Author Archive
January 18th, 2010 by Megan Homan
There are new blogs popping up on the Internet on a regular basis, but their ability to rank well is compromised as they compete with fully optimized websites for those top spots. Whether it is a personal blog about those precious tots or a business blog that showcases expert ramblings, it needs to be optimized. Blog optimization is not only important from a search engine viewpoint but your readers’ as well. Optimizing a blog is a little different than the standard SEO practices applied to actual websites, although they do share a common denominator – driving visitors to your site. The following are some blog SEO tips on how to help make your blog the very best it can be:
Beware of Design Template Disasters - Just like with websites, design counts! When deciding a layout for your blog, it is a good idea to design your own or have one designed for you. This will allow you to have more creative freedom and add some unique appeal to your blog. You can always choose a standard layout, but be sure to add some special tweaks to make it your own. When it comes to optimizing your blog for the search engines and readers, be careful of pre-designed page limitations.
Optimize Blog Post URLs - When you create a new blog post it typically looks something like this: www.yourblog.com/?p=890. Instead, you should incorporate the name or theme of your new post into your URL like www.yourblog.com/searched_keywords_work_best. This approach will definitely help get your blog post into the search results, especially if you incorporate searched keyword phrases into the URL.
Good Titles Make a Big Difference - Titles are extremely important to the search engine spiders visiting your page. Your titles, just like your content, need to be optimized. Incorporating keyword phrases into your titles will help your posts get better recognition in the search engines. Don’t waste title space optimization opportunities. For example, if you incorporate your blog name into the title, it’s better to get straight to the point with what that page is about. Search engines may view your posts as repetitious if you have the same phrase appearing in every title on your site.
The More You Have to Say the Better - If you want the search engine spiders to like what they see when they visit your site, be sure to post often. Google spiders, for example, love to see new content. The more often you post, the more often the spiders will visit, thus helping to increase credibility as you move up in the search results. Also, be original. Google hates to see duplicate content.
Beware of Spammy Links in your Comments Section - Google keeps a watchful eye on links. As a good rule of thumb, for any SEO strategy, you never want to have too many outbound links from your site, and you certainly don’t want links that are irrelevant to your post’s theme. Spammers use the comments section on a blog to boost their sites’ popularity, so you want to be sure that you are regularly monitoring the comments being posted to your blog.
Create Exposure through Links - You can use links to gain exposure for your blog without being spammy. If you reference an article or another blogger’s point of view, go ahead and link to it. This lets those receiving your link know you’re out there – and can result in you acquiring a link to your site.
If you require help with your blog search engine optimization, you can contact Web.com Search Agency at 1-877-726-5321 for assistance. Our team has the SEO expertise to move your website or blog to the top of the search results.
Tags: blog optimization, blog search engine optimization, blog seo
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January 18th, 2010 by Megan Homan
Every website owner wants their site to be indexed in the search engines. Why? Because the whole point of a website is to reach your desired audience, and the only way to do so is by getting found in the search engines. This is accomplished through search engine indexing and help from professional SEO strategists
What is Search Engine Indexing?
When a search engine spider visits a website, it enters through the homepage and then spends time going through your content and visiting the links throughout your site to gather information. As the spider visits each page, it makes note of the page’s theme and what it potentially has to offer its non-robot visitors. After it leaves your site, it stores all the information and makes a record of it, so to speak. The web indexing is then complete and information about your site is computed. Then, when somebody searches a key phrase associated with your site, your page will appear in the search results as a resource.
How to Get Indexed
One way to index your website is through the submission of an XML site map. This allows you to put all that your site has to offer right in front of the web crawler telling it, “Hey, here are all of my web pages you should be indexing.” An XML site map isn’t too difficult to configure. Any web developer can pull one together and easily submit it for website indexing.
Of course, you don’t have to submit an XML site map, but almost any SEO professional will recommend that you do. Some professionals, however, believe that if you have a search engine friendly site, that will do the trick, which in theory is true. Using a sitemap simply helps to ensure no page gets overlooked.
Once Your Site is Indexed
Search engine indexing isn’t hard to accomplish, but getting your web page to rank high in the search results is. When a search engine spider crawls your site, it is looking for numerous factors about your site to determine if it is worth moving to the top. It is checking for characteristics like how well your content is developed and the number of links pointing at your site. These, among many others, are important aspects of SEO that an experienced strategist at Web.com Search Agency will be more than happy to help you with. The only way to get ahead in the search engines is by incorporating solid SEO practices into your website.
