Common SEO Mistakes | Are You Making Them?

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Star Padilla

Matt Cuts released “The Top 5 SEO Mistakes Webmasters Make” which he mentions, though these were not the worst SEO mistakes you could make, they were however the most common.

Biggest Mistakes He Covers In the Video:

Is your site craw-lable?
Are you including words in your content in the order of which people will search?
Is your content compelling and marketable? Are you giving share value?
Is your title and description maximized on your pages with most traffic?
Not using webmaster resources and knowing how Google and SEO works.

This video is just another reminder that also supports our emphasis on the value of quality content that is optimized for search engines while adding value to your readers.

Enjoy!

Star Padilla

You could say I'm a chatter box with an eye for design. I'm what you’d call a digital strategist. Helping companies and individuals focus on making their businesses money while managing their social media platforms, content and audit their overall design/brand.

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1 Gigantic, Huge, Monstrous Reason Why Quality Content is Necessary for your Website

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Zachary Ankeny

“Content is king” – this cliché is routinely tossed around the digital marketing world with reckless abandon. Unfortunately, it leads many companies to believe the quantity, not the quality, of the content matters most.

The reality is the quantity of your content pleases search engines, while quality content helps your business attract paying customers.

Why is Content Necessary?

Recent changes in Google’s algorithm have forced website owners to create quality content in order to rank well. Google made these changes because that’s what the marketplace demands. Think about it this way – do you remember several years ago when you used to browse the web, and then you would click on one of the first 3 results, only to find the website you landed on was loaded with ads, the content was awkwardly worded, and for some reason, the same phrase and similar ones were repeatedly interjected into random spots in the content?

Back in those days, this technique worked on Google. But, as you might expect and based on personal experience, you would rather encounter content that’s interesting and answers the question, right? Google was the first to understand that, so it’s been modifying its algorithm to get that annoying content ranked lower and the interesting, useful content ranked higher. It’s still not perfect, but it’s better than ever before, and it’s clearly heading that direction in the future. Some of the recent major algorithm changes emphasizing quality content include:

Fresh (November 2011) – Actually gives preference to sites that regularly publish new content
Penguin (April 2012) – Punished websites using keywords in content too frequently (called “keyword stuffing” or “spamming”)
Panda (February 2011) – Thin content and sites with high amounts of low-value content had their rankings reduced. As of the writing of this post, Panda has experienced 25 subsequent updates.

Keys to Writing Stellar Content that Builds Trust and Grows Sales

If you’re not familiar with writing optimized website content, or if you recently started developing your own, you might not know what works best when writing web content. That’s actually a topic requiring an entire series of blog posts, but here are a few keys to getting started at writing content your visitors find useful:

It’s all about the headline – To get people to actually click through from the search engines to your page, you have to have a killer headline. For starters, use “how-to” and list posts – “7 tips to…” because these titles are time-test and always convert well.
The quality of your customer depends on the quality of your content – Always keep this in mind when writing. If you write short, general posts, people will leave your website. In-depth posts that provide solutions to specific questions your customers ask work well. Instead of asking your customer service team the question, imagine yourself providing the answer when writing your blog article.
Remember the 80/20 rule – 80% of the content on your blog and website should provide something of value to your readers. 20% should promote your business, products, and services. If you go any further than this, you risk looking like you only care about yourself, which scares your readers away.
Humanize your blog – Today’s consumer wants to do business with a person, not a nameless, faceless corporation. Every once in a while, blog about what’s going on at your business – what office games you play, or if a staff member is having a baby. Talk about new hires. Discuss your favorite things about the current weather. Keep these within that 20% rule though!

Now You’re Off and Running!

No, your blog won’t radically transform your business over night, but if you apply a consistent, dedicated strategy over a period of months, you will notice more and better things happening to your digital sales. If you need web content developed, learn more about Eminent SEO’s experienced web content writers and blog writing services.

Zachary Ankeny

After attaining my Associates Degree in Visual communications in 2000, I set off on a long career as a freelance writer and graphic designer. I have designed and headed many marketing campaigns for companies big and small all around the country. It is my belief that graphic design and writing go hand-in-hand, as they are both forms of communication. My non-fiction works have been published in dozens of magazines and publications. I have written for – and worked with – organizations such as: Banner Hospitals, The Jerome Historical Society, The Arizona Historical Society, City of Tempe, City of Bakersfield, Town of Gilbert, Wildhorse Ranch Rescue, Cynic Magazine, e|Fiction Magazine, and many more. Writing and designing is my passion and I look forward to continuing on with it for many years to come.

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4 Reasons Why Website Design is More than Looking Pretty

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Kirstin Douglas

When you think of a website design, what do you think of? If you’re like most people, you think of the colors, the buttons, the pictures, and the animations. Basically, you think about how “cool” the website is.

