Mastering Search Engine Optimization

For years now, individuals and corporations alike have been looking for easy ways to compose better quality content while optimizing their Web pages. When it comes to search engine optimization (SEO), one truth is everlasting…the landscape is continually changing. And often, when it changes, the resulting shift in rankings can be seismic.

Here at SEMGeeks.com, we are continually seeking ways to obtain more performance out of our clients Web site’s search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. Sometimes we have to redesign sites altogether to more effectively allow for a new user experience which, if done correctly, can set the proper foundation to significantly increase search engine rankings.Whether redesigning or working with an existing site, we can improve indexation, boost performance on the search engine results page (SERP) and deliver you qualified consumers by leveraging four strategic components in every search engine optimization (SEO) activity:

1. Indexation
2. Content optimization
3. Link building
4. Distribution

Another area making an impact on search results and the mobile market, is social media. Our team at SEMGeeks.com, strongly believes that mobile social search engine optimization (SEO) will be an important factor moving forward, as the market is ever expanding and in every area.

Finally, make sure your website is mobile friendly. For instance, flash is not supported by the iPhone or indexed by the major search engines at all. So, a flash intensive website is going to be problematic. Make sure your website appears properly on those mobile devices where users are most likely to browse -- an iPhone, BlackBerry and Android supported device. Please keep in mind that users are dealing with a small screen, so keep your objective and the number of steps low.

Advanced Link Building Tactics and Strategies

This month’s blog is the third and final post of the link building tactics and strategies, which completes our trilogy. As in life, there are no shortcuts – so traditional link building will harvest the best results.

Since all search engines are continually changing their algorithms, link building becomes a moving target – therefore, it is a long term process. With that being said, below are two strategies that many individuals and companies tend to over look:

• Ebay. This website is continually being ranked as one of the most trafficked sites. Therefore, when looking for link partners, you should pursue websites with the most traffic.
• Become a New Media Socialite. Leverage the link building opportunities available through web sites such as; Flickr, YouTube, Facebook, MySpace or any related web site that allows commenting. This will allow you to build an audience while sharing links to your web site.

Please bear in mind, the above are two ideas you may use to build links. Using methods you know work, while pursuing those opportunities relentlessly are always the best course of action for your link building campaign. However, in the end – advanced link building strategies are what you make of them.

Intermediate Link Building Tactics and Strategies

This months blog is the second post within the link building trilogy, which we will complete next month with a detailed blog on more advanced techniques. There is an opportunity to mistreat Search Engine Fundamentals (SEO), particularly with every link building tactic or strategy available.

I feel that you reap what you sow. Without further a due, we will take a look at a few intermediary link building tactics and strategies. With that goal in mind, below are four intermediate techniques that you might want to consider when performing intermediate link building:

• Design Website Themes & Templates For Your Industry
• Develop Widgets / Plugins for Users
• Purchase Existing Domains
• Start an Affiliate Program

Please note that these strategies fall between last months blog on “Basic Link Building Tactics & Strategies” and “Advanced Link Building Tactics & Strategies – which we will discuss next month.

Basic Link Building Tactics & Strategies

The most important aspect of securing and developing a top search engine position, is still the number of inbound links referring back to your website. It is about getting websites to link to yours and is not about the absence or presence of title tags, keyword density, or an internal linking structure.

The definition of link building involves getting other website to link to your website and therefore, has not really changed much over the years and most likely will not differ this year either. Link building may be thought of as a verbal recommendation. The more interesting, compelling and dramatic it may be, the more attractive and believable the offer of going to that particular website becomes for the individual user.

However, it is the quantity and quality of recommendations that matter through the eyes of the search engines. With that goal in mind, here are four beginner strategies you might want to consider when performing basic link building:

• Write and Distribute Press Releases Frequently
• Become a Guest Blogger
• Share Your Insights Through Commenting
• Create Authority Documents and Share Socially

Search Engine Optimization Guidelines and Tips (SEO Guidelines & Tips)

Below are search engine optimization (SEO) guidelines and tips on how to optimize your web site for its rise on search engine rankings. There is a lot more protocol that applies to search engine optimization (SEO), as there is vast detail needed for review when looking at an individual’s web site. However, these guidelines may assist any web site with improving their search engine rankings (remember to think like a search engine).

First, high-quality content needs to be applicable. Key phrases use to be placed into the copy of a web page multiple times and therefore positive search engine rankings were obtained. Today, the landscape is so diverse as search engines have placed a greater emphasis on links and link baiting. What another web site says about a particular web page and what particular pages they link to is one of the truest forms of determining a web pages relevance to a specific key phrase and/or phrases.

