Posts Tagged ‘search engine optimisation’

For those of you who are still not convinced about having your business on Facebook, take a look at a few of these stats that show the levels of engagement with customers you could be enjoying: Worldwide, 175 million people log onto Facebook every day 66% of comments on company pages are from consumers (34% are from other businesses) 35% of consumer comments on company Facebook pages are compliments 8% of consumer comments on company Facebook pages are complaints 17% of company responses to consumer comments call consumers by name 15% of company responses to consumer comments invite further conversation 89% of consumer replies on company Facebook pages go unanswered Stats from Socially Awkward Media Having a business page on Facebook makes sense as it's where your customers hang out. So, if you want to engage with them, you've got ...

When SEO (search engine optimised) copywriting is done well, it will boost your search rankings, attract targeted traffic to your website and convert those visitors into sales. Done badly, it could harm your rankings, keep people away and it won't sell anything. So how do you make sure you get it right? 5 signs of good SEO copwriting 1. Written for your reader When people think of SEO copy, they instantly start stuffing keywords into places they really shouldn't go. This is probably because they've heard the term 'keyword density'. If you have heard of it, forget it NOW. It's a complete myth. If you want copy that helps your rankings and attracts customers (and makes them buy), it needs to be written naturally and for the reader. Concentrate on selling the benefits, writing in ...

Search engine optimisation usually makes you think of things like: SEO copywriting Keywords Title tags Headings and subheadings These are all very important when it comes to boosting your website's SEO, but there's a lot more that also has to happen 'behind the scenes'. What is off screen SEO? There are 3 main elements that make up off screen SEO. Let's look at each in turn to see how they can affect your SEO effectiveness. 1. Website Your website shouldn't just look nice, although that will obviously help draw people to it. It is essential you choose your web designer carefully. Make sure they understand SEO - and I mean really understand it. If you're unsure, ask to see some examples of good websites they've put together that are achieveing great things in the SEO arena. The structure of your website is key when it ...

Have you always been led to believe that SEO copywriting is a complex beast that only a few 'chosen ones' can master? Well, it's not that difficult so long as you remember one important thing, it's still web copy, so it should be written primarily for your reader and not the search engines. Yup, that's right, your reader should be help aloft on a pedestal because they are far more important than the likes of Google. Really? Yes, really - it is your reader who will buy from you, not Google. Granted, you have to get Google to like you a bit to make sure you appear in the appropriate search results, but good SEO copy won't do that alone. To make that happen it has to be combined with good web design, link building and making sure your keywords appear ...

Search engine optimisation isn't a great mystery. Yes, it will help you get found in the search results, but when it comes to copy on your website, the most important thing to remember is to write for your reader and not the search engines.Blogging is a great way to promote yourself and your business, but making sure your blogs get found by searchers is a whole different ball game. That's why it's important to remember the power of your page title. The problem is that many people get confused about the difference between a page title and a post title. The post title is as it would suggest, the name you give to your blog post. Your page title is automatically generated when you write your posts and therefore tends to be the same, as shown in  the image below:

When it comes to search engine optimisation strategies, there are a number of elements that must be addressed: Keywords Well designed website Title tags and META Descriptions SEO copywriting Links The first 4 are all vital to your SEO success, but number 5 is possibly even more important. Your link building strategy is the engine that will keep your SEO campaign going. Harness some Google love Building links is, quite possibly, the most important on-going SEO element. Each link to your website acts like a vote to its authenticity and relevance. Therefore, the more you have, the more Google will love you. That doesn't mean you can rush out and get any old links - the process has to be done consistently, over time. Short cuts (such as link farms and paid linking) will be frowned upon. Every link must be genuine and relevant to your website. By the way, if you think Google won't bother checking ...

If you have email, you get spam - it's a part of life. Everyday we are inundated with emails pretending to be from banks, building societies, the Inland Revenue and the FBI not to mention the constant plague of Viagra sales. There is also a constant (and rather annoying) stream of emails from SEO companies who claim to be able to get you on the front page of Google for just about any term going. Considering the number that constantly appear, it's a pretty safe bet that someone somewhere is falling for their over hyped sales patter. If you're tempted, don't, and here's why. Learn to say no Every one of these emails will claim that the company has superhuman SEO powers. Many will even claim to be able to work their magic for a miniscule amount, probably less than what you're ...

Search engine optimisation doesn't have to be scary. Despite the claims of some, anyone can make simple SEO checks on their website that will make a difference to their rankings. Of course, you must have a strategy in place (and stick to it) if you want to be really successful. So, if you're ready, let's get to it with check number 1. 1. Design For most companies (yes, you too), the look of their site is everything. They invest vast amounts of money on the design of their site because they want it to look 'nice'. Well looking nice is all well and good, but if it doesn't appear in the search results no one is going to see it. Custom built websites are great if you work with a team that are as good with SEO as they are with their creativity (a rare combination). Whether you like them or not, template websites tend ...

