Digital Marketing Consultant

Anchor content and being an authoritative domain are both very important: but maintaining both while successfully building links can be challenging.  This can be accomplished with some simple methods.

Guest Post

One of the most powerful ways to get linked by domains and pages of authority is to obtain guest posts.  By sharing content, you can effectively build links with guest post.  You can search for blogs that will be most flexible with the allowed content.   Domains that offer self syndication and are known as a power-packed domain offer many advantages to link building.

Staff Member Site Links

Staff which have blogs, websites, and other media sources that can offer links can also prove to be a viable way to build links.   Links developed in this manner provide for the most flexibility and control when it comes to content.

Testimonial Links

Offer testimonials of other website products and services in exchange for a link.  A couple of good sources for testimonial links include consultants and contractors you may work with. Virtually any company or anyone you may do business with is a potential for a testimonial link exchange.   You can also reach out to select customers for testimonial link exchanges.   A little research to identify potential testimonial links can be very rewarding.

Keywords

Attracting links by strategic keywords can lead to high quality links.  Obtaining links with your exact content text can be beneficial in your link building campaign.
Internal Links

A lot of Internet marketers miss the opportunity for Internal link building.  Ranking on the search engines will be enhanced by building internal links to pages within your own domain.  These are just a few of the rock-solid methods to use in building quality links to your website.  Talk to us about how to do everything better.

With just a little bit of effort and research, you, too, can be successful at building links without compromising your site content.

Everyone doing business on the Internet understands it is a good thing to obtain the best optimization for ranking purposes.  Without this your beautiful website will not even be found by your specific market.  But the question is can you get too much of a good thing?

Google leads the pack when it comes to the various search engines and the number of searches.  Your bottom line need is to attract website traffic your site to have a top ranking on Google searches.  But on the other hand, we caution about SEO overuse.  You do not want to get your website banned by Google for over optimization.

Strategies used in SEO may not be difficult to learn, but knowing the how and when to apply them can be tricky.  There are some SEO practices that should be avoided to prevent your site from being banned including:

• Spamming
• Cloaking
• Submission of a site multiple times
• Hidden links or text
• Redirecting pages

Cloaking is the practice of site programming in such a way to provide search engine spiders specific results that will differ from search results obtained by users of the web.  The result is inaccurate result page for searches.  It is a certainty that these sites will result in a Google ban.

Do not make multiple submissions for a website to the search engine.  This practice has little ranking effect, but is cause for receiving a ban from Google.

Keyword phrases used in hidden text are not accessible to visitors.  They can be seen by the spiders for the search engines and traced to the website.  A malpractice penalty can be issued to the website for using hidden links or text.

Experts also discourage the use of redirect pages.  Redirect pages do not contain content and serve to merely redirect visitors to other pages.  This is not only looked down on by the search engines, it is also a source of frustration to your visitors who land on a page with no information.

The best SEO will focus on the reader’s interest rather than providing optimization for ranking purposes only.  Google is important to Internet marketing and effort should be given to implement only compliant SEO to prevent banning of the website due to malpractice.

by Karen Scharf

The task of search engine optimization for your website can seem overwhelming at times. You have enough work to do just running your small business, so it’s easy to put SEO at the bottom of your priority list.

However, without proper search engine optimization, your website is very unlikely to be much of a success. This can mean the money and time that you spent getting your website designed and developed becomes wasted.

There are several ways that you can improve your SEO without spending tons of time or tons of money. Here are 10 of the quickest and most affordable SEO tips out there.

You want to make sure that your website has been submitted to search engines. SEO is all about optimizing your position in various search engines, but this is only relevant if you are actually listed in the search engines. When your website is brand new and it has no incoming links yet, it can be difficult for the spiders to find it, so it’s a good idea to hand submit your site to the search engine.

2. Clean up Your Site

Make sure your website is organized and clear. It is especially important to clean up any dead links. Fix any errors that may appear on your site and double check to make sure your entire site’s html is up to par. There are online services that can help you do this. Since search engines primarily work and rank websites through the use of robots it is important to make sure all of the technical aspects of your website are in good working order. This helps ensure that the robots can quickly and freely crawl through your site and they won’t encounter any errors or roadblocks that force them to abandon your site too soon.

