Search Engine Optimization

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SEO | Organic Traffic… Broken Down

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

SEO | Organic Traffic Explained In
“Plain English”

Seo-OrganicBefore we dive head first into SEO|Organic traffic, we must discuss the nature of its being.  So… prepare yourself for real talk on search engine optimization, without the hype or pitch of a salesman.

O.K… search engine optimization acquired the term organic from its ability to gain natural rankings in the search engines.  And our definition of organic is to grow without the use of conventional or artificial software, and free from contamination through human deception.

Now… in order to score big in the search engines and avoid being punished, you must play by the rules and follow the guidelines provided by the engines.  The rules are explained very clearly, but in our hi-speed society everything has to be done to the 10th power, which in return, opens the door for opportunity.  And opportunity means money.

So, internet marketers began selling Search Engine Optimization software that boosts your site rankings by increasing the growth factors that affect your site.  In other words, people manufactured software that act as steroids causing your rankings to increase rapidly.

But, faster isn’t always better; so educate yourself and be analytical if you decide to use Organic-Traffic-Getting software.  And remember, super fast rankings will serve you no purpose; if you’re ejected from the game.

Now, for everyone who wants high rankings, but can’t afford PPC and traffic boosting software, there’s still the organic or natural way.  It takes a little time, however it’s very effective.

And… if done properly you’re less likely to be penalized by the search engines, giving your site a good ranking that can be duplicated again and again with other sites in multiple niches.

Here are a few SEO | Organic Do’s and Don’ts:

Don’ts

1) Bombing- don’t setup a website and then setup 50 or 100 other sites linking back to the host site.

2) Duplicate Sites- don’t create two similar sites and/or copy content from another site.

3) Cloaking- don’t setup one site for the engines and another for your customers.

4) Doorway Pages- don’t optimize web-pages for one specific set of keywords then redirect traffic to another site once it’s ranked.

5) Keyword Stuffing- don’t load your meta tags with keywords.

6) Hidden Text- don’t load your page with invisible keywords hidden in the html code or programming.

7) Paid Links- don’t pay companies for links to your site.

8) Link Farming- don’t spam the index of the search engines for links.

Do’s

1) Keywords- find the hottest keywords for your market and plug them in the headline, sub-heads, and body of your copy.

2) Domain Names- use keywords in your domain name.

3) Content- keep your content fresh and up-to-date.

4) Links- link to other sites that are considered reputable and relevant.

5) Images- use keywords in your description of images.

6) Formatting- bold, italicize, underline, etc. key terms and phrases.

7) Frequency- don’t over use keywords.

8) Navigation- be sure to make site easy to navigate for humans and engine spiders.

These are a few valuable tips to help boost your rankings naturally. However, to achieve a truly healthy site, you must continue to fertilize and nurture your site for optimal organic growth.

For detailed instructions on Google’s search engine visit: Google Webmaster Guidelines

Search Engine Optimization and Voo-Doo Science

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

Is Search Engine Optimization Voo-Doo  Science?

Absolutely notSearch Engine Optimization is not Voo-Doo Science, however as marketers attempt to decipher the code to higher rankings and more traffic, some of the tactics used are considered Voo-Doo or Black Hat.

In all honesty, there’s not one “Stand Alone” technique that guarantees Top Organic Rankings, but a combination of small tasks, hard work, and consistent practices.

As a customer, be alarmed when Search Engine Marketing companies promise instant gratification and overnight rankings, but aren’t willing to share with you what they are doing.

You see… when you decide to incorporate SEO into your business, you shouldn’t have to see the Wizard, a good plan of action should be as clear as the yellow brick road.

If a Search Engine Marketing firm can’t provide you with a clear plan of action that involves you, then find another company that will.

Why Does Pricing Vary With SEO Companies?

You’ll find a wide range of prices from one company to the next, due to some of the tactics employed.  If you do a Google Search, you’ll find one company promising first page rankings in 48 hours for $500, and another one promising the same thing for $3,000.

Who’s to say which company is legit; both may get your site ranked really fast, but the question is, how long will you keep those rankings?

If this is your main site, only site, or money site you need to be sure no “Black Hat Strategies” are used that have the potential to put you in Google’s Sandbox.

Note… Search Engine Optimization is not a fly-by-night process and is by no means — CHEAP!  Its an acquired skill that has the potential to bring in tons of traffic and major dough.

Does Ranking Organically Cost Money?

For some insane reason — rookies operate under the notion that getting “High Organic Rankings” want cost them a dime.

Ha… Ha… Ha… you should be laughing by now, because getting on the front page of Google, Yahoo, and Bing for competitive keyword phrases that actually target hyper-responsive buyers, will cost you money, time, or both.

Truthfully speaking, you can work your way up the ladder for free, but who has four or five years to write dynamic content that blows the competition to Hell.

Besides, if you’re operating a one man band, you’ll never compete with the Big Boys, because they seldom write anything.   They usually manage a staff of trained copywriters, whose sole purpose is to write, take a break… and write some more.

In order to dance with the devil, you’ll need plenty of gas (links) and a box of matches.  Then, you’ll need to set fires all over the net that lead back to your website, so everyone will know you’re the hottest thing popping.

Can I Do SEO Myself?

Yes, with the proper training and a good coach, you can be an expert in a few months.

However, becoming an expert doesn’t mean you’ll be able to stop learning; expert in this since, only means you’re knowledgeable of the subject and more advanced than your customers.

As you continue to grow you’ll discover tons of legitimate strategies that are completely white hat, and only require a little education, determination, and consistency.

Just remember that the internet is ever changing, but the fundamentals of search engine optimization are constant and will remain intact over the years.

That’s why it’s extremely important to use “White Hat Tactics” that operate within the search engine’s guidelines.

Implement these basic tips to get a jump start on your competitor’s:

  1. Research your market to find Hot Topics that are newsworthy.
  2. Place your main focus on writing original content that satisfies human visitors (not the search spiders).
  3. Find a keyword or phrase to build the theme of your content around.
  4. Make sure the keyword or phrase is in the title of your web page.
  5. Then place the keywords in your Meta Description; make sure the meta description is catchy and captivating.
  6. Many marketers say the meta keyword tag doesn’t matter, however place your main keywords here anyway.
  7. Use the “H1″ format for the heading of your page (only use once).
  8. Try to use your main keyword or phrase in the first 50 words.
  9. Use the bold, italic, etc. to emphasize your keyword or phrase throughout your content.
  10. Don’t try to stuff your keywords in to your content; remember to write for humans not spiders.

If you implement the tips I laid out above, you’ll be well on your way to outranking at least 60% of your competitors.  And depending on the market, you could possibly end up on the first page of Google without implementing any other strategies.

I purposely strayed away from the technical “Hog Wash”  in an attempt to deliver the goods in plain English.  Hopefully, this was helpful for novice and pro marketers, who may have been confused from all the hype about Search Engine Optimization and Voo-Doo Science.

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