Tag Archives: SEO

Google’s Update Removes Keyword Data

If you’re not interested in SEO, page rank or your website’s position in Google then this article won’t interest you at all, however as most business website owners are all a little preoccupied with Google positioning I would guessed this would tweak your interest.

To the absolute horror of SEO experts around the world, Google has implemented “auto encrypted browsing” and removed Google Analytics keyword data.

In layman terms this means that if a user is logged into their Google account when they search, the keyword that they searched on will be encrypted and will no longer be available in Google Analytics for you to analyse your conversion rate against.

For example, ‘Mr Smith’ wants a new website for his business; he enters ‘web design Staffordshire ’ into the Search Engine Google, follows a link in the Search Engine Results Pages and then clicks on a buy button on the resulting website. We, as website owners, will know that we have a sale or conversion from this keyword search. In the future we will know we got the conversion from a Google search but not the keywords that gave us the conversion.

This obviously has little impact on the searcher as the only difference that they will see is the use of HTTPS protocol rather than HTTP, but from an SEO, targeted marketing point of view this could cause a few issues.

Interestingly enough this does not affect Ad Words, the paid marketing listing for Google?

This move by Google goes hand in hand with the soft (quietly done) launch of “Good to Know” … very interesting?

If you are looking to make your website more effective and convert visitors into customers then contact us now on 01785 256222 or email enquiries@rakemark.com

Search Engine Optimisation: Matt Cutts Advice Part 3

Over the last month we’ve posted a couple of times about an article by Matt Cutts. Firstly, Sarah refreshed and posted on the golden nuggets Matt gave us in a news article a while back. Later it struck me how little things have changed and I mused about the similarity of advice given then and the more recent advice Google gives us.

Today I want to talk about the one missing piece of information that Matt gave us.

Search Engine Optimisation: Don’t Over Do It!

Using the same keywords over and over again on the same page in an unnatural way is called “keyword stuffing”. It’s a big Google no-no and let’s face Google are smart enough to not fall for that.

Matt said, “After you’ve said it two or three times, Google has a pretty good idea — ‘OK, this page has something to do with this keyword’. Just think about the two or three phrases you want to be known for and weave that in naturally.”

So if you do web design in Stafford for example and you wanted Google to rank you for these keywords then you would need to have these specific words in the title, main header and first paragraph, but simply forcing the term, ‘web design in Stafford’ over and over, every second sentence is going to raise a red flag with Google.

Know before you write your article or web copy what the target keywords for this item are and then creatively weave them in a few times, but not more than three or four.

So climb the rankings with a consistent message, that offers something to the users and don’t over do it. Remember, Google is just too smart to be out smarted.

Google Page 1 Guaranteed! (SEO For Fun Only)

The second test of the summer is upon us already and according to the forecast we’re in for a good weekend, so plenty of cricket to listen to. This reminds me a bit of my Friday Fun from last year with Boycott Bingo and also that it’s time for some more Friday Fun.

I have blogged before about false Google First Page guarantees, but I came across one First Page Guarantee that really works. So if you are languishing on page 8 or 9 then get ready to instantly be on Google Page 1! [Note: If you are further back than page 9 then this method will only improve things by 90%]

I have paraphrased the instructions and made my own screen shots but credit to the original author. Also, before you get too excited about this amazing idea, note that I have posted this in the ‘Fun’ category.

Step 1: Go to www.Google.co.uk and enter a search term.

Affordable Website Design Google Search

Step 2: On the top right hand corner click the little cog and select search settings

Click on the Cog and then Click Search Settings

Step 3: Scroll down a bit to the setting section for “Number of Results”

If this is greyed out then you need to disable Google Instant, so click on ‘Do not use Google Instant. Once Google Instant is disabled then change ‘Number of Results’ from 10 to 100.

Edit Your Google Search Settings

Step 4: Click Save Preferences

Save Your Google Search Settings Changes

Save Your Changes

Now scroll down, the result that was on page 8 or 9 is now on Google Page 1. Instant Google Page 1 listing.

This Search Engine Optimisation stuff is easy!

EDIT:
I arrived home from a hard days slog to a chilled glass of wine last night. So when I should have been posting this article and finishing off a few bits I was BBQ-ing and sipping cool white wine. Hence the Saturday post.

By the way, I did tell you not to get too excited, have a good weekend.
Phil

Google & SEO: The Only Thing You Need to Know

Other blogs might give you a list of five important search engine optimisation factors or seven SEO mistakes. Some may even have ten things to remember when selecting your top search keywords. Well, I’m going to boil it down into one simple vital SEO fact.