3. Use Good Keyphrases

If you’re trying to optimize your brand new website for a single keyword, you’ll be fighting an uphill battle. Try longtail keyword phrases instead (a phrase that is four words or longer) because they are less competitive and easier to get started with. Be sure to research the phrases that your target market is actually searching for, and then do the competitive research to ensure that you actually have a chance of ranking for those phrases.

4. Create Good URLs

Creating readable URLs is especially important if you’re using a content management system or otherwise generating dynamic URLs. While evidence suggests that Google’s new algorithm does not apply much weight to keyword rich URLs, other search engines do. And since it’s such an easy step to create relevant URLs, it’s worth the few seconds of extra time it might take, if only to make it easier on your human site visitors. Make sure that your URLs are indicative of the kind of information that your visitors will encounter on that page.

5. Improve your Title Tags

Title tags are still an important aspect of search engine placement, and since they are so extremely easy to update this is a step that definitely needs to be included in your affordable SEO plan. Make sure that your title tags are keyword rich and appropriate to the subject matter of the particular web page. And make sure you use a unique title tag on each and every page in your site.

6. Check your ALT Tags

Make sure that your alt tags are clear and keyword rich. While Google does not take into account alt tag text for ranking purposes, some other search engines still do. But the key issue to keep in mind with alt tags is that they are meant for usability. They are designed to aid website visitors with visual impairments navigate through your site and understand all of your content. While Google may not take the content of the tag into account, it couldn’t hurt to show Google that you are running a professional website that caters to all users.

7. Get Backlinks

Getting relevant links coming into your website can be tedious and time consuming. So this isn’t exactly considered a “quick tip”. But there are a few things you can do to help speed up your link building program. First, take advantage of industry groups or trade associations that you belong to. They usually have online directories where you can include a link to your website in your membership profile. Join a forum that is related to your niche and include your website address in your profile and signature.

Submit a press release announcing the publication of your new site and include a link to your URL. Keep in mind that none of these are considered “high value” incoming links, but they are all quick and easy ways to get your linking program off the ground.

8. Create and Update Regularly

Keep your website or blog fresh and relevant.  You don’t have to go overboard, but be sure to make small updates regularly.  This ensures that the search engine spiders will return often. Use unique content, avoid private label right articles, and keep information as current as possible.

9. Generate a Site Map

Creating an XML sitemap makes it easier for the search engine bots to crawl through and navigate your website.  This is especially true if your site is rich in script and flash. The structure of your sitemap does matter, so if you’re not sure how to create one, check with your webmaster. Chances are, he or she will have software that will simplify the process.

10. Use Social Media

Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter are quickly becoming the new search engines.  Make sure you are adequately represented on sites like these. Set up a page for your company and post regularly.  Have friends, family, customers and fans sign up for your page and encourage them to advertise to their friends, family, clients, and fans.  This is a great way to build up your reputation and yet another way to quickly multiply reputable backlinks to your page.

Search engine optimization can be intimidating for many small business owners, and it’s true that a full-fledged optimization program will take time. But by following these quick and easy steps, you’ll be able to create an affordable SEO program that gets your new website off the ground in no time.

Google Analytics serves as a portal to the inner workings of your website.   Google Analytics provide more than surface information about your website. Understanding these statistics provides the opportunity to improve your marketability.

There are some key stats which provide insight into how well your website is performing when it comes to Internet marketing.   Some questions you should ask include:
•    Is my website traffic, increasing, decreasing, or holding its own?
•    Is my website of value to visitors?
•    Where do my visitors come from and who are they?
•    What are my most popular pages?
•    What are the exit pages on my site?
•    What are the forces driving traffic to my website?
•    Do other websites drive traffic to my site?
•    What are the keywords that are most effective in driving traffic to my website?

By looking at the page view average along with the time visitors remain on your site, you can identify if your website is providing meaningful information for visitors.  

Using map overlay and new visitor stats will allow you to know if your traffic growth is from returning visitors or new visitors.

Look at the stats showing the pages visited most repeatedly.  Make sure you provide the best quality content on these pages and incorporate attention grabbers on these pages.

Pages with the most exits by visitors should be reviewed.  If they are clicking an outbound link and that is what you want them to do, then this indicates your system is working.  On the other hand, if you don’t want them to exit this page, perhaps you should look at making the link open in a new tab or window, or simply removing the link and providing high quality content on that particular page.

Paying attention to which traffic sources are providing the most traffic can be beneficial to reduce cost of ineffective ad campaigns.  These dollars could be best spent in a more effective traffic building campaign.

