I finally made it....

..to page 1 on google!

I set myself a target towards the end of last year to try and get my HandbagsbyHelen website onto page one of Google. Ever since I started making bags I've spent (far too much!) time Blog-ing, Facebook-ing, Pinterst-ing and, occasionally  Twitter-ing.  But I was beginning to think my website would be permanently confined to the no-man's-land that is anything beyond page 5 on Google. On a few rare occasions one of my blog posts has made it to page 3, only to disappear a week later.

So imagine my surprise when I googled 'Handmade bags' a few weeks ago and found my website had made it to page 1! Yay!

At one point I was even above Anya Hindmarch! I don't really have any idea on what it was that made the difference, but here are my top tips for raising your profile on google.

First of all.... 

...decide the key words you'd like to be found under. For me it was simple - 'handmade handbags', 'handmade bags' and 'handmade purses' were my targets. I knew I would never stand a chance of getting onto page one for 'bags'. So choose something which is clearly linked to your product, but is also going to make sure you're not competing with more mainstream, better known and better resourced businesses.

Once you've decided your key words....

1) Blog regularly. 

Even if no-one seems to be listening! I know it can often feel like you're talking to yourself, but keep at it. Joining link up sessions like Handmade Monday can help a lot. As well as helping to make sure you post regularly, it's also really nice to actually get some comments - even if only for my own sanity! Try and use your key words in your heading or main body text of your blog post (as well as your tags).

2) Update your website

Once you've set up your website it seems to help that Google can tell that new products are being added. Even if you're just changing prices or posting a new picture. If Google thinks you're current then you're more likely to get noticed.

3) Use Google Merchant 

...it's free! I have to confess I had to get Mr HbyH to help me with this initially, but it's another way by which Google starts to recognise the name. I've never sold anything via Google merchant - but I don't think that's really the point. The busier Google thinks you are the higher up the rankings you'll go.

4) Go checkout some other sites who feature for your chosen key words

Google in the key words you'd like to be found under. Take a mooch around the top 5 pages. Then google the top 5 pages individually. You'll see all the places they are mentioned - this is how they got to be on the first page! Follow the links and see where they take you. It may be to blog posts, adverts or directory listings - go check them out. These are all places where you may be able to get your page listed or linked to as well.

5) Don't give up

It may seem like you're lost in the ether, talking to yourself and will never manage to be found. But persevere and one day you might just google those same key words and find yourself at the top!

So now i've made it to page 1, I just have to try and stay there!

(Health Warning: this is written by a complete technophobe who doesn't really understand this stuff. There are far more informative blogposts out there and as much technical detail as you'd like to take in. This is really based on what I 'feel' worked for me - it's not a science and there are no guarantees!)