Your website promotional strategy should act as part of your marketing strategy and enough time
should be assigned to it to ensure it works and gets you the results you are looking for. There are
certain promotional mishaps you will want to avoid and here we will discuss them in more detail
so that you know what to look out for.

Avoid working with frames
The first thing to know is that frames are not the same as search engine ‘spiders. You could sit
around all day and work your content to sit within a frame but realistically, do you want to go to
such tremendous effort when you could focus your efforts elsewhere?

Flash might look good but why it’s best to avoid it….
The nest thing is Flash. It might look fantastic but it isn’t overly usable and might prevent you
ranking as high as you want to. Your top priorities should include how the user experiences your
site so don’t dwell on making it look amazing when it might impact how easily your users can
access your information.

When writing your titles and tags
When you are writing your tags, include a little more information that will help search engines
rank you higher in terms of relevance. If you use your keywords and phrases in your titles and
tags you can expect the keyword density to increase and your website to appear higher in the
listings.

Keep your titles the right length
It’s all about balance. You don’t want to stuff half of your content in your title so that it outweighs
the content it refers to, but you can still take the opportunity to write a simplistic title with your
keyword or phrase in it.

Don’t confuse your text with images
Some people get rather carried away with imagery and illustrations when really they just detract
from the readers’ ability to read what you have written. Of course images will add to your content
and can convey a sense of what the text is about, but the reader should be able to then decide to
read on if they choose rather than have to fight through your design to get to the content.

Head your text with titles
Your pages should be headed by titles and keywords or phrases and not by graphics. You site is
supposed to get people’s attention by appearing high on a search engine results page. Your text
will achieve this for you whereas graphics will not.

Use keyphrases rather than one-word search terms
You might like the idea of having a very broad keyword that will get you lots of traffic but in reality
this is not the case. The best advice is to have a keyphrase that includes up to four words so that
the search is narrowed and you get visitors to your site that actually want to know about you and
what you do. Too generic a term will simply get you traffic that is of no consequence to your business.
If you are looking at conversion rates to see how many interested visitors are taking some form of action
when theyvisit your site then this will only be skewed by the number of visitors that were looking for
something completely different.

Remember the importance of links
Get some relevant links in the content of your text. You can’t ignore how valuable these links are in
strengthening your content and thus your relevance in search engine results listings.

Don’t overuse your keywords
Your website promotion strategy but calculate how much is enough keyword usage and how much is
too much. There is a fine line. If you bombard the reader with your keywords, your text will become
nonsensical.

The dangers of lengthy URLs
Lengthy URLs can prevent a search engine from indexing your pages in the way they should be and you
will end up with lots of symbols that will confuse search tools. Remove these by taking advice from your
website developer and promotional specialist.

Getting high listings on Google does not require a perfect website. Just make it better,
when compared to your competitors’ websites. Your website will be clicked on, only
if you can make it slightly better than your competitor websites. Optimize your web
pages for the right keywords, then allow the quality of the backlinks to make the difference.

Here are top tips to help you surpass your competitors.

1. Locate who your real competitors are
   The websites that rank high for your keywords are your real competitors. This is what
   you are to do: use Google to carry out a search on your keywords (at least five of them),
   then write out the links or URLs of the sites that have the best rankings for the five keywords.
   These five URLs are the your potential competitors.
2. Find out the PageRank spread of linking Webpages
   The PageRank number displayed on Google’s tool bar is an imperfect metric. However, this
   number can still be useful in discovering the secret behind the higher ranking of certain websites;
   while others are left out.You can search out the sites that link to your competitors’ sites and notch
   up the Google PageRank of each page. Certain providers have link managers that sort the sites by PageRank.If you find out that there are more backlinks from high PageRanked web pages to your competitors’
   sites than that of your own site, you can hire services from  some of the available providers to
   generate higher PR links.
3. Do some analysis on your Competitors’ backlinks
   Find time to analyze the number of links to your competitors’ sites that have your major keywords.
   You can accomplish this easily using the link manager feature of some market providers.Once you key-in the action, IBP will display the web pages linking to your competitors’ sites and will
   also reveal the anchor text of these links. To find out if your anchor texts are incorporated, sort the
   displayed sites by anchor text.

