Pimp My Keywords

SEO Tricks Are Scary (3 of 5 Scary SEO Tips)

Do not try to trick Google or any other search engine. If you do (and you think you've pulled off a brilliant idea), the treat will come back to you eventually and it won't be pretty.

Unethical and dishonest tricks - also known as a "black hat" technique" - are frowned upon by search engines. The penalty for such tactics could result in your website being removed from the search engine's index or a ranking penalty.

It's not worth it.

Don't hide keywords in your website's background. For that matter, don't make the font tiny so as to trick a search engine (one of our competitor's is using this technique now, and even that tactic still hasn't paid off in a higher rank).

Don't create a doorway page or stuff your website with keywords. Don't participate in link farms and keep your link purchasing to a minimum.

SEO firms may cheat in order to be paid (some work on a "pay per performance" plan, which means you don't pay until your website is ranked in the Top 10). Always be aware of what your SEO firm is doing to help your website.

Ideally, make sure your contract states the firm will not use unethical or dishonest SEO practices.

SEO Promises Are Scary (2 of 5 Scary SEO Tips)

Similar to an SEO sales person, an SEO firm may make some promises that are scary. Mainly, they might make some promises they can not fulfill.

Here are some of our favorites SEO promises:

• "We can get your website ranked in the No. 1 position in Google this week (or next week, or next month or within 30 days, etc.)."
• "We have a special connection with Google."
• "Things will improve with your rankings with the next Google update."
• "You have to pay to be ranked No. 1."
• "You have to 'hide' keywords in your website in order to be on the first page of search results."

If you hear any of the above scary promises, run. Fast.

SEO Sales People Are Scary (1 of 5 Scary SEO Tips)

It's Halloween and while we should be afraid of things that go "bump" in the night, we should take a look at some scary SEO tricks that are being sold to businesses every day by dishonest and unethical SEO firms.

Our first Scary SEO Tip:

"SEO Sales People Are Scary"

They may lie because they want to make the sale. They'll tell you exactly what you want to hear, but yet they can be clueless about what they are selling.

Ask SEO sales reps to show you a complete plan of action; proof of work performed for real clients; references; reports, etc.

Ask them if you can talk, face-to-face, with the SEO tech/coordinator who will be performing the work on your website (they might be located in a different state or country, for that matter).

Ask them how often they will be in touch with you on your project.

Ask them if they will be preparing an SEO strategy, or if you have to micro-manage the project.

Ask them if they will give you upfront consulting/advise for free (such as as website analysis or evaluation).

Ask tough questions. Ask follow-up questions.

Did the SEO sales rep call you or did you track them down? Better yet, did you find them by conducting a Google search?

If you search for the term "SEO" and add the "City" to your search string, did the SEO firm's name appear in the Top 10 of Google?

Optimize Everything

In preparation for SummitUp - set for Tuesday, Oct. 20 at Wright State University - I wanted to share a sneak peek into my presentation "Optimize Everything."

There are three key areas in which you need to optimized in order to be found:

1. Your website - which usually gains the most attention in optimization with SEO (search engine optimization). Make sure you are applying ALL forms of practical and ethical optimization.
2. Your Pay Per Click campaigns - yes, you need to be optimizing your search engine marketing efforts, including your PPC headlines, content and, most importantly, your landing pages.
3. Your social media efforts - no matter how much you Tweet or what you write in your Facebook page, it's all about getting found. "Doing" social media is no longer enough. It's time to take it to the next level.

I'll share more specifics at the SummitUp on Tuesday!

SEO Tactics, Tips & Helpful Advice - No. 75

While there are some obstacles in the way of the soon-to-be-realized Bing-Yahoo marriage, should you now stop your search engine optimization efforts for Yahoo and instead focus on Google and Bing?

While your main focus should be on Google (face it, Google's the King), don't discontinue your Yahoo and Bing efforts.

Keep going. Don't try to predict when the merger will take place or what it will mean, etc. Change your strategy only when it's time.

SEO Tactics, Tips & Helpful Advice - No. 74

Broken links on a website can hurt you like there's no tomorrow.

Google and other search engines hate them and humans do too. There's nothing more frustrating than clicking a link and being directed to a "404 Not Found" page.

Check your website for broken links and lost pages. 

You can find several good link checker tools by searching Google, including some link crawling tools at www.dead-links.com.

SEO Tactics, Tips & Helpful Advice - No. 73

Don't worry about who is ranked No. 1 in Google on your targeted keyword, especially if your website is ranked lower than No. 10.

Concentrate on just being a little bit better than the listing above you.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is an ongoing process.

It takes time.

It takes hard work.

It takes patience.

However, if you focus on your website; your content; your link building campaign and work to be a little bit better than the listing above yours, you'll see improvement.

Free SEO Answers

If you have search engine optimization (SEO) questions, we have answers.

No charge.

No sales pitch.

You may ask your question or comment through our blog and we'll answer you via e-mail.

You may also visit our website and contact us via our Search Engine Optimization Analysis (which is also free).

Or, if you prefer, you may call me at (513) 885-5000.

Other free and helpful tools on our website include SEO podcasts, a monthly newsletter, a monthly webinar, SEO white papers and articles.

Ask away. We'll help.

SEO Tactics, Tips & Helpful Advice - No. 72

Of all the things to stress about - and spend time on - in your search engine optimization campaigns, the least of your worries is the keyword meta tag.

You know what I'm talking about: stuffing all your keywords into the

code section in your website's html, php, content management system, etc., etc.

Don't fret my friend. Check out the Google webmaster tools article on Meta Tags.

Some will opt to continue to use the code, but at least you know you don't have to. Use the time saved to work on content and link building.

True SEO Never Ends

Search Engine Optimization is not a one-time event.

Too many times, I have heard from business owners that they have "optimized their websites" and that they are "good for Google."

Really? How come I can't find your website when I do a Google search for your products or services?

Search engine optimization is not a "one and done" task. You don't sprinkle in some meta tag codes and call it a day. Heaven forbid you went out of bounds and hid some keywords in the background of your web pages.

SEO takes time, hard work and patience. The Number 1 reason why SEO projects fail is because people give up.

This is a journey that never ends. Your road map should include all the elements of a good SEO plan: targeted keywords; strong content and meta tag codes; fresh content and an ongoing link building program to earn one-way links back to your website.

You should always strive to make your website rank higher in Google, Yahoo, Bing and other search engines.

Once you are ranked in the Top 10, you may find yourself working harder to stay there.

Don't stop.