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Why Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Why Now? Part 2 of 3

In the last post I talked a bit about what SEO is and why it is so important to today's business.  In part two, we're going to discuss how you can make on site changes to make it more "search engine friendly." There are numerous ways to do this and in the future I'll go into much more detail on more advanced strategies.  But, for right now, I want to concentrate on the basics and what you can do right now to start optimizing your site for better traffic.

Keywords. Key Words. What Keywords are your customers searching for?  Is a Keyword a word, or a phrase. Actually, both are important.  On site optimization begins and ends with selecting good keywords for your online business.  It is critical for success.   Why?  Because your keywords are used in so many different places.  You need to have them on your web pages, in links back to your site from complementary web sites, in pay per click ads (PPC), and in all of your copy writing. 

Proper SEO requires looking at your entire website and how you can best target new customers with keywords that are related to your business, your specific products and what makes your services unique.  You need to think like your customers, not like a website owner.  If you were looking for your products, what exactly would you type in to search for it?  Think about this. A lot. Brainstorm, practice, type in search queries and see what competition comes up. Try different combinations. The more time you spend on this the more profitable you're site will be.  SEO is not about branding, it is Direct Response Marketing... it's about selling your wonderful products and services, nothing else.

Each page on your site should be optimized for different keywords depending on what you are selling or what kind of traffic you are trying to attract.  Product pages especially should be optimized with more niche, or targeted, keywords.

For example, if one your website sells scanners, on a product page use "Fujitsu ScanSnap S510 Color Image Scanner", not "high speed scanner" to attract better and more qualifed traffic. If it's your home page, use the the keywords that describe your company, products and services.

Fujitsu ScanSnap S510 Color Image Scanner should appear on that particular product page SEVERAL TIMES to draw traffic. It should appear in the Meta Description, Meta Keywords, Meta Title Tags, and so on.

A quick tip on keyword density: 6%.  Out of every 100 words on a page, your keywords should appear 6 times. Some experts say 4%, some say 8%, let's go for the middle and play it safe.

There are several good keyword tools to help you find the most relevant search terms for your SEO campaign.  The best free tool available is directly from Google at https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal.  Brainstorm all the keyword combos you can possibly think of and enter them into this tool to determine which attract the most traffic.  The end goal is to find the most relevant keyword combinations with the least competition.  The Google Keyword Tool allows you to do this.

I'm sure this post raised more questions than it actually answered as this is a big topic.  I will go much deeper on keywords in future posts.  There is a difference in choosing keywords for a SEO campaign versus a SEM campaign and I will cover that in future posts.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or comments please let me know and I will get back to you with more specific answers.  You can also visit Net Point Marketing to learn more.

Why Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Why Now? Part 1 of 3

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past year it's no surprise to anyone that the country is in the grips of a stifling recession.  The worst since the Great Depression from many have proclaimed.  Businesses are cutting back, especially small businesses.  With a reduction in people, resources and a much reduced marketing budget business owners are increasingly turning to Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies to improve their bottom line.

Search Engine Optimization is affordable and targeted.  It's much less expensive than traditional advertising and most importantly...offers a measurable return on investment.  Everything a smart business owner is looking for, right?  So, what's the problem?  Why doesn't everyone get with the new times and start optimizing right now?  Well, for most people it's confusing, complex, always changing and hard to keep up with for the normal person who doesn't immerse themselves in it 24/7. Oh, and they have no idea where to start.  So, it's kind of a throw your hands up in the air type of thing with lots of mumbles of "just forget it, I don't get it."  There is a solution. And, I'll get to that soon.

SEO will improve how your site is ranked with Google, Yahoo, Ask and all the other major search engines.  The higher the ranking, the more traffic.  The more traffic, the more sales.  And of course, more sales equals more money for your business. And you. It's that simple.

With effective SEO strategies, companies of all sizes and from all industries been able to market to such a specifically defined target audience.  SEO has leveled the playing field.  As many smart entrepreneurs are realizing, when you can spend less money and reach out to a better quality prospect the results can be nothing short of astounding.

So, you ask, what exactly IS Search Engine Optimization?  How does it work?  And, most importantly... how can it help me and my business?

All good questions.  Let's start at the top and work our way down.

There are numerous definitions for Search Engine Optimization and most only define one side of the equation.  So, here's my definition: Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is a twofold process of first making on site page enhancements and second implementing off site marketing strategies designed to bring more visibility and traffic to your website.

So, let's take that apart a bit.  And, don't worry, this is a 3 part post and I promise I'll get to the part about how it helps you improve your sales and take away some of the business pain you are undoubtedly feeling right now.

First... the on site stuff.  Stuff?  Yeah, stuff. Let's not get too technical here, we'll all enjoy the conversation much more.

Here's the teaser to bring you to part 2 of this post which explains On Site Search Engine Optimization... get ready to learn, in simple terms, about the wild, wonderful world of targeted Keywords, making your site "easy to read," how to think like a prospective customer and even how to think like a search engine.  We'll chat about Meta tags and Meta Descriptions and even how to use Search Boxes.  I may even teach you how to spy on your competitors... who knows?  Plus much, much more. Actually, if I cover all that stuff I just mentioned I'll probably be done at that point.  Either way, you'll learn and your business will benefit, I promise you.

Part Three will delve into Off Site strategies, which have become of paramount importance over the past year.