Google Ranking Slipping (yet again)

Without question the must frustrating part of running my own business is my Google Rank. For me at least. The accounting, wearing multiple hats, travel, tough customers, etc. - I will take all of that over the insanity that creates a solid page rank in Google.

I see clearly now why there are many Search Engine Optimization (SEO) companies and how those companies can prey on people/business owners who do not know how difficult this process can be. I would like to think I know what I am doing. Strong keywords? Check. Links to the site? Check. Links from local directories and organizations? Check. Blogs with links like this? Check. Yet the voodoo that goes in to determining where your page ranks in a Google search continues to confound and frustrate me.

I know my site is not perfect and I am aware I could be doing a lot more to build links like writing on other blogs and responding to forums, etc. But I am genuinely frustrated with the process. I noticed today that I have fallen off the first page output for some of the keywords I track. That stinks. That is the difference to business and no business. And business is slow right now. Referrals continue to come and word-of-mouth is great but some new customers would not hurt.

Since business is slow right now I tweaked the look of the site a bit. As always I look to simplify the site but also cram the most applicable keywords I can think of in to the text. I am hoping the new links from Twitter and the keyword changes will make a difference - I don't think they are counting toward the page rank yet.

One think I am wrestling with right now is the scope of my keywords and text on the site. By this I mean the coverage area that I service. My question is - do I go for broke and say "new Jersey" to capture a potentially larger share of people searching for service or narrow my focus to more regional/local language like "Middlesex County" or "Central Jersey" because (in my opinion) the visitors are more likely to call for service because of the local proximity. For now I have been subtly changing the text to reflect the "Central Jersey" feel more.