Search engine optimisation can seem like an unfathomable language at times. Working our what your keywords should be, organising your site structure and building back links are all part of this, at times, mystical art. And, there are no short cuts because you need all the elements if your strategy is to work. When it comes to your website copy, the best course of action is to hire a SEO copywriter, but if that’s not something you’ve budgeted for, here are 7 quick tips to help you optimise your web copy.   1. Headline It doesn’t matter what you’re writing your copy for, your headline is always going to be important. If it doesn’t grab your reader from the outset, they’re not going to waste their time reading the rest of your copy. Basically, it’s got to be powerful and ...

    Content, content, content - you know the search engines love it, but writing it without a purpose will have little or not effect to your online marketing strategy. You already know that the regular addition of new content will have a positive effect on your search engine  strategy. It will generate more traffic to your website and more business. That's because you understand that:   Articles/Blogs + SEO = Rankings   But if you just publish any old thing, you could end up doing more harm than good. Think about this for a moment, if you merrily churn out (or pay a copywriter to create) vast swathes of keyword rich articles to your website, are you really adding value? I'm driving traffic!     True, you probably are, but... If you are publishing content that doesn't give your reader anything or ask anything of them, what's ...

Keywords are the holy grail of online marketing and search engine optimisation. They are what stand between your website being relegated to being an expensive electronic brochure that no one ever sees, or being top of the search results in full technicolour glory. So, if you want to be 'top of the websites', you need to do some serious research.   Keyword research   Most people understand they have to target the keywords that their customers use to search for their products and services rather than the ones they think they use. And that means taking the time to do some serious research. But that doesn't stop some people going for very generic words. If you want to stand a chance of ranking for your keywords (and don't happen to have a multi million pound marketing budget), you must produce a list of keywords that are very specific. So if you ...

  Some people take to social media like a duck to water, others find it slightly trickier to get to grip with how to use it and how to get the most from it. If you are not sure about how to use social media and fear falling foul of what is seen as the correct etiquette, this blog post is for you. By the time you read the last word, you’ll be ready and raring to go. Most people find the biggest hurdles in social media (whether that’s Twitter, Facebook or blogging) are: Not knowing what to say Not sure how to say what they want to say Not knowing how to interact with other people Don’t worry, all is about to become clear. Let’s get right back to basics. Your social media look Don’t worry, this isn’t a blogging version of How to ...

  What should come first? Your website or your keyword research. Unlike the chicken and the egg conundrum, this one is easy to answer – your keyword research should always come first. Researching your keywords (not guessing) is vital if you are going to get the most out of your web presence. The words you target will have a big effect on your website’s structure, which is why it’s vital you do it before thinking about your design. It’s not until you have your keywords that you can:   Create your SEO Copywriting Plan your anchor text link building strategy Decide on your site’s navigation Create your title tags Decide on your URLs Write your META Descriptions What keywords do you choose? Choosing the right keywords/phrases is paramount, so here are a few tips on making sure you find the right ones. 1. Open your mind First up, you’re ...

  You’ve worked so hard with your search engine optimisation strategy. All that blogging, article writing and, SEO copywriting and, rather expensive, SEO tweaks to your website structure have finally paid off. Proudly, you show everyone your website on the front page of Google for your chosen keyword. Fantastic, but before you head off to the pub to celebrate, there is a wee problem. Yes, your website is ranking superbly, but your analytics (and inbox) are showing that you have no traffic. Is that right? Can you really have a well ranking website, but not have any traffic? What’s gone wrong? Yes, it is possible for this to happen and it’s more than likely due to one of these reasons: You’re not really ranking at all Your keywords aren’t delivering (because you’re targeting the wrong ones) You’re simply not attracting the all important click Those ...

  Are you being tempted by the dark side? Are you looking for great results without the hard work? If you are, you are heading for a very big fall because the grass most certainly isn’t greener on the dark side. As an online marketer, search engine optimisation is vital for your survival. But the only effective way to boost your visibility is through an effective, white hat SEO strategy. It’s not a quick fix, it’s a long term solution that needs constant nurturing. So if that sounds like too much like hard work to you, perhaps you’d better rethink your online marketing  career. Creating a winning SEO strategy If ...

