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It's hard to believe that there was ever a time when Google wasn't the dominant force in search. But believe it or not, there was a time when Yahoo! was the most popular search engine on the internet. So, how did Google rise to become the top dog? Below, LEO Digital Marketing looks at the history of this now ubiquitous company along with practical SEO tips for growing your business.
History of Google
Google was founded in September 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin while both were Ph.D. students at Stanford University in California. The pair initially developed a search engine called "BackRub" (in 1996) that operated on Stanford's servers. In 1998, they renamed the search engine "Google" and registered the domain Google.com.
The Name
The name "Google" is actually derived from a misspelling of the word "googol," a mathematical term used to describe the number one followed by 100 zeros. This name reflects Page and Brin's mission to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful. And boy, did they ever succeed!
The Rise
Google quickly rose to prominence in the early 2000s thanks to its clean design and simple functionality. While other search engines of the time focused on delivering as many results as possible, even if they were inaccurate or irrelevant, Google's algorithm delivered searchers precisely what they were looking for. That focus on quality over quantity helped Google become the go-to search engine for millions of people worldwide.
The Difference
Yahoo!, on the other hand, did not make any major changes to its search offering between 1998 and 2002. As a result, Yahoo! users began defecting to Google in droves. To stem the tide, Yahoo! bought Overture Services — a company that had developed a system for ranking results based on how much advertisers were willing to pay per click — for $1.63 billion in 2003.
But by then it was too late; Google had established such a commanding lead that it would never relinquish it. In fact, Yahoo! would eventually shut down its own search engine in 2009 and instead rely on Microsoft's Bing platform to power its searches.
5 Ways To Use SEO for Your Business
The Google algorithm is constantly evolving, and that means businesses have to stay on their toes when it comes to SEO. A solid understanding of how the algorithm works is essential for any business that wants to maintain and improve its ranking in search results. After all, appearing on the first page of Google is crucial for driving traffic to a website.
The easiest way to boost your company's SEO efforts is to let experts like LEO Digital Marketing do it for you! But it still helps to know the basics as a business owner. Here are a few ways to grow your company through SEO:
1. Understand What Your Customers Are Searching For
The first step is to understand what your customers are actually searching for. What keywords are they using? What kind of information are they looking for? Once you have a solid understanding of this, you can start to optimize your website and content for those specific terms.
2. Optimize Your Website
The next step is to optimize your website for the keywords you want to rank for. This means ensuring your site is well-designed, has relevant and keyword-rich content, and loads quickly. All of these factors play a role in how Google ranks your website.
3. Create High-Quality Content
One of the best ways to improve your website's SEO is to create high-quality content that is relevant to your customers' needs. This content should be well-written, informative, and keyword-rich. It should also be updated regularly to ensure it remains relevant.
4. Promote Your Content
Once you have created great content, promoting it effectively will help you get the most bang for your buck. There are many channels to consider, including social media, email marketing, and paid advertising.
5. Monitor Your Progress
Finally, it's essential to monitor your progress and adjust your SEO strategy as needed. Google's algorithm is constantly changing, so you must keep up with the latest trends. Tools like Google Analytics can help you track your progress and identify areas for improvement.
SEO is essential for any business that wants to succeed online. By following the tips above, you can start to improve your company's ranking in search results and drive more traffic to your website.
Conclusion
Google is now one of the most powerful companies in the world, but it all started with a misspelling of a math term by two Stanford students back in 1998. Since then, Google has gone from strength to strength, becoming the dominant force in search thanks to its focus on quality and continuous innovation.
Who knows what this now ubiquitous company will achieve in the future? But one thing is for sure: SEO can help businesses in all industries rank higher on Google, ultimately growing their customer base and profits!