If your organization is on the Internet, chances are you want people to find you.  Right?  They may buy your products, use your services, give you money, or volunteer their time…but only if they know you’re there.

Google Search is one of the ways people find you.  It’s also one of the ways they learn about you before they decide to trust you with their time or money.  But big changes have been happening in Google Search.  Unless you’re a particular kind of geek, you may not understand these changes or what they mean to you.

Have no worries!  Here are a few quick reads that will help you figure out what’s going on and how to keep people finding you online.

• The Evolution of Search, by Danny Sullivan. How does search work, and how has it changed over time?
• How Google is Forcing Your Content to Get Better, by Jay Baer.  Google is in business to give the searcher good results.  If you want the search to find you, post what people are looking to find.
• 5 Reasons Blogging Is The New SEO, by Jason Clegg.  “Search Engine Optimization” (SEO) used to mean stuffing the most-searched terms into your posts.  Now there are fewer tricks to fool the search engines.  Good writing on interesting subjects will win.
• Why Google’s Hummingbird Algorithm Is Perfect for Inbound Marketers, by Steve Haase. If you blog about topics your customers are interested in, Google will help you get found. 
• How to Get Found: SEO and the Small Nonprofit, humbly submitted by me!  Why nonprofits with a tight budget should know your audience and build your relationships (on and off-line) and worry very little about SEO.

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