Internet Marketing, Web Design, SEO, Web 2.0 Optimization
Archive for December, 2011
Social Bookmarking Communities
134 months ago
Social bookmarking can be a very useful tool that helps bring a particular audience to a certain community. You can sort of think of it like leaving trails of online breadcrumbs. It’s a way to help generate traffic to a particular site. The purpose is to create a sort of online buzz about a particular topic or market. This increases a sites visibility which is the purpose of SEO strategies in New Jersey. By bookmarking content from your topics you are engaging in a type of digital conversation that helps with branding. To make the most of social bookmarking communities, you will want to develop a strategy to optimize your effort.
Social Bookmarking Sites
In short, social bookmarking is tagging a site or a page. Social bookmarking communities are where people with like interests share their tagged sites with others within the community. You can browse through what others found of enough interest to tag; and others can look through your tagged sites. As part of a strategy the goal is that your contacts will consider your tagged content interesting enough to go check it out. This is what makes social bookmarking a key part of a link building strategy. These back links are deemed as relevant and valuable by search engines.
Currently the dominant social bookmarking communities are: Digg, Blog Engage and The Social Bookmarking Community (powered by NetLZ), there are many others, but they tend to fall into the same categories so they will not be discussed here.
The Social Bookmarking Community (powered by NetLZ)
Social Bookmarking Communities
Digg
Digg is one of the older social bookmarking sites that helped to create this industry, this is a great site for bookmarks, but is less community oriented than some others, although you are able to make friends and build a network. Once a bookmark is posted you can share it with your Digg community and promote it in other ways, the goal being to get enough votes for the link to get it to the first page of Digg. Links that achieve first page status in Digg are able to get thousands of hits and notoriety. As far as the benefit to SEO, Digg links are Do Follow, although they are not given too much weight by search engines as they take little effort to post; the best way to make your Digg links count is to develop a strong following within the Digg website.
Blog Engage
Blog Engage is centered on blogs, as the name suggests. Blog Engage is one of the more community oriented social bookmarking sites and tries to maintain a strong sense of community by encouraging commenting… The site is developed to give bloggers a platform from which to network with other bloggers. It is a great place to get some exposure for your blogs. Think of this site as a community of bloggers who are sharing their niches and interests through their blogs. Links posted on Blog Engage are given a bit more weight by search engines and blog engage works to affiliate themselves with other similar sites in order to give the links yet more weight. But if you want to make your blog engage links really count the best recommendation is to focus on the community.
New Years Letter 2012
34 months ago
Happy New Year!
I would like to welcome you to our annual New Years letter. In this letter I like to take a moment to reflect on the year gone by, from the political, social and technological perspectives, to discuss the SEO changes in the past year and also to discuss some of the SEO related changes that the next year is likely to bring, so please sit back and enjoy the ride.
Looking back at the events of the past year it is hard to believe that all of these events could possibly have been crammed into one year, but rather when reflecting on the events of 2011 it feels like a decade (or at least a couple of years). On the political front the world saw the rise of the Arab Spring and the toppling of a number of long term dictators. The Arab Spring revolutions were aided in part by social media campaigns on Facebook, and when Mubarak tried to shut off Egypt’s internet, the whole world saw the power of web 2.0. The end of the year also brought us the death of the leader of North Korea, but given that this event just occurred you will need to wait to a future letter for my thoughts on this.
On the economic front this year has shown a steady improvement in the US economy, and the steady (though too slow) improvement in the unemployment rate; although this year also demonstrated to the world the stubbornness and blind, adherence of political leaders, even when such “loyalty to the cause” was detrimental to the survival of the domestic and international economy (here I am speaking of the debt ceiling debate as well as of the ongoing debates in Europe regarding the future of the Euro). This year we also said goodbye to one of the greatest innovators and inventors of our time, Steve Jobs. In his vision and never ending perfectionism Jobs revolutionized the way that we all interact with the world, it is impossible to guess what wonders his mind could have brought us next had he lived.
