In the early days of the internet, websites were such a novelty that just having one set you apart from the pack. But these days, just about anyone can create a fabulous website using a website builder. This means that there are millions of websites on the internet, and many alternative search engines. If you want your website to gain traction, you need to promote it using Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) strategies. Gaming search engines is an art and a science, and it’s so cloaked in mystery that it’s difficult for even SEO experts to explain the exact strategies you should implement to skyrocket your website to the front pages of search results. That’s why a really good SEO tool is your best bet for promoting your website on any search engine.
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How can an SEO tool help you promote your website?
SEO is the strategy that great websites use to make their content go viral. Most people will learn about your website by stumbling across it after typing a query into their search engine. For example, if your visitors type “speckled green elephants” into their search engine, and your website happens to be the only one that specialises in speckled green elephants, your website will be the top search result, and visitors will flock to you. The trouble begins when your website specialises in something a bit less rare than speckled green elephants. This might include sports, fashion, and money management, to name a few. When that’s the case, other websites with the same kind of content are competing for your visitors, and you’ll need to work a little harder to get your website to the top of search results pages.
Our SEO tool scans your website for weaknesses in your current strategy, prints out a report, and gives you step-by-step foolproof instructions to boost your SEO strategy.
Our SEO tool works impressively well with Google and with alternative search engines.
Why you should promote your websites on alternative search engines
Google’s shapeshifting algorithms and expansive advertising have increased its global market share to more than 85%.
But quick search results and super-personalised ads have come at a cost: Google logs the browsing habits of its users and makes that information available to third parties. So, some people have stopped using Google in favour of alternative search engines.
This means that if you’re promoting your website only on Google, you’re missing out on some serious web traffic. It’s always wise to diversify your promotion strategy, but this is especially crucial if your website focuses on a niche topic like privacy protection or helping the environment. If that’s the case, some of your target market might exclusively use alternative search engines.
To help you reach these potential visitors, promote your website on these alternative search engines:
7 alternative search engines where you can promote your website
In no special order, let’s go through the search engines that are on our radar:
1. Bing
Bing isn’t as popular as Google, but people who love Bing really love Bing. They’ll talk your ear off about its rewards programme that lets you accumulate points, which you can redeem at Microsoft and Windows stores. They also love its image search feature, which is actually superior to more popular search engines.
Bing is also excellent for video searches, because it gives you a grid of user-friendly thumbnails that play a preview if you hover over them. Also, Bing doesn’t favour YouTube results the way Google does. This makes it an excellent alternative search engine if your website produces lots of video content.
2. DuckDuckGo
Users are flocking to DuckDuckGo, because it famously refuses to collect or store any of your personal information. This means that all your searches are conducted in private. Also, webpages on DuckDuckGo aren’t plastered with targeted ads, which makes browsing on DuckDuckGo a much more peaceful browsing experience. Promote your website on DuckDuckGo to reach your more privacy-conscious visitors.
3. Swisscows
Swisscows is unique because it positions itself as a family-friendly search engine. It never collects, stores or tracks your browsing habits, and its built-in filter for pornographic and other age-inappropriate content can’t be overridden. This makes it the go-to search engine for many parents. If your website is a parenting blog, this should be one of your top alternative search engines to promote your website.
4. Search Encrypt
Search Encrypt uses local encryption to keep your browsing private. It uses a combination of Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption and AES-256 encryption. This search engine’s brand is strongly centred on privacy, which makes it the preferred search engine for people who avoid Google because of its perceived disregard for its users’ privacy. This also makes it a great place to promote your website.
5. StartPage
StartPage is beloved by its users because it pulls its answers from Google, but it doesn’t store or track their search history. What’s more, StartPage provides a URL generator, which is super helpful because it means your users’ browsers no longer need to collect cookies. It remembers your settings and protects your privacy. StartPage also boasts a proxy service and HTTPS support.
6. OneSearch
OneSearch is a privacy-focused search engine that was launched by Verizon Media in January 2020. It’s already amassed a loyal group of users because it doesn’t track cookies, never shares personal data with advertisers, doesn’t store search history, and encrypts search terms. Start promoting your website on this search engine before its inevitable explosion in popularity.
7. Ecosia
Ecosia is the favourite search engine of your most eco-conscious visitors. When you perform a web search, you increase your carbon footprint. To combat this, Ecosia uses revenues from search engine queries to plant trees. People who use Ecosia don’t even have to give up their comfort: It has a clean user interface that’s a lot like Google’s.
Additionally, Ecosia protects its users’ privacy. It doesn’t come pre-loaded with a bunch of online trackers and data collection tools, and it never tracks your internet activity nor sells your data to third parties. That’s why you’d be wise to look into adding Ecosia to your SEO strategy, especially if protecting the environment is part of your brand.
The takeaway
Google is still the most popular search engine and should be a huge part of your SEO strategy. But adding these alternative search engines to your SEO toolkit is a great way to attract all the visitors who make it a point never to use Google.