A close review of keyword effectiveness can help you build quality content built upon the most effective keywords. 

I realize that this is general information.  If you want to really understand, go to our wisdom book.

If you have ever taken a road trip of any distance, you probably understand that somewhere along the road you are going to have delays and detours.  Perhaps you are remembering your last road trip that ended in a detour simply because you missed a road or made a wrong turn.  

 

Learning the ins and outs of SEO can be much like a road trip with delays and detours along the way especially if you are not using an expert in the field of SEO.

If you are planning a road trip, preparation is completed in stages.  If you are a professional driver, you will need to make sure each of the following stages is completed for a successful road trip.

1. Complete any vehicle service that is due such as oil change, tire checks, and take care of any mechanical problems you may have.   Failure to do so may find your planned road trip has come to a complete halt.
2. Clean the inside and outside of your vehicle.  This is for your comfort and for your image.
3. Double check to make sure your registration and insurance cards are available and up to date.   Failure to do so could be costly.
4. Get a map of your planned route.  This is a breeze with MapQuest or Google Maps.  You should do this for a back up even if you have a GPS.
5. Plan for any meals and lodging needed along the way.  
6. Fill the vehicle up with Gas and plan for refuels in plenty of time to prevent walking instead of driving to the gas station during your road trip.

If you run a professional business, Internet and Digital Marketing Planning includes the following essential steps:

• Search engine submission
• Keyword and phrase identification
• Meta tag development utilizing the best keywords
• Quality original website content with appropriate keyword density
• Build incoming links associated with keywords and relevant content
• Incorporate article marketing
• Get involved with social media marketing
• Implement blog marketing
• Add various other SEO marketing tools and processes

Almost each one of the steps noted are not a onetime shot or fix for your website.  These steps have to be repeated consistently and frequently to attain and maintain high ranking on the search engines.

Save yourself a headache and increase your rankings on the search engines as quick as possible by using an experienced International Digital and Internet Marketing Consultant in the field of search engine optimization.  You know your business; they know theirs.

Although Digital and Internet are used interchangably in this article, Digital Marketing includes Internet Marketing and all the surrounding tools and opportunities.  It has many facets and it can be easy to get off track if you are not careful.  This is where a successful Digital or Internet Marketing Consultant can be of the best help in moving your business to the next level.

An Internet or Digital Marketing Consultant will provide energy and enthusiasm for your project.  As a minimum, a Digital Marketing Consultant should be skilled and have proven expertise in the basic areas of Internet Marketing that describe and are included in Search Engine Optimization:

•    Tagging and meta description and keywords
•    Website design and internet marketing to capture the needs of your target market and offering solutions for these needs
•    Website design
•    Website content
•    Website development

Is a consultant needed after the website is developed?

Yes, development of the website is just the first step.   Ongoing marketing will be needed to maintain search engine ranking and maintain traffic flow to your website.   A Digital Marketing Consultant can also help keep you abreast of the evolving technology that will need to be incorporated into your online business for continued success.  The rules and the tools change every day.

Qualities of the best Internet Marketing Consultant include:
•    Experienced in Internet/Digital Marketing
•    Knowledge and understanding of sales and marketing and, preferrably, your industry and/or market sector
•    A vision of the future in Internet Marketing; what to use and what not to use today
•    Skill level ranges from basic to advanced; you need it all.
•    Will have a good track record.
•    Will have built in accountability.

And if you want to export anywhere, it would be preferrable to have a consultant that knows, lives, and understands other markets.

Carefully select an Internet/Digital Marketing Consultant with whom you feel is working with you to make your internet marketing business a success.  Developing a long-term relationship with a trusted and knowledgeable Internet/Digital Marketing Consultant should be profitable for you and your business.

An excellent opportunity to learn more is to attend our free webinar and to download our free whitepaper.

Is too much value placed on SEO (search engine optimization)? 

This is a question that is frequently asked.   There are some solid answers to this question.  Do you want to find out the truth about SEO?  Good SEO will drive traffic to your site without otherwise a spending a dime on advertising.

Search engine optimization is the professional way your website pages are presented to the search engines including Google and Yahoo.  With the right presentation Google and Yahoo will be attracted to your site and, when this occurs, your site is ranked according to the keywords you are using.  The truth about SEO is that it makes your site search engine friendly...or better said, your site can be found in the Internet ocean.

