Search Engine Ranking: Is It Enough to Generate Online Business?

To rank well in the top SERPs does not fulfill the pre-requisites of business generation in the virtual world. A top ranking site with less or no reputation at all is likely to generate much lesser traffic or leads as compared to a website with good credibility and brand presence.

Your online reputation says a lot about you or your firm. This decides the fate of the business you are likely to generate through Internet. Your online reputation is the complete picture a prospect can access by visiting your website or by typing your name into their Web browser and reading what has been said about you.

Now, the question arises, how you can create or manage brand popularity in this virtual world? The answer is through socializing. To create your brand in the world of Internet, spend some time networking with common interests and welcome business inquiries. These activities can be carried out by exploring second generation Web communities and social networking sites. These activities don't replace your prospecting efforts, but they can enhance them.

With the advancement of technology, it has become pretty clear that Web 2.0 will revolutionize business practices. Web 1.0 was all about getting your message out to your target audience. It was more like a one way communication through the more traditional media like websites, e-mail and banner ads. Today the scenario has completely changed in the world of marketing and advertising. Today, consumers are controlling the online environment and the consumer or the audience is not listening anymore, but the audience is creating, selecting and participating.

Web 2.0 is all about conversation and participation. With various tools and techniques such as social networks, wikis, blogs, social bookmarks & tagging etc. the user -not the sender- controls the message.

You can build your relationship with your target audience and grow your network with them through social networking sites, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Myspace etc. Wikis and forums are other handy tools to communicate with your customers. You can also develop a conversation with like-minded individuals on blogs. The choices are endless. Only, you have to select the most feasible techniques that can work well for you.

So, now don’t just try to get that top ranking in the Search Results, but start developing a relationship with your target audience, socialize with them and make your presence felt on the WEB.

Shilpi is a web specialist and Internet Marketing Expert with vast experience in the field of online marketing and maintains a blog on Internet Marketing Strategies to share her experiences and latest trends in the field. She is presently associated as Internet Marketing Manager with a multi-national firm, which has its offices in India, UK and USA providing web based solutions to global clients.