SEO in 2012
In the field of SEO 2011 has been a very interesting year; in my New Years Letter 2011 I predicted the increased role of social media in our lives, I also talked about the increased power of the Facebook Like button and predicted the creation of Google plus, I said that “Google will not take the social media race lying down and will come out with new platforms related to social media…” Although I failed to predict the continued personalization of Google search and the need for the Panda update. Looking at the year to come it is difficult to imagine what Google will do to further improve their search, although I would predict that Google search will become even more personalized and that more power will be given to the Google plus button. As far as my other predictions for the coming year, I predict the continued growth of social media and an increase in the role that our friends “Likes” will have on our behavior online; perhaps Facebook will become more of a search engine or Google will start to count the power of Facebook likes, or perhaps we will see the rise of a new social search engine that will aggregate our likes, plus 1’s, Digg’s… and will give truly customized results. Another prediction that I have is the continued growth of personal social networks, and social bookmarking communities; so instead of having to go to Digg to post a social bookmark I would be able to create my own website, or to integrate this feature into another network. And of course I predict the increased power of cloud computing, this is a prediction that I have made for the past 2 years and I have not yet been proven right, so I will continue to make this prediction.
If you think I missed something in my look back at 2011 or would like to add your predictions for 2012 please post a comment,
Social Bookmarking Strategies
34 months ago
While facebook can be attributed as a large source for online traffic, recent studies have shown that social bookmarking sites surpass Facebook and particular sources account for nearly half of all the internet traffic that comes through social media. When social bookmarking strategies are used properly, they can be more valuable than just helping to establish a few relevant links. It can help establish a valid online presence, increase and improve the awareness of your brand and help to drive traffic to your site. How do you include social bookmarking in your web marketing strategies?
Social bookmarking communities
Consistency
Consistency is a large factor when using social bookmarking strategies. It is important that every time an article or a new blog is added online that it be submitted to the bookmarking site. To be most effective, do it the same day as the other post is placed online.
Be Active
Being active in the social bookmarking community will help establish your credibility. Take full advantage of the web 2.0 social interactive and social media tools. Rate, comment and vote on other people’s posts. You will need this as part of your strategy; you want site visitors to check out your profile because that is where they will access your posts and thus create the links back to your blog or site. Being an active member is one of the most effective ways to use bookmarking sites.
Share and Share alike
It is a very important piece of the bookmarking strategy and SEO campaign in NJ to share your content on social bookmarking sites. But remember that you are not the only one who can share. You will want to encourage others to share your content as well. The best way to achieve this is to incorporate social bookmarking buttons on your site or your blog. This will encourage readers to share the content on the sites that they are affiliated with as well. These links are the types of frequencies that the search engines are looking for when they rank your pages. As the number of people sharing your content increases, so will your rank in the search engines.
SEO Campaign
A social bookmarking community can be a very valuable part of an SEO campaign. When a website is bookmarked it can generate more traffic to the main website. When the content is viewed on such sites and rated and gets comments it can create more interest in the product or services. This can mean more people sharing it on their own sites or through their own contacts via social networks. This can increase traffic to the bookmark and lead to increased traffic to the site. These backlinks are valuable and relevant for search engines. It really is a win-win situation and a valuable tool for an SEO campaign.
Top 10 SEO Tips
124 months ago
SEO Tips
Most businesses wouldn’t even consider not having an online presence in today’s economic environment. Maintaining a website is cheaper than most conventional means of advertising and most people who are looking for services or products will most likely begin with a web search first. This is why SEO strategies are so important. The point of a web marketing campaignis to get the site in front of potential customers so that they can find and use the product or services being offered.
1. Keywords
Keywords are a very key element in SEO strategies. They should be used in the site content, Meta tags and URLs. This may initially be how a customer finds your business site to begin with. Words that would most commonly be used to find your business should be included in keyword usage on the site. Keywords are also important in other forms of web 2.0 optimization. For instance, tweets are also indexed by search engines and therefore you can optimize tweets with your keywords as well.
