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  • Chapter 2 – Optimizing New Websites

    Posted by admin on Sat, 03/29/2008 – 15:50

    Ok. Now we know what SEO is, but where do we start? Well, before we get into it, there are 2 different cases in which one would be optimizing a website. The first is with a brand new site. The next is with that of a website that has been up for some time. With the next few pages, we will discuss a new site’s process, and after that, the process for an aged site. In any event, we will be starting with keyword research. Though the process may vary, we need to know what terms we are going to target.

  • Charity Through A Link

    In following Andrew Shotland on Giving SEO For Christmas, I wanted to give a link with a good anchor myself. The idea is to give a free link with a juicy anchor to a charity of your choice. It’s a great idea, it’s for a good cause, takes just a few moments of your time, and will keep on giving.

    I openly ask that others join in. There are plenty of blogs out there with way more clout than myself and Andrew put together. By all means, leave a comment on his post to let him know he isn’t alone.

    Florida Children’s Hospital – This one is personally important to me. Being a father, and being close to a young family member to which they catered greatly, I love these guys.

    I really only have one, as I don’t give as much thought to charity as I should. Hmm…perhaps this is something I will be giving consideration to for the 2008 year.

    See? Only took me a few seconds. I would really like to see a spread on this.

    With this, and any other post, please read the disclaimer.

  • Hiring SEO. The New Guy or The Veteran?

    Well, it seems this blog is turning more to the “SEO industry” area lately, but I promise it’s not going to stay that way. Just one more to get it out of my system, and I’ll get some meat in here. I do have some plans for that, and I hope I can get it in the blog this coming week.

    We’ve discussed ideas on hiring an SEO (In house or freelance), SEO as a career, either good or bad, and we’ve seen the benefits for SEO going freelance or in-house themselves. I thought it would be neat to explore one more angle that we see a lot. Either in-house or not, do you hire the new guy, or the weathered, “experienced,” SEO veteran? Oddly in this industry, the benefits and the disfavors almost even themselves out, so how do you choose?

    I think I should define each before we get too into this post. I’m coming up on my 4th year in the SEO world, placing me somewhere below the veterans, but not really new to the game. The industry as a whole is still very new (only really coming alive around 1995-1996) so even the veterans haven’t been doing this for much more than a decade. Things change so much and so often, that someone practicing for 2 years could very well have what would be considered “old school” tendencies. So, let’s say “new guy” equals less than 2 year’s experience, and “veteran” equals more than 4 years. Anything in between just means you are super sexy…and bald…and cool…

    The New Guy
    New guys often have a good bit of energy you sometimes forgo with the veteran. They see things as newly found, and perpetually push themselves as revelations are made, making them push a little bit more. New guys are also going to be a good bet for knowing what’s happening right now. They weren’t there 2 years ago, so they aren’t going to have a reliance on older methods or old habits that need to be broken. Because of these new things, the new guy will likely be more cost efficient, letting the opportunity for experience outweigh his demand for compensation. The new guy will also be willing to take greater risks (however unwittingly) by trying new things out as they come, getting a site exposure while riding waves. But then, this is also a lack.

    The new guys doesn’t know of penalties like the veteran. They may get you into a bit of trouble, without even knowing it. You also have that risk of losing the new guy forever. SEO is a pretty neat concept, and draws a lot of people in with its mysterious allure. Once the new guy realizes that it’s not all glamor, he or she may very well move on to something else all together.

    The Veteran
    The veteran has been here for a while. The veteran has staying power, knowing all too well the real work that’s involved with analytics, usability, constant monitoring and tweaks, etc. He or she has seen the methods of old, and has a great deal of experience, not only in the core SEO methods, but understanding the search engines themselves. As a veteran, one will see the new trends that pop up all the time, and better determine which ones will actually work, and which ones will soon fade. The veteran will also be a little more careful with any risks, being more aware of the consequences, often felt first hand. Therein lies the veteran’s faults.

    The veteran may carry some old habits and reluctance to jump into something that is too new for a rightful fear of penalties or backlash. The veteran can sometimes be a little jaded. They have seen new trends come and go over the years, and looses that energy and excitement (except for Danny. I swear that guy drinks 4 cans of Red Bull before a podcast). Then there’s the price. You can bet you will be paying top dollar for the veteran, as his or her methods are tried and true, and they know it.