Secondly, links are the foundation to the building and structure of a web site. A cost effective technique is to guest author articles on other web sites or blog posts. Another, cost effective method is to sponsor events and an easy way to obtain links include creating profile pages on social media and net working web sites, issuing press releases that include links to your web site, and directory submissions.

Thirdly, web site design is an overall conglomerate that has to incorporate all aspects of search engine optimization (SEO) in order to manipulate page rankings, particularly through link exchanges. Also, Title Tags weigh heavily on search algorithms, yet is still used in the title of search results. Therefore, title tags may affect click through rates (ctr) and assist with branding as well. So, within a Title Tag, use a key phrase followed by your company name.

SEO - How to Target & Find Your SEO Keywords

SEO is the process of organizing and editing the content of a website to increase its potential relevance to specific keywords on specific search engines. More importantly, SEO ensures that external links to the site are in abundance and correctly titled. This is executed with the intent of achieving a higher organic search listing and thus increasing the volume of targeted traffic from various search engines.

The goal of SEO is to get your site to rank in the search engines for targeted keywords. Understanding which keywords your competitors are targeting gives you a clearer idea of how competitive your industry is from an online perspective. An individual should not directly use their competitors’ keywords; however, knowing the phrases they think potential clients are typing into the search engines are important, since it allows you to create a well rounded keyword list. Then you should perform your own keyword research on their key phrases to determine which phrases are worth using.

If you are a Porsche Dealership, chances are you are trying to attract buyers and sellers in your local area. Put yourself in your target audience's shoes; what keyword terms would you use to find out about Porsche dealerships in your local area? For example: I live in Malibu, California. If I was in the market for a Porsche, I would probably search for terms like “Malibu Porsche Dealership”, “Porsches in Malibu”, “Porsche Dealership in Malibu”, etc. Write down as many keyword terms as you can that you think your target audience would use in their search.

Even more important than the keywords your competition is targeting are the ones that they are not targeting. An easier way to obtain this information is to enter the URL’s of your competition into the Google AdWords keyword tool platform. This tool will then suggest additional keywords for those sites to target.

Moreover, if you plan on launching a Pay-Per-Click campaign, you may learn a lot from your competition. I suggest searching for keywords to see which competitors are bidding on the Pay-Per-Click terms relative to your industry. You may obtain a more precise overall analysis of your competition’s Pay-Per-Click strategies by letting a SEO company conduct the work for you.

Search Engine Optimization 101 - ( SEO 101 )

Search Engine Optimization is a detailed process that has numerous parts; some of which are practically intuitive and others which are extremely scientific. It is a combination of factors that all need attention. Furthermore, learning what balance of attention will bring you the best results is the part of Search Engine Optimization that takes you out of regime work and introduces you to brain surgery level precision.

Search Engine Optimization is all about increasing the value of a web site and being the very best result for a researcher. It is content and links and meta tags and server issues and clean code and proper theming associated with that individual web site. Some or all of those factors could change in value in any given time.

Presently, no one would dispute the claim that links are important and the keyword tag is next to being overlooked. However, if you put all your effort into link building and never put a keyword tag on your web site page and then tomorrow if the search engines decide that links mean nothing and the keyword tag is everything, you will have to reevaluate your entire approach.

Search Engine Optimization is about doing everything to make a web site stand out as clearly the best match for the customer. Moreover, search engines are not human; the goal of Search Engine Optimization is to tell the particular search engines as transparently and cleanly as possible why those particular pages are the most valuable.

As the search engines and the expectations of users constantly change, so should the thinking of anyone accountable for doing Search Engine Optimization on a web site. Search engines and users are expecting quality and no longer have a high tolerance for unpleasant results. Web site owners, webmasters and Search Engine Optimization’s alike should take note of that and do their best to deliver what is expected of them.

Search Engine Optimization is so different than all other marketing channels that have come before it. Search Engine Optimization falls squarely outside of the comfort zone for most companies, although its importance has become increasingly understood. Traffic that is generated through Natural positions can be incredibly significant in terms of the overall profitability of a Website.

The path to achieving long-term Natural success is multi-dimensional and inexact, yet the fundamentals that need to be addressed for gaining and accelerating positions are clearer than ever. One of the primary challenges that most clients face is balancing Search Engine Optimization requirements with visitor-experience goals.

Having tackled this issue in numerous different ways, we are able to share our experiences with new clients in an effort to help set the most realistic expectations and the most prudent path to pursue. In many situations, the primary challenge relates to the fact that a Website represents a spectrum of interests within an organization, often with varying agendas.