1. I will stop being obsessed with Google Updates And PR

This is a strange one. I, for one, realize the lack of importance that is actually placed on the updates in terms of improving search rankings. Google is, to all intents and purposes, a fluid search engine. Indexing and re-indexing takes place on a daily basis and information is updated in the Google index more often, even, than that. The ToolBar PageRank (or TBPR for the acronym lovers) is no longer the powerhouse of SEO that it once was but I, like many others, still wait around for the latest updates hoping I've managed to squeeze a bit more green into that bar.

The search results are also always changing and these are far more important than whether a site has increased from PR5 to PR6 (an update conducted roughly once every 3 months), or Google forbid, down to a PR4. In 2007, we should all attempt to pay less heed to the TBPR and much more care to the rankings we obtain.

2. I will put more effort into producing new content for my own site

I appreciate that new and increased pages of content can have a hugely beneficial effect on my search engines. More pages means more possibility to rank for new keywords. Equally, Yahoo and similar search engines, look very favorably indeed on sites that contain masses of content.

Despite knowing this and despite being a content writer I still manage to go weeks sometimes without adding anything new to my own site. I pledge to add a minimum of two pages of content to my site every week. And it will be quality content, of course.

3. I Will Obtain One .Edu Or .Gov Link

Authoritative links from .edu or .gov sites are believed to provide great weight to a website's SEO efforts. They are deemed as being a reliable source of information and so any sites they link to must hold invaluable information as well. Short of buying links from a service I saw recently, though, I haven't really managed to determine how to go about this. I could write a job description because apparently they like to link to job descriptions. I could detail the best way to get into the content writing industry because they apparently like to link to this kind of information too.

One thing I won't do, though, is to litter spam comments on the various forums and blogs that these sites host. Spamming is bad, no matter the reason and no matter the method. So don't expect to see me doing that. On the other hand, do expect an enthralling article about how I obtained the status of website content copywriter and how others interested in working hundred hour weeks and drinking dangerous levels of caffeine can get started.

4. I will blog and I will RSS

This is another one that I know to be beneficial. Clients have commented about how well a blog has performed or how the introduction of RSS has helped them retain or even improve rankings. But frankly, I've yet to find the time to do it.

Blogging is another effective method of adding new pages to a website and as well as generating new pages with quality content they can help to reinforce a message and drive hapless visitors to the appropriate pages on a website. RSS feeds provide a method for other websites to offer my content on their site but they also provide another way for me to benefit from the articles I write.

5. I will remember that Google is not the only Search Engine

Google is responsible for around half of the searches performed on the Internet. As such, they are in many ways the most important of the search engines. However, Yahoo are also a powerful search portal that commands a reasonable number of searches. MSN is run by a certain Bill Gates who will never be happy being third in any list. These two combined command a very generous share of the market so should not be completely ignored.

It's a common misconception that if you optimize a site for Google then you will automatically rank well in other search engines but this isn't the case. They all rank sites depending on different factors. It is possible to rank will with all the search engines but it takes some work. Adding more and more content concentrating on each of the search engines, and including a blog will help.

My 2007 Outlook

In 2007 I will be a new SEO. The world of search engine optimization is one in a constant state of change. Recent developments mean that keyword densities have dramatically changed especially through Google's introduction of Latent Semantic Indexing. Above all else I swear to remember that the search engines are a means to drive traffic and that the resulting visitors should be my main priority.

About The New Man

Matt Jackson is a new man, but remains an experienced copywriter providing quality website content. He vows, throughout 2007, to stick to his resolution and encourage his clients to do the same.