    Points For The New Guy

    • A lot of energy
    • Willingness to try new things
    • Willingness to learn and push a little bit hard
    • Often equals $avings

    Takeaways For The New Guy

    • May sometimes be risky
    • Lacks in the experience and ability of prediction the veteran may have
    • May not stick around for long, once the idea of real “work” is realized

    Points For The Veteran

    • Staying power. They have roughed and bared it all. They aren’t leaving so easily now
    • Experience. they’ve seen it all. They better know what’s going to stick and what isn’t
    • Safety. They aren’t going to run your site through the dirt to test something new

    Takeaways For The Veteran

    • Hard to teach this dog new tricks. They may have some old habits that won’t die
    • They sometimes lose that spark they once had, also losing the energy to keep with the times
    • Price. As lack luster as they may seem, they still know what they’re doing, and they are going to charge for it

    Exceptions
    There are exceptions to every rule. Even these. There are plenty of new guys that are getting out there, thinking they know plenty without keeping an open mind for more, and there are more than enough veterans that still have that spark and desire for more.

    I heard a great metaphor, comparing life to school. Current state of education aside: as a freshman, you don’t know, but you don’t know you don’t know. As a sophomore, you don’t know, but you know you don’t know. As a junior, you know, but you don’t know you know. As a senior, you know, and you know you know.

    Me? I’m an SEO. That’s pretty much all there is to me.

    With this, and any other post, please read the disclaimer.

  • Нужно нарисовать следующее… – Артники Бойцовского Клуба

    Цитата(RAVAGER @ 28.7.2008, 21:55) http://ran9000.narod.ru/index.htmlПробный вариант.

    Ссылки не прописывал и скрипты отправки пароля и логина тоже (только формы отправки там)

    Верстать сайт не нужно было. Сейчас достаточно jpg’а.Нужно нарисовать только шапку. Остальное трогать пока не хочется.Артовик – информационный проект. Все должно читаться. В центральной части использовались цвета БК для того, чтобы вся графика выглядела так же как в самом БК.Вещи, одетые на персонажах – прозрачные. Я не представляю как они будут выглядеть на данном фоне.Что касается фона – то он останется такой, как сейчас – без изменений.Раз уж вы нарисовали и центр сайта – отвечу и по нему.Левая и правая части меню по ширине должны быть примерно как те, что сейчас.Если сейчас вставить те данные, которые есть, то вы увидите все минусы как по фону, так и по остальному.Темно-зеленый цвет, который использован в верхней части – не сочетается с основным блоком.По логотипной части тоже есть замечания.Вот примеры логотипов

     555.gif ( 10,8 килобайт ) Кол-во скачиваний: 22

     logo.jpg ( 41,48 килобайт ) Кол-во скачиваний: 19

     logo_and_heroes_top.jpg ( 53,32 килобайт ) Кол-во скачиваний: 20

    Они вписаны как в шапку, так и отдельно могут использоваться.С артовиком хотелось бы так же сделать.И такой большой его делать не нужно, однозначно.Советские знамена в проект БК явно не вписываются.Это логотипы из серии “нравятся”, к БК не относятся

     111.jpg ( 23,74 килобайт ) Кол-во скачиваний: 12

     222.jpg ( 27,41 килобайт ) Кол-во скачиваний: 12

     333.jpg ( 20,8 килобайт ) Кол-во скачиваний: 10

     444.gif ( 14,4 килобайт ) Кол-во скачиваний: 10Регистрация на сайте не планируется. Поэтому эти поля делать не нужно.Если что-то подобное и будет – тогда и подумаю куда их вставить, но это в будущем.

    Сейчас в авторизации не вижу смысла.

  • Home

    There are numerous critical layers that go into building a successful online marketing campaign. An aesthetically pleasing website, a user-friendly setup, engaging applications and solid content are surface measures in launching an Internet presence, while sound programming, clean functionality and reliable hosting are all operational necessities. If you have these things, you’re off to a strong start, but without SEO services, they’re virtually meaningless.

    The SEO Craftsman vs. The SEO Factory
    SEO services are unique in that they are equal parts scientific and creative. The industry is wildly interesting because the pioneers and champions alike regularly mix with newcomers and those just building an interest in SEO practices through social networking mediums. This has greatly empowered the sole proprietors in the industry, all the while creating a climate of competition and great pride in seeing clients do well.

