Will google rank websites based on speed? They don’t at the moment, but in an interview between Matt Cutts (of google fame) and Web Pro News, Matt suggested google is considering it. It would make how fast your site loads a factor in the algorithm google uses to decide the position of your website in the SERPs (Search Engine Results Page), for your chosen keyword.
Pete Cashmore from mashable has his own opinion of what could be a very controversial move by google in should google rank sites based on speed. If you are surprised, you shouldn’t be. Now google has released the super-fast browser google chrome, it’s no secret they want to speed up the web. And that’s no bad thing. But what’s in it for google?
Well, quite a lot actually. If your site’s on the first page of the SERPs and it loads quickly when clicked, it adds credibility for google’s excellent choice. As google has so much influence over webmasters and website owners, the whole internet could speed up. If sites are served quicker to searchers, google gets more pages, more ads, more clicks and more revenue. As if they dont make enough money already!
I hate slow-loading websites as much as anyone. Yes, I am impatient. But speed does not always equal quality. Some of my favourite blogs and websites load quite slowly. As I see it, the other downside is this will give more technically competent webmasters an advantage and priority to businesses with the big bucks to buy fast servers and high bandwidth. The little guy could be squeezed out.
However, it hasn’t happened yet. It may just be a rumour. So what are the important factors in google’s ranking algorithm? You and I will never know for sure as they keep it a secret. But today’s video features Matt Cutts with some advice on how to get better visibility on google. It’s good advice and it’s true right now.
He recommends that your most important keyword must be in the page content (you would be surprised how often it’s not), the title tag and the meta tags. He also recommends starting a blog on your business website and filling it with remarkable content, that attracts links and attention. Add links to your site from authority websites. There are many of these sites; squidoo, wikihow, digg, delicious, etc. If you find you are not even being listed in the google index, you can submit your site URL to google, or better still, submit your sitemap in google webmaster tools.
Better visibility on google is simple, but not easy.