Tags: search engine indexing, web indexing, website indexing
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January 18th, 2010 by Megan Homan
Most people think the only way to get found in the search engines is through a properly optimized site in the organic results or through paid search campaigns, but those are not your only options. If you are particularly concerned with reaching your local Google search audience, Google Maps is a service that will allow you to gain online recognition without having to spend a lot of time on website optimization or pay-per-click strategies.
When a Google local search is conducted for “dentist in Denver”, for example, it will reveal a list of local dentists above the organic searches in the Google Maps section, but will only showcase those dentists who are registered with Google Maps. To appear in this section you must have a profile created in the Google Local Business Center. This service is ideal for business owners who strictly want to be found within their community.
Google Maps is similar to your trusty ol’ phone book (remember it?) except it offers searchers so much more than an address and telephone number. It displays a map with the location pinpointed, a clickable web address and more depending on the information you choose to share in your Google local profile.
Google Maps follows its own unique algorithm that is different from the organic search algorithm. It is based on the amount of information in your Google Local Business profile. Profiles with more information, including pictures, coupons and video, can generally do better than those with less information. It also factors in the physical location of your business relative to where the search is coming from. The name of your business is another determinant. Businesses can generally rank better if the keywords in their name are the keywords for which people are searching. References to your site from other websites will also impact your rankings. These references simply need to list your business name and address – no link is necessary. Google Maps also considers reviews with comments that are received directly, as well as those appearing on several partner sites. The more reviews your business receives the better.
Web.com Search Agency can make sure you receive recognition in the local search results. Our local optimization service addresses the unique elements of the Google Maps algorithm to give your site the ability to rank well in Maps listings – maximizing your website exposure. We welcome you to call 1-877-726-5321 and ask our experienced SEO strategists how Web.com Search Agency’s Local Search program can make a difference to your bottom line.
Tags: google local business search, google local search
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December 15th, 2009 by Megan Homan
One of the best ways to spread the word about your company is through a press release; however, merely sending your release to print editors or television news producers is a thing of the past. Regardless of what news you wish to share with the world, an optimized release has the potential to help you reach a much wider audience. When you introduce an optimized press release on the Internet, you are not only reaching members of the media who can offer you print, television or online news coverage, you are also reaching any individual searching for your topic.
Aside from reaching more people, optimized press releases can also help you with your search engine optimization performance by creating link opportunities. From an SEO standpoint, when business-related keywords are added to your press release you should turn those phrases into links to your website. This not only helps to increase the link popularity for your site, but also creates an opportunity to drive traffic to your site. When your SEO press release is discovered, whether by the media or simply an interested individual, they will notice the links in the press release and be given an opportunity to click through to your site.
Crafting SEO press releases that encompass everything you need is an art form. There is so much more that goes into it than who, what, where, when, why and how, and your knowledge of AP Style writing will only get you so far. Researching the keywords, knowing how to insert said keywords and distributing to the proper online news feeds is the arsenal of talents you need to have in place.
Web.com Search Agency knows how to create the most impactful releases. Our optimized press release services include all that you need to officially get the word out and implement SEO link building strategies. Our talented SEO team will research and select the most efficient keywords and link opportunities for your announcement. Our professional writers can either create a news release from scratch or edit your existing release using the best SEO practices. The release will then be distributed on the most popular online newsfeeds. Contact us today so that we may create a press release for you that really packs a punch!
Tags: optimized press releases, seo press release
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December 15th, 2009 by Megan Homan
Want to increase page rank in Google? The way to increase your page rank is through acquiring back links, back links and more back links. It’s simple – the more links you have pointing to your site the higher your page rank will be. Ways to create successful back links that will be deemed viable by Google in your quest to improve page rank include the following:
1. Articles – Writing and submitting articles for publication on other websites provides you with an opportunity to create a link back to your site. There are numerous places on the web where you can submit articles. Submitting an article provides you with an opportunity to speak as an expert about industry related topics. So, not only will this create a link for your page, but it will also help to build your reputation as a preferred source.
2. Directories – When you submit your site to search engine directories this creates a free link to your site. It is true that some directories are paid, but it shouldn’t be too difficult to find an unpaid opportunity. Being featured on a search engine directory will also help you build your online presence.
3. Forums – Other free link opportunities can be found on forums. Most forums allow you to post your website in your signature, thus creating a link placement. It is best to select a forum that is closely related to your business sector. This gives you the opportunity to promote your website and get a link at the same time.