    Independent SEO providers can function and operate with as much speed, higher-quality accuracy and better success rates than SEO firms. It is the difference in building real relationships and a true understanding of who you are, what you offer and what your goals are. SEO firms see accounts, where independents see clients. The big factory mentality and approach is one built with the consideration of being able to afford losing your business if you’re not seeing the results you should be.

    If you are told, “We can make you rank in the top spot in X amount of time,” run and close your checkbook. An independent SEO provider is going to go through the rigors and laborious steps that will truly give your website a strong search ranking for relevant terms over a long period of time. It is a process that requires continued nourishment and attention. This is the type of attention to detail that you will receive from a sole proprietorship that will wear your impressive search engine ranking as a badge of honor.

    SEO Services – For Everyone?
    The short answer is yes, SEO services are necessary for everyone that wants their website to be found and their online marketing campaign to thrive. Like any other industry, you should educate and protect yourself and apply the cardinal rules of consumerism before making commitments. If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is. A true SEO professional is going to take the time to appreciate what it is that you’re hoping to accomplish and the type of demographic you are trying to reach.

    The industry exists and continues to grow because it is necessary, it is needed. It’s not as simple as putting certain terms in place and hoping that the Google or Yahoo spiders will find them. It is a discipline that consists of numerous factors, extensive research, intensive experience and education and a continued commitment to superior maintenance. It is the difference between a craftsman and a factory. A factory is going to apply the same modus operandi, in equal amounts regardless of your intrinsic differences and will be prepared for losses due to a quantity business model. It may be efficient in some regards and is necessary in particular industries, but not when it comes to your SEO services. The craftsman is going to take the time to understand the vision, and work with a strict attention to detail and then take the success or failure personally.

    You’ve spent a lot of time conceiving, building and implementing your website and online marketing campaign. Now share it with your customer base—they are looking for you and professional SEO services will successfully guide them to you.

  • The Cost Of SEO

    I wanted to post something this week about the prices we SEOs charge, and what you can expect to see as “the norm.” However, sometimes, you catch a few other posts that do the subject justice. So, I want to showcase 2 of those recent posts.

    Don’t worry, I’m getting some information together for the SEO eBook for this subject, but for now, these are great reads.

    Why Do The (Good) SEOs Cost So %&*# Much? – Written by Diane Aull for Search Engine Guide. Diane explains my sentiment on the reason for the high cost. Not as much as from the point of the ROI we can offer, but from the worth of our experience in time. From the post:

    The what you can learn in minutes. The how takes considerably more time, effort and skill.

    Basically, you’re not paying me for the 10 minutes it took to write a good description, you’re paying me for the years it took to understand what it takes to write a good description.

    Selling SEO in Ready-to-Eat packages – Written by Kichus. This is a pretty good post on why we can’t give clients a quote in a pre-packaged form. Every site to be optimized and promoted is going to require a different approach. In my comments, I give a breif explanation on why I opt for the “starting at” phrase on my freelance SEO page.

    With this, and any other post, please read the disclaimer.

  • The Internet Hates Cops!!

    I saw an interesting story on the news today here in Jacksonville, FL. The story was relating to the website ratemycop.com, and its validity in the eyes of the resedents here in the city.

    With a massive poll of 2 people, WJXT Jacksonville returned the results. Half of the 2 people said they would use the site as a means of both investigating a police officer, and as a way to contribute experiences. The other half of the 2 people stated that they would take any information on the site with a grain of salt.

    This is a pretty interesting topic. There are plenty of resources on reputation management on social sites that allow for visitor input in regard to services, but how does a government agency handle this? Would the same methods apply? 2 points came to my mind during the story. The safety of the police officers on the site, and the impact on an officer’s reputation.

    They Know Your Name
    I wondered how listing an officer’s first and last name would affect their safety. The site owners stated that they are not listing anything that isn’t publically available, and the FOP stated that they will also be viewing the site for any serious threats, but I don’t really think that’s good enough. Besides, a visitor may leave comments anonymously, increasing the chance of poorer remarks. There’s a good number of violence offenses towards cops in this city as it is, a public record of negative instances that may not be accurate would only hurt the situation.

