Alexa Tips???

[QuirkyMomma]

I've been researching SEO and I've heard that google looks to other engines to decide what gets a higher ranking... and some blog bloggers have posts discussing Alexa Ranking. Have any of you worked on increasing your page rank with Google by using other search engines (like Alexa)? Is this a wise way to spend my time?

[Nathan]

Have any of you worked on increasing your page rank with Google by using other search engines (like Alexa)? Is this a wise way to spend my time?

It is not a wise way to spend your time. You can make yourself in the top 100,000 blogs worldwide by simply installing the Alexa toolbar on your home computer and browsing through your site every day. Alexa rankings are wildly inaccurate and hopelessly useless because they rely on a small fraction of the internet market which has the toolbar installed. I think that Google knows this and I sincerely doubt that they use your site's Alexa ranking to calculate your search ranking.

To improve your search ranking I would suggest that you work on your SEO by working on post titles. In general a more specific title allows you to capture "low hanging fruit" which is basically SEO talk for saying that when you get specific you don't have so much competition.

For example:

"Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies"

This is the title of one of your recent posts. According to Google this search term yields 593,000 results. That is not too bad. However:

"Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe"

Now the results are down to 525,000 so you have a greater chance of showing up.

"Fast Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe"

Now the results are down to 91,500. If you made your title this specific you would have an almost 100% chance of appearing for that search. And the best thing is that because your title still incorporates "Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie" you'll still have a decent chance of showing up in the less specific searches that are farther up the "tree".

In short you should always try to make your post titles as specific as possible.

"Dishes and your Preschooler" => "Washing Dishes With Your Preschooler."

Same keywords but more specific and more likely to get search results.

Another SEO tip. In the title of your blog it says quirkymomma.com That is bad SEO because a domain name as a title is not very keyword rich. Try making the title say "Motherhood Tips from a Quirky Momma" or "Tips for Mothers by a Quirky Momma" etc. Once again more specific increases your chance of getting results.

"Recycled Crayons" => "How to make Recycled Crayons"

If you go through your post titles I'm sure that you will notice many ways that you can improve them by making them more specific. That is bound to help you much more than Alexa ever could.

[Buzzlord]

Nathan -

That is a great idea... I never thought of trying to SEO individual posts...
Thanks!

[QuirkyMomma]

Wow! You've helped turn on the lights to SEO for me! I've been going about this the wrong way! Thanks!!!

[stephen todd]

Originally Posted by QuirkyMomma

I've been researching SEO and I've heard that google looks to other engines to decide what gets a higher ranking... and some blog bloggers have posts discussing Alexa Ranking. Have any of you worked on increasing your page rank with Google by using other search engines (like Alexa)? Is this a wise way to spend my time?

there was a rumour years ago that google and alexa worked together - but I doubt that they still do

a low alexa ranking is only any good to you if you are selling advertising or links - ad buyers and link brokers use alexa to guage visitor numbers

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by Buzzlord

Nathan -

That is a great idea... I never thought of trying to SEO individual posts...
Thanks!

The pros all SEO individual posts. It has a much greater effect than just trying to optimize the main page and counting on that optimization to spill over onto your other pages.

Wow! You've helped turn on the lights to SEO for me! I've been going about this the wrong way! Thanks!!!

My advice is the culmination of a couple of years of learning. You would have figured it out eventually, it just might have taken a while.

[QuirkyMomma]

Okay, I've gone through all my titles and have tried to think of two ways one could search for it and used them to re-title my posts. Hopefully, Google will like the changes I've made! Thanks bunches! I love Bloggeries!

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by QuirkyMomma

Okay, I've gone through all my titles and have tried to think of two ways one could search for it and used them to re-title my posts. Hopefully, Google will like the changes I've made! Thanks bunches! I love Bloggeries!

Good! That is exactly the way you should write titles. Always think of how people might search for your information. If you title it using words they will search for then they'll be able to find it.

[maccam87]

tbh i have herd the same as people are saying above alexa rank depends purely on traffic, i could proberly get my rank up very fast very easy you know those blag programs buy instant traffic (before you say anything dont buy them load of crap) lol but if i bought a million hits to my website for 10 dollars im sure i would not make a penny but get a higher ranking only because alexa is purely traffic.

[stephen todd]

Originally Posted by maccam87

if i bought a million hits to my website for 10 dollars im sure i would not make a penny but get a higher ranking only because alexa is purely traffic.

that wouldn't work because alexa record the length of time visitors spend on site, number of pageviews, where traffic comes from, etc.

what would work is pay per click - if you bid on some low cost search phrases - they'd be genuine visitors, and you could get them for a few cents each

of course, a low alexa ranking is of no value unless you're selling advertising space, or text links on your site