Pimp My Keywords

Link Building Strategies - Part I

Listen and learn as we share some of our link building strategies we use here at Purple Trout, LLC in earning one-way links to our clients' websites.

 

How To Target Local SEO

Local businesses who need to attract more local customers to their restaurant, bookstore, auto repair shop, etc., need to focus on local keywords with their website, keywords, link building and map/listings website.

Using Karen's Flower Shop (a fictious florist in Cincinnati Ohio) as an example, let's explore a  strategy for local SEO.

Website

Althought it sounds simple, local businesses fail to mention their geographical location on their website. This should include your physical address (not a post office box) along with directions including full street names. Include your city, state and zip code along with necessary maps. If parking is a problem, mention nearby parking alternatives.

In addition, to focus more on local opportunities, our florist could write a blog on local events, local news or provide a directory of information on local hospitals, funeral homes, etc.

Think local, local, local.

Keywords

By utilizing a keyword research tool such as Wordtracker or the Google Keyword Tool, you should research to find targeted keywords on a local level.

For example, by researching keywords based on "Cincinnati Florist" using the Google Keyword Tool, we found these possible keywords:

Cincinnati florist
Cincinnati flowers
Cincinnati flower shop
Cincinnati flower delivery
flower delivery Cincinnati
Cincinnati flower
florist Cincinnati
flowers Cincinnati
flower shops Cincinnati
florist Cincinnati Ohio
florists in Cincinnati
flower shop Cincinnati
florists Cincinnati
florists in Cincinnati Ohio
Cincinnati florists delivery
florist in Cincinnati Ohio
flowers Cincinnati Ohio
Cincinnati flowers delivery
florist Cincinnati OH

Note: These keywords are all earning good monthly searching numbers according to Google. The above list only included a sample of the keywords we uncovered.

Once the targeted keywords have been selected, they needed to be utilized in the website's content. Granted, you don't want to force the keyword so it dumbs down your audience nor do you want to stuff the page with keyword after keyword after keyword. However, there's nothing wrong with "We're Karen's Flower Shop, a Cincinnati florist providing flowers and floral arrangements for any occasion."

Get it?

Keywords should also be utilized in Page Titles, Descriptions and image ALT tags.

Link Building

Once of the most important SEO elements is link building. Our florist business should be using link building internally (from page-to-page within the website) and externally in earning links from other websites pointing to Karen's website.

Internal links should be "anchor text links" which send users from page to page by clicking on linked keywords. For example, a link on the website's Home page could be "Cincinnati Flower Delivery" which would route the customer to an ordering page. Internal links on targeted keywords are just as important as external links.

Links pointing to your website, or to a specific page, from another website are also needed. There are many ways to earn inbound links in local communities including online membership lists; publicity; media; articles; blogs; review websites; maps, just to name a few.

Maps, Lists & Reviews

Maps, lists and review websites have become popular over the last year as more customers are voicing their opinions on good and bad products, service, experiences, etc., on every business in town.

First things, first. Make sure you have created accounts to "claim" your business listings in sites such as Yelp, CitySearch, YellowPages, Judy's Book, Google Places, Facebook Places, etc. You may find your business is already listed in some review sites, but the business owner (that would be you) hasn't claimed their business.

Once you have confirmed business ownership, you can then complete your business listing including business description; hours; method of payment; website; maps, etc. Include photos and a video if possible. With Google Places (and other websites), try to complete the entire profile.

Many listing and mapping websites allow reviews from customers. Always interact with your customers here (even the bad reviews). This shows you are monitoring your reviews and working to solve any problems. Thank everyone for their review (even the bad ones).

Yes, sometimes, competition and disgruntled employees will create fake reviews to try to discredit you and your business. In most cases, these "reviews" are violating the website's guidelines and can be removed upon request.

Follow these tips and you'll find your website moving up in local search results.

Earn Inbound Links With Your Company's Employment Opportunities

Here's a cool idea in which your company's website can earn inbound links by posting current employment opportunities.

Search Google for "post job opportunities" and you'll find an unlimited amount of sources seeking job opportunities. Many of the sites are free, while others charge a small fee.

Target top-ranked sites and those specific to your industry.

Here, you can post any current company job openings with a link pointing back to your website. If possible, include the link to your company's careers or job opportunity page.

