There are many strategies for boosting your site's search engine rankings on Google, Yahoo!, MSN, and the other search engines.  But, as a small business or entrepreneur some of those options are just plain expensive and especially if you don't know how to get optimum results.  So, in keeping with our theme of stimulating business, here are 5 ways to boost your site's rankings:

1. Say it, Say it, Say it.  Write high-quality content and be sure to heavily use keywords that relate to your business.  So, if your business is a car wash then you want to be sure to use keywords like "car wash", "auto detailing", and "vehicle detailing" in the text of your website.  Of course, you don't want to sacrifice readability by overusing keywords, but it is important that you incorporate keywords that your customers will be searching for into your website.  So, use your keywords in the page titles, headings, links, and wherever it makes natural literary sense.  Here's a good article on how to maximize your keywords by WordTracker.
2. Make Friends.  Remember that old adage: "Birds of a feather flock together"?  In this case, search engines often judge a site by the company that it keeps.  The more high-quality sites that link to yours the higher your site will rank.   So, if you have partner companies or if you know of any online directories that showcase businesses like yours try to see if they will link to your website.   Sometimes, they'll do it for free, but remember, high-quality is key.
3. Blab Blog About Your Business.  Start a blog.  Or write for a few.  Or comment on a few.  Search Engines eat up blogs because of its constantly changing content.   Be sure to use to apply #1.  
4. Join the Crowds.   Get in on social networking.   This strategy will not work for every business model, but many small businesses, freelancers, and entrepreneurs can take advantage of Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter (just to name a few).  And why should you, you ask?  Because social networking exposes you to a larger audience and it provides yet another avenue to promote your business.  
5. Stick Around.  Older sites get a slight priority boost in search engine rankings.   Be sure to get a high-quality site that represents your business well and then be patient.  Search engines will do the rest. 

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