   You need to have more inbound links on your site (than your competitors) that feature the keywords
   you desire to rank high.

4. Analyze the high level domains of the linking web pages
   When targeting Google versions such as Google.co.uk, there should be more backlinks in your
   website – from sites that employ the matching top level domain – than the number acquired by
   your competitors..

Google pays attention to websites that link from related sites. Thus, if you market phones, make sure that you
link from sites selling phones as well. It is also needful to check your site’s content for compliance with Google’s
most recent ranking algorithm using Top Optimizers listed by several providers.

The common blunders I’m about to reveal here are obstacles to search engine rankings. Have a look at them and do avoid these blunders:

1. Using frames
   Search engine spiders tend to get confused when frames are involved. Therefore, if you have a frame site, your site may be likely ignored often by the search engine spider. There is nothing wrong with writing script or fine-tuning the content to function within frames; but, is it not better to divert that time to something more beneficial to your website in terms of higher ranking?
2. Over-doing it with title tags
   A better strategy for effective website promotion is when you stay within 70 characters for the titles, and also for punctuation (comma in particular) inserted between phrases in each title tag. The webpages that feature limited content should use fewer characters.
3. Using Flash
   No doubts, flash appears appealing – however, it affects the ranking of your site. Also, flash slows user experience. Most web surfers are not willing to wait a moment longer. Readability of the keywords by search engines could be improved by flash in the future, but this may also be meaningless if the webpages do not feature visible as well as readable text.
4. Using design to mask text
   Design has a way of concealing text. Ensure that your visible text is strategically placed high on the page.
5. Using effective search phrases
   Do this always; incorporate effective search phrases that are true representations of the content featured within your title tags.
6. Using the wrong words
   Most websites owners prefer to use single-word search phrases since it appears such keywords generate more traffic. However, the reality is that only very few web surfers who use such broad terms may be interested in your offering. It is more effective to incorporate search phrases that contain 2 – 4 words, this is the best way to target a wider range of people who may actually be interested in what you have to offer.
7. Not taking link building seriously
   Embark on massive link building, and concentrate on the websites that have categories and content relevant to your offerings. For instance, if you are offering computer software services, it would make no sense to link to websites that are marketing clothes.
8. Using long URLs
   For those taking advantage of a database to maintain their websites, this may ultimately result in the use of long URLs with multiple session IDs, as well as parameters that give rise to multiple equality signs and question marks. The summary is that long URLs may be obstacles to proper indexing of webpages by search engines. You can consult your website developer to shorten the lengthy URLs, or even get rid of them completely. Your ultimate goal is to be visible to those who are looking for your offerings, anything that would constitute an obstacle should be reconsidered.

Finally, do not overstuff your webpages with keywords; avoid using same keyword sequentially up to ten times. Just spread your major search term throughout the page as many times as possible.

It’s no longer news that your ranking on search engine result page can be influenced by changes on your web pages. But, no one can say for sure the mode of search engines’ reaction on the changes on our webpage, and what it is in particular that influences the changes in search results. Perhaps some answers may be generated from a new search engine patent.

Changes

A good number of search engine patents handle the changes that take place on your webpage.

Six years ago, a patent published by Google described how changes made to your webpage can influence your website ranks. Recently, another patent was granted to Microsoft that tells us the impact that changes on website have on how a site ranks in the search engine result page.

The new patent granted to Microsoft reveals the particular elements on your website that are likely to be monitored by search engines.

Now, what are your webpage elements that search engines monitor?

Here are the webpage elements that can be monitored according to the new patent:

• Webpage featured keywords
• Webpage related keywords
• The anchor texts employed on your webpage links
• How images or texts are positioned on your webpage
• The sizes as well as colors applied on your webpage featured images
• How frequent document on your webpage varies over time
• How much of the content on your website has changed
• The search terms that visitors are using to locate your page
• Your webpage’s assigned tags

How precisely, do the changes in these webpage elements influence the ranking of your webpage?

