I like to think that websites are like trees, that the internet is kinda like a forest.
You buy a domain, host it, get your hands a little dirty with CSS and BAM.
You’ve got a website.
There it is. Your very own website, planted on the internet. You’ve taken great care in deciding where you’re going to plant it. You dug the hole just right, mended the soil, and very lovingly set it in place. You’re feeling pretty good. Soon the customers will be beating down your door!
Oh snap. Google just found another bazillion new websites today. Now what do you do? How is anyone going to find your tree among all those other little trees? You know Google is looking for the biggest tree that matches the search terms entered, so what do you do?
For most of us, it’s a question of time and devotion to the idea. You can’t just plant a tree and expect it to magically grow on its own somewhere it wouldn’t have otherwise sprouted naturally. Why would you expect your website to magically reach the top of page one if you’re not caring for it.
You’ve got to water your tree. You’ve got to fertilize it. You’ve got to keep insects and animals from eating it. You’ve got to do all this consistently for much of the tree’s life if you want it to stand out above the rest.
In time, perseverance pays off. Paying close attention to the needs of your little tree will ensure that it ends up with strong, deep roots in the community, and branches full of fruit that Google will be able to recommend to visitors time and again. And that will make your visitors happy.
