3 Things to Help Google Trust You

[Mitchell]

Google is all about trust. Who knows, maybe they were in a bad relationship, but if you want to rank well with Google, you need to be trustworthy. And let me make the bold assumption that you are currently not trustworthy (most sites are not – especially new sites).
So how do you get Google to trust you? The most obvious answer, and most commonly quoted answer, is to get inbound links from trustworthy sites. Any webmaster who has been around the block a couple of times knows that this is a bit of a catch-22. Sites that are high in Google's trust typically do not just hand out links to small startups – those go to sites that are already established.

Unfortunately, while this is probably the most frustrating answer you can receive, it is also the lions share of building trust with Google. There are, however, a few other things you can do to help Google trust you more. While having these things may not rocket your site to the top of the rankings, they will bring you closer to finding a good relationship with Google.

Define a Privacy Policy

A privacy policy is a page that explains to your users what information is collected, how it is being used, and what options they have to access or change that collected information. It may be a bit ironic that a major search engine would place any emphasis on privacy in light of the recent AOL data release scandal, but having a privacy policy in place shows a certain level of trustworthiness.

This may seem like a very small step when we look at the big picture, but keep in mind that Google is looking for responsible and reliable websites to send their users to. A privacy policy, while non-consequential for many websites, shows an attention to detail and a sense of responsibility to user's privacy.

Offer Detailed Contact Information

For many small website owners, this is a step that can be quite tricky. Offering detailed contact information on your site shows that responsibility and reliability that Google is looking for, but at the same time many small website owners are not running their websites as a full-time business.

You should always offer some sort of contact information on your site. At a minimum, you should offer an email address (I was surprised at how many websites – specifically blogs – did not offer any contact information at all). If possible, you should include your address and a telephone number where people can contact you. Of course, if the only phone number you have is your home phone number, this may not be the most ideal option.

Show Consistency Over Time

This may be the single most important tip in this article. Google has shown an affinity towards sites that remain consistent in structure, growth, content, and popularity. At the risk of sounding prosaic, outside of receiving highly trusted inbound links, the best way to bring Google to trust you is to show Google over time that you are trustworthy.

Think about your relationship with Google as you would any other relationship. Relationships take time, they take commitment over time, and trust in a relationship needs to be cultivated. If you happen to screw up, it takes time to regain any trust that was lost.

With your website, show Google that you are consistent, that you are dedicated, and that you actually care. Do not change your website's structure or focus entirely just because you feel like it. Spend time every day for months, even years, growing your site and promoting your site. Take the time to make sure it is as user friendly as possible taking into account issues such as accessibility. And whatever you do, do not take the chance of trying to cheat on Google by using a 'shortcut' – it can and will set you back in your relationship several months, if not longer.

It May Not Be the Best Model

Far be it from me to be a Google apologist – I certainly do not agree with everything that they do. The move towards a trust-based system is one that has received both praise and criticism, and both praise and criticism is deserved. While Google might be doing well in fighting search engine sp@m, they have simultaneously (if not inadvertently) hurt the small business owner who does not know any better.

There are many who complain about Google being 'unfair' towards website owners. Whether or not they really are being unfair is ultimately a moot point, Google is what Google does. If you choose to continue to care about having quality rankings in Google, complaining will not bring you higher rankings, adapting to their changes will.

These days Google wants to know that they can trust you. If you have been around long enough, they may already trust you, but if you are starting fresh, or if you have made mistakes in the past, you may have a long road ahead of you to prove to Google that they should care about your website, and that it is suitable for their rankings. Keep in mind that high trusted, one way in bound links will always be the fastest route to rankings, add a privacy policy and good contact information, follow the typical guidelines that make a site reliable, and be consistent with your site.

[Dr. Jekyll]

If somebody has several site, can manage with just a single Privacy Policy page linked from all the sites or you need for Google purpose to make a Privacy Policy page for every site?

[Bruceper]

each privacy page should be specific to the URL and contain the URL of the site. So yes, each site should have it's own privacy policy.

[Dr. Jekyll]

Content visible to License Owner only.

Thanks! I would ask you if from a SEO point of view, is better:

www.PRIVACY.site.com or www.site.com/PRIVACY ?

[FSGDAG]

Content visible to License Owner only.

Privacy.Site.com = "Privacy" is a sub-domain of Site.com
Site.com/Privacy = "Privacy" is a sub-folder of Site.com

There is probably no need to create a 'sub-domain' just for a privacy and TOS statements. You wouldn't even need to put your Privacy or TOS statements in a sub-folder... My suggestion:

www.Site.com/privacy.html

Create a HTML or PHP file and have it in the root of the domain. This is atleast the most widely used method of doing it

Hope this helps

[Bruceper]

You're not understanding what I mean. When I say each site should have it's own privacy statement I mean yoursite.com/privacy.html

And each domain should have it's own privacy document becasue inside that privacy document you say things like "at mysite.com we do not allow".

[Dr. Jekyll]

Thanks!

[Mitchell]

Content visible to License Owner only.

From SEO point of view simply for each different domain you need a page with your privacy information, on the root or a folder of the same domain and referring to that domain and business name (means in the policy's page you have to mention your website's name and URL).

A html or php file is fine, if it is called privacy.html is best but if you want to call it a different name is still fine as long as you have a link on your index page called "Privacy" and is linked to the page with the privacy contents.

All you need to show Google and other search engines where the Privacy page is and prove that you are genuine and honest businessman and you care about your visitors.

Remember Google doesn't like you to play game with them and all they want to see that you are sincere and what you are doing is natural and genuine for your visitors and not to have better position in search engines.

[Dr. Jekyll]

Well is very interesting.

[mode OT On] I do have a site www.mysite.come with a forum on it www.forum.mysite.com do I use two privacy.html one for the domain and one for the sub domain or just one for both?[ mode OT Off]

Thanks in advance

[Bruceper]

Typically the privacy policy covers the entire domain, so *.yoursite.com

On the forum (in the headers) you can link to the privacy policy