Tag Archives: SEO Consultants San Diego
Link Building Via Bookmarking
Building links is essential to getting good rankings in the search engines and social bookmarking submission is one of the easiest ways to gain a steady stream of backlinks to just about all content that you create because you have total control over the bookmarks that you build.
What Content To Bookmark?
In general you will want to get into the habit of bookmarking every piece of significant content that you create. For blogs, this would be most blog posts and for static websites each page. There are some exceptions though. Ensure that anything you bookmark provides value in some way – this caters for the 'social' aspect. Don't bookmark your about page, privacy policy and so on. But do bookmark all of your real content pages.
SEO for Bookmarking
By using social bookmarking submission as a link building strategy you can build a large number of backlinks to each piece of content you bookmark but in order to make the effort worthwhile, you need to ensure that the bookmark information such as the title, description and tags are optimized for SEO purposes.
The anchor text for the backlink is simply the title in most cases so this is your most important field. You should have a keyword phrase in mind that you wish to rank for and then include that keyword in every field possible – the title, description and as one of your tags. Note that if your content has a title, it doesn't have to be the same as the title you use for the bookmark. Including your keywords prominently makes the bookmark more relevant and thus gives it more weight in the search engines.
SEO and PR Work Together
It's not a secret that public relations companies are using SEO in their techniques, when running PR Campaigns Online. But if you give a very precise look to what exactly they are doing in terms of SEO, you will see that their list of techniques is quite standard and primitive. No one wants to offend anybody here. They are doing PR and PR is their industry, it is normal that they are not experts in SEO and, logically, do not use the advanced toolkit of the SEO industry.
Still, among the most "advanced" thing that public relation companies can do in SEO is to:
- research the keywords
- use the keywords in titles of the articles, press releases, videos
- use the keywords in meta data (like description and tags)
Not bad. But this is definitely FAR-FAR AWAY from the real help that search engine optimization can give to the PR experts.
Instead of creating lots of info for reaching the objective of a PR campaign, you can create just several "public opinion units" (articles, press releases, blog comments, forum posts, videos, etc.) and build backlinks to the pages with these public opinion units. And, when building backlinks, you can use the keywords for which you want to push these public opinion units in search engine results. Thus you know what exactly you info are pushing and on what keyword you are pushing it. If you need "XYZ company" – you target this keyword and you know that for this keyword your press release, article or video will outrank the competition.
Still Waiting for Those Results?
Unless you are searching for extended and exact word phrases chances are your SEO efforts are going to take time to get the results you oh so desire! For good or bad, that is simply the name-of-the-game. If you have been performing SEO for a long time and have yet to see any real results there could be an unknown problem outside of your efforts. Here are some possibilities as to why you are not ranked #1 on Google:
* It’s still early in the game – Unless you’ve been operating a related offline business, you’re going to have to build a little bit first. Building includes focusing on less competitive search terms that are winnable, earning your reputation as an authority, growing traffic, etc. After some foundation building you’ll be able to compete against the established players from a much stronger position.
* You’re spending more at Starbucks than on your SEO – Contrary to the ads touting SEO for $99 flat, the process is going to cost some money. Full spectrum Search Engine Optimization is both time and labor intensive so plan and spend accordingly.
* You’re not using keywords that will drive traffic to your site – This usually happens by going too broad with search terms. Going too broad means that you optimizing terms which are too generic and probably too competitive to yield results. If you’re selling rear view mirrors for a Stutz Bearcat, optimizing for the search term “mirrors” isn’t going to work.
* You’ve gone too narrow – An expert that knows the spec sheet for a product backwards and forwards may assume that people are going to search for the product using spec sheet terminology. It usually doesn’t work that way.
* You’re not building inbound links – This is the part of SEO that is the most time and labor intensive. In fact, if you’re going after competitive search terms it could actually turn into a full time job if you want to start ranking for them. Link building is also an important part of the algorithms that the search engines use for their rankings, so it has to be done. If you’re not doing it, your SEO results are going to reflect it.
* You hired your nephew to do your SEO – Or, the firm you hired just isn’t cutting it. In either case, the people doing your SEO should be able to explain their work and show a progression of results. If they can’t, you may have just discovered your SEO problem.
If you’ve put in the time and money toward your SEO but aren’t seeing results, a second opinion may be in order.
