Pimp My Keywords

Is the Internet, Google or Twitter Killing Newspapers?

Using Google, we can find just about any newspaper article on any topic in the world.

With Twitter, you'll learn of any news event (a la Michael Jackson) before CNN has time to upload a breaking news story on the web.

So, it comes as little surprise that some newspapers - and newspaper owners - are quick to blame Google for their demise.

"There is a charitable view of the history of Google," says Les Hinton, Dow Jones Chief Executive.

"It didn't actually begin life in a cave as a digital vampire per se. The charity view of Google is that the news business itself fed Google's taste for this kind of blood."

Dow Jones owns the Wall Street Journal.

Most, myself included, like to have the newspaper in hand. It's a daily routine I enjoy.

However, recently, I truly believe my newspaper carrier will have to tie a rock to the newspaper in order to have some weight in reaching my front lawn.

Some newspapers have started charging for "reading" articles online. Sort of a "pay per read" approach.

Would you pay to read an article online?

Disappointed In Your Google Rankings?

Here are 10 things to consider if you are disappointed with your search engine rankings:

1. Make sure you are using the right keywords for your website. Target 1-3 keywords per page.
2. Make sure your pages are optimized for the targeted keywords.
3. Write stronger Page Titles (with keywords).
4. Write stronger Page Descriptions (with keywords).
5. Make sure your website's content is keyword rich (but don't over-stuff your website with keywords).
6. Tag everything, including pictures, graphics, logos, videos, PDF files, etc.
7. Write fresh content.
8. Publish press releases.
9. Publish articles.
10. Improve your link building efforts by earning more one-way links from other websites pointing back to your website.

Quit Whining And Start Optimizing, Writing, Blogging...

I've come to the startling conclusion that we tend to be more whiners than we are doers.

For example, a few recent conversations I've had with potential clients:

• "I went over my budget on my state-of-the-art website, but I'm not getting any visitors to my website. Can you give me some cheap SEO services?"
• "I think a blog might be a good idea for my website, but I don't have time."
• "No one is going to read my blog about (fill in the blank).
• "What the heck is Twitter?"
• "Twitter is stupid"
• "Facebook is for kids."

Shocking isn't it?

Today, Web Pro World reported that 95% of all blogs are abandoned. I also read that more people are quitting Twitter than those starting new accounts.

Are we bored, or is it just easier to be entertained by a video game?

What are you doing to get more traffic to your website? Seriously.

Unfortunately, if half the energy spent whining was put into optimizing, blogging, writing, link building and twittering, you'd be a little bit surprised at the results.

Good, Fast and Cheap?

At one time or another, we've all had this kind of request from a potential client/customer:

"I want good service."

"I want it done fast."

"I want it cheap."

Oh, did I mention they might ask for all three: good, fast and cheap?

Sound familiar?

A colleague of mine found a LinkedIn profile which mentions the story of "good, fast and cheap."

The catch, however, is allowing clients to select only two of the three methods at any one time.

Therefore, if the client wanted "good and cheap" then they weren't getting it fast.

If the client asked for "good and fast" then they weren't getting it cheap.

If the client ordered "cheap and fast" then it wasn't going to be good.

The salesman was very good at what he did and usually got his clients to see the errors of their ways.

Which two will your clients pick?

A Year Later: Are Things Better For Your Website?

Happy New Year!

As you look ahead in 2009, I am sure there are a lot of things on your mind: the economy, increasing business, cutting costs, etc.?

In doing so, think about how your website plays into your company's marketing and business plans.

• Is your website updated with current company information, products, services and offerings?
• Is the most recent "news" item dated April 2008?
• When is the last time you posted any fresh content to your website?
• What is your call to action?
• How much traffic is coming to your website?
• What is your bounce rate? (Bounce rate is a percentage determined by the number of visitors that come to only one page on your site and then "bounce" out of your website)?
• Where is your website ranked in Google and other search engines?
• Are you trying any online marketing efforts (pay-per-click efforts, banner advertising, etc.)?

Recently, a current Purple Trout, LLC prospect sent me the following e-mail:

"We corresponded about a year ago regarding having your firm improve our website search engine ranking. After a year of the same old results, we are ready to take some action. Like most people these days, I wish I would have done this a year ago."

