The number and quality of links pointing to a website is a key factor that search engines take into account when ranking websites. It is challenging for business websites to build these inbound links, and in the past many have looked to submitting to ‘directory’ type websites, or building reciprocal links with others.
As the use of search engines becomes more common, they are increasingly taking the role of online ‘Yellow Pages’ directories, helping users find local products or services. If your business targets a specific town or region, how can you make sure that your site is found in these results through natural or PPC listings? Also, how can you minimise the amount of paid traffic to your website from people who are in the wrong location?
Most of you are probably aware that inbound links to a website can generate extra visitors. However, relevant inbound links from other popular websites are also an important factor used by major search engines to determine a site’s position in their results lists.
So which search tools dominate the market and attract most searches?
Of course Google is usually quoted by people as the search tool of choice.
Indeed, this engine has established a very strong position in the last few years
as the main players have consolidated together, so that today search is focused
through a small number of sites.