Qualifications of an Professional SEO Firm
Search Engine Optimization is important for any business that wants to improve sales, rankings, and overall customer response. There are countless ‘SEO Specialists/Consultants/Firms’ who claim that they know what it takes to get your site ranked. However, what does it truly mean to be an SEO Professional?
1. First, one needs experience. Yes, all people can have the right knowledge but do not exactly know how to execute it. In SEO marketing you need to know how to do things personally, knowledge alone is not enough to tell that you are neither an expert nor a specialist.
2. There are many ways to learn about SEO and have a qualification certificate. If you studied in universities and have an IT course which includes SEO, this is more reliable than having online sessions. In terms of qualifications, not all places have the same standard.
3. Knows what black hat and white hat means and also knows how to it. This process is one of the greatest factors when it comes to promotion and making a site, be in the top ranks.
4. A great SEO specialist will not need to pay for your links. Experts can make tactics to promote a site and hit the ranks without the use of paid advertisements and extra cost.
Upon having these qualifications, will there be a great difference?
Apparently yes. If all these qualifications are present in your SEO expert, you will know that he can do his job well and he is much capable of doing online marketing tasks that will give a great impact to your online business.
Quality SEO Training Basics for Everyone!
Quality Content – Content is King!
This is the most basic part of search engine optimization. You must write product descriptions that are reflective of the product or service that is balanced, with the key words and not too much filler text. Search engines love quality relevant content and if your page falls below a minimum it may be ignored totally or at the least suffer from very low search result placement.
A good general rule is to connect with your visitors with plain language they will understand. Some may not agree with my philosophy but remember the intent is to not only get the customers to your site but ALSO get them to open their wallets (or purses).
1. Quality is better than quantity.
Concentrate on grabbing more and more qualified traffic to your website. Qualified traffic implies a higher percentage of visitors to your site are interested in any product or service that you are offering. This will give you a higher number of repeat visitors and more subscribers for the service or products that you offer.
2. Be a mind reader.
Get into the mindset of your clients. What do they search for? What are they interested in? How are they going to act on a particular search result? Sketch out a detailed plan as to how you will use your clients’ thought processes to your benefit.
3. Be specific – don’t beat around the bush.
Make it very clear what your website is all about. State clearly the intent of your website, and the services that you offer. Visitors shouldn’t be confused when they reach your site, or they’ll leave as quickly as they came.
4. Phrases are better than words.
Research proves that the majority of searchers use phrases rather than single words. Using phrases for search implies that users are looking for more focused results. Optimize your pages for commonly used phrases to get more quality traffic.
5. Divide and conquer.
Don’t try to finish off the big hamburger in a single bite. Distribute your keywords on various pages throughout your website. Focus on only a few keywords on a single page.
6. Be competitive.
Don’t sit numb and let things happen. Make things happen. Remember once you do something that takes you to the top, competition will do something to take their spot back. This is not a one time project, it is an ongoing project. Be observant of what competition is doing, find the best tactics and do it better.
7. Follow good ethics
On any issue, do only what you think is right. Remember the point I emphasized above, about choosing keywords that are highly relevant.
8. Go by what your elders say.
Take the experience of your predecessors as a lesson. Don’t just start off in haste because you want to do something. Get to know the experiences of various people, read articles and various forums. Learn your lessons thoroughly; remember, this is an ongoing process.
9. Practice makes perfect.
Have patience and don’t worry about needing to do the same things over and over again. You’ll do things better each time.
More Than Rankings in SEO
One of the biggest misconceptions of SEO is that the rankings on the major search engines, such as Yahoo!, Google, and MSN are all that matter in a sustainable and successful search engine optimization. Many business owners look to SEO Services for a single goal: to get a first page ranking on major search engines.
It is time to separate fact from fiction. Yes, your SEO consultant can give you a first page placement at Google, Yahoo!, MSN, etc., However:
1. If the placement is for “dirty brown shoes”, it will probably not help your shoe store one bit, even if it tells you first hand. Few people are actually searching on the term.
2. Number ten perhaps not much either, depending on the term. People in search of “Essential Nectar liquid vitamins”, will probably click on the first result they see, or at least on one of the “above-the-fold” results that do not require scrolling. On the other hand, someone searching for “liquid vitamins” might check through two pages of results to become familiar with the available options.
