Web Site Optimization

All optimization is not equal. There is such a rush to optimize a website for search engines that people don't realize that some SEO techniques can be self-defeating. Either a lot of work will go into a particular type of optimization that is fruitless or it can be downright harmful for search engine ranking. A high search-engine ranking is the holy grail of search engine optimization, but make sure you put your energy in the right place.

The first two issues involve web design: don't use flash or frames when designing a website. These won't get you banned by search engines;but the site might be ignored entirely. While you can use some flash animation within a site, overuse of flash should be avoided. Search engines like text, not fancy graphics. A flash-heavy site could be passed over. The same goes for a site written with frames;frame-heavy sites confuse search engines so the sites are not properly indexed. The text on a framed site is hidden within the frame, so even if there is ample content within the frame, it will not be read correctly. Verdict: avoid it.

When writing content, make sure the content makes sense. In the early days of the web, people went keyword crazy. They would cram a huge paragraph of keywords throughout a page. This worked for a little while. Now search engines are wise to it and this technique can lead to a site being banned. Website owners try to trick search engines by including the keywords within actual content, but if the keywords are too close together, this could also lead to problems.

Another issue is spamdexing. Never use keywords that don't apply specifically to a site. This can most often be seen with site owners using adult-themed keywords to bring in unrelated searches. This will cause a site to be quickly red-flagged. Using invisible text is a bad idea as well. Invisible text is the same color as the background. It can be read by spiders, but can't be read by human eyes. The problem here is that spiders now recognize this technique and it will be red-flagged.

Generally, content should be useful and informative. You can include specific keywords within content, but if you provide enough content, these keywords will be covered automatically without jeopardizing the site with picky search engine spiders. The use of quality content is two-fold: it's a better way to optimize with search engines and web surfers will spend a longer time on the site reading articles or other content. The trick is to create trust;both with spiders and real people.

For more information please click here.


Take Care,

Antonio


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Why Organic Real Estate On The Web Is So Important

When it comes to real estate, people usually shout out the mantra: location, location, location. When it comes to web real estate, you could say the same thing: location, location, location in search engines. Organic real estate on the web refers to the positioning your website has on the web landscape. A solid organic real estate design and SEO strategy will make a website as necessary a destination as the corner market. In short, organic real estate keeps a website from languishing unseen in cyberspace.

So how does Organic Real Estate work? What makes Organic Real estate, well, organic? The main feature of Organic Real Estate is quality, informative content. This is what sets quality SEO plans apart from those that are merely trying to trick search engine spiders. Content should be natural, not written as if composed by a machine. Natural, well-written web content will increase page rank at a faster rate than content that is written only with keywords in mind.

This is especially important for web entrepreneurs who run affiliate sites. Web surfers are getting savvy to the fact that many affiliate sites are just a dummy site set-up to "hopefully" bring in some sales. Experienced affiliate marketers know that you can make a site that is as competitive, and useful, as the affiliate's host site. The more quality content there is on your site, the better an affiliate site can separate itself from the crowded web marketplace.

But Organic Real Estate is about a lot more than content—and this is where a lot of SEO plans fall short. In addition to providing content, a site owner must determine a target audience. In one way, content and target audience go hand in hand. You have to figure out target audience and tailor content accordingly. In addition, you may have a different target audience for different products or services offered on your site. Content and keyword targeting must be tailored to each potential type of client and customer.

Without these strategies, what will you have: a site that looks more like a link-factory than a trusted resource in a particular industry. In the past, people stressed the need for quality web design. While this is no doubt important, it is now much easier for amateur's to design a high-quality looking site. It is far less easy for site owners to provide fresh and useful content. You'll find a bevy of nice-looking sites with little or nothing to offer in terms of content. In Web 2.0, content is what separates the great from the mediocre, and the organic from the artificial.

For more information please click here.


Take Care,

Antonio


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Keyword Research Tips.

Researching keywords prior to writing your articles has proven to be an effective method of ranking high with the search engines. I've read all kinds of tips and advice on many different websites, and the one main idea that always sticks out is: put your readers first!

Sure, you want to study your keywords and the competition that exists for them, but that doesn't mean you have to go write an entire article full of em!

The next time you look something up in your favorite search engine, take a couple of minutes to read through some of the articles on the first results page...

You'll notice that some articles are enticing while others don't seem to grab your attention at all...

Obviously, the sites that you want to pay attention to are the ones that reeled you in and kept you there. This is, in my opinion, one of the best methods of studying keywords, key phrases , and basically everything SEO related.

The sites that appear on the first 3 pages of your search query already have what you want, a high ranking web page on the SERP's. So why not study them?