4. Websites – Obtaining links from other websites is a terrific way to boost page rank; however, finding a website that is willing to link to yours is a daunting task. It is best to choose a web page that is relevant to yours because it will help increase your credibility from Google’s standpoint. Securing one-way links to your site will be the most powerful link option, particularly if the text link is within the web page’s content.
5. Blog Posts – Getting bloggers to write about your business is an opportune way to obtain links. There are two approaches you can take when it comes to gaining links from bloggers. You can try to find individual bloggers on your own who are willing to write about your business, but the best and least time consuming way is to subscribe to a blog review service.
Web.com Search Agency knows how to increase your page rank in Google. Our services incorporate all of the above mentioned opportunities for building your link portfolio and improving page rank. We employ a dedicated and knowledgeable productions team that can execute these link building endeavors and create quality links for your site. We want to hear any questions you may have about increasing your Google page rank and look forward to providing you with outstanding opportunities to increase your website exposure.
Tags: improve page rank, increase page rank
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December 15th, 2009 by Megan Homan
More often than not, sitemaps should be an integral part of your search engine optimization strategy. There are two types of sitemaps that can benefit your online search ability. Both HTML and XML sitemaps are recommended from an SEO standpoint. They are both important for search engine indexing; however, the HTML version is also beneficial to the user experience.
XML Sitemap
Creating an XML sitemap for your website is a surefire way to get recognized in the search engines. This type of site map is not for people to read. Instead, it is basically just a list of all the pages you want Google to see on your website. Every website should submit an XML sitemap to the search engines, but it is extremely important to websites with thousands of pages that may otherwise get overlooked because of their sheer size.
If you want all of your important pages to get indexed this is the most effective approach; however, that doesn’t mean that your search engine optimization efforts should fall by the wayside. XML sitemaps simply let Google spiders know your pages are out there and they should be crawled, but it is up to you or your SEO strategist to make sure your pages really gain high rankings in the engines.
HTML Sitemap
Not necessarily an important part of SEO but almost always recommended by SEO professionals is a user friendly website layout. There are important components your website shouldn’t be without including a home page, services page, about us page, contact us page and an HTML sitemap. This type of online sitemap helps your viewers easily locate pages of interest.
An HTML site map offers an opportunity to clearly organize and structure your site in a way that is beneficial to both the search engine spiders and the human viewer. When a user visits your site you want to offer them a site map that clearly displays the hierarchy of your site’s pages. Think of your site map as a Table of Contents. For smaller sites, text links should be incorporated to each page listed on the map so that visitors may go directly to a particular section or page of interest. These site maps also help to lay out a clear-cut content structure for the spiders so that they will be sure to crawl every page.
HTML sitemaps tend to be better for smaller sites in comparison to those with thousands of pages, only because when you are trying to configure a map that outlines a large site it will lose its purpose of a clean-cut page hierarchy map. Really large sites can still take advantage of these sitemaps, but it is then best to limit the map to key category pages that incorporate text links – but only for the main topic pages.
Creating either site map can be an obstacle without the appropriate website development knowledge. Web.com Search Agency can offer you the technical advice necessary for developing search engine appropriate sitemaps. Contact us today to learn more about SEO strategies that will help you gain exposure in the engines.
Tags: html sitemap, xml sitemap
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December 7th, 2009 by Megan Homan
The most efficient way to implement a webpage replacement without affecting your search engine optimization is with a 301 redirect. A 301 redirection basically tells the search engine, “Hey, this web page has permanently changed.” The search engines get the message that you want them to index the new page and disregard the one currently indexed. If you need to change file names or move pages around, 301 redirects will always be your safest solution – especially where SEO is concerned.
A 301 approach will help you to prevent the disruption of any important existing search engine rankings for the particular page. It’ll allow you to keep all the link juice the page may have acquired and prevent any duplicate content issues that could arise if both versions are indexed. Creating a 301 redirect also makes for a better user experience as it is better for the viewer to be redirected than to see a blaring 404 Page Not Found across their screen.
How a 301 redirect is executed depends on your server and the type of redirection you’re trying to accomplish, as there are different strategies for implementing the change for an entire website or just a page. To find out how to 301 redirect successfully, read our previous posts for a more in-depth explanation. Please visit our 301 Redirects for Apache Servers – Linux 301 Redirect Advice post or our 301 Redirect for Windows Server post, depending on your website server.
Tags: 301 redirect, 301 redirection
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