Tag Archives: SEO

SEO: A Force for Good

hands-dollarsThis article is the guaranteed* one stop shop that’s going to give you everything you need to succeed online. If you follow the advice in this article you could be making so much money that King Midas will be saying that he has your touch. Complete strangers may prostrate themselves at your feet asking you to merely turn your gaze upon their site for the briefest of brief moments in order for it to catapult up the rankings and sell so many of their widgets that they’ll need to open a new overflow factory in Walla Walla staffed by the last remaining Oompa Loompas.

While you go find your credit card so that you can pay the nominal fee to read the rest of this article, let me tell you a quick story.

Back in the early ’80s there was a company that advertised that they could legally get your phone bill cut to nothing. You’d never have to pay another phone bill again, all you had to do was send them $19.99 and they’d mail you the amazing, perfectly legal details.

Hundreds of people sent off for this offer and eagerly tore open the package that was sent by return of post. Inside the packet was a single sheet of paper with 3 lines on it:

  1. Call your phone company
  2. Ask to be connected to the accounts department
  3. Ask to have your phone disconnected

Bait Switch?

Of course there’s no quick fix way to jump to the top of the rankings, which is how it should be, as SEO isn’t about who has the most money, and is able to buy their way to pole position, it’s ideally about helping the search engines discover and rank the content that has the most relevance

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Article source: http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2152512/SEO-A-Force-for-Good

SEO Impact of Google’s Search Plus Your World

As search and social become ever more entwined in Google’s and Bing’s algorithms and search results, search engine optimizers cannot afford to turn a blind eye to social media. Bing incorporates Facebook data into its search results. Google has taken another big step with the introduction of Search, Plus Your World. Last week we explored the social media impact of Search, Plus Your World, in “Google Integrates Google+ in Search Results.” In this article, I’ll focus on the search-engine-optimization impact of this new feature.

Visibility in Search Results

The biggest impact SPYW has on SEO is the visual and personal nature of the results it returns. Compare these two search result sets for a very common search phrase: “shoes.”

Enlarge This Image

On the left is the typical Google search result set with a couple of high ranking brands, some local results and image results. On the right is my SPYW result set, made up entirely of what my circle of friends shared on Google+. It contains everything from a fabulously geeky post about modifying shoes with Android to a gleeful post about shopping for shoes to wear to a summer wedding.

The SPYW results are far more visually appealing, with the many images and mug shots of faces I’ll recognize because they’re in my Google+ Circles. It’s also much more entertaining than the straight result set because it’s full of opinions and some just weird stuff. So if I’m in the mood to be entertained and see what people I know think about a topic, SPYW is great.

But what if I want to buy shoes for my wedding in four months? This SPYW result set is not in the least bit useful to me. Even if I narrow my search query to “ivory wedge wedding shoes,” the SPYW results are still not

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Article source: http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/3339-SEO-Impact-of-Google-s-Search-Plus-Your-World

How Google Search Plus Your World is Changing SEO

In its simplest form, search engine optimization (SEO) used to be about three things – making your content crawlable, linkable, and usable. Gaining greater visibility on search engine results pages was relatively easy. Depending on your business model, it was also much easier said than done.

Nimble smaller businesses routinely outmaneuvered larger enterprises when it came to securing specific query-relevant rankings in the search engines, especially in Google. Ultimately, relevancy had to be redefined by shifting algorithmic weightings toward trust and authority, and away from feigned popularity and repurposed content.

Now, SEO needs to be as conversational as it is contextually relevant, in order to be well represented in Google’s most recent algorithmic shifts. True to form, enterprise level SEO initiatives will have to play a game of catch-up this year in order to reap new opportunities from social search results.

Recent Developments

Google’s search results have been influenced by some measure of social signals for years. It’s only now that the social signals can wholly resonate through Google’s Search Plus Your World release earlier this month.

Google Plus Buttons made their debut in June last year. At the time, experts gave it a bit of a “so what” nod as yet another “me too” social experience. Recently Larry Page announced that 90 million users have signed up to Google Plus since launch. Those Plus buttons are growing in importance.

Google Search Plus Your World is the next evolutionary step in determining what is relevant to personalized search queries in that individuals search results are greatly influenced by their circles of friends.

Search Plus Your World Word Cloud

In Google Search Plus Your World, your friends’ online experiences are more relevant to your personal search results than links and domain authority. This is a game changer from what we all knew

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Article source: http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2141420/How-Google-Search-Plus-Your-World-is-Changing-SEO

How Much Does SEO Cost? 3 Analogies To Help You Determine Its Value

How Much Does SEO Cost

“Why can’t you just give me a straight answer?”

