Optimization Archives

Search Engine Optimization

World’s major SEO companies

Google, AOL, Info Space, Yahoo, Askewest, MSN, AltaVista, Lycos, AllTheWeb, Netscape, Looksmart, Go/ InfoSeek, Overture, NBCi/Snap, Kanoodle, IX Quick, Northern Light, Excite, DMOZ, WiseNut, Teoma, Hog Search, MetaCrawler, Dogpile Web Search Eureka, EuroPages, Free Find, Go.com, Mirago, Nerd World, Northern Light, Open Directory Project, OpenText, Planet Search, Scoot, Starting Point, UK Directory, Webtop, Yellow Web

SEO an Overview

The objective of Search Engine Optimization is to increase web visitor counts by ranking very high in the results of searches using the most appropriate keywords describing the content of your site. This relative ranking is often viewed as a struggle to best use a few keywords, instead of a struggle to out-do your competition. If you search on your target keywords, you will see the leading site in the rankings. All you need to do is to be better than that number one site. This page suggests ways to optimize and improve search engine results with ranking and placement advice, placement hints, tips, and clues to improve your search engine keywords relative to existing leaders. After all, better keyword ranking is your real objective.

It is not enough to simply add META tags and do search engine submission of your site to a million search engine indexes and directories. The first placement step in obtaining significant web visitor counts is to seek first-page search engine results. An early step is to build a great content-rich site. One of the last steps is the proper submission of your great site to the search engine or directory. In the middle is a step that is VITAL if you want to obtain front-page results, and most sites skim past this step because it is forgotten or too complex, but without competent Search Engine Optimization you are destined to be search engine fodder.

There are no Search Engine Optimization secrets — just ranking and placement methodologies to follow in order to beat your competition in obtaining a high ranking for desired search keywords. This site targets improving search engine rankings by using a “follow the leader” approach to keyword selection and page wording. Once you know what keywords and search engine marketing services (not spam) worked for the “leaders”, you can “beat the leader” and do even better! Proper Search Engine Optimization requires that you beat your competition, so knowing the keywords and criterion used by your competition is the most important first step. It will become obvious that good ranking excludes keyword spamming the search engine, and that with the careful selection of your keywords that you will fare well for a little effort. Bruceclay.com offers help, hints, and tips for improving search engine results via a specific search engine keywords placement methodology.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the science of search as it relates to marketing on the web. It is mostly technical in nature, combining programming with business, persuasion, sales, and a love for competitive puzzle solving into a written form capable of maintaining desired revenue goals while achieving high rankings in the organic sections of search engine results pages. It is not just technical, nor copywriting, nor links, nor just search engine submission, but an intricate blend of over a hundred variables into the fabric of a website. It is difficult to accomplish without a formal proven methodology and strong proprietary tools. We offer you a tutorial on all of that and more on these pages…

Before you start, you should understand that top 10 rankings with every single major search engine and directory can be obtained, although very few sites can get there and the effort is often beyond reason. Note: URL ranking results change week-to-week due to competition, so maintaining a top ranking requires constant keywords monitoring and information rework. Search Engine Optimization never rests, much like your competition.

The key information on this page includes how to prepare both you and your site for the search engines, choosing the right keywords, how to analyze your competition, what is submission and how is it best accomplished, when to monitor your ranking, instructions for performing an analysis of your site results, complete with tools and aids. This site covers all basic and advanced strategies and the common mistakes to avoid.

The overall SEO involves:

o Attracting prospects to a web site

o that is properly designed to encourage visitors to browse like Web Site Design

o leads the visitor to a completed transaction by offering products easily and without undue complexity like Web Site Navigation

o Addresses concerns (perceived risks) that can scare off the potential buyer if left unanswered like risk avoidance.

The overall SEO involves

o Attracting prospects to a web site

o That is properly designed to encourage visitors to browse like Web Site Design

o Leads the visitor to a completed transaction by offering products easily and without undue complexity like Web Site Navigation

o Addresses concerns (perceived risks) that can scare off the potential buyer if left unanswered like risk avoidance.