2. Contact Information
The best web marketing strategies can drive tons of traffic to your site but it will be totally unprofitable if clientele cannot reach you. For this reason be sure to put contact information on every single page of your site. This is a common local SEO strategy that is beneficial for website optimization (search engines will look for it) and for customers to be able to make contact with the business. Include the business name, physical address (if applicable), phone number and email address. Make it easy for customers and search engines to find you.
3. Local Tags
Include local tags on the site’s Meta tag and anchor text. Also add the business location to various keywords where it is appropriate.
4. Maps
It is important to include a map on your site so that customers can find your business. And obtain a listing in Google maps. While working on Google and the other search engines, make sure that you claim your business in various listings.
5. Backlinks
Local business groups can offer very valuable and relevant back links. Check with your local Chamber of Commerce and other business or civic groups. You may also establish links with various businesses in your area.
6. Photos
Photographs can be used as SEO strategies in several ways. A photo of the business is always a good thing, plus you can geo tag or keyword tag the image description. You can also use various images to display your recent work so that potential customers can see your work. This area might also include various references so that they can see that you are a reputable business.
7. Domain Name
Even though it costs a little bit, it is important to go ahead and purchase your domain name. This will help establish branding. Registering your own domain name can help it be established for years to come. Longevity is one of the factors search engines look for when checking for a site’s relevance to a search.
8. Onsite map
Always include an onsite map. It helps customers find what they are looking for and makes the site easier to navigate. It is also an effective SEO strategy as it will make it easier for web crawlers to navigate the site which can help increase its ranking in search engine results pages.
9. Social Media
9. Social Media
Relevant backlinks are very important to web crawlers. They are seen as valuable to search engines and therefore are an important SEO strategy. One of the fastest ways to get relevant links is to make use of the various social media sites. This is the beauty of web 2.0 optimization. When you make the right connections the backlinks will come naturally. You will not have to build a huge campaign or pay for them. Facebook, LinkedIn, and twitter are only the beginning. Make sure to review the site’s TOS before using these powerful media, but when used correctly they can be invaluable.
10. Blogs
Blogs can serve many purposes. They can provide relevant backlinks to your business site. But they can also be used to disperse valuable information to your clientele. They can be used to give information about new products or answer questions that customers may have. Blogs can keep customers connected to your business and when they find your blogs informative they may also share. Make sure to connect an offsite, relevant blog to your site.
SEO is Not a Zero Sum Game
55 months ago
Zero Sum Game
A zero sum game is where there are definite winners and losers. SEO does not exactly work like that. Of course the main goal of a successful SEO web marketing campaign is to have your site or your page rank in that coveted number one slot on search engine result pages. The top three ranks are okay – acceptable; but the number one slot is almost guaranteed the most clicks and the most traffic. This of course, is the ultimate goal of any web 2.0 optimization project. But there are not any clear-cut winners or losers in the SEO world.
There are many different things that can effect where a site ranks in SERPs. This can literally change minute by minute based on a specific keyword, number of relevant links, and even the age of the domain. And just because I am not number one on one page, does not mean I did not achieve it on another. This is where keyword research can play a major role. Choosing keywords wisely can get you many more clicks and land you in the top rankings in multiple result pages. Long tail keywords get many more clicks in many instances. But just because I outsmart another site in the keyword battle does not always mean I get the extra clicks. And even if I get the clicks it does not mean that I get the sales or business. The important thing is to rank for the right keywords.
Search engines are constantly crawling and looking at relevant factors pertaining to sites. The trouble is that depending on the exact keyword or query the results can be very different. Each day can bring different results. This is why it is important to choose a single keyword or phrase and target it on a page. Stay with it until you are consistently in the top results.