Johanna’s voice showed a trace of irritation.  “All I’m asking is how much you charge for SEO services!”

I smiled. This was familiar terrain. As an SEO consultant, almost every client asks me a similar question. My answer is always the same.

“It depends. On many things. Because SEO is not a turn-key solution you plug in to play.”

“Wait.  You’re an expert – and you can’t tell me what you’ll charge?!”

That’s when I explain why and when SEO matters, and the dynamic process of fixing my price for SEO consulting.

Broadly speaking, here’s what I share – and 3 analogies I use to make it easier to understand – buying a car, an iceberg or a dam!

Why SEO Matters

Every client likes to save money while getting great results from search engine optimization. But by always looking to save money on SEO, you’ll take your eye off the more important issue of intelligently allocating your marketing budget across various tactics, of which, SEO is often the most cost effective.

SEO isn’t simple or easy. Google itself rates websites based on over 200 ranking criteria – and keeps tweaking the algorithm constantly, up to 600 times in a year.

So if an ‘expert’ takes one look at your site and quotes you a “complete price” for SEO, run for the hills (or at least exercise extreme caution). Sure, they may fix some glaring weaknesses, or help you pick the low hanging fruit – but deep and lasting SEO is about a lot more than that.

Simple ‘Gold’, ‘Silver’ and ‘Bronze’ packages don’t work for SEO. SEO isn’t something you install or plug in to your website. It’s not a ‘one-time’ operation. Good SEO is a process. Research and

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Article source: http://searchengineland.com/how-much-does-seo-cost-3-analogies-to-help-you-determine-its-value-108870

Three Ways to Enhance SEO With Twitter

“While Google has ended its Realtime Search deal with Twitter, search engines are still using social media sites for ranking purposes,” says Jillian Stira at the Scholes Marketing blog.

And Twitter remains a critical part of your search strategy, she notes: “Twitter has pulled ahead of many other social media platforms, becoming a critical source for search engine optimization (SEO).”

Stira offers specific advice for making your Twitter account an SEO machine. Here are some key takeaways:


Choose your names with search engines in mind. When setting up an account, Twitter will ask for two names. The first is a real name—of you or your company—and you’re allowed up to 20 characters; it’s important to choose the name people will most likely search. The second is a username preceded by the @ symbol. You’re limited to 15 characters here, so you might have to do some trimming. “If your company name is long,” suggests Sitra, “consider using abbreviations, keeping the most relevant word whole.”

Create relevant and searchable content. When tweeting in a professional capacity, the occasional personal observation is fine. But your general rule should be to stick to professional content. That is the content your followers will want to share in social networks. “[I]t is vital that you use relevant keywords and #hashtags to warrant more visibility on search results for the terms important to your business,” she advises.

Include links to your URLs. Twitter links don’t

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Article source: http://www.marketingprofs.com/short-articles/2463/three-ways-to-enhance-seo-with-twitter

How to Improve Local SEO Efforts

Optimizing a website for local search is important for a few reasons. First, the number of smart phone and tablet users is on the rise meaning that a larger percentage of searches are being performed “on the go”. Mobile web searchers are often looking for local information and local establishments. Second, search is becoming more personalized and search results vary depending on individual search behavior, social media connections, and location. Therefore, it’s important to consider the following local SEO best practices while conducting an SEO campaign:

Incorporate Local Keywords
The first step of an SEO campaign is to conduct keyword research to find out how target audience members are searching for the products or services that you provide. Skipping this step can result in less traffic or less qualified traffic that won’t convert. Keyword research should first be conducted nationally, and then localized later by adding the city or town, state, and neighborhood in front of the chosen keyword. For example, for a local pizza shop it makes more sense to optimize for “Anytown NY pizza place” than it does to target the much more broad “pizza place”.

Develop Local Search Profiles
You don’t need to be a business that only operates locally to create a local search profile. In fact, all businesses should submit their information to Google, Yahoo!, and Bing local directories. It improves search engine results page visibility, increases your online real estate, and builds another legitimate inbound link to your website.

Include Contact Information
Contact information including a physical address, a mailing address, and a phone number should be included on every page of the site and should be crawlable text that the search engine spiders can “read”. For many websites it makes sense to include

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Article source: http://isedb.com/20111230-16168.php

6 SEO Tips for the New Year

Welcome to 2012, everybody! We hope your holiday festivities were smashing successes, and that you brought in the New Year with joy, appreciation, and excitement for an even better 2012. Most of us have made New Year’s resolutions to exercise, eat better, overcome irrational fears (okay, maybe that’s just me) and more- so, here’s to sticking to all of these resolutions and more. With new goals to achieve and a clean slate with which to approach them, we should all enter this New Year with excitement for many promising days ahead, especially when it comes to working extra hard to triumph in a bad economy.