SEO Case Study
o Do you have any intent to sell your product yourself?

o Do you have any intent to sell this product through a traditional retail channel?

o Have you decided to sell this product via the Web?

o Determine What You Have To Sell

o Determine Who Already Needs What You Have To Sell

o Determine What They Will Pay For What You Have To Sell

SEO Guidelines –

o Obtain A Domain Name And Site Host

o Search Engine Marketing Through Links

o Search Engine Marketing Through Public Relations

o Search Engine Marketing Through Banners and Print Media

o Search Engine Marketing Through Strategic Relationships And Reciprocal Links

o Search Engine Marketing Through Email Discussion Groups And News Groups

o Search Engine Marketing Through A Bulk Email Program (Careful!)

o Measure Progress And Change Only One Thing At A Time

o Proceed to Search Engine Placement Tactics and Tools Page

Develop A Website Using These Principles:

Before submission you must have prepared your site for search engine placement. If your site is not prepared for top ranking then a submission service can only give you many, many poor rankings.

Consider techniques for counting visitors and have a demographics collection process (newsletter registration or perhaps a Guest Book or equivalent) for capturing visitor name and email information.

1. It must showcase the need that your product addresses (public interest)

2. It must showcase the solution that you are offering.

3. It must provide instant gratification (for information and access to the solution).

4. It must provide appropriate and timely information (in images and words) to allow the visitor to make a decision. Help them to decide that your product meets their needs.

5. Allow the visitor to buy your product (or, if a service, allow them to contact you).

6. Allow for easy information requests if questions arise anytime, day or night. Always respond promptly!

7. Consider techniques for counting visitors and have a demographics collection process (newsletter registration or perhaps a Guest Book or equivalent) for capturing visitor name and email information.

8. Change the site often (at least once per week) to give users a reason to visit again and again.

9. Consider offering a “gift” to visitors (free is best, perhaps a contest) to have them tell their friends to visit your site. Word of mouth is a powerful tool. We have our own “tell-two-friends” referral script on our site.

10. Have the site be “High Class”. Curb appeal is important in determining if you want surfers to stop and visit. Opinions will be formed early about whether the customer wants to do business with you. Plan improvements.(Regardless of what you may think, every site on the Web is under construction all of the time). Make sure that your web site design does not violate any taboos.

11. Design for the masses. Do not use exceptionally advanced technology unless that is your product. The Web is still connected to a lot of slow computers, and many do not operate on the latest Netscape or Internet Explorer products. Keep it simple and still meet your web site design and promotion goals. The toys must be appropriate to the mission of your web site.

12. Write the text and “storyboard” your site much like creating a good product specification. Use a word processor to lay-out all of your pages. Make sure that the flow is simple for the novice Internet user. Try to keep the body content each Web page to one to two 8½ x 11 sheets of paper, or if heavy information, minimize graphics and limit the size to no more than six pages. Focus on making the message clear. Creativity, and how quickly the page loads, is more important than the use of extra artwork for the sake of “cute”. And when this is done, call a Marketing Consultant first, definitely before you call a web page designer. Message and Placement sell on the web.

13. It is important to consider some aspects of eCommerce: web-based commerce with a human touch is very effective in most cases, especially with 60% to 70% of all shopping carts being abandoned. Do not design around human contact if it increases the ability to sell your products. Factor it into your design. While this may be against the Amazon.com hands-off model, some firms like Face Time Communications are integrating AOL Instant Massager with their website eCommerce applications to answer last minute questions. Reports are that buy decisions increase six-fold if questions are answered. Customer Service is evolving, and it is alive and well on the web.

14. Double check the site architectural concepts.

15. There are obviously “things” that a Web architect must know. Much of this is contained in this site and many others linked to this site below. You still need to have a minds-eye image of what is possible before you spend too much money doing it. We recommend that for optimal search engine placement that you start by reviewing this site once, and then on the second pass spend more time on the Web by “surfing” my links and those linked from our links.