Are you going to wait another year?

Don't Fall For Snake Oil Salesmen

Recently, a potential client showed me another SEO firm's proposal. It wasn't because she was trying to get a better price, but because she was confused.

You see, the other SEO firm gave her some bad advice about search engine optimization, including:

• ...they would add non-visible website elements.
• ...they would add hidden code.
• ...they would update non-visible website elements.
• ...they would update all hidden code.
• They also made a big deal of submitting the clients' website to DMOZ.

If your SEO firm ever mentions the words "hidden" or "invisible" do not hire them! These tactics are "black hat" and unethical.

DMOZ (Open Directory) used to be a highly leveraged with Google, but not any more. Apparently, the potential SEO vendor wasn't well informed on the demise of Open Directory.

Search Engine Optimization May Increase Sales During Bad Times

The Fort Worth Business Press reminds us now is not the time to cut back on your search engine marketing efforts. If anything, now might be the right time to ramp things up a bit.

In this morning's issue, the Business Press noted:

• Internet searches beat out TV, radio and the Yellow Pages.
• Amazingly, some companies still haven't grasped the Internet yet.
• Potential customers can't find your website.
• More companies have their entire catalog online. However, the sites are not search-engine friendly.
• Website developers, who designed those expensive and glitzy websites, are may be clueless about search engine optimization. The "build it and they will come" approach only works with baseball stadiums and not websites.

How does your website rate with Google and other search engines? Ask for our free, no-obligation SEO Analysis and find out.

Search Engine Optimization Podcasts

If you're looking for more information on search engine optimization, check out my SEO podcast library.

This month's podcast is the second part of a two-part feature on keyword research, which includes the "who, what, where, why and how" of keyword research.

Upcoming topics include:

• Scary SEO Myths
• Reasons You Should Blog
• Questions To Ask Before You Hire An SEO Firm

You can also follow my podcasts through RSS feeds and iTunes.

Cincinnati AMA Digital Summit: Compelling Reasons Businesses Should Blog

Although the Cincinnati AMA Digital Summit was held over a week ago, Kristen Hanschu's presentation "Compelling Reasons Businesses Should Blog" is well worth mentioning here.

Hanchu, of Compendium Blogware in Indianapolis, revealed five primary reasons why a business should blog:

1. Online Democracy
2. Search Engine Optimization
3. Higher Prospect Interaction and Conversion
4. Email Acquisition
5. Employee Retention and Customer Engagement

Online Democracy, says Hanchu, is the human factor with blogging. She says an employee who blogs is five times more credible than a CEO who blogs. The employee is more believable. This point alone is why more firms should have employees contribute to company blogs.

A blog can be an important factor in SEO. However, blog content must be updated and it must be relevant. There is also a linking strategy (Hanchu referred to it as "link juice") in which other blogs will link and write about your blog.

Blog SEO factors can include Titles, Keywords, Recent Content (and more content), Links and Relevance.

A blog can also increase higher prospect interaction and conversion. It needs a "call to action" (an e-mail, a phone call, a offer to sign up for a newsletter).

Keyword Stuffing Is Unethical and "Black Hat"

I just found out that one of our local Cincinnati SEO competitors is keyword stuffing their clients' websites in order to earn top rankings in Google and other search engines.

I won't name the firm (for now), but this is unethical and is definitely considered a "black hat" technique.

Here's the trick: At the bottom of each of their clients' pages they have placed a rather large paragraph of text in a lightly-shaded font color (the text is not hidden, but you might need a magnifying glass to read it). The block of text is a continuous list of their targeted keywords. It even goes on to mention that readers should go to Google and enter selections from their list of keywords. They even print the list of keywords they are targeting in search engines.

Unbelievable!

This kind of consulting behavior gives SEO firms a bad name.

When the website gets caught (and they will), Google will punish their site rankings and/or ban them from the Google server.

Shame on this yet-to-be-mentioned firm for stooping so low at the temporary expense of a higher rankings in Google. Enjoy it while it lasts.

More on this later...