Blogs

Synonyms Now Recognized by Google

Posted Mon, 02/15/2010 - 6:37am by breitter

I recently came across a blog post by a fellow SEO copywriter by the name of Liam Bailey that discusses the idea of Google now recognizing certain keyword synonyms, in addition to the keyword or keyphrase itself.

The example Bailey uses is with the terms overseas property and property abroad, citing that Google appeared to be recognizing each phrase as one in the same. And while the writer of this post provided no hard, concrete evidence that this was in fact the case, aside from personal assurance, as an SEO copywriter myself it really made me think.

Aligning Search with Business Objectives

Posted Tue, 01/05/2010 - 11:11am by ksutton

All too frequently I encounter a colleague or a prospect that is swinging wildly and blindly at their search marketing campaigns and consequently are not seeing the desired result(s). In most instances this lack of direction stems from a disconnect between the business objectives and the search marketing strategy. Step 1 of effective search marketing is strategically planning the campaign but Step 0 is setting clear and well defined objectives for the campaign as they relate to business objectives.

The Death of Absolutes: A Word on Linking Strategy

Posted Thu, 12/03/2009 - 5:24am by ksutton

I encounter clients and fellow marketers alike on a regular basis who seek to define their link building strategy by a set of rigidly defined absolutes.  These rules don’t bend and they certainly don’t evolve with the ranking algorithm or with the needs of the business. Unfortunately, the static nature of this approach to link building often comes at the expense of some outstanding link partnership opportunities.  I’m going to address 2 of my favorite, most common and most detrimental linking absolutes.  

Absolute 1: Never Pay For Links

Seasonal Keyword Research (Or: What You’d Wished You’d Remembered from Math Class)

Posted Wed, 11/18/2009 - 10:59am by Bobby Barbeau

'Tis the season for ecommerce sites to salivate over the visions of sugarplums and higher volume sales dancing in their heads. And in terms of organic rankings, if you haven't prepared your site (or your client's site) to be in optimal rankings in time for the holiday rush, it's too late at this point.

But all hope's not lost--seasonal searches don't only spike during the holiday shopping season. And knowing when searches (that are relevant to your site) see a jump in volume can be key in getting your site in front of the right people at the right time.

Now You, Too, Can Have an Interactive Website!

Posted Tue, 11/10/2009 - 11:19am by erainwater

Google's been very busy lately. Most people who pay attention to social media and search engine updates already know that Google recently launched three new platforms that can make your website more user-friendly and more interactive. These platforms give you the ability to find out what your users think, interact with them on a more personal level, and allow them to connect with each other. There are pros and cons to each, and these new additions emphasis the importance of making sure you monitor and address user response.

Meet the Neighbors

Posted Thu, 11/05/2009 - 8:43am by erainwater

The economy is tight right now. We all feel it, and everyone’s looking for a way to save a couple of bucks here and there. The time comes to renew your hosting, and you consider your options. Dedicated or shared? Does it really matter that you could have more security and be crawled faster on a dedicated IP address when shared hosting can save you a decent amount of money? So you make the decision, enjoy the savings, and sit back. After all, no harm done, right? Um… don’t be so sure.

Walking the Fine Line of SEO Copywriting

Posted Wed, 11/04/2009 - 6:44am by breitter

There are countless opinions out there about the "right” way to approach SEO copywriting. Some would say that playing to the desires of the search engines is most critical, while others would argue that making your Website content readable and user-friendly should be the priority. So who's right? Well like the title says—it's truly a fine line.

Combining Usability with SEO

Posted Wed, 10/28/2009 - 6:26am by erainwater

We all know how important SEO is- this is what makes your website visible in search engine result pages (SERPs), and this is how you attract users to your site. But what happens when a user reaches your site and can't use it? They go to your competitors, and you lose conversions, ROI, and repeat traffic.

So what are some ways you can avoid falling into usability error traps and keep your conversions and traffic?

PPC Tip: Improve your bottom line by lowering your click through rate.

Posted Wed, 10/21/2009 - 6:07am by ksutton

Improve your bottom line by lowering your click through rate. Wait, what? Anyone that has ever managed a paid search campaign has raised a questioning eyebrow.

Bing.com, Oompa Loompa Labor Unions, and Other Solutions to Problems That Don’t Really Exist

Posted Wed, 10/14/2009 - 12:03pm by Bobby Barbeau

So perhaps my title is a bit harsh regarding what the folks in Redmond are doing (or trying to do) with search, and it's likely that I take more exception to the Bing.com marketing campaign than to the search engine itself.

However, marketing speaks to how a company wants their product represented to the world. If Microsoft is representing Bing.com as the "cure" to "search overload," then one has to assume that "search overload" is an actual affliction or problem of some kind.

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