16. For all sites that you identify, go to their website and visit their home page. Choose the browser option to view their Home Page HTML source (this might be a complex process). Scan these sites for search engine placement keywords and terms to make sure that your list is as complete.

17. Marketing is everything. It brings potential buyers to your door. But proper design is vital, because without effective design the buyers who see your home page will leave before it finishes loading. The average home page loads in 48 seconds at 28.8, and the average visitor stays at a home page for 35 seconds, obviously many leave before the page finishes loading. We can learn from this.

18. Create/Design the site by taking content and art, mixing it with navigation and style, testing it on family and friends, and always listen to comments, grunts, pregnant pauses, and blank stares. Specific advice on development of a page is at our Quality Site Criteria page and we suggest that you visit it now, before you code your first Web page! Try not to copy a page layout from another site. Use your own words, ideas, and artwork whenever possible, making sure that the message in the image matches your text. Make sure that the visitor knows what you are saying/selling at all times.

19. Carefully consider the use of database tools, visual tools, and java tools. These are areas receiving a lot of interest, and technology work, and they might be right for your site. Carefully consider your options since some could adversely affect search engine placement.

20. Use the smallest graphics that you can to relay your message. It is estimated that 20% of all Web users surf the Web without graphics enabled! But always have graphics if it helps sell your product. Don’t add graphics just to be neat — an animated mail box is really not something to add to a commercial site.

Follow these rules (mandatory for Free Site Listings)

o Make sure the site is rated for Family Viewing (keep it clean).

o Be courteous to other authors at all times — respect their copyrights, trademarks, and intellectual property.

o Make sure the site is NOT a multi-level marketing site, a network marketing site, or a get rich quick site (although some MLM sites can get into the free lists if they are not moderated).

o Make sure the site is NOT graphically overburdened. Minimize the use of CAPITAL letters, large fonts, and extensive graphics, especially animation.

o Make sure the site Home Page loads quickly and informs the visitor what you have to offer them right up front. If using sounds, use MIDI files whenever possible instead or WAV files, and default to off unless sounds are short. Be careful, some browsers crash with sound enabled.

o If you entice visitors with a FREE OFFER or CONTEST, make sure you explain how to obtain the gift or prize in an obvious manner. (FREE is good, but contests usually don’t work and there may be legal problems).

o Always choose to communicate information rather than to display wiz-bang nifty technical skills. These gadgets are a no-no to many free sites even if mandatory for some award sites. Animation, although exciting to see sometimes, is a real distraction on most pages and actually decreases sales. Avoid it unless there is a purpose.

o If you are going to be selling a service or product, take the time to establish a merchant account and accept credit cards. The good news is that this is easily implemented with or without a store. The bad news is that it takes effort to set it up. It is strongly suggested that you visit our page on e-commerce considerations and follow those instructions carefully!

Search Engine Placement through Search Engines, Links, and Awards
Before submission you must have prepared your site for search engine placement. If your site is not prepared for top ranking then a submission service can only give you many, many poor rankings.

There are many Web businesses offering to list your site with search engines or directories for FREE for a few sites, and for a small fee for other sites. The key is that over time, the categories change, the registration format changes, and there is a great difference between being submitted and being registered. At present, there is a 25% mortality rate for search engine sites every few months, and those that survive do so by upgrading categories and registration formats.

Search engine placement requires some homework. Before making this commitment, make a written note with the below information:

1. Your Web address (URL) in the form of http://www.yoursite.com

2. Your email address in the form of yourname@yoursite.com

3. The title of your Home Page in the form of “your site -products for (need}”

4. A 40 character product description

5. A ten to twelve word site description (your site TITLE probably)

6. A twenty-five word site description

7. A forty word site description (keep in your paste buffer). Consider using this text at the top of the displayed area on your home page.

