Improving Google positioning

[brightlightcandles]

I am currently having difficulty receiving higher ranks for my web site. My web site is www.BrightLightCandles.com. What should I do to increase my positioning and increase my traffic?

Thank you,
Mike

[sonnie]

Take a look at your meta tags. Seem kinda messed up. Make your page title match your content. Not always a good idea to use your URL in your title. Content is important. Maybe write a paragraph describing your products. SE's will pick this up.

Also, try submitting your site for review by other members.

[janeth]

I would start by changing your title to have your key words and making it a little longer

Then if you could use any (h) tags for your page header I would do that and include your main key word there.

I think your showing one link to your site.

I would start working on links your never going to rank good if you do not have some good incoming links.

[mm99]

I would suggest that you work on the title for one thing. You should never use the title area for your url unless you are a very well known company and you never "welcome to" in your title. This is prime real estate. That would appear to be a good part of the problem.

As sonnie suggested, a good para about your site is also an excellent idea. The one you have is not bad, but could use work.

I did a meta search on you and found you just about nowhere. To get on the radar screen your going to have to do some serious submissions. This is very important. Submit to dirs especially.

Get the site in shape per the above, then do some subs. My sig site has a whole list of places on the left side of my site. Rip down the left side and submit to them all after you clean things up a bit and you should do just fine.

You have some very simple matters to attend to and once you take care of them, you'll be ok

peace...Paul

[jackson992]

I want to second what Janeth said. Long titles seem to be gold. Not only does this help get more keywords in but it also helpys your site stand out from similar topic sites

[mm99]

All the above notes, you can take to the bank. Yep, me included...

If you really hit hard on your title and get some good candle stuff in your text, believe me, your site will much better in the rankings, especially the title.

Delete this line:

<meta name="" content="We carry a complete line of candles, candle holders and candle accessories with pictures, and sections featuring candle tips">

peace...Paul

[brightlightcandles]

Thank you all for your suggestions and help with my web site. I have made many changes that you have suggested. If you have a moment, please take a look at my changes before I post it up to the SE's.

Thank you,
Mike

[brightlightcandles]

Recently, I submitted my web site for review in the search engine area, as well as in the submit site for review. I received many suggestions as to what to do to receive better rankings and how to work things to receive better visits to my site. I have made several changes and would like to know what everyone thinks about my site and how I could receive top rankings for my site http://www.BrightLightCandles.com.

If anyone has a chance, please take a look at it and let me know what you think. All help and assistance is appreciated.

Thank you,
Mike

[Mel]

Hi Mike
I am not sure what keywords you are targeting and looking at your site does not give me much help. The first words in your page title are free shipping, but I'm sure you are not targeting those as keywords.

Have you done research to determine what phrases actual live surfers are using to find sites like yours?

If so, then use those phrases in the first part of your page title and meata description and keywords, Optimize each page only for one or two related phrases.

Use the phrases in your h tags alt tags and in the body text. If you can bold or italicize some of them good,

[mm99]

I think that title could still use work.
Things like free shipping, accessories home and wonderful can go.

You need to get keywords in there. Things that people will be looking for. I looked at your opening para and it said "hand-poured, lead-free". That sounds good. I'd leave out the "-" and maybe put in the other 2. How about:

Scented Candles, Hand Poured Lead Free Aromatherapy Candles

You repeat all of those words in your lead para and "candles" twice in the title. You've covered a lot of keywords which is what you want to do.

You need to get words out of there that people won't search for and put in words that people will search for.

peace...Paul

[brightlightcandles]

Once again, thank you all for your help. I have made several changes to my website and will continue to do so in the upcoming weeks. I am gaining much more traffic and sales I believe is due to the changes I have made. I am hopeful that I will be able to link to some other websites, which will help out my positioning in the search engines. If anyone is interested in linking, please let me know. I am having a little trouble still in getting into the directories. I understand that it is very difficult and competitive, but are there any suggestions on how to get into the directories and receive more hits that way?

Thank you all for your help.
This has been quite a process, especially since I do not have any formal training in ECOM or web design.

Mike