Any idea on how I can improve my Google ranking?

Ok I am beginning to become a little disappointed with google. My PS3 website was rank #2 & #3 (switch up every few days) for the entire month of September (would like to note we came online in August). Then here comes October, I guess we aren't like for that month because then we drop to #6 and kept floating from #6-#12.

I post PlayStation 3 news before the rest of the websites. I admit I slack off on adding new previews but that's going to change, I just been busy. But there isn't another website that is being more updated than me. I have more news than majority of the PlayStation 3 websites out there. Yet our ranking is suffering. I didn't change my ingredients when I was #2 and #3 last month. I am doing the same thing.

What gets me is that out of nowhere, last week MaxPS3.com pops up and is #4. When just two weeks ago it wasn't even in top 20. I have never seen that website listed on Google in my life for the keyword PS3 until last week. It has a blog format which I guess is helping it out, but it shouldn't help them out that much. I think blogs should be treated the same as regular websites personally.

Another thing SmashMyPS3.com has past me up. I mean are you serious? This website has ZERO PlayStation 3 news and doesn't even get updated. But somehow someway, in two weeks their ranking kept increasing by the day. Now they're sitting at #9.

My website is PS3.net. I mention the keyword PS3 on my page more than any other site. So that can't possibly be the problem.

What more does Google want from me? I have a VERY key domain name, that alone should make me do good. I have news stories other websites don't even post and I have it posted before the rest. The only possible thing I can do is keep switching up the top stories and recent previews.

Anyone have any suggestions on how I can improve? I am starting to get desperate and look into some SEO's companies and paying them to help increase my ranking, and never in my life did I think I would have to do that.

I too struggle with that. I have larger sites (50+ pages) be ranked in the top 10 all year long, but other smaller sites (5-10 pages) float as your does. I am just hawking seochat.com and trying to pick up any tips I can.

Good luck,
Chad