To me, this is the essence of SEO

Google only wants to serve the most relevant search engine results pages (SERPS) for any given keyword. Therefore it follows that to get to get to the top of Google you need to create the best, most interesting, up to date website that puts interesting, unique and relevant information easily into the palms of the hands of Google searchers.

That’s it, the only thing you need to remember

Is There More than that to SEO?

SEO Companies in Stafford and across the West Midlands talk about loads more stuff than that one simple two sentence statement. They talk about the importance of keyword selection, site structure, on page optimisation, inbound links and a load of other stuff. Are they all SEO charlatans? Well, not all SEO companies in the West Midlands are.

The thing is all of those considerations will help your SEO endeavours but they should be used to help you achieve your goal of providing the best website in tune with letting Google know what a great site you have and not as a shortcut to SEO Black Hat glory.

Why Not Use SEO Shortcuts?

There are an absolute stack of SEO techniques that can help you climb the rankings on Google, Yahoo and even Bing and other search engines, so why not use SEO black hat techniques. The reason is simple and as follows
1. Google wants to provide the best, most relevant web pages for any given search term. That is why they are the biggest, because they were the first to put that goal at the heart of their business. Advertising came after that.
2. Google hire the best and the brightest minds from around the world. We are talking super bright, super nerds.
3. They ask these teams of super bright people to look for new black hat techniques and write new code into the ranking algorithm that removes them. Believe me when I tell you that your little SEO guy in Solihull, regardless of any claims or promises he may make, cannot outwit the Google web spam team long term.
4. Google is a multibillion dollar, multinational organisation. They are not stupid. Think about it, how useful would Google be as a web search tool if anyone could get to the number one spot just by putting their chosen keyword loads and loads of times on a page. Answer: Not Very.

So your clever black hat technique might work for a while, but sooner or later (and probably sooner) someone at Google will realise what you’re doing and write in a line of code and your site is gone from Google with no notice, forever.

Build Your Brilliant Website for SEO Glory

So learn the rules of how to promote your website to Google. Learn about the importance of selecting target keywords, site structure, back links and content optimisation. Learn also about black hat techniques like keyword stuffing, hidden text, doorway pages and link spam and work out how Google will spot them and why you shouldn’t use them.

But always remember the one simple self evident truth that Google wants to provide the best page for any given search term and your goal should be to provide that site.

Are You A Website Copy Writer?

Copywriters are talented people don’t get me wrong, but writing copy for the web is different than writing copy for print and using copy in your web page that has been design specifically for print could spell disaster for your online effectiveness.

In the cyber world it may seem like the programmers and designers have the ultimate control and power of either the success or the failure of our website, yet if you look closer it is the words, and placement of those words that drive user interaction. The specifically designed logo or the clever section of code that work seamlessly behind the scenes are all major parts of a successful website but it is the words that bear the weight of how we influence our users, convey our marketing messages and convert the sale.

5 Tips to Improve Your Website Copy

Use Effective Headings
Your headings should be eight words or less.
Don’t use vague headings – remember you have only a few sections to grab your user’s attention before they move on.
Include keywords in your heading text.
Remember you can use your headings as links to more information within your website.
Title, Title, Title
Don’t under estimate the power of the title tag of your web page – this is another area that you should be looking to use keyword rich phrases.
Use different titles, don’t just copy and paste, this is another opportunity to shine brighter than you competitors.
Drive, Guide & Help Your User
Drive your user to take the steps that you want them to take.
Breadcrumb incentives are a great way in influence activity on your website.
A clearly labelled activity path will increase activity along you “Customer Experience Path”.
Stay Connected
Make your pages and content naturally progressive, use links to expand on information and products
Linking to relevant content or being linked to as the source of relevant content will be beneficial to your page rank.
Know what you’re Selling
DON’T babble on about what your widget is capable of by providing a huge list of features, it’s probably of little interest and is a poor way to fill what is prime Real Estate space on your page.
DO tell your user how the widget will benefit them, how it will make them look or feel, be brutal and tap into the users “needy” side – we all have one.

This is by no means all there is to writing web copy, but maybe a few pointers in the right direction.

