Almost every day I entertain the question of how one can snatch a number one listing on Google for a particular keyword or keyphrase. As anyone who has worked with search engines know, this is not at all a simple answer. There are too many variables to consider in terms of industry, stature in the marketplace, target market, and longevity. My typical tact is to try not to give a definitive answer (because, often, one does not exist) but to help clients think about how Google functions and how it might work for them. Similar to the 'training versus educating' line of demarcation, the first step toward Google success is learning how to think about it.

In my conversations with clients, I try and help them think through several concepts related to how Google functions with a Web site and how it assigns rankings. Many of the mechanics of Google are trade secrets (think the Coca-Cola recipe) and unknown by anyone outside of a select few employees. There are several widely accepted principles, though, that guide search engine marketers in how to cozy up to high Google rankings.

For the sake of simplicity, let's think of these accepted principles in two categories:

1. On-site factors: Google takes a look at the content and structure of your Web site to determine how relevant it is to a particular keyword or keyphrase

2. Off-site factors: Google looks at the greater Internet (factors external to your Web site) and how it relates to your site

Once you understand this delineation, you're on the way to understanding higher rankings. Let's take a look at some of the invididual principles within each of these categories.

On-site factors
1. Google cares about your content, how original and genuine it is, how often it is updated, and how many times a particular keyword/keyphrase is used.
2. Google looks for specific, descriptive tags (called META tags and TITLE tags) and the keywords therein.
3. The presence of a site map (similar to an outline) within your Web site denotes structure, organization, and a specific hierarchy to Google.
4. Google evaluates your site to determine how structurally sound (i.e. strong coding) your site is as a measure of its relevance.
5. Google can't often interpret images and FLASH content, so the site must contain a balance between readable text and graphics.

Off-site factors

1. Google counts the number of sites that link to yours.
2. Google determines how relevant/important those linking sites are; a link from a heavily-visited site is more valuable than a link from a site with little traffic.
3. Google looks to see how long your domain has been existence and in its database; as a rule of thumb, domains with longer lives are seen as more legitimate.
4. Google evaluates the text within incoming links as a way to characterize what words are associated with your site.
5. Google looks to other closely-related sites like a corporate blog or other affiliated site as a way to determine how relevant your site is.

This list isn't meant to represent a be-all / end-all. Anyone who tells you that they have such a list is likely exaggerating (or violating a Google patent protection). It hopefully is, though, a start toward helping you to strategically think about Google and how to find your way to the top!