Can New Websites Rank In Google?

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I happened to catch a discussion about this recently where the parties involved concluded that it was nearly impossible to rank for terms in Google. I consider this to be complete hogwash. Of course most new sites are pretty undeserving of keyword rankings, and for some of the most competitive phrases they won’t stand a chance. But they still can garner a number of rankings and derive income for the webmaster. It’s all a matter of approach.

New websites need to try harder

The single biggest thing a new website owner can do is hit the internet running. That means lots of fresh content and promotions from day one. They will also need to be active in their keyword “community”, building a presence that leads back to their website. Another important thing for them to do is to build an expert status to rely on. If they person is already well regarded in their chosen field, chances are they’ll be able to launch much smoother than a Johnny-come-lately who just shows up and has a commercial website.

You also need to consider just how commercial your website is. Of course you want to make money, but you have to balance that need against the need to be taken seriously. If the website is laden with ads and thin content, you might send off the wrong signals. Sure, Forbes.com can hit people with an interstitial ad and pretend it’s a “welcome page” but new websites need credibility, and aren’t likely to be able to get away with the same tactic and build authority.

In summary, new websites should:

• Hit the ground running. Be forceful with the launch
• Blanket the community
• Attempt to develop expert status
• Update often
• Be search-engine friendly

What other ways can you think of for a website to hit the ground running and rank in Google?

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