Search engines - this is the truth
If I had a pound for every time a client had said, “But you need to spend loads of money to get on the first page of Google”, I’d be able to afford an iphone.
The definitive answer is that you DO NOT have to spend money to get on the first page of Google. Those who tell you you do are either after something or don’t understand search engines, or both!
Search engine optimisation is really very simple.
1) Make sure you have a unique title for every page. Make sure the title contains specific keywords and phrases that you want to be found on, divided by commas. Make sure that these keywords are found within the content as close to the top of the page as possible and that you have a maximum of 12 words in any one title
2) Make sure you have a meta description directly below the title within your markup language and the description mirrors as many of the key words and phrases as within the title
3) Make sure you have a meta keywords line directly below the description within your markup language and the keywords contain all the keywords and phrases, and combinations of, within the title
4) Look for reciprocal links from other sites. You can debate which sites for hours. Just get as many sites linking to you and you to them as possible.
5) Update your site once every six weeks. This could be as insignificant as a text change or a title shuffle. But make sure you make an update so that Google knows you’re a living, valid site.
6) Never frame your site. This should be a policy regardless of whether you want to achieve good search engine results or not as frames are grotesque for usability and general good web design.