, and spending a few hours reading within the blog subject territory each day. Feel free to check out rival blogs, as they will give you an idea of what is popular in this niche, and what is not.

The most important part of getting the most out of a niche blog is becoming the go-to place for information in this niche. That means creating a blog that is constantly updated, and is accurate in the stories relating to the subject. If you do this with your niche blog, expect to see a small, but loyal following.

The opportunity, of course, with a niche blog is to generate revenue off this small following. You might consider selling specialty items directly from your blog if you have a wholesaler. If you provide a service related to the niche topic, you have a great storefront from which to build a client base. Lastly, consider using the blog to generate pay-per-click and or affiliate revenue. Niche blog readers probably have a hard time finding items in their area of interest. Having affiliate links to items of interest can really become a valuable bonus to readers.

Get help starting with your online affilate business. Webs 4 Small Business can provide assistance in every aspect from selecting affiliate products, building an affiliate site, to even managing it for you.

So, if you are interested in starting a niche blog, start by finding a topic you know you are interested in (or can become interested in) and become an expert in the topic. Incorporate some revenue generating components and you are now earning money from a niche blog.

Looking for a hand getting your business website off the ground? Webs 4 Small Business can help you get started with a complete business website for only $249.

Want great online business information delivered right to your mailbox? Subscribe to the Small Business Insider today. As a bonus all new subscribers receive a copy of our full Blogging Crash Course.