Do you use Google? Chances are you have, and so have your visitors. One of the most targeted visitors your blog will ever receive is through search engines. But how do you get better rankings? With time, practice, and hope.

Here are some tips to help guide your website to a top position in search engines:

1. Use the title tag correctly. Don't use 'homepage' for your homepage. Yes, you can place your site name in it, but never first (unless it is the homepage) and always include keywords.

2. Use meta tags. Yes, they have received a bad name lately, but they are still useful when used correctly:

- Keywords: Use around 10-12 short phrases which describe your website. Misspellings may also be used to gain traffic.

- Descriptions: Write a concise sentence about your website. Be sure to include your main keywords.

3. Choose targeted keywords. Choose words which are related to your website. Choose a main keyword and branch off from there. Example: "Widgets" is the main keyword. Secondary keywords would be "Blue widgets", "Red widgets", "Striped widgets". Tertiary words would then be "Big blue widgets", "Small blue widgets", "X-Large Blue widgets". And so on. Write articles on the most precise keywords.

4. Use the keywords in your content. Don't just choose them, use them! Just be sure to keep the content sounding natural. There is no set keyword density.

5. Build links with your keywords as anchor text. Try to build your links through individual pages. Although links to your homepage is great, the content is where you want them.

- Directories: use as many as possible

- Article directories: write many articles and place a link back to your website in the resource box.

- Create something: Can you program? Write a plugin. If not, write an eBook. Better yet, do both!

- Spread the news!: Tell your friends, your family, your colleagues, and everyone you meet. To make sure they keep your website in mind, give them a business card. Hey, it might result in links! And if not, you get traffic anyway.

So there you have it. Five ways to increase your traffic.