Even though the coolness of a website is very important (do people really want to engage with uncool websites?), there’s much more to website design than creating a pretty layout. In fact, there’s much more to it than I can even cover in this blog post.

Is Your Website Responsive? If you’re a business owner, why do you purchase someone else’s services? You do that because that service either 1) makes you more money or 2) saves you money now. Your website has much to do with how much money your company makes, especially in the digital age where consumers use tablet PCs, smartphones, laptop PCs, and desktop PCs to conduct 90% of the purchases they need to make. Here are some more ways in which your web design helps you increase your sales:

Responsive Website Design – The mobile device market is exploding in usage. Just look at how many people had smartphones just a few years ago – virtually no one. Now, who doesn’t? “Responsive design” is a term referring to websites designed to look visually appealing and to be fully functional on all device types – tablets, iPads, smartphones, PCs, laptops, and desktops. If your design isn’t optimized for all of these devices, you’re missing out on sales.
SEO Friendly Website Design – Websites can be designed more (and less) effectively for search engine optimization. For example, text on flash pages can’t be understood by Google. Flash also causes slower load times, which Google takes into account when ranking websites. For the keywords you’re targeting, you should have at least 1 page dedicated to each primary keyword. The list of SEO-friendly ways to design your website goes on and on, but these examples demonstrate why it’s important to design also with SEO in mind.
Calls-to-Action – Many websites come up short in showing their visitors what action they need to take. Even though it seems obvious, people are more likely to take your desired action if you tell them what to do. If your site lacks a clear call-to-action, then people are much less likely to become paying customers. Pretty websites are engaging, but if they don’t compel visitors to take an action, then they’re just as effective as ugly websites.
Trust Signals – By using the icons of respected authorities like the BBB, icons of well-known clients you’ve served, icons of awards your company has won, icons of certifications or accreditation’s you have, etc. you build a large amount of trust with visitors. Because trust makes buyers more apt to submit their credit card or pick up the phone and call, trust icons are extremely important for anyone looking to increase their website conversions.

There’s Much More to Effective Website Design, But That’s a Start…

Design is much more complex than this, but hopefully these tips give you the basic idea that a pretty web design is only pretty. A well-thought-out design, however, increases your sales in an era where everyone shops online for what they need.

Kirstin Douglas

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Why SEO is Not Dead

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Jenny Stradling

SEO is not dead! And, if you are reading this, neither are you… PHEW! Just like the Mayans predictions were wrong, so were the predictions that SEO would die in 2012…

SEO will never die and here’s why:

Unless ALL of the search engines die (including Google who is now worth over $250 Billion dollars) or the government shuts down the internet (or you know, Zombies take over the planet and kill all electricity) then there will always be a need for Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

SEO is so much more than optimizing a web page for the engines. You can optimize a number of things: videos, articles, images, social media profiles, press releases, newsletters, blog posts, mobile applications…. Heck, you can even optimize your Tweets.

And not only can you optimize all forms of digital content, if you aren’t, you should be!

“Isn’t SEO just spam?”

I think people first became scared of SEO when Google started cracking down on websites who were practicing spam techniques. Unfortunately many website marketers who practice spamming call themselves SEO’s, giving the rest of us who are legitimately doing SEO a bad name. Google has been updating their algorithms for several years now, but when they rolled out Panda and then Penguin all hell broke loose and many website owners started reconsidering their marketing strategies.

The fact of the matter is SEO is NOT spam. Spam is spam, so there you have it.

The right way to do SEO:

I am not saying there isn’t a “wrong” way to do SEO. There is such a thing as OVER optimization and Google has come right out and said certain methods that used to work are no longer effective. As the internet continues to evolve, and as new technologies are developed, the way people use the search engines changes as well. Clearly Google updates their algorithms to accommodate changes to human behaviors as they aim to serve up the highest quality, most relevant information on the subject being searched.

Because Google (and the other engines) are updating their algorithms frequently, we (website owners, content optimizers and SEO marketers) have to be prepared and, for lack of a better term, roll with the punches. What we do today may not work tomorrow, but there are some basics that EVERYONE should be doing. So, here is my quick list:

Oh, and let me just preface this with saying although all of this is basic, most of it requires a certain amount of SEO know how, technical skill and access to tools. But, nevertheless, here it is. If you don’t think you can implement it on your own, I highly suggest you hire a professional. They don’t pay me the big bucks for nothin’

Nail down your keyword strategy

I put this first on the list because it is the VERY first thing you need to do before you start optimizing anything online. This is an involved process and if you don’t know how to do it already, this blog post isn’t going to help you much. But, what you should know is a solid keyword strategy includes:

Keywords for conversions. Many used to believe that the highest search volume term in their space was the most important term to rank for. This is just NOT the case. Sure, you want to target key terms that bring in some volume, but it’s more important to focus on the terms that will bring in the highest quality traffic for conversions.
Keyword diversity. One of the biggest mistakes you can make post Panda/Penguin is go to heavy on any one keyword phrase. If a root term is important to you, pick at least 10-20 similar supporting phrases to include in your strategy.
Brand “keywords”. If your entire backlink index consists of anchor text keywords only, you are sending Google the wrong signal. Avoid a red flag, go heavy on variations of your brand, your URL, your product names and direct click calls to action “keywords”.

Optimize your meta data

On-page SEO consists of a number of things from basic keyword inclusion in important areas of each page, to siloing your website architecture for a deeper search engine spider crawl. When a new client comes in and asks me to do a website audit, I use a checklist of over 100 things I think are important to consider when trying to improve your website authority. However, I am often surprised how many people miss the most basic on-page SEO – your meta data! Some of the basics:

Meta Title. The title of the page is the first thing the search engines see when the visit. What a lot of people forget is that the title is also the first thing the user sees in the search engine result pages. Therefore it is extremely important that you write your page title for the search engines AND the user. We like to include the important keyword for the page along with a benefit or unique value offered. Sure, it’s nice to get rankings but if no one is clicking, what’s the point of ranking?
Meta Description. Although Google doesn’t always serve up your meta description in the search result pages (they are now using keyword rich snippets from the page content instead in many cases) I still suggest you write optimized content for the meta description. We like to include the root keyword phrase used in the title, along with a call to action. Again, we are NOT just writing for the engines here, we are writing for the users and clicks!
Meta Keywords. Back in 2009 Google announced they would no longer be using the meta keywords in their algorithm to determine where your site should rank. So, why do I bring it up now?Although Google may not be currently using this data, there is a chance they might in the future. Also, many believe that Yahoo, Bing and other engines use this data. So, although it might not be helping your Google rankings, it’s not hurting them either. However, there are some that also think you should avoid using them as your competition can simply peek at your meta data to see your strategy – so, if you do decide to use them, just keep it short and include your root targets (seen in your other meta data and content as well).

Write quality content; optimize it for your keywords

Content has always been THE most important part of any website marketing strategy. If you want the search engines to see you as an authority, your content has to be unique, relevant and fresh. Of course you want to give your users something interesting to read as well, so you don’t want to write for the engines, you want to write for your audience. However, you won’t have an audience if you don’t optimize your content for the keywords that will drive them there. So, write for your audience, but include your keywords where possible. A few content optimization tips:

Web pages. Once you have your keyword strategy and you’ve properly optimized your web page meta data, you need to write (or rewrite) your page content to include these keywords as well. I am NOT talking about keyword stuffing – so don’t get carried away. But, pay attention to your headers and be smart about how you talk about your products and services. If your goal is to rank for “red roses” make sure your content includes that term and variations of that term.
Blogs. I believe everyone should have a blog on their site. It’s the easiest way to keep your content fresh, giving your users AND the search engines reason to visit your site more often. Updated content also makes your site more of an authority on the subject, increasing your search engine value as a whole. I suggest including your keyword strategy where possible in your blog post titles, content and tagging – however, a BIG no-no is to write for the engines and not your users. If something interesting is happening in your industry, write about it, even if the content isn’t exactly in line with your overall target keywords.
Video, images and other digital content. Content isn’t just written word. Content can be a number of things from a video to an image. Because the search engines look at your website as code, the only way they will know what your videos and images are about is if you tell them through your optimization. Don’t forget to add relevant tags to your videos/images and include your keywords where possible. Oh, and this goes for your off-site content as well – when you load video to YouTube, add your keywords in the title, description and tags. If you are going to share an image socially, name the image file with your keyword, post the image with keyword related content.

Share your content

Remember that movie, Field of Dreams? Ray Kinsella (played by Kevin Costner) hears a voice that whispers, “If you build it, they will come”. That might have been true in the movie – but unfortunately it is not that easy when it comes to website marketing. You may have an interesting design, compelling content, beautiful images and videos – but if you don’t share it, no one will know it’s there. Proper sharing for higher search engine rankings involves a strategic marketing plan that includes a number of methods, but if you are looking for some tips on how you can do some of the work yourself, here are a few:

Get social. I don’t care if you are a local plumber or a big, glossy brand, you need to be social. There are a number of reasons to have a social presence online from branding, awareness, networking and partnerships to direct clicks. But as an SEO, I want to focus on the search engine value. Because social is such a large part of how people now use the web, Google and the other search engines have integrated social mentions into their algorithms. If your site and content is getting social mentions and shares than you are relevant and worthy of search engine results. So, if you are already creating interesting content – get social and share it!
Submit. Okay, this is not the time to get into the value of a press release or article syndication link – but what I will say is that quality content, with a mention of your brand or a link back, that is hosted on a quality site can pass value to your site. Some do guest posts, some submit their content to high end news sites, some pay to submit their site to a relevant web directory – there are a lot of methods. If you are looking for help in this area, well, you’ll just have to call us. It’s a strategy developed over years of trial and error. But, if you come across an opportunity to submit your site or a relevant article you wrote, don’t pass it up. Even if you don’t get a link back, just mentioning your company name as a citation can add value to your overall authority on the web.
Bait. Possibly one of the trickiest content marketing strategies, link baiting or content share baiting is one of the most powerful methods for increasing your web presence.The practice of viral marketing includes creating something people WANT to watch/read/see and share. Sometime companies have found success with developing something funny, connecting with people through a humors video or an animated meme. Others have pushed the boundaries and developed something controversial – creating content or a series of ads that hit hard and spur debates and conversation. If you are having a hard time getting visibility – creating something interesting and sharing it can end up giving you 100’s or 1000’s of shares, link backs and direct clicks.

I think it’s safe to say that SEO is harder than it used to be. In order to be a true SEO, you have to know the history of the internet, understand the search engine algorithms as well as human behavior. You have to be logical, technical and creative. You have to be humble and willing to change on the fly. You have to listen, study, test and analyze. Because of this, perhaps SEO is a dying art. Not because SEO will ever die, but because it’s hard and people don’t want to put in the work. But, I am okay with that – why? Because WE are willing to put in the hard work. And we do, every day…

Jenny Stradling

CEO EminentSEO.com. SEO and SEM Strategist, social media girl, blogger, music lover, soul searcher. Collects: books, pictures, quotes, music, art, dreams...

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In Pursuit of Search Engine Rankings

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Star Padilla

If you own a business, online presence should be a high priority. With over 75% of the U.S. population currently online, businesses of all types and sizes are utilizing internet real estate to cash in on this seemingly infinite cash resource. But for those new to the internet game, getting started can be an intimidating and stressful process.

Enter Google:

A high Google search ranking is able to provide businesses with an abundance of leads that may have been lost otherwise. Simply put, if you are not visible within the Google result pages, to many people, you might as well not exist.

Google’s reputation for shifting the online market place is widely known… and feared. When the search giant sees fit to alter their search algorithms, the changes work to improve the search user experience, while in turn punishing sites deemed “low quality.”

How do these algorithm changes impact you and your website? Basically, it implies that if you are committed to a high search ranking, then you must put forth the time and effort to maintain it.

What Works?

Over the years, numerous tricks and tips have been conveyed in an effort to help pages achieve and maintain a high search ranking. As Google’s algorithm is constantly changing, it can be difficult to keep up-to-date on which tactics actually work. Let’s begin with some basic information that will never change:

Content as the User Sees it:

As the premier search engine, Google is committed to delivering relevant, high-quality content to their user base. As such, Google’s algorithms are in place to reward sites utilizing quality content that is in line with the products, services, and information their users are searching for.

What changes here, is exactly how Google defines which content is relevant, and which is clutter or “fluff”.

How Your Site Content Looks To Google:

The world’s first glimpse into Google’s marketplace dominance came about when some of the more prominent sites began achieving lower search rankings.

As it turns out, these sites were found to house either low quality or duplicate content. Because Google is committed to high-quality results and (i.e. high-quality content), these sites lost top search engine rankings.

So, how do you avoid low rankings? Relevant, original and fresh content is the key! Though it may take more time and effort to produce, the rewards you receive rank-wise will more than make up for the time or marketing budget used.

Additional Factors:

In addition to the content, Google is interested in the user experience as a whole. Sites that are deemed confusing or frustrating to visit will typically find themselves with lower search rankings than those committed to a fluid user experience.

Take a moment to consider your personal web search behaviors. When you come across a site that takes forever to load, and makes you search for what you were looking for, you are likely to take your business elsewhere.

Of course Google also needs to find your site and content in the first place, so you will need off site marketing (links, Facebook ad campaigns, PPC, etc). But if you are driving traffic to a site now which poor content, lack of proper optimization and confusing navigation – you will likely never achieve the goals you are looking for.

Summary:

Make sure your website is clean, your content is relevant and fresh and you’ve thought about the user experience. If you don’t have a quality website, Google has no reason to serve you to their users – they have a million other sites they can rank instead. At the end of the day, quality wins.