Since the world of the internet is changing constantly, web marketing strategies must accommodate. Website optimization is not done in one sitting and then you never have to worry about it again. Each day different factors can affect a site’s ranking. Competitors are always changing up their strategies as well and this can make it difficult for you to “stay ahead” if you view SEO as a zero sum game. To be successful in the SEO game you must have a well developed SEO strategy which will get you the results you need.
Rather than simply trying to knock competitors out of the coveted first spot, you might try viewing it a little differently. Make the goal to get your site(s) or page(s) to rank first on multiple pages rather than just trying to take the one slot away from your chief competitor. It’s not a zero sum – you win when you get traffic; you get traffic when you strategically get your pages listed in the top of search engine results pages without regard to what other sites do.
SEO is a Zero Sum Game
05 months ago
For the sake of clarity, a zero sum game is where there is a definite winner as well as a definite loser. In mathematical terms it would be expressed this way: when I win it is a +1; when I lose it is a -1. So if I win (+1) and you lose (-1) and you put those two together (+1 + -1) you will get a zero. Using this definition SEO is a zero sum game.
The whole point of website optimization is to drive quality traffic to your site. When my page is fully optimized and web marketing strategies properly employed the traffic will follow. Optimally, you want to land your site in the first three spots of all of the search engine results pages. And of course, best case scenario is that your site gets in the first spot and sits there. This is a win.
This is what makes SEO a zero sum game. When I use all the tools and strategies to get my site in that number one slot, no one else can be there with me. Basically, I win – you lose. For me to win somebody, basically everybody else loses. This is pretty much because we are all targeting the same internet searching community. When I use Web 2.0 optimization best practice and take the first slot in SERPs then the chances of my site getting the most clicks climbs drastically.
SEO is still considered a somewhat competitive field. It’s not so much that I am competing one site against another; but it is more like I want to use better tactics and strategies to get my site ahead of yours on results pages. Let’s say I fail. What happens if I do not get my site in the top three slots? Do they then remain empty? No – other sites get the space and most likely the all powerful clicks. This fact is what makes SEO a zero sum game. Whoever gets the slot gets the points so to speak and whoever does not get the ranking loses the points. This gives a -1 and a +1 which will always yield a zero sum.
Isn’t this where a quality keyword research comes into play? I want to analyze properly and see exactly where and how my competitors are ranking. Then I can better use keywords so that I can improve my site in the SERPs. I want to land my site in that first spot and keep it there so that it cannot be occupied by another site. I win; you lose.
Finding your Niche
35 months ago
Just a few quick searches and you’ll remove all doubt that anyone anywhere can create some sort of website. That’s not speaking about quality or success, just having a website in general. But at best, many sites do not employ best SEO practices. It’s more like they are taking a scattered shot in the dark just hoping for some customers to click on something. Not only are these types of sites cheesy and cheap, they can be very annoying when you are looking for a particular product or piece of information. Rather than taking a broad scope and trying to get a little bit of everything on your site, it is a much better web marketing campaign if you can focus on one thing and do it well.
Niche Marketing
Making Your Mark
One thing you want to do is capture the attention of your audience. Then you will want to make sure that you make a solidly bold statement about your brand. Finding your niche is the process of finding one thing you are good at and focusing the site on this one thing. All of your web site optimization and search marketing will be geared toward focusing your site on your brand. Then you will want to make it appealing to your audience.
Finding Your Target audience
One of the most important parts of a successful New York website marketing campaign is determining who your target audience will be. It does not make any sense, and will not be effective to try to pursue every internet user. It is more important to identify your targeted audience, the ones that are more certain to need and use your product or services and try to appeal to them. These are the core customers of your business. And in reality, they may not even represent the majority of all your business customers or website visitors. But these are the ones you want to target as they will become your “bread and butter” clientele.
Focus!