The patent revealed that searches are grouped into two; there’s the ‘informational’ as well as ‘navigational’ search. The category or group to which a search query belongs determines the effect of the changes on the website. The query a searcher uses to find a named webpage is an example of ‘navigational query’. For instance, a search for ‘Harvard University’ will take the searcher to the homepage of this university. On the other hand, ‘how can I repair my lace wig’ is an example of ‘informational query’.

If a web visitor is searching for info relating to a recent event, websites that included the information recently are likely to be boosted in their ranking.

There may be a boost to webpages that have static content. This technique works excellently with certain websites but may become an issue for home pages that embark on regular content update.

What is the significance of this to your Webpage?

Microsoft got this patent, but from all indication, it is likely that Google employs related techniques. Search engines are not only concerned with the current version of a webpage. They also take cognizance of the webpage’s status in the past. The changes on your webpage could mean that ownership of the site has changed, it may also mean that you are trying to make your site stay up-to-date. Search engines may also see changes on your webpage as a sign of spam etc.

So, do not embark on optimization of a web page that is already ranking high for any of your keywords. Instead, optimize a different page using the new keyword. Use different keywords to optimize different pages of your site, but ensure that the keywords are related. This proves to search engines that your site is relevant to a specific theme.

Initially, writing press releases can be quite dreadful because of their straightforward nature and little or no room to showcase creativity. However, a well-written press release is a great tool in the marketers’ hands to spread the word concerning a company’s news stories. When you embark on writing newsworthy, interesting, as well as timely press releases, your exposure can skyrocket greatly.

Nevertheless, with every business coming forth with press releases, there is a need to employ techniques that will distinguish your business in order to generate traffic and buzz to your website.

Do you want to maximize your press releases? Writing exceptional press release material with the tips outlined below will help you achieve quick and best SEO results.  Here are the useful tips that are bound to help you out.

• Be Relevant:
  Ensure that your press release catches the attention of your target audience, otherwise there is no point writing it. You need to envisage the needs of your audience in order to satisfy them through your press release writing; the information should also be substantially timely.
• Don’t forget to put images:
  Merely using your company’s logo on your press release does not arouse interest. You can achieve a faster click through rate by inserting a compelling image on your press release article. You can gain up to 15-25 percent click through rate when you employ engaging images on your press release.
• Include Video:
  This optimization tip tends to be largely neglected, the reason why you should use it more often. Apart from distinguishing your press release from the crowd, including video on your press release has the capacity to engage users and also reward you with 500 percent increase in time spent on the page. One of the excellent ways to increase brand impact is via videos; it also helps in achieving branding commitment building as well as extra search results. As images aid in driving traffic to your press release, the traffic will be sustained via the help of video. 

It is quite common to come across a question such as this: ‘How can domain names affect SEO?’ Although domain names are among the least significant aspects for a top SEO ranking, there are certain things you ought to be aware of.

What about Buying a Domain Name that Incorporates a Keyword?

Keywords integration into a domain name will only influence your website SEO if your domain name reflects the precise-match keyphrase or keyword which you desire to rank high, and at the same time matches the local.com version or the .com version of the keyphrase. A typical instance is travelinsurance.com.au; this and other similar domain names rank top on Google search result for exactly those keyphrases which are searched for very often.

It is very crucial to bear in mind that employing any other keyphrases in the domain name would negatively affect the ranking benefit obtainable in integrating the keyword-phrase in the domain name. This is an instance; for the purpose of travel insurance, domain name like mytravelinsurance.com.au will differ in ranking from travelinsurance.com.au

Also, if you have a .biz or .net or similar extension that differs from the .com version or the local.com version, you are not likely to rank high.

At What Stage is it Helpful to Have a Keyword Phrase in a Domain Name for SEO Purpose?