    You Better Play The Part, Buster
    Having a number of freinds in law enforcement, I can tell you that perception is a big deal. As an officer, you have to not only act fair and with integrity, it has to be obvious that you are doing so. Cops come under so much fire on a regular basis, that even seemingly irresponsible behavior can have an impact on their career, regardless of their actual character. Again, visitors are not required to leave a name. They are required to start an account, but we all know how easy it is to fake the stuff required. What’s to stop someone from leaving very negative and slandering testimonials about an officer?

    The thing about this story that got to me is the point of the site, and our general view of police officers as a country. So many times I’ve had a conversation with a friend complaining that they got a ticket by some “stupid cop” for speeding. Normally, they were indeed speeding. “Well,” I ask, “don’t you think you deserved the ticket then?” I also get a little offended when people talk about how “mean” a cop was. To be honest, if I had to pull strangers over all day, wondering if the next angry 16-year-old punk has a gun, I wouldn’t be the most pleasant guy either.

    Cut ’em some slack. And be mindful of the information you get on the Internet; it can be produced by anyone.

    With this, and any other post, please read the disclaimer.

  • Organic SEO For Landing Pages IS A Viable Solution

    While browsing over the latest Website Magazine, I happen upon an article titled “Landing Pages: SEO vs. SEM.” I first think to myself, “gee, isn’t the argument over by now?” It’s really common knowledge that SEO and PPC need to work together to be of greatest benefit. Alas, the article wasn’t against SEO as much as I thought it was going to be, but it was a little off in its whole idea.

    Basically, the author noted how SEO is used for broad searches and to pull in a wider audience, and lacked in pulling targeted audiences to properly optimized landing pages. This, believes the auther, is where PPC comes in. Bah! Organic SEO can, and when appropriately implemented is indeed a viable solution in regard to landing pages.

    The SEO E-Commerce Experience
    The First thing that caught my eye was this quote

    “Most search engines look at a site’s home page first and rank it as the most important page based on the relevancy of search queries…

    …Overall, this makes organic landing pages more general, not driven by conversion rates. The main goal of these pages is site ranking and visibility – great for marketing to new visitors or casual browsers but not so good for a customer looking for a specific item or service.”

    The first statement is true, but the second has nothing to do with the first. Together, and in the context that they were written, they make a very inaccurate statement.

    Yes, the home page targets broader terms. This is indeed to appeal to a larger audience. But the homepage is less often meant for a landing page for the customer looking for something specific. I will expand on this in just one moment. First, more from the original article.

    Faulty Example
    I wanted to hold off on explaining the landing page thing because it relates to an example that the author gives. He brings up Zappos.com for his case. Apparently, this is a big online dealer of shoes (forgive me for not doing my total research, but it’s Saturday). The author states that the homepage was optimized with the title for shoe terms. Details on what it actually took for the site to rank so highly aside, the site indeed ranks for the broad term “shoes” in Google. This is a great SEO success indeed. However, this is not an issue of organic landing pages vs. paid landing pages. This is a case of something else entirely.

    First, because the page ranks so highly for the term “shoes,” they should probably capitalize on that just a bit more. I didn’t see attention given to shoes until below the fold. It seems that Zappos has decided to branch into other products over the years, but it may not be a good idea to change the focus of the homepage in regard to optimization and term targeting. Instead, they need to worry about working with where they are. Let’s leave more of that for another blog post.

    The premise of the example given is that someone doing a specific search would not convert well provided this landing page. This is true because of the reasons I just mentioned, among others. However, “shoes” isn’t exactly a specific search. It’s a very broad search. Instead, the term “mens working shoes” would be specific. If there is a page for that specific term, and proper optimization has been implemented, then that will be the page that is return in the SERPs. We could then optimize the page’s converting factors.

    So you see, this isn’t a case of whether or not PPC or SEO is best suited. And the statement that organic SEO is not suited for driving qualified, converting traffic to landing pages is simply incorrect. On the contrary, we should be making use of long tail terms to drive the right traffic to the right places on our site.

    Don’t Hit Me
    If it sounds like I’m flaming Aaron Kupferberg (the author of the original article), it is simply because I am, admittedly, a poor blogger. Instead, I hope that the tone of education comes across, as that is indeed the whole point of this blog.

    Quite honestly, as I stated earlier, Aaron is the Art Director and Interaction Designer for Didit. To see such a grasp (however much I disagree) on the topic of SEO and PPC from a non-SEO makes me very happy indeed. Good on ya, Aaron.

    With this, and any other post, please read the disclaimer.