Branding your site is an important part of any successful local marketing strategy. It just makes sense that when you use your brand on your site and focus your attention on promoting this one thing people will search for your brand in particular when they are looking for your product or services. Organic brand traffic is generally made up of those who are searching for you or with services that they already associate with your business. By using active SEO strategy you can generally get the site to rank just by properly using brand terms.
Importance of Website Design
35 months ago
Many people like to treat SEO and web design as if they are totally unrelated. However, this could not be further from the truth. In reality a web site’s design is a very important factor when the site is being optimized for search engines. A successful NJ SEO campaign can help boost traffic to your website, but you want the site to have enough appeal that visitors click through. These are also important when the search engine is determining a site’s relevance to a search.
Web design
Site Design
The web design needs to actively engage a visitor as soon as they arrive. Honestly, many internet users are looking for some sort of answer or service when they do an internet search. They need to feel like they found a reputable site that contains what they are looking for or they will immediately go back to continue their search. Getting traffic to the site (SEO) is only half the job; the other half is to have a professionally designed website that builds trust with the customer.
Content
The quality and quantity of content can make or break a site. First of all, relevant and quality content has an impact on how search engines rank the site. Keeping quality, fresh and relevant content on the site is a very important aspect for website optimization in New Jersey. While it is important to have keyword rich content to make the search engines happy, it is equally important to provide useful information to site visitors as well. A cheaply done site with non-relevant content will not get many legitimate backlinks either. These are also part of a successful web marketing campaign.
Domain Name
There is no need to try to be too fancy with your domain name. It is a very important part of both website optimization and website design. It is best practice to use something simple, something customers will be looking for and something that is easily remembered or associated with your business. While it is an opportunity to use a keyword or two, it can also be effective to use something as simple as the name of your business.
Updates
Keeping your site’s content updated regularly can help in a couple of ways. For one, a site that is updated consistently will be valued higher by search engine crawlers. Content that is stagnant can end up decreasing the site’s popularity. There are a couple of ways to keep the site up to date and appealing to both search engines and visitors. A blog that is linked to the site and contains useful information can be useful; or a news section on the site that contains up-to-date news that is related to the business is beneficial as well.
This is a NetLZ Test
15 months ago
This blog post is intended to be just a test. There will be no useful information in this post, if you have found this post via Google or social media please feel free to make a comment as this post is intended to test the value and benefit of social bookmarking.
20 Percent of Google Searches are Unique
05 months ago
eyword research
There has been very little research on the effectiveness of long tail keywords. However, what little has been conducted has shown some very interesting results. For some, it seems like it’s a little bit upside down. The “most popular” searches account for a very small percentage of search engine traffic. And actually, even if you tried to monopolize the top 1,000 terms in your particular niche you will only be getting about 11 percent of the traffic. The long tail keywords account for somewhere around 70 percent on average. In fact every day search about 20 percent of the total search engine queries are completely unique terms that have never been searched before. These “long tail” and very unique keywords can drive abundant traffic to your site if you know how to manage them properly.
What is the Long Tail?
The long tail
The long tail are the thousands, and sometimes millions, of unique searches that occur. These may only occur once or twice and then literally never be repeated. But when they are all added up they account for the vast majority of unique searches by internet users. The trouble for those working in web design is trying to identify these long tail keywords. Realistically, even if you do locate a few of them they may never be used again. The value then is not in each individual search, it is in the amount of searches they account for overall.
The Long Tail and SEO?
When you understand how critical the long tail search can be you’ll want to know how to effectively use them in your New Jersey SEO marketing campaign. The long tail keywords will need to be targeted in the content that is placed on the site. Content that is featured throughout the site will appeal to a broad spectrum within the niche rather than trying to direct it at one particular query.
Maximizing Long Tail Keywords
Doing long keyword searches will not really work for maximizing long tail keywords. However, you do want to try to examine various searches that go as far down the tail as is possible. You can use various different strategies for this. Rather than looking at a specific keyword, you are looking for the overall trend, or pattern. They your efforts later will be to try to come up in more unique searches.
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