Your selection of keywords is vital. 

Keywords that are included in the average person’s search for your products or services gives a greater opportunity for your website to be presented to your target market as they search the web.

Consultancy saves money.

The selection of a good SEO consultant can pay off in big dividends of increased traffic on a continual basis.  And it will save time. SEO is a lot like other services in that you get what you pay for.   To get qualified services, you may have to pay a little more than just taking the cheapest thing out there. 

Applying SEO guides and rules to your site and making sure your site has all the bells and whistles needed to get your site recognized and attracted by the search engines will set your site apart from the competition and place you on the top of the pile in front of your perspective clients as they search for products and services you may be offering.  This will put your site ahead of the game in online business.  The truth about SEO is that it truly is the most important thing you can do to put your business on top.

But, again, I give a constant warning.  It is not simple to do it right. How do you find a good marketing consultant? I think you will find the answer in our Wisdom Book.

A good website alone will not produce the effects necessary to attract visitors to your site.  From the stage of creation to the stage of maintaining a website for your business, SEO (search engine optimization) brings both value and results.

Having a successful business online is much more than just placing your products and services online for access by the masses of internet users.  You have to build and maintain a site in many ways to attract traffic to your beautiful website.

The higher the rank of a page, the more visible your site will be for web searches for keywords.  SEO provides the necessary code, content and links for your site to gain popularity with some search engines.

Content with proper and effective use of keywords and multiple incoming links to other sites will allow your website to be found quickly and easily by the search engines.   Visibility and access represents the value of SEO for your website.  A site with strong content and multiple relevant links will afford high rankings on the search engines and increased traffic from visitors.

When it comes to building an internet business, high-quality (read "relevant") traffic is of great importance.  Profitability of a site is directly related to the traffic a site generates.     Building and maintaining website SEO is critical to the profitability of your online business.

The truth is if you want to build an internet business, you must assure it has proper and up-to-date SEO to drive the traffic to your site needed to generate profits.  SEO can make the different between success and failure when it comes to internet business.

I know this is very basic for many readers, but you would be surprised at how many businesses fail the test.  For good information on the subject, go to our Wisdom Book.

First, you will want to decide which search engines to use in which geographic areas (and in which languages).  Other detailed adjustments can be made concerning the search engines, but usually you don’t have to bother. 

So what I do next is to put in a search term that I think is relevant into the normal Google search box on my browser to see which sites come to the top of the search results pile.  Do they compete with my client's product or service?  I pick about five or six sites which do compete and I enter them into the Advanced Web Ranking websites box along with my client’s website.

Then I ask Advanced Web Ranking to give me the information that I want.  Most of the time, I am looking for Key Words and Phrases, but more importantly Advanced Web Ranking gives me all the rankings for each site for each word or phrase…compared to my competitors.

Obviously, this is just the beginning.  There is sooooo much more to do, but it is a good beginning to get us started in dominating the market.

As a disclaimer, I should tell you that the company has offered the software to me for review.  I have not had time to use the software over any longer period of time, so I may have missed something.

Several companies sell variations of keyword research including Google, Yahoo Advertising (used to be Overture), Wordtracker, and several others.

I have found a product which I thought I should point out as its price is so reasonable compared to other programs.  It is called Advanced Web Ranking.  I like it because there are several ways to use it depending on what results you request.  I will be skipping considerable detail as this program does so much more than I can possibly write about here

Once use is to find the keywords that relate to keywords that you want to use, meaning you define the subject and look for related subjects.  Google does this in Google Suggest, as do Yahoo Advertising and Wordtracker in similar functions.  Impressively, Advanced Web Ranking uses all the search engines that you choose to use in any language you choose in the geography you choose.

As I write, I am running a process in Advanced Web Ranking called Import Keywords from Multiple Website Pages.  This allows me to do two things: 
1) I can see what other websites are using for keywords so that I may get ideas of what to use, and
2) I can check on my own website to see if I am using the right keywords on the right pages.

And the result?  Complete shock!  Seeing how poorly the titles of the pages and the key words do not match is very enlightening.  They need to hang together and to make it easy for the search engines to say “Here’s a good page to show the searcher.”

Note: As a disclaimer, I should tell you that the company has offered the software to me for review.  I have not had time to use the software over any longer period of time, so I may have missed something.  And this software tool is only a help in the beginning for making a business website a powerful selling tool.  For more information, see our Wisdom Book.