Push Your Facebook Page to the Top of the Rankings
Google has started ranking Facebook pages higher in search with their newest “caffeine” update that is displaying search results with sites that have fresh content as well as social media sites in the top ten rankings. Most of these search results that include social media are for lower competition keywords that include a local search element. This would mean most small business owners operating locally could benefit from an extra first page ranking from their Facebook page and in turn more site visitors and conversions to real sales.
The search engines and Facebook’s algorithms for gaining higher rankings is somewhat shrouded in mystery but from what we have seen these factors place a bigger role. Optimize these factors correctly and you should rank higher.
1. The number of Likes: The more followers you have or ‘likes’ is similar to votes or backlinks in search engine terminology. Search engines figure if you have more likes, you are more relevant and what users will expect to find.
2. Fresh Content: Each time you post an update, whether it be photos, wall posts or discussions, the search engine spiders come back to index the new information. Pages that are continuously up
3. Relevant Content: Keep new content related to your business and theme. Include local search keywords and business category in your posts.
4. URL Address: Did you get your business name and city in the Facebook URL instead of the default URL?
5. Amount of ‘Shares’: More ‘shares’ means you have great content that your fans must let their friends know about.
6. Age of Account: Similar to website age trust factors. The older your page, the more trust search engines may give it.
With the ability to communicate better with customers on Facebook pages through the interactive nature, more small businesses have been promoting this over their own website. Do not neglect your website though as a well designed site with proper on-page and off-page search engine optimization will always rank higher and bring more potential sales.
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About the author
Shane has been in the restaurant business his entire life. Working as a cook in fine dinning, owning multiple pizza parlors around Boston and as a one time owner of the oldest bar in Boston, The Red Hat. Now he uses his experience to write marketing guides and articles and act as customer support liason, all in the name of helping his fellow small business owners succeed.
Comments
this is an eye-opener of a post! thank you for sharing your knowledge, I gain new stuff each time I finish reading your post. it is high time for small business owners like myself to invest time and creativity with social media. In time it will give higher profits and a decent customer fan base.
John, 12:48 am at August 13, 2010
Same here John.. It is worthwhile reading posts beneficial for small enterpreneurs like us. For sure this will lead us become better and eventually one of the best.
Robert, 10:44 pm at September 10, 2010