Having a keyword phrase in a domain name becomes helpful only when such domain name exactly matches the .com.au or.com version of the keyword you desire to achieve a high rank with. Also, the keyword needs to feature substantial and precise match search size to necessitate the use of key-phrase in your domain name instead of your business name.

Is it Ideal to Use a Business Name in Domain Name?

Certainly, most times, the perfect keyword to use in your domain name is your business name since you cannot forget it easily; also, establishing credibility and trust are achieved easily when using your business name. Again, using your business name as a domain name makes it easier to type it directly to the address bar in order to go straight to your site.

What about Varying a Competitor’s Domain Name and Using it as a New Domain Name?

This is highly discouraged. Besides likely trademark violations, your online credibility as well as integrity will be punctured when you cyber-squat on a variation of your competitor’s business domain name. Don’t forget that integrity and credibility are among the most essential features in any business online marketing performance.

How Suitable are Different Domain Extensions?

Don’t use domain extensions such as .biz, .cc or .net. The most valuable extensions are the .com or the localized version such as .com.au. Tried and proven SEO techniques have shown that other domain extensions outside the .com or localized version would not assist directly when it comes to achieving SEO rankings.

How about Incorporating Dashes in Domain Name?

It is highly discouraged to use dashes in domain name; rather, let your domain name be such that it can be remembered and typed in easily. Using dashes does not play any SEO role but would impact your branding negatively when your business expands.

]]> http://www.aceinternetmarketing.net/web-analytics/domain-names-and-how-they-affect-seo/feed/ 2 http://www.aceinternetmarketing.net/featured/google-caffeine-%e2%80%93-the-harbinger-of-change/ http://www.aceinternetmarketing.net/featured/google-caffeine-%e2%80%93-the-harbinger-of-change/#comments Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:18 +0000 ritesh http://www.aceinternetmarketing.net/?p=580

Website ranking will change after the advent of Google Caffeine. Although nothing detailed has been released about Google Caffeine, the insiders and webmasters are sure that it will bring a lot of change in the ranking of your webpage. Google Caffeine is going to change a lot of its parameters to rank the website. Though some of the old parameters are sure to stay, yet you need to do a bit extra to rank your website high on the search engines.
The changes that will be brought to Google’s next index – Google Caffeine
The expected changes that will affect the ranking of websites include:
• The speed of the website: The speed with which a website loads will play a vital role in determining its ranking on a search engine. The websites which take longer to load will be left behind by websites that open quickly. With high speed comes higher Google ranking.
• Bad links: If the website has too many broken links or links from spammers then it is bound to have a lower ranking. These two factors will be major yardsticks in the ranking process. A bad neighborhood or too many known spammer links can actually have negative impact on the search engine.
• Quality does matter: The Google Caffeine will rank a webpage according to its quality of content. The content should be highly optimized and the navigation of the website must be easy with good inbound links.
• Social bookmarking: Social bookmarks will also have a positive impact on the ranking of the websites. If the website has more social bookmarks, then it is assured to attain a higher rank on the search engines.
What you can do for a higher ranking of your website on Google Caffeine
Knowing that there might be changes in the ranking criteria for the websites when Google Caffeine is released, the following tips can undoubtedly put your website on top of the search engines.
• Spam free website: Make sure that your website doesn’t contain any spam and in case there is any spammer website that puts its link on your page, remove it at the earliest. Ensure that nothing on your website represents a spam like camouflaged text or image links etc.
• Website design: Design of your website becomes significant with the Google Caffeine. Make sure that the font color of the text matter stands out clearly from the background. The website should avoid having fully automated linking systems as it may be considered as spam and could lead the way to losing your ranking.
• Easy navigation: Your website should have easy parsing by the search engine spiders so as to make the navigation easy and clear. This will help the website in achieving a better ranking.
• Inbound links: Link building will continue to remain important even after the Google Caffeine is introduced. You must therefore focus on quality links that will improve the ranking of your website. Getting good links from social networking sites will increase the page rank of any website and hence you must focus on that.

