How do I know whether I am getting anywhere?

• Choose several search terms which you think might be suitable:
  • include a couple of generic ones such as - film Makers Anytown
  • one specific to your club name - Anytown Moviemakers
  • Try to be reasonably tough on yourself but don't aim for the impossible. For example I don't expect that Finchley Film Makers is going to get in the top ten or even hundred if someone searches for Film Makers London - just too much competition but for Film Makers North London we are in the top ten
    
• Try a search with each chosen term and note down for each where you end up on the ranking - 25 means the 5th place on the third page. As you do not need to go past page four the worst score would be 40+.
  
• Implement the changes you have decided on - this might mean working phrases from your search terms into the paragraphs on the front page or getting one of the expert members to write a piece on editing with Adobe Premiere. But make sure you are still writing good clear English.
  
• Wait a week or two for the 'googlebots' to visit your site to collect loads of info and see what's new. Then check the ranking, hopefully it has moved up from the last result.
  
  • Check the 'cache' of your search terms (see the search engine factors) so you can spot where the keywords are in your pages - adjust content if necessary.
  • Tell the next committee meeting just how clever you are and pour yourself a drink.
    
• Check at regular intervals that you are still doing OK.

Incidentally, do not despair if your changes do not bear fruit immediately. Google does not visit low scoring sites very often so your efforts may take a few weeks to show up in the rankings. If you look at the 'cache' - see the example above - you will see the date that the 'Googlebots' last visited your site. So if you are smart you can connect your changes with Google's cache changes! Final warning - whilst this may seem a million miles from running a club it can become quite addictive and I've known some people become quite obsessive about getting ever better rankings in the Google Top Ten!

Go to Search Engine Factors - click here

Website Makeover Guides - Introduction

What Should the Content Be? | Navigation | Planning Navigation | Anchors & Links | Words | Getting Pictures | Getting & Using Pictures
Processing Pictures | Video | Presentation Pictures | Colours | Layout Principles | Layout Schemes | Fonts | What is SEO?
Search Engine Factors | Check Your Search Ranking | Stay Legal | Website Health Check | Website No Goes more to come ...

A Beginner's Guide to Creating a Club Website with Weebly

Don't Panic! | Signing up to Weebly | Making your first (elegant) page | Adding more pages and navigation
Adding pictures and words | Creating a complex Coming Soon Page | Adding Forms, Emails, Maps and Videos.

IAC Competition to find the Best Club Website 2011