Ranking or Looks?

Obviously, if someone offered your site either a great ranking or a great new look (assuming you had neither), you would probably pick a great ranking.  Why?  Because it is a lot easier to build a great looking site than to get a great ranking!

The thing is, most likely you are not going to get that kind of offer.  I mean, lets be real, its not like someone can just ‘give’ your website a great ranking!  Sure, maybe they could give your site a better look, but not a better ranking!

Let me explain, there are ways you (or someone else) can improve your ranking on Google.  These things consist of signing up for Google Webmaster Tools, running a blog, getting on social media, and doing a little link exchange.  However, none of these things will get you a great ranking.  They will improve your ranking, but not by a whole lot.  Don’t get me wrong, doing these things are extremely important ways to market, but they won’t give you the highest possible ranking on Google.

The most effective way to rank on Google (like I’ve said a thousand times before) is to get more links pointing to your site.  This can be done with link exchange, but Google doesn’t pay near as much attention to link exchange links as it does to links given to you by someone without your link in exchange.  These kinds of links can only be received by running a trustworthy business and acquiring trustworthy clients who will recommend you on their blogs and web pages.

To get to this point, you will probably need to advertise by other means.  This doesn’t necessarily mean through TV, radio, or billboards.  No no, some of the most effective advertising is still the age-old word of mouth method!  Just tell others about your business, as they find how good you/your products are, they will start recommending you to others, and posting links to your site.

That is how SEO really works.  However, there is still one thing missing here, your site design.  Yes, no one could rightly say that looks are more important than ranking, but it can be really hard to get ranking (or even customers, for that matter) without looks!  A good looking website will make people more interested in your business, which will make them more ready to both buy your product(s) and link to you on their blogs/websites.

So, ranking is more important, but looks have their place on the web.  A very important place!!