| Just over a decade ago two young men began | | | | sites. |
| working on a new search engine, which at the time | | | | Up with the Header would be a really good spot for |
| they called "BackRub". The search engine had this | | | | this link, up there it could be easily found by people |
| name because of its unique ability to analyze the | | | | as well as the search engine spiders. Now, no one has |
| back links going to any given web site. | | | | done these things for me as yet, but I can live in |
| Larry Page and Sergey Brin are the names of those | | | | hope. |
| two men. They changed the name of "BackRub" to | | | | However, all of the things mentioned above I did as |
| "Google", and started operating commercially in | | | | recently as last week for a couple whose business I |
| September, 1998. | | | | have been associated with for the last year or so. |
| The figures for 2006 were released in April, 2007. | | | | Their business is a dance studio, and I have been a |
| (Nielsen/NetRatings) Of the many hundreds of search | | | | regular participant in their classes and social dance |
| engines that are available, Google had 50.8% of the | | | | sessions. |
| search engine market during 2006. This was an | | | | My motivation? |
| increase of 22.6% of the market they had in | | | | Well, nothing more than wanting to help out. I have |
| searches during 2005. | | | | generally enjoyed participating at their venue, and |
| Whilst on the topic of the Nielsen/NetRatings figures, | | | | thought I could make a contribution. I did try to |
| it is interesting to note, the next biggest search | | | | explain to the male half of this business duo on |
| engine operator was Yahoo which had 23.6% of the | | | | Wednesday night just what a blog site was all about, |
| market during 2006. The first seven place getters | | | | and how I thought it could be a useful tool to use in |
| amounted for 98.4% of the total searches done | | | | communicating with their client base. He was |
| during 2006. The remaining 1.6% was shared by the | | | | apprehensive about it, but seemed open minded |
| many hundreds of the other guys. | | | | enough to have a look. I offered to help talk through |
| I tend to use Google more than any of the other | | | | with him on the telephone, and I also mentioned that |
| search engines, for searches and other purposes. The | | | | if he didn't want to use it that was fine also, as I |
| number of times people chose Google for searches | | | | could easily close the site down. |
| during 2006 was a staggering 1.4 billion. | | | | What I received instead the following morning was |
| Back links are still an important part of the algorithm | | | | an accusatory telephone call from the female half of |
| that Google's spiders use when they are crawling | | | | this duo suggesting I should leave their business to |
| over sites to rank them. So anyone out there who is | | | | them. Naturally, I immediately closed both sites down. |
| connected to the WWW who would like to send a | | | | But, back to Google and rubbing backs. Hey, anyone |
| link to any or all of my web sites..., thank you very | | | | out there, come and rub mine as often as you like. I |
| much. It would be most appreciated. At last count I | | | | suggest it is vitally important for any business that |
| had around forty of them, but I would be happy to | | | | has a web site to be aware of Google rankings, and |
| compile a list for you if you wish. | | | | how to improve them. This particular dance venue, I |
| There may even be someone out there who is | | | | found as a result of a Google search less than two |
| feeling generous and philanthrophic, and would really | | | | years ago. The clear profit they have made from |
| like to help this poor struggling Web Master. This is | | | | admission fees from me alone in the period I |
| what you will do. Firstly you register with a domain | | | | estimated this morning to be well in excess of |
| name registrant company an appropriate domain | | | | $2,500.00. Then there is the profit from meals and |
| name. Next, you build and publish a web site that is | | | | drinks on top of that. It is indeed curious to me that |
| full of praise for my businesses and more importantly | | | | this particular business woman not only has no |
| for me personally. Then as an extra, you could throw | | | | apparent concern regarding the importance of web |
| in a personal blog site, that you have designed for | | | | sites linking to hers, but even treats with contempt a |
| me. Of course you will also need to cover the costs | | | | "friend's" attempt to be supportive of their business |
| involved in hosting these sites. Finally, don't forget to | | | | and them as teachers. |
| give me back links to any or all of my official web | | | | |