3. If your title tag reads like a cheap list of search terms, it will not be attractive. For example, if it reads: “vitamins, liquid vitamins, multivitamins, multi-vitamins”, you can skip over it in favor of the next result that reads “Liquid Liquid vitamins of vitamin supplements Store.”
4. If your description tag is a mess, people will more likely skip over your list, even if it does rank number one, in favor of one that resembles what they are looking for. Google and others use the description tag usually when the term is found in it, so be sure to include your key search terms in a description tag that actually reads well.
Pros and Cons of Search Engine Optimization
Search Engine Optimization ultimately is the best way to build a successful and sustainable online presence in the marketplace. However, although SEO builds credibility and is always effective in the long-run, it does have some downsides to consider. Here is a list of the pros and cons of SEO:
Search Engine Optimization Pros
More Credibility – By showing on top of search results you can enjoy more credibility because real time traffic and popularity is achieved by putting in lot of time and effort. The ranking is achieved purely on the basis of quality content and relevance.
Free Placement – Unlike PPC, you do not have to pay for the clicks you receive from organic search results. Getting on the top position is a matter of how well you optimize your site in relation to your competitors. It also saves you money in the long run once the process takes off well.
Improved Website Ranking –SEO also helps you attain a better site ranking with little effort. You can also hire SEO professionals like SEO Traffic Spider who can carry out the optimization task on your behalf which will reap you the benefits in the long run.
Qualified Traffic – You can expect a good amount of qualified real time traffic to your site as a result of increased recognition of search engines.
Long Lasting Results – The results you achieve from this method are more lasting and stable. Also, it gives you a much higher return on your investment. This is because usually users tend to click on organic search results when compared to PPC ads and this brings more traffic for less.
Search Engine Optimization Cons
Time Consuming – SEO is a complicated task and requires enormous amount of time and effort to implement it the right way. Sometimes it may also require you to completely modify the structure, layout, presentation, or content of your website to make it search engine friendly and also enhance user experience.
Results May Take Time – The true impact of SEO efforts cannot be known immediately. It will not give you instant results in terms of traffic and may take some time for your site to get the desired traffic. This time gap may affect your profitability till the time you start seeing true results.
Choosing an SEO Friendly Domain Name
Did you know that the domain name of your website actually plays an important role in an overall SEO strategy? Well, News Flash, it does! Keywords play the role of a catalyst in a domain name, which basically means they assist the overall development of your SEO campaign. Though the keywords themselves do not constitute the entire process of SEO but they definitely contribute in making the entire procedure happen at a much faster rate.
Stick with the “.com”
The top level domain or TLD remains the most popular extension for a domain name. A .com domain definitely allows credibility boost. It is the most widely accepted extension. Of course, we can’t neglect that there are a lot of successful websites that end with a “.net”, “.uk”, or a “.biz”, but at the same time a .com extension by far is the most recalled one. If your business happens to be a new one, do you really want your customers to forget all about you just because they recalled to type in a “.com” instead of your “.edu”, and as a result couldn’t go back to your site! However, there are certain exceptions to this rule, especially if your business is geographically constrained and targets only local customers, in that case a “.au” will work as well.
Shorter and Catchier
It is best to have a domain name that is short and catchy. It is easier for visitors to recall and remember these. And you definitely don’t want a website that loses out on traffic because the domain name is too long, tricky or complicated to remember. Short names can also be typed more easily. Ensure that your domain name is easy to remember and easy to type.
No Hyphens or Numbers
Use of hyphenated or numbered domain names should be avoided. This is because it creates complications. Most often than not such domain names are forgotten easily, because it can’t be recalled where exactly the hyphen or the number has to be placed. You may end up losing your customers to other similar named websites, who do not use a hyphen or a number. And more often than not, hyphenated domain names sound like cheap substitutes of the real thing.
Type-In Traffic
This is when someone simply arrives at a particular website by just typing what they are searching for in their URL bar, and add a “.com” at the end. And a lot of people actually do that! Therefore, if you can choose a domain name that has an exact match keyword then you have better chances of receiving traffic. Also these kinds of domain names have better SEO benefits going for them.
Choosing a domain name that is SEO friendly can work wonders for your business by attracting lots of visitors to your website. With a heavy inflow of traffic, there are better chances of increases in conversion. All this definitely contributes in making your business a success.
