The Dollar Value of a
#1 Search Engine Position

is Enormous

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Every Web expert stresses the importance of being ranked within the first page of the Search Engine results as a key aspect of your Web business's marketing strategy. In fact a large number of them stress that you have to be in the top 5, but the really coveted position is the #1 spot, because there is a lot of evidence to show that the #1 position will attract as many as five times more traffic than the sites below it. So, it is an important part of any Web designer's brief, to be able to get their client's Web site into the #1 position. Why is this so important? Put simply, being ranked #1 for a frequently searched keyword can make a Website owner a fortune. Let's examine this a little further.

Imagine that as a kid your client loved watches. He was always pulling them apart to see how they worked, and then putting them lovingly back together. As he grew a little older, repairing watches became his hobby, and along the way he collected many watches. Of all the watch brands out there, it was the Rolex brand that really caught his fancy. Now he has two old Rolex watches in his collection, and he lovingly restored them himself.

Imagine that as a kid your client loved watches. He was always pulling them apart to see how they worked, and then putting them lovingly back together. As he grew a little older, repairing watches became his hobby, and along the way he collected many watches. Of all the watch brands out there, it was the Rolex brand that really caught his fancy. Now he has two old Rolex watches in his collection, and he lovingly restored them himself.

Over the years our client's love affair with Rolex watches has grown and even in trade and hobby circles he is known and respected as a person who sure knows his Rolex watches.

By now he is succeeding in his dream occupation as a watchmaker, specializing of course in the Rolex brand. But now he decides that he wants the world to know about his expertise. So he decides that one of the best ways to do this is to build a Web business. So he hires a Web designer to setup his Web business, which includes a shopping cart. The Website business is now finished, and sells second-hand Rolex watches, as well as Rolex brand accessories such as boxes, bands and clasps. The site is marketed by having the client visit forums where he provides expert, friendly advice about Rolex watches. Then the Web designer begins optimizing the site for the Search Engines, and manages to achieve that coveted #1 ranking in Google for the keyword "Rolex watches."

Now let's do some math. About 33,000 people searched for "Rolex watches" in the major Search Engines last month. We'll be conservative and imagine that only 7% of the searchers click on the #1-ranked result (that's our Rolex friend's site). That's 2,310 visitors per month.

We'll stay conservative and imagine that only 0.05% of visitors actually buy something from our friend. That's a little over eleven sales per month. Let's say they sell a few watches in that eleven, along with a few clasps and bands. The average profit may well be $350 per sale. 11 x $350 = $3,850 profit per month!

Let's continue with some more sums. Let's say 15% of people click on the link when they search for "Rolex watches." That's 4,950 visitors for the month. Then, let's bump the sales conversion up tp 3% (after all, the Website has a great sales letter!). Now our friend is making 148 sales per month, and generating $350 profit on each sale. $350 times 148 sales = $51,800 per month! All because the Web designer knew how to obtain a top position on Google.

If our friend's Website only gets to #8 position on Google, about 0.50% of people will click your link and, using the assumptions from above, your sales will be about $1,900 per month. A very big difference indeed!