Other Meta Tags to Consider
Some META tags are used on a daily basis to fine tune a website page for the search engines. There are however, several META tags that many people have never heard of, yet should probably either have in their knowledge cabinet to use where appropriate, or have already used if they knew they existed. There are times when you do a search only to find the results are either out of date, or no longer available. A good example would be a blog or website that runs a competition. Once the competition has been completed, do you really want that page indexed and being found in the search results? Stale pages can often be a downer when it comes to your reputation. META tags that experienced optimization CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...
SEO On Sundays
There are many website owners that undertake their own search engine optimization programs and they get good results. There are also those that try to do it themselves, however, they spend as much time watching numbers as they do optimizing their sites. Watching numbers, in itself, is not wrong. Where DIY SEO gets into trouble is in the constant tinkering. The numbers aren't right so I have change something. But what? I know, I will try this. Of course it doesn't make much of difference, but you feel good because you tried. Besides which, you read somewhere that this is what you should do. A well executed optimization campaign takes time, patience and a well defined process. If you change too many on site CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...
What’s The SEO Magic Bullet?
Human nature being what it is, we are always looking for that little extra edge, the shortcut that will get us ahead of the rest. Search Engine Optimization is much like an Olympic sport, you can train hard, put in the extra work; and, if everything comes together on the day, you can strike gold. You can of course try a few short cuts. EPO or a similar performance enhancing substance. Rather that training harder, you let the chemicals do it for you. In SEO, this is known as 'black hat' techniques. Some smart people undertake both. They work hard to get fit, and then add a little extra to boost their performances. Sure, they win gold, often in world record times. However, as CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...
Modifying URL’s and the Impact on Your Rankings
The “404 Page Not Found” error can be a real problem for a site and their search engine optimization programs. This can cause many problems particularly if the page in question was ranking well in the past. There are many reasons for this error to occur including: - Page Deleted - Page Renamed with a new URL - Page moved to a different location/directory - Moving Site to a new provider When faced with this problem there are several options that can be undertaken to reduce the possibility of an issue. The main solution involves using redirects although if you have simply removed the page, then a request to Google to remove the page can be made. Without the request Google and other search engines will eventually drop the page CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...
Are You Sending Googlebot To Outer Space?
It may not sound like an SEO problem, however displaying a simple calendar on your site has the potential to send the Googlebot into outer space - well maybe infinite space at least. The problem arises where your calendar has a next month/previous month option. The Googlebot follows links so it will click on the 'next month' link, and the 'next month' again, and again - you get the picture. It will never leave your site as it continually follows that link. From and SEO point of view this is real bad news. The Goolgebot doesn't leave that loop so the rest of your site doesn't get indexed. If it wasn't serious it could be funny. However, one of the side effects is an unnecessary use CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...
Site Wide Programming Can Hurt Your SEO
Most web sites are built on a template like design basis where the general design of a page is repeated across the whole site, the only change being in the content. This can often affect the outcome of your search engine optimization efforts. The concept of site wide designs is fine and allows for consistency and familiarity for visitors. However there are certain aspects that may not sit well with search engines. One of the reasons that links within content are so valuable is the fact that they don't appear site wide. Links in footers, on the other hand, do appear on every page. Some of these links could be viewed by search engines as paid links, the end result being a reduction in page ranking. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...
Does Web 2.0 Need SEO
While it is hard to find concrete figures, it seems that only half of all internet users actually rely on search engines when they access the internet. If only 50% of the online population uses a search engine, should we be primarily concentrating on search engine optimization, or should we be seeking out alternative methods to secure visitors and sales online? Statistics can be manipulated, twisted and turned inside out to suit a particular argument. My statement above suggested that only 50% of users relied on search engines. The real question should have been how many people looking for information use a search engine? The answer to that would probably see the number jump well above the 50%. However, as web 2.0 matures to 3.0, CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...
There Is One Problem With SEO Rules
Rules were meant to be broken or so the saying goes. It is probably a part of human nature, however as soon as you say to people, "don't do….XXY", they bust their gut trying to do it. Search Engine Optimization is no different. You may hear terms such as 'white hat', 'black hat' or perhaps even 'gray hat'. These all represent strategies that either follow 'rules', don't follow, or sort of follow. The problem is who sets the rules? There is no industry standard for Search Engine Optimization although there has often been talk about establishing standards; and with it training standards, qualifications and everything else that comes with setting standards. The next question would then be, "who sets the standards?" At present, search engines, rather than having CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...