8. A list of sixteen to twenty words best describing criteria that a prospective visitor would use in a search engine to find your site

9. A complete list of keywords (up to 1000 characters) sequenced with the most important first (possibly from your HTML Keywords line)

Search Engine Optimization Intro

There is a lot to search engine optimization, so I am going to cover some basics and leave it at that. First let’s go over some key parts to SEO. Keywords are words that people use on the search engines to find your website. These keywords can help determine your rank on the search engines. This is why keyword research is a great way to assess which ones to use and which ones would be too difficult to rank with. There are some great tools out there for this research. One of the best to use is Google AdWords Keyword Tool, if you are looking for a free resource. If you are willing to pay for more options that will assist in this you can use SEOmoz’s Pro subscription. These keywords should be used in several different places such as: images, categories, header tags, title tags, URL, meta tags, and on your pages. These need to be specific to each page and need to be relevant. You don’t want to just be stuffing these keywords in and not having them at all related to what is on the webpage. The search engine crawlers will not be happy if you do this and this will result in you not ranking well. These crawlers are programs that will scan the web in a mathematical fashion and assess sites for where they rank. A great thing to add to your website is a sitemap plugin that will auto generate your sitemap. This gives a great road map to your website for the web crawlers to use. This shows that your website is search engine friendly.

An important fact to emphasize is that content is king. Your content is very important to SEO. You must be a resource to your website readers providing quality content, not just writing the content around the keywords. This is not to say that you cannot write the content with keywords in mind, but you must not make the keywords come before the quality of the content. If you write with the notion that the content is king, you will provide a great content for your website and therefore rank higher in the search engines. Another great way to be a resource and provide quality content is to provide information through social media. In other words, write articles, blogs and social network posts that provide useful tips and information to your audience. If you do this on a consistent basis and your followers share this information, you will become a well respected site and will in turn rank higher on the search engines. I cannot emphasize enough that consistency is very important.

It is also important to measure and track the stats of your website to assess the results of your efforts. This is done through installing analytics through a tool such as Google Analytics. This will give you demographics, keywords used, sources of traffic, repeat versus new visitors and so much more. Let me state that SEO is not a quick thing. It takes effort, patience and careful study to see results. But when the results happen, it is worth every bit of effort put into it.

Search Engine Optimization Helps in Creating a Brand Name

Success and failure of a particular business depends upon the kind of publicity done. This is true in the case of online and other businesses also. There are different methods that can be used for the promotion of any goods or services, but the key lies in identifying the one method which will be able to put your business to the top without too much of an effort. Advertising on the web is the most widely undertaken promotional methods about any product or service. The news about the existence of your business must reach out to a large number of audiences and only then will you be able to attract customers to do business with you.

The method of promotion on the web is known as SEO or search engine optimization. Search engine is not just one method, but is in fact a combination of different methods for promotion. Online business owners undertake search engine optimization so that their sites can rank high in all of the major search engines. Ranking high in all popular and major search engines is one of the surest means to attracting huge traffics to your online site. Search engine optimization, if done in the proper manner, is sure to give immense benefits to your business.

It said that only a professional knows what work he has to do and it is not at all different in the case of search engine optimization also. If you are an online business owner, you will do wonders to your business if you hand over the search engine optimization work to a professional firm. Evaluating the existing competition in the market and finding out the methods that has been used for optimization is a good way of going about doing things related to search engine optimization.

This is your business and you have worked really hard to put this up. So do not just sit back and relax once you hand over the search engine optimization work to a firm that has trained professional. You must keep a constant track of the work which is being done and see if this is bringing results for your business or not. You are best judge to know if your business is benefiting from the search engine marketing strategy or not. If the strategy is not working out for you, sit and talk to the professional and try to find out what is wrong. It may be that the strategies adopted for search engine optimization may not be suitable to your business.

Remember each business is different and so the strategies adopted must also be different. The strategy which has proved to be a huge success for your friend’s business may not at all be suitable for you. So what you must do is hire professionals who really know their very well, not someone how just has fancy degree and is not capable of doing anything of substance. The idea is to make a wise choice from the huge number of professionals who are working in the field of search engine optimization. Search engine optimization is in fact the most innovative means to do promotion about anything.