Word Count – 448

Social Web – Some Major Players

Networking -part 1 of 3

Facebook

Founded in February 2004, and currently has over 400 million active users.
Facebook claims to “facilitate the sharing of information through the social graph” and I wouldn’t necessary disagree. Facebook offers photo and video upload, chat, email, a forum (or wall), marketplace (to display items for sale), Event and Groups and additional Pages to mention just a few of its offer’s (full list on the websites fact sheet).
Adding an additional pages or creating groups within your Facebook account is where the term “Become a Fan” is relevant. Creating your own Business Page/Pages is an excellent way to promote you business and keep your “fans” up to date on Events, promotions and marketing info. By creating this community of loyal fans and by making your offerings of interest and benefit you can soon turn a static promotion into a viral one.
* For the few techies reading, Facebook is one of the most-trafficked PHP websites in the world, and utilizes one of the largest MySQL installations anywhere in the world, running thousands of databases.
Want to find out more about Facebook? It’s all here

Twitter

Twitter is the leading micro-blogging site; this instant messaging social tool allows users to blog 140 characters in any single string. Messages can be uploading via a variety of means. Web, mobile app, desktop app, via SMS txt … they really have thought of pretty much everything.
The basic starting point being, you set up an account (which is free by the way), search on areas of interest and follow them or perhaps follow users you may already know that have a twitter account and start micro-blogging about stuff you either find interesting or more importantly others find of interest.
Though all my reading, there seems to be an option that twitter and tweeting your events, announcements and points of interest is the future of PR.
Despite being based on a relatively simple structure (in techie terms that is), twitter allows us to follow others (even our competitors), interact and influence our followers, create lists and interact with the world instantly.
News travels fast, but faster via twitter.

LinkedIn has 60 million members in over 200 countries and with that in mind you can see that this is no small fry as far as social networking is concerned
According to the official LinkedIn press room, a new member joins the networking site, on average every second, with somewhere in the region of 50% of its uses outside the US.
LinkedIn is very much a business social networking tool. Like with the Facebook you are able to link with contacts/friends (LinkedIn call these connections) which can have second-degree connections and then third-degree connections. Within this web of connections you can build an interconnected network of experienced professionals from around the world. Sharing skills, knowledge, information, and business opportunities amongst your connections and even offering and accepting recommendations that the entire network can see.
With executives from all Fortune 500 companies being LinkedIn members

MySpace

MySpace was launched in 2003 by eUniverse (an internet Marketing Company based in LA). In 2005 eUniverse (and with it MySpace) was bought by Robert Murdoch’s News Corporation.
In April 2008, based on monthly unique visitors, MySpace was beaten by its main competitor Facebook.
In terms of users, the 100 millionth MySpace account was created on August 9, 2006 and on that basis I would guess they are doing pretty well.
As you would expect, MySpace has the standard blubs, a profile page, about me, who you would like to meet etc. What makes MySpace a little bit different to the others is the extent in how much you can change the visuals of your page. With significant editable sections of the site (both by “Profile Customizer” and html/CSS editing), users are able to brand pages making then total unique.

What makes MySpace stand out from the crowd is the ability to add music files to your pages – the music is added to a player which can then be embedded directly into your profile page.
So, it is no surprise that MySpace is the popular choice amongst the music industry.

Watch this space for Part 2 (Blogging) & Part 3 (Photo Sharing +)

DRIVE YOUR WAY TO A SUCCESSFUL WEBSITE

In the year 2010 most of us have come to the same conclusion that marketing has changed and success only really comes to those that position themselves apart from the rest move with the time and stay on top of their game.

Some companies are quiet happy sticking to the traditional methods of marketing that they have always used, and that’s fine, but now is the time to give you that competitive edge and really stride out ahead.

By using current and flexible marketing technology practices, such as e-mail marketing, social media and mobile marketing to drive traffic to your SEO (Search Engine Optimised) website you will soon see the ROI when an increase in website visits turn from “never visited website before” to “Just looking” and finally onto “ready to buy.”

Don’t make your users work too hard to find you

Very simple but often overlooked. Your website should be working for you constantly and if it’s not you need to consider why not? Think about the content of your website, think about how you can generate buzz about products and services displayed on your pages. Put into place your search engine strategy and don’t lose sight of your end goal … engage your visitors, generate interest and convert that interest into revenue.

Today’s web market place is made up of a variety of tools (categorized into Social marketing) e.g. email Marketing, twitter, facebook, alone press releases etc and are in the main free to use and in part your path to a successful online presence.

In simple terms the link between you, your customers and potential customers is the search engines and you need to shine big and bright.

Generate a website that is clear to navigate, full of factual and easy to find information about your services and products and then shout about it from the roof tops.

Striving to get to the top of Google isn’t a bad goal but get the basics put in place first and remember that measuring progress is one of the most important parts of your search engine strategy.

Four Tips to get you Started

Know your market place and where you are going to position yourself in it.
Follow best SEO and SEF practices
Create your search engine strategy
Measure, Measure, Measure with something like Google Analytics

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