If you want to learn about making money with free blogs, you study blogs like Mikes Money Making Mission. If you want to become an eBay PowerSeller or learn about DropShipping, you study guys like Mike Enos.

So naturally, when you want to learn why certain sites rank high in the search engines and how keywords are used on those sites, you study high ranking websites!

Remember, the sites you need to pay close attention to are the ones that not only rank high, but that also grab your attention and entice you to read past the third paragraph. Your research on high ranking websites will be much more fruitful if you do this with a few different search terms.

A few things to take note of while you are reading through your selected articles are: keyword placement, keyword density, keyword frequency, and the articles overall readability.

Some people also suggest placing keywords/phrases in header and sub-header text using H1 & H2 tags. I try not to go overboard with this. I only use header tags when they're necessary... Like my post titles, they are wrapped in H3 tags..

Also while studying your articles, you need to look past the words on the screen. Study the format of the entire page, pay attention to every detail... even the "alt" text in the images.

You should keep detailed notes of your research, so that you can refer back to them while writing your own articles..

One final thing I'd like to add to today's post, you don't have to follow anyone's "SEO Rules"... The above written suggestions are merely my own methods that I have used and am currently using in an attempt to gain better search engine placement for my blogs and sites. You can, and always should try out new methods.. Remember to take notes... it's the only way to really track your progress effectively.

Here is a list of keyword research tools that you might find useful:

• Free keyword tool by Google. - A pretty useful keyword research tool by Google. Tool displays the current months search volume and the advertiser competition for any given keyword or phrase.


• KeyCompete. - An online keyword research tool that identifies the keywords your competitors are using in their pay-per-click campaigns. KeyCompete also identifies the competition that is bidding on your keywords. - You can try their service out for free.


• Keyword Discovery. - KeywordDiscovery compiles keyword search statistics from over 180 search engines world wide, and claims to have the most powerful Keyword Research tool.


• Keyword Research Guide. - The folks over at WordTracker created a fictional company, Virginia Veg, and asked experts to provide real answers to the problems facing its CEO... This "project" resulted in an e-book packed with insight, tips, and techniques on keyword research that you can apply easily to your own website.


• Word Tracker Academy. - The Wordtracker Academy brings you everything you need to know about keyword research. You'll find top writers to challenge and inform, case studies to guide and inspire, and practical e-books to ensure that you get maximum return from your investment in keyword research.

I've used some of the tools in the above list in conducting my own keyword research. If you know of any other other good research tools that you think should be listed here, let me know by either leaving a comment here on the blog or by sending me an email here.

Best Wishes,
Antonio

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Five Reasons Your Company Needs A Solid SEO Plan

Here's the major reason that your company needs a solid SEO plan: profitability. Search Engine Optimization is just another way of marketing. If you don't market a product, you can't expect name recognition or sales to come pouring in. Most people surfing online go to search engines to find information or new products. Without a decent search engine ranking, your site, and products, will be passed over time and again.

There are five core reasons that SEO is important, all of which can help a business's profit margin. Let's begin with what is the basis of SEO marketing: content. The idea of providing unique content is so that the site becomes a trusted resource on a set of topics. So how does content help profitability?

First is search engine ranking. Search engine spiders love content. If the content matches the HTML title tag, an important optimization technique, and the content contains common keywords plugged into a search engine, there will be more opportunities for the site to land in the top listings of search results. Providing quality, targeted content will draw in potential customers looking specifically for what you have to offer.

Driving traffic has a two-fold purpose. Not only does a content-rich site help search engine results, but the content will leave a lasting impression on visitors. Imagine a site that's in the top three results that provides no useful information. Traffic can be useless if the site doesn't have some sticking power. Web surfers will come back to the site time and again. SEO will lead to both new and repeat visitors. Inspiring repeat visitors is reason number two for a solid SEO plan.

An offshoot of this is number three: referrals. The more content-rich your site, the more you'll be able to get referrals. Web surfer one goes to a site and finds useful information, he then refers web surfer two—it's a type of traffic that works independently of search engines, the basis of viral marketing. Part of SEO is providing an easy way for people to refer other web surfers, possibly with a reward system.

Fourth is linkbait. Again, this has two purposes. Quality content can lead to other sites linking to the original article. This will both drive traffic from the linking site, as well as help elevate search engine ranking. Search engine spiders love relevant links.

The final way SEO is useful is general: it improves the site. A website is a form of advertising--it represents the company. A site should be feature-rich and informative in order to increase brand recognition and ensure repeat visitors. Too often, website owners are caught up in how to "fool" search engine spiders. You might fool a spider, but you'll rarely fool an actual web surfer. SEO should be about providing a content-heavy site that will become a trusted resource in your industry.

For more information please click here.

Take Care,

Antonio


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