Natural Search Engine Optimization For Your Online Business

With the advancing technology and the increasing power of the World Wide Web, internet marketers have discovered a potential that can be utilized to effectively promote their campaign to different online users worldwide. Thus, search engine optimization (SEO) became popular among advertisers.

Search engine optimization, as an effective marketing tool, now comes in two different forms: the paid SEO and the natural SEO. The difference is quite obvious, but for you to effectively hype up your campaign without spending too much, I will show you some essentials you need to know about natural search engine optimization.

Basically, campaigns that are utilized using the natural search engine optimization appear on search engine results through ranking so you must do all efforts to make your website popular among online users. It all starts from the building of the site that features all the basic information needed about your company and the business it offers.

Since your natural SEO doesn’t need money to be executed, you must be able to plan it properly before going on through the implementation. Before establishing a website, lay-out a plan in mind that can help you with your whole campaign.

First is to identify and make good note of your goals and objectives so if you get lost in the process, all you have to do is take a look back on your list and you will be right back on track. Then start laying out your strategy plan and you’re off to go with the execution starting with the website.

In the content of your website, maintain a certain keyword density so it can easily be identified and have good ranking on search engines. However, if the keyword density is too high, search engines will also put your site in lower ranks.

Then you can work on the natural search engine optimization with the use of meta tags. The use of such SEO tools can help you acquire good rankings in natural search results.

One way to effectively help your website get promoted is by article marketing. With quality articles posted on different sites, you can acquire people’s attention that can eventually turn as your website visitor and contribute to the increase of your website.

Next is including links on your articles as this can serve as your portal from the articles to your main site. It is important to not to miss putting such links as your articles won’t make any difference in the improvement of your campaign.

And lastly, don’t be afraid to explore a lot of possibilities that can help you in your natural search engine optimization. And don’t hesitate to seek the recommendations of SEO practitioners to improve your campaign.

Understanding SMO Or Social Media Optimization

To survive and compete in the marketplace every business should know and use the latest technologies and methods. And the same is valid in the area of promotion and advertising. However a solution has been found to tackle this problem and it is named as SMO.

SMO basically stands for social media optimization. You may have known about SEO but SMO is a new word in the online dictionary. To start with, it’s important to understand what are these social media platforms? Sites that are not strictly trade oriented but their actual focus is on social interactivity are said to be social media sites. They indeed help in exchange of thoughts and ideas. Some of the popular and well known social media sites are YouTube, Digg and MySpace.

SEO and SMO are inter-related but remember they are two different terms. SEO provides your website a firm, long term place in the ranking list while SMO helps to boost up small based business by creating a viral buzz. The main motive of SMO is to make your website popular and easy to locate by the custom search engines like Technorati. It can be done in many ways maybe with the use of blogs or podcasts; but remember that your main motive here is to make the website easily linkable.

SMO rules

Here are some important rules that govern the Social Media Optimization:-

Give ability for quick and easy linking.

Put Book-marking and Tagging.

Should have Social Networking.

Let the comments and views to get posted on your lively contents.

Make blog for your website.

Reward the inbound links.

Your website can also get extra traffic from different other channels by the use of SMO strategies. In this way popularity of your website gets increased amongst people. Moreover it will help you understand what’s in the trend, actual requirement of your customers, their feedbacks, consequently improving your services.

SMO is a very new method designed to match up with the rapid innovation and advancement in online business. Therefore in order to get more and better publicity use SMO. If you want to be successful in social media optimization then it’s important to secure the usernames to be used in emails and sites like hotmail, gmail etc.

How to excel at SMO

Basically there are three important ways in which you can successfully excel at SMO and they are as follows:-

It should contain active and interesting content. Try to write what you actually feel as people love to know about your feelings.

It’s very important to know about your target audience and then plan things according to it.

Your content should have the capacity to attract and persuade more people towards the site. An essential factor of SMO is linkage.

Hence, SMO or Social Media Optimization is an effectual tool of promoting a website. Also it is said to be a complete and perfect method of promoting products or services, in the most suitable way. No doubt, there are a number of benefits if you advertise your products or services with SMO.