Use The Power Players In Your Niche To Help Your SEO
For web site owners that have established their site with reasonable search engine rankings, getting to know and communicate with the power players in your niche can help your search engine optimization efforts and perhaps give your site that little extra lift in the rankings. The power players you need to associate with are not going to be your competitors. The power players you are looking for are those with sites that complement yours, or perhaps your site complements theirs. Get to know them. If they have a blog, leave appropriate comments. Link to them appropriately - and yes links leaving your site to authority sites can help your SEO. If any of these sites use social media, then join in their conversations - intelligently. This is CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...
Do Demographics Affect Your SEO?
Search engines were never created equal and as they have grown up they have taken slightly different paths. Consequently, identical search terms entered into a different search engines will return different results. If different search engines return different results then it stands to reason that different techniques may be required for each of the search engines. You could try to undertake optimizing your website for all of the major search engines, and most sites do. Many sites concentrate their search engine optimization efforts on Google and hope it is enough to satisfy the other search engines. However, with a little research you may be able to concentrate your efforts on the search engines that will deliver the most traffic and sales. Demographics of your audience is CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...
Ask the LA Times Newspaper if Search Engine Optimization Works
Newspapers, yes they do still exist, generally report on news. It is rare for them to make the news, unless you are a cynic of course. The La Times newspaper has made its own news with a record 127 million page views in July, and most of it can be laid at the feet of its search engine optimization program. If anyone ever needs proof of a successful SEO campaign then the LaTimes.com website is probably a good example. An increase in 7 million page views from the previous month, more importantly, July's figures were an increase of 66% on the previous year’s numbers. Page views are one set of numbers, unique visitors are another and the La Times have recorded 19 million visitors for July - CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...
Watch Those SEO Guarantees
Every day I receive search engine optimization emails offering to "get my sites to number one on Google in seven days or my money back". Yeah right! Okay, it can be done. But do you really want it done? Sounds a little strange? I don't want number one - I want traffic and I want traffic that is going to convert to leads and sales. You probably do too and there lay the problem. True SEO is not geared towards ranking your site at number one. True SEO tries to have your pages rank as highly as possible for the best targeted keywords that will deliver real traffic to your pages. Perhaps I should frame that? Those who claim to have your site ranked at number one CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...
SEO Has Become A Form Of Niche Marketing
The role of an SEO consultant is always changing and moving with the requirements of both the clients and search engines. Where on page optimization was once king, it is off page optimization that now has more influence on a sites search engine rankings. It wasn't that long ago that it required what is now considered keyword stuffing. Everything on a page revolved around sets of keywords and every opportunity was made to use those keywords. Those techniques would get a site banned now. However, there is a balance to inserting keyword phrases within the relevant content on a site. Search engine optimization now depends on links as a major factor in long term rankings, particularly inbound links coming from quality relevant sites using appropriate anchor CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...
SEO, SEM, SMO, SMM: What’s With The Acronym’s
If your new to the internet, or at least new to the world of search engine optimization, you may be wondering what all these acronyms stand for. Here is a brief run down on each acronym with a Wikipedia reference for each one. [source]Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the volume and quality of traffic to a web site from search engines via "natural" ("organic" or "algorithmic") search results for targeted keywords. Usually, the earlier a site is presented in the search results or the higher it "ranks", the more searchers will visit that site. SEO can also target different kinds of searches, including image search, local search, and industry-specific vertical search engines. In a nutshell, by defining keywords and optimizing them for CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...
Even With Top SEO, Some Online Businesses Fail
Over the years I have come across many online businesses that have ranked reasonably well in the search results yet failed as online businesses. The traffic hasn't been sufficient to create sales and the costs of developing their websites exceeds profits. So why do they fail? There are of course many reasons why a business fails, whether it is online or offline. Poor page design, poor products, the list is endless. However, one of the biggest failures for online businesses is simply content. We hear terms such as 'content is king', and while it sounds good, it doesn't tell you much. What content? How much? On what topics? All simple questions, yet these questions are the very ones you should be asking yourself. SEO needs material CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...
SEO Journal is Written by
Brick Marketing Founder,
Nick Stamoulis:
Nick Stamoulis - SEO Bio.
Tel. - 877-295-0620
nick@brickmarketing.com
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