Most of you must have had bad experiences with Google AdWords. Your website advertisements might have brought in fewer returns and you must have doled out lots of money on AdWords. Fairly speaking, if properly used, Google Adwords transforms into a money minting tool.

Effectively using Google AdWords with the right settings for the right campaigns will undoubtedly ensure that your costs are reduced and sales are increased.

Relevance of the Long Tail Keywords

Long tail keywords consist of 4 or more words and are of a very specific nature. Studies have proved that the conversion rate of long tail keywords is higher than that of single word keywords.

Based on the recently conducted Hitwise study, it has been found that more than 18% of the searches contain five or more keywords.

Google has also confirmed that 20% of the queries received everyday on Google are either unique ones or are probably seen once in 90 days.

With improper Long Tail Keywords, you could end up spending more

Including all possible keywords in a campaign is not an easy task. A helpful and great option as recommended by Google would be to use a broad match for all of your keywords. A broad match keyword exploits unexpected, but relevant queries. Your advertisement thus appears not only with phrases containing your keywords and exact spelling, but also with keyword expansions that include synonyms, singular/plural forms and relevant variants of your keywords.

However, proper usage of a broad match is easier said than done. This is because of the countless unrelated searches that results due to the use of a broad match. You could end up paying more and getting meager returns. For example, if you have a product named “Cobra”, the word cobra would be used for searches related to the reptile variants of cobra, the vintage car or the body spray with similar name.

Enhance your conversion rate with Negative keywords

Negative keywords are included in Google AdWords campaigns to bypass searches containing these words. Your AdWords advertisement is not displayed if the negative keyword is present in a long tail keyword.

If for example, you include “-free” as a negative keyword in the Google AdWords campaigns, your advertisement is not displayed to those who are searching for free offers. This provides direction to your advertisements.

Negative keywords are also used to target advertisements at specific groups. An insurance broker could include “book” and “books” as negative keywords in his Google AdWords campaigns so as to avoid people who are searching for insurance based books.

It is hence quite essentially required that a well thought out broad match warrants the use of negative keywords, so as to could help attract potential customers. Negative keywords also wards off unwanted traffic and hence reduces the payments you would have h

Link building is one of the best ways of self promotion on the web. Both the inbound and outbound links play an important role in a website’s ranking process and in the resultant traffic generation. Having good indirect links on your website will improve your business and sale. The sister or related sites also help a website in gaining an increased customer flow by sending their own clients to that website through links. Link building is to be taken as an opportunity to put-forth the best things you can provide them. Link building also helps you to build a reputation in your niche market.

Some of the best ways to get good links to your website

There are very crucial features that need be addressed while building links to your website.

• Your website should be your brand ambassador. You have to constantly maintain the high quality, which in turn will invite quality links to your site.
• Advertise your website as much as you can through press releases, product reviews, blogs, etc. This will make your website visible to maximum people. You can also participate in the live chats at appropriate forums. Once your website is recognized by people, they will link their site to yours.
• The social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook can contribute a lot in connecting to the prospective buyers. Therefore, it is important to link your websites with social networking sites. Another good way is to have links of your website in your social networking profile.
• A blog or forum on your website can increase your visibility and recognition in the relevant section. You can also publish your expert views and suggestions about your niche market and industry which will increase your links.

What is to be avoided

• The first and foremost thing is that your website should not try and cheat the search engines. Don’t allow any suspicious data or information on your website.
• Never go to automated link providers or link farms to get links to your website. Your website may get penalized for link manipulation.
• Never get unrelated links or blog to your website. The unnecessary and unrelated blog comments and links will not help you in ay way. It will instead, lower your website ranking.
• If you get too many links in a short span of time, your website will come under the search engine filters. Paid links or links from the spammers are to be avoided at any cost. Don’t let any spammer link to your site and do not ever put your link on any spammer’s website.

Paying attention to these few tips will get quality links to your website and will assist in climbing up the rungs of search engine rankings. Reciprocal link building may be the best option where you and your rival or competitor web-owners can exchange your links for more traffic.