Pimp My Keywords

Earning Quality Links

There are many pieces to the SEO puzzle and link building is one of them.

While you'll hear "content is king" with search engine optimization, I'll add "link building is queen."

And, while there are many ways to earn inbound - or one-way links - to your website, you'll want to make sure your linking efforts are solid, consistent and the links you earn are quality links.

If you and your website are new to link building, you may want to trade a few links (reciprocal) with some strategic partners. Do not go overboard. Do not buy links.

The best link is a one-way link pointing to your website. Period.

By the way, over the past week, we "earned" an average of 61 quality links for the clients here at Purple Trout.

Long live the Queen.

SEO Tactics, Tips & Helpful Advice - No. 43

Over the next few weeks, our "tips" posts will cover the area of blogging.

Should your business blog? If so, why? If not, why?

Will blogging help my search engine rankings?

Do I need special software for blogging?

Does anyone read a blog? Will anyone read my blog?

Should you hire someone to create and write your blog for your firm? Tricky question, huh?

First things, first.

A blog is like an online diary of sorts. Individuals blog about their lives, diets, movies, books, music, exercise plans, vacations, hobbies, etc. Their goal is not to sell, but to inform friends and family of their activities.

Businesses blog about their industry, their company, employees, upgrades, new products, new services, case studies, special events, etc. Their goal is to also inform (and ultimately to sell). The blog shouldn't present a forum for a hard-pitch sell, but it's more of a soft-sell.

Information is the key. It let's your readers now you are willing to share your knowledge and advice. That makes you the expert. It builds a following and a level of trust.

If you're currently not writing a blog, start reading some blogs in your industry. Focus more on content, topics, etc., and less on design.

SEO Tactics, Tips & Helpful Advice - No. 42

While there are many ways to earn inbound links to your website, let's first cover the basics of what is a link?

A link, more commonly referred to as a "back link" is the process by which another website published a link on their website pointing "back" to your website.

There are many types of links:

• A link from the Purple Trout website to your website is considered a "one way link". It goes one way: to your website.
• If you and I traded links, those would be reciprocal links. And, for the record, they don't cancel each other out. Each link is worth its own weight.
• If you paid to be in the Yahoo Directory (not a bad idea), it is considered to be a paid link.

While some play link games and form tri-angular links (ex: I link to Ron; Ron links to Sue and then Sue links to me), the business of links is very easy:

Earn them.

Give your audience something to link to and the links will happen. Some ideas:

• Awesome content is a good way to get someone's attention and earn links.
• A good white paper.
• A free offer or download.
• A video or webinar.
• A trial.
• An event

If you have to beg, borrow or steal for a link, then you're basically telling everyone to give you a link for no real reason.

Ask yourself: Why would (or should) someone link to my website?

SEO Tactics, Tips & Helpful Advice - No. 41

In these challenging economic times, a few thoughts on how to keep current business, earn new business without increasing spending:

• Do not cut your marketing budget. Recently, a prospect told us "sales are down, so we are stopping all marketing efforts." Yikes!
• Think creatively. What are some things you should be doing that you stopped doing when business was comfortable? Remember?
• Pick up the telephone and re-connect with old clients. Don't give them the hard sales pitch; just re-connect.
• Pick up the telephone and call your current clients.
• Do an e-mail survey and have your customers/clients rate your business and service.
• Attend local networking events. Most events are free and you'll have the opportunity to meet new people (translation: potential customers).

In terms of search engine optimization (SEO), I'll be publishing "10 Free SEO Tips You Should Start Now" later this week. We'll post a link to the article here.

When Customers Are Ready, They'll Use A Search Engine

"Whether you use catalogs, direct mail, call centers or broadcast media, today's Web-savvy customers are more likely to use search engines when they're ready to buy than ever before."

Did you catch that?

...customers are more likely to use search engines when they're ready to buy than ever before.

Author Jeff Molander, CEO of Molander & Associates, Inc., offered some other insights into search engines in the December 2008 issue of Target Marketing. For instance:

• The fastest way to test a content-based strategy is to partner with other bloggers who need content. This is a great opportunity for free PR, but it also creates link building back to your website, blog, etc.
• Become the expert in your industry with your blog, content and advice.
• Leverage your content across marketing strategies.
• Measure your success. Create goals and measure your traffic, leads and conversions.
• Install the Google Toolbar and keep an eye on your Web page "page rank" score.
• Subscribe to Google Alerts.

While none of the above ideas represent a silver bullet in SEO, they should all be considered as part of your ongoing optimization efforts.

Our New Logo Is Just The Beginning

After three years, we decided our "fish" needed a new look.

Actually, our Purple Trout logo was recently given an upgrade. Call it Trout 2.0.

Previously, our fish was seen jumping out of the water and the lake was square. Now, however, our fish is diving deep (for search results?) and our body of water is oval.

We like it.

It's just the beginning, however.

We've upgraded our company; added new team members; improved our search engine optimization services (which include Pay Per Click and Social Media) to help our clients earn higher search engine rankings and more traffic to their website.

We will be adding more services soon: stronger link building tools; content and article writing services; Internet and social media strategies.

Our website will continue to be educational with SEO articles, podcasts, videos and tips to help clients (and non-clients) keep on top of the ever-changing search engine optimization world.

We always welcome your input and questions.

Note: Our new logo was created and designed by Janet Berberich of Eye Candy Design, Inc. Our company tag line "cast a wider internet" was created by Justice & Young

SEO Tactics, Tips & Helpful Advice - No. 40

Which comes first: Keywords or Content?

That's a good question, especially if your website is finished and then you decide to start your search engine optimization project.

With a completed website, you'll have to back up a bit and massage your text, write Page Titles, etc. Do not stuff your site/page with keywords. Make it flow. You might have to do a complete re-write.

If you are going to re-design your website, then you can research and select your targeted keywords before your write the content.

When working with a website designer, the best time to start working on search engine optimization is when someone mentions the word "content" or "copy". Keyword research is not an easy chore. It takes time.