Find valuable tips on how to rank higher on Google search pages

1. How do I get found on
Google
Tips & Tricks
Sarah Santacroce
12/13/2010

2. Let us simplify your workday!
How do I get found on Google?
…that was the question somebody asked me at a networking event last Thursday. Hmm, I had prepared
my Elevator Pitch, but wasn’t quite ready to answer this complex question in 30 seconds! Instead I said: Page | 2
“I can help you, give me a call and we’ll discuss it”. In order to prepare for that call, I thought I’d write a
blog post and share it with my readers.
As most of you know, I’m not a professional Search Engine Optimizer, but I can share my tips and tricks
with you, and I know that they work. Just Google “bilingual Virtual Assistant Switzerland” and have a
look at the results.
So let’s start with first things first:
Submit your website and company info to website and local directories
It’s not the most interesting task, but there is no way around it. You will have to spend some time (or
money if you have it outsourced) and submit your website to major website directories. The main one is
the dmoz directory, which is free. Then there are thousands of other ones, some free some not, some
general some industry specific. You can find them all here. All submissions take at least 4 weeks until
they are confirmed. So you need an extra dose of patience …
I also recommend you submit your company info to local directories such as Google Places, Yelp, Yellow
Pages etc, especially if you are a brick and mortar business. Research which ones are the most relevant
in your area and submit your company info.
Good online content
Content is king! The Search Engine spiders are hunting and crawling through your pages in search of
good content. So if you want to make the first page of Google, you will have to supply good online
content. There are many ways how to do that:
Sarah Santacroce
Simplicity Admin Solutions
www.simplicityadmins.com
sarah@simplicityadmins.com
022 534 9294 (EU), 714 656 2324 (US)

3. Let us simplify your workday!
Write regular blog posts
In blog posts you can share your expertise about your industry and create trust towards your company.
Blog posts are very well indexed on Google and if the blog is hosted on your website, they create big
traffic to your site. If on the other hand you are using a hosted blog version (such as blogspot.com)
there’s less direct traffic to your site but it does present an advantage from the link building point of Page | 3
view.
Write a monthly press release and distribute it online
Today press or news releases can be used even by small companies, and the whole wide world has
access to them. By distributing your press releases online (for example on pitchengine.com) you will be
reaching out to a huge audience and therefore increase your website traffic (and hopefully your sales!).
Don’t forget to create a “Media Room” on your website and also post your releases there. The spiders
love new content on your website!
Submit articles on article submission sites
Another great (and free) resource to increase traffic to your website is via article marketing. You write
compelling, informative articles (or repurpose previously written texts) and post them on article
marketing publisher’s sites (such as ezinarticles.com). They get free content that can be employed by
others looking for great information to post on their websites. Every article contains a so called “author
resource box” where you post a short bio and a link to your website or a free e-book.
Scribd, Slideshare and Posterous
You can upload your content in pretty much any format: PDF, Word or Powerpoint and share it with the
world’s largest community of readers. Those sites are ranked highly in Google searches.
Sarah Santacroce
Simplicity Admin Solutions
www.simplicityadmins.com
sarah@simplicityadmins.com
022 534 9294 (EU), 714 656 2324 (US)

4. Let us simplify your workday!
Social Media
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The use of Social Media is also recommended to complete your online presence and increase your
chances to figure on the 1st page of Google’s search results. Social Media content is instant and it’s
everywhere. If somebody “googles” your name to find out more about you, he/she should find at least
those 5 links with your name: the “about” page on your website, your Facebook Page, your Twitter
profile, your Linkedin profile (and/or Xing and Viadeo) and your Google profile. So how many of those do
you already have?
Keyword optimization and SEO
As I mentioned before, I’m not an SEO specialist. What I do know though is how to target specific
keywords and implement them on your website and throughout all your internet marketing strategy. So
before you start with the SEO, take some time to brainstorm and come up with at least 3 very specific,
very targeted keywords or key phrases. Once you have done that, move on to the SEO:
Use unique title tags (containing your keywords) for each page
When you look at your website in a browser, you’ll find the title tag on the top left hand side of the
screen. Each page should have a unique title tag that tells the search engines what that page is about.
Sarah Santacroce
Simplicity Admin Solutions
www.simplicityadmins.com
sarah@simplicityadmins.com
022 534 9294 (EU), 714 656 2324 (US)

5. Let us simplify your workday!
Create a unique meta description for each page
The search engines index the meta descriptions to learn what your page is about and some will display
your description in the search engine results. The meta description should not be more than 150
characters.
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Use Alt text for images and integrate your keywords in the image file name
When inserting images into your website, make sure you use your keywords in the Alt text attribute and
in the image file name. Example: if I upload a portrait of myself I would name the file:”Sarah Santacroce,
bilingual Virtual Assistant” and put the same text in the Alt attribute.
If you would like some support with your Search Engine Optimization, send me an e-mail to
sarah@simplicityadmins.com. I’d be happy to help you.
Let’s connect:
***
Swiss national, Sarah Santacroce runs Simplicity Admin Solutions, a virtual assistance business
working with small businesses and individual entrepreneurs to help them dedicate their
precious time to their core business. Simplicity Admin Solutions offers tailor made virtual
administrative solutions, Internet marketing support, translation service and much more at
http://www.simplicityadmins.com. All services are available in English, German and French.
Sarah Santacroce
Simplicity Admin Solutions
www.simplicityadmins.com
sarah@simplicityadmins.com
022 534 9294 (EU), 714 656 2324 (US)