According to News.netcraft.com, in Dec of 2007 155,230,151 web sites responded to their web server survey. That represented a 5,400,000 increase in just one month. As you can probably understand, those 5.4 million new sites probably did not archive a number one ranking on Google.
Is a number 1 ranking in Google, MSN or Yahoo a bad thing? No, assuredly, no.
But here are some cold facts about Ranking:
- No one outside of a very few select employees, know how ranking works.
- Rankings can change in a second. For any reason.
- Search Engines what to control how they rank, so we will probably never know.
- Ranking IN WHAT? The search "games" (a general search) or the search "typing tutor program for 6 year olds" (a specific search)
- Generally, as your site becomes more "relevant" over time, the higher you ranking will be in the "general" searches.
- SEO and Linking play a big part in your site relevant measurement.
- Your site can enjoy growth and success without top ranking in general searches.
- As your site succeeds, ranking has a tendency to raise also.
- Many advise "targeted growth" as a main goal and not ranking,
- Many consider ranking success as a long term consequence of "targeted growth" success.
Bottom Line
Consider the odds of being highly ranked in the general search phrases, and target your efforts to a defined cliental. Find out what they are using for searchers and target your efforts there.
Be careful of linking clubs, Search Engines are not dumb and if they think you are trying to bypass the advantages of a good site providing a reason for users to use the site, you will receive a ranking penalty.
Think of ranking as a long term goal, adding profit as you properly advance your site.