If you are a small business owner, likely your number one resolution is to bring in more business this year – in fact, if you are a business owner of any size, this is likely your goal. With that in mind, as many of you know, one way to approach this is to invest time, money and energy into Search Engine Optimization. Though there will undoubtedly be more challenges to face in 2012 as SEO grows and evolves (and as Panda updates continue to be run), ultimately, we all adapt and work together to achieve a better, more user friendly internet experience.  The most important thing to remember going into 2012 is that the game has changed. It’s not about just link-building anymore; it’s about branding, content, social media, and more.

 

SEO in 2012

So, keeping all of that in mind, I’ve drummed up six things SEOs should adhere to as they get back to work after the holidays (at least, these are the factors the folks here at ESI are focusing on!):

  1. On-Page Factors: Make Sure Title Tags and Meta Descriptions Read Well

In much earlier posts, we have discussed the importance of optimizing your title tags

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Article source: http://www.businessinsider.com/6-seo-tips-for-the-new-year-2012-1

SEO, SEO, SEO

SEO, SEO, SEO

Google has made many changes to its search platform over the last six months. Real-time search was suspended this summer, and once the contract with Twitter expired, the search feature, which displayed Twitter feeds in real-time, was turned off. Now, Google has integrated a live Google+ feed into its searches.

The best way brands can take advantage of Google+ is to amp-up their SEO. Each time a user clicks the +1 button, it helps with that brand’s SEO and the content getting served to users above other content. Search results are personalized based on the +1s of those in your circles, and as a marketer, that changes the game. Search results are still based on Google’s proprietary algorithms, but sites with more +1s will appear to be more relevant and thus ranked higher.

With the addition of social buttons in search results, SEO is where brands can expect to see results. Buying AdWords won’t help brands in natural search results, but creating great, well-linked content will.

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Article source: http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/30867.asp?step=toc

6 SEO Jedi Tactics to Try Before Turning to the Dark Side

SEO Wars Rise of the Black Hat EmpireIf you’re an SEO Jedi, black hat tactics undoubtedly tempt you on a regular basis. Before giving in to the dark side, check out these SEO tips to renew your faith in the [white hat] light side of the Force!

In an earlier post, SEO Wars: Forget Black Hat, White Hat – What Color Is Your Lightsaber, I introduced six unique SEO styles (and respective lightsaber colors) for wielding the Force of magnetic content.

“The Force is what gives an SEO their power. It’s an energy field created by magnetic content that binds search engines, web visitors, and marketers together.”

White hat SEOs are called to a higher purpose of serving up quality content that web visitors would value, while [dark side] black hat SEOs are instead focused solely on the power of search rank, leveraging any tactics necessary to achieve it. Both sides of the Force leverage inbound marketing tactics to organically draw users to content.

The lightsaber color symbolism is fun, yet practical, as noted by this tweet:

Perhaps you can relate? The rise of the black hat SEO dark side cannot be denied. However, the temptation and seduction can be …if you’re strong with the Force and leverage the right tools.

Sith Army Knife poster created by Angie Schottmuller

The SEO Jedi Order: A New Hope…

Listen up, fellow SEOs… it’s time to unite! Provide accountability to your fellow white hat SEOs and creatively contemplate ways to wield the Force of magnetic content.

Small Businesses and SEO – A Luxury or a Necessity?

This is an extremely valid question and one that doesn’t really have a definitive answer as such. But, having said this, it is also fair to say that any small business that has a website which they hope will generate them some revenue stream, it will almost certainly be a worthwhile endeavour to seek the services of SEO specialists.

It is natural that small businesses will have fewer resources at their disposal that can be utilized for online marketing campaigns but this isn’t to say that they won’t be able to achieve some extremely positive results for their website within their budget. A good team of internet marketing professionals will have the necessary knowledge and skills to tailor a target campaign that will help to yield results for small businesses.

Differentiating the Types of Small Businesses Online

First and foremost, an awful lot of small businesses will just have a purely informational site that has no capacity to purchase their products or services online. This type of website is extremely commonplace amongst small businesses as they don’t have the capacity to venture into the world of ecommerce at the present time. However, with platforms such as Magento and Shopify, it is becoming much easier for these types of businesses to take their retail efforts online.

In terms of providing SEO to a client who only has an informational site, there are still a variety of tangible benefits of doing this. In most cases, the small businesses with purely informational websites will have a retail shop or some sort of premises for customers to visit so undertaking an online marketing campaign can be instrumental in driving traffic to the website which will increase the company’s visibility and this will usually have a positive impression

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Article source: http://isedb.com/20120112-16230.php