Search engines, such as Google, send out programs called robots to scour the Internet to look for information on websites. They use an algorithm that considers various factors such as quality content to determine which websites will rank higher in their search engines in hopes of providing their customers a better search engine experience. Different search engines have different factors that they consider priorities.

   These priorities can change or be changed to create a different ranking system. When the algorithm changes and factors are weighted differently or new factors are introduced, your website's rankings may fluctuate while the robots apply the new algorithm to your website and your competition's websites. This shifting in rank number over a short period of time during this for Google is called the "Google dance".

   While no one can, nor should, promise you top results in an organic non-sponsored result, there are a variety of techniques that can be employed to help clients create better websites and can enjoy a more favorable position in the rankings.

   Building a better website is an ongoing process that can use the criteria set forth in various search engines algorithms and their changes as a way to make better websites which in turn can affect rankings.

   Little Mountain Web Design will work with you to find useful and important key words to describe your business or nonprofit and help you with a variety of techniques designed to help build better websites and help your website rank its best.

   Here is a helpful list of a few of the main search engines that you can visit to see how your website is ranking:

    Bing

    Google

    Lycos

    Teoma

    Yahoo

   You can enter different key words to see how you rank for those categories. We always recommend that you start with the name of your company or organization.