Easy Link Building Opportunities

Earning great inbound links to your website is a lot closer than you might think.

Consider these link building opportunities:

• Friends and colleagues in your industry
• Directories
• Resource lists
• Trade associations
• Local groups
• Your suppliers
• Your customers
• Local organizations, such as chambers of commerce
• Networking groups

Chamber and organization members almost always offer an online listing and link to your company's website. Just make sure your contact information and link URL is correct.

Why Others Want To Link To Your Website

A common question when it comes to link building and earning more inbound links to your website is "why would anyone want to link to my website?"

Simple.

Someone would want to link to you because of who you are. Another website owner knows you; works with you; receives referrals from you and does business with you on a regular basis. They like you!

Someone would want to link with you because of what you do. They like your business; your ideas; your principals; your products or your services.

Someone would want to link with you because of what other people are saying about you. Perhaps, new links could come from people who don't know you personally, but they read (and hear) what others are saying about you and your business and they want to share that information (a link) with their readers.

Why Link Building Is Important

Earning inbound links to your company's website is an important factor in search engine optimization. Not only do they help boost your search engine rankings, but they also help in gaining more traffic and sales on your site.

In addition, people follow links. When they see relevant links on sites they visit, humans frequently click the link and follow it to the landing site.

Links also help establish you and your business as an industry leader.

Ten Ways To Earn More Links

By Steve Phillips
President
Purple Trout, LLC

Since link building is a very important part of ongoing search engine optimization, we frequently are asked the following question:

"How do I get more links?"

Link building (also known as inbound links, linking, etc.) is the process by which another website, blog, social media account and/or other, creates a link pointing back to your website. While inbound links from high quality, relevant websites impress search engines, it is also important to note that effective link building generates more traffic to your website.

Here are 10 ideas on how to earn more inbound links:

1. Content is king, so write great content for your website, blog, etc.
2. Create an e-book or guide and give it away for free.
3. Write a white paper on an industry-related topic. It should be educational and helpful.
4. Write articles for your website.
5. Write articles for on-line magazines. Most sites will print a short bio with the article and allow a link back to your website.
6. Blog and blog frequently. Writing once a month or once a week isn't enough to get anyone's attention, let alone earn a link.
   
   
7. Write a guest blog.
8. Write a book or a manual and sell it.
9. Write press releases, but only as they specifically deal with your company or your industry.
   
   
10. Create and publish informational videos, podcasts and presentations.

Above all, be creative, informative and educational.

Link Building Must Get Better

As an SEO consulting firm, we see so many websites that seem to be doing all the right things when it comes to search engine optimization with one exception: link building.

Unfortunately, link building is one of the hardest and time-consuming elements in SEO. Additionally, it's also one of the most important elements.

Link building must get better in order to rank high in Google and other search engines.

"Better" means better links; not more links. Just better ones.

Many websites earn high rankings with 200, 100 (or even less) inbound links pointing to their website. You'd be surprised at the number of websites ranked No. 5 to No. 10 with hundreds (if not thousands) of links.

Quality beats quantity every time.

SEO Tactics, Tips & Helpful Advice - No. 139

Link building is the hardest part of search engine optimization (SEO). It's also one of the most important factors in earning more traffic to your website and higher rankings in Google and other search engines.

Quit worrying about the number of links pointing to your website. Instead, start concentrating on the quality of links pointing to your website.

Quality beats quantity every time.

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Learn more about link building by attending our free, education webinar "Advanced & Effective Link Building Strategies" set for Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 10 a.m.

SEO Tactics, Tips & Helpful Advice - No. 134

While everyone wants to earn one-way, inbound links to their website, there are some rules to consider when thinking links.

Avoid spammy links. These would be links from websites that contains Viagra, Texas Hold em and business opportunities. The ads are spam and, therefore, you are guilty by association. Even if these links are free, don't ask for them.

Avoid links from "throw-away websites." These are .org and .info sites as they are typically owned by a spammer. Most .org and .info owners also buy the .com website and use the .org and .info sites to try to build links to their own .com site. When in doubt about a link from a .org or .info website, check out the base domain name with the .com suffix and see if anything catches your eye.

So what websites do you trust?

Typically, you can trust a link from a college/university; an industry expert, or even someone who is a well-known category expert.

Links from .edu and .gov sites are good links and carry good trust value.