One of the questions I get asked the most is, how can I get better placement in Google searches? How can I get better SEO (search engine optimization)?
Those questions became even more important recently because Google just changed - better yet, rewrote - all the rules. Their latest algorithm update — dubbed "Panda"— demoted millions of Web pages. Content farms (sites that list info on other sites) like Demand Media took a major hit, as did sites with lots of ads, pictures and little informational content.
Simply put, the goal of the Google Panda update involves the filtering of low quality or duplicate pages that are deemed "not useful" to users.
With that in mind, to answer your questions about getting better placement for your site, there are things we need to do:
1) Evaluate your website both for duplication and for pages with low informational content or a disproportionately high number of repetitive information.
2) Focus on the continuing creation of useful, original content. THIS IS KEY!! For instance, could you include a blog that may simply be the updates and articles you post on Facebook every morning? This puts content on the site and Panda will read it much better than simply including links to staff blogs. Here's a great way to get new content - include Facebook and Twitter updates on your home page. Content is king!
3) Promote content in a way that encourages links from other sites. Maybe a page that could supply links to your congregations business sites?
4) Make it easy for readers to share your content at social networking channels, such as Twitter and Facebook.
The bottom line - with Google's Panda update now in place, there is one, singular ingredient for web sites to get better SEO and placement - content. We need to create valuable, compelling and relevant content on a consistent basis.
The Po!nt: Make it worth their while. Based on early evaluations as well as what's being said in what I'm reading, Google's Panda update appears to reward the best content—so we need to think like a publisher and give your web site readers something they really want to read.