posted by Mark

It has been said that the best way to predict the future is to invent it, and as far as search engine positioning goes, that’s not bad advice. If you can come up with the next hot buzzword or key phrase in a particular industry – or even amongst a targeted search group – then it should be pretty easy for you to grab the top spots on Google and the other major engines before anyone else can.

Accomplishing this can be easier than it sounds. All you have to do is choose a target market, find out what the industry leaders are talking about (or will be in a few months), and either get there, in an SEO sense, before any of your competitors do. Or, if your site is popular enough already, you can use new content to tilt the conversation in the direction you want to see it go. Before you know it, you’ll have a steady stream of visitors that you pulled out of thin air.

Creating the future in search is a great way to put yourself at the front of the pack. Here are a few more steps to get started.

Focus. Just as you can’t be all things to all people, neither can most of us dominate large numbers of search terms and phrases at once. Try to pick one or two that you think are likely to become more popular – and profitable – and use those as a starting point.

Be consistent. When it comes to building traffic, treat your new SEO efforts as you would any other. That means articles, links, and a steady stream of fresh content for search engine spiders to find.

Define yourself as an authority. Make sure that what you write and post isn’t just filled with new keywords, but positions you as the authority on the matter. “Buyers” are always preferable to “visitors,” and people like to buy from experts.

If you see a trend coming, don’t be content to spot it and move out of the way. Start optimizing your site for search engines now – you’ll be in prime position when the rest of the world catches up.