  Are you a serial blogger? You know, the type of person who churns out a post, forgets about it and then churns out the next. The content you produce for your blog is very valuable so you must make the most of it. Unlike other forms of communication, a blog post won’t disappear or be used as tomorrow’s chip wrapper. Once you’ve hit ‘publish’ it’s up to you to make the most of that content and keep it alive. If you want a long shelf life on everything you post, follow these 6 simple steps. 1.  Follow up The world is constantly changing so your original ...

    Does this look familiar? This is the Google 10 box that appears at the top of your search results. It shows 10 local businesses that relate directly to your search term (so in this case it is builders). Ever wondered how companies get listed here? Or haven’t you given it much thought because you thought it was bound to be expensive? Well here’s a news flash for you – your Google Local listing is free. If this is old news to you and you’ve already claimed yours, well done you’ve taken the first step to boost your online visibility. But how are you using it? Have you just claimed it and left it at that? This listing is a great free ...

  Are you looking for some blogging advice? Be yourself. The mistake many people make when starting their blog is they try and emulate their blogging heroes. There’s nothing wrong with turning to them for inspiration but your blog should be a reflection of you and not a poor imitation of one of the blogging greats. Your blog is your opportunity to publish your thoughts and opinions and share information with others.   Moving from novice to expert Making the transition from a novice blogger to an expert is a gradual one. It’s not something that will happen over night but here are 4 simple things to remember which will ...

  Sally Ormond, freelance copywriter, comments on Kieron Hughes’ post “Using YouTube as a keyword research tool for SEO” that appeared on SEOMOZ.org When talking keyword research, most people think about what they’re selling (products and services) and probably their geographical location. For many people, the primary tool used is the Google Adwords Keyword Tool. But there is another, frequently overlooked possibility. YouTube. Yes, you would normally associate YouTube with hours of entertaining videos (and some not so entertaining) but it can also be used as an effective keyword research tool. I first came across this idea when I discovered a post on SEOMOZ.org ...

  Blogging is an excellent way to boost your business’s online presence. Yes it takes time but, believe me, it really does work. I’m a copywriter and have been blogging for several years now and it has really helped be cement my position within the Google rankings. Blogging means you are constantly putting fresh content out onto the web. This constant content feeding generates traffic which is vital for your search engine optimisation strategy. As you know SEO is all about getting found on the web for your chosen keywords. So by writing your blogs in line with your SEO strategy (i.e. using the keywords you want to be found for), you’ll attract readers and as a result, visitors to your website. To help you get the most out of your blog posts and their SEO potential I have ...

The SEO Low Down Google is constantly changing. It loves to keep internet marketers on their toes by changing the goal posts every so often. One of the most recent changes that you’re bound to have noticed is the introduction of Google Instant Preview. Now, when you enter a search term in the Google search box, each of your results will have a little magnifying glass next to it. Designed to help you search smarter, by clicking on the magnifying glass you bring up a preview of the web site so you can see in an instant whether it’s going to be of interest to you. So now, rather than having to open a site, scan it, realise it’s not for you, hit the back browser and start all over again – you can scan the results without leaving the page to ...

    If you’re into search engine optimisation the chances are you’re also a keen article marketer as it’s one of the most effective ways of boosting your web presence. Not only will it help you ‘own more of the web’, it will also position yourself as an expert in your field and generate those all important back links to your website. But your article marketing will only be effective it if is quality content that you’re putting out. It must be: Well written Written to addresses the needs of your readers Something that gives value ...

  Whether you’ve got a website and need a revamp or you’re just starting out on  the web there are certain things you need to avoid when thinking about your design. Remember that your website is, in effect, your online shop window. Think about how it will be viewed by your visitors, what they will want to see and what they’ll need to know. Don’t be complicated If a visitor lands on your website they will want to be able to find out what they need to know quickly and easily. If they’re faced with numerous options, confusing navigation and a ‘busy’ Home page they are more than likely ...

  You’ve done your keyword research, you’ve designed your website so it’s easy for your readers to navigate, you’ve even found an SEO copywriter to write some great, targeted copy that your visitors will want to read. So what’s next? That is just the start of your search engine optimisation strategy, if you want it to continue to work and bring in great rankings you’re going to have to become an active link builder. How do links help? Let’s go back to the beginning. Every web page is given a Page Rank (a number ranging from 0 to 10 to illustrate your page’s value with 0 being the lowest). ...

  Search engine optimisation – three words that can fill any internet marketer with dread. If you opt for the PPC (pay per click) route, you may see faster results but you’ll also experience the high price tag that tends to come with it. SEO may be slower but it’s a more economical long term solution. To get an SEO strategy that works, you’ll need 3 things: An SEO friendly website that is easy to navigate (for the reader and search engine spiders) Great content written by a professional SEO Copywriter Back links Yes, I know what ...

  Every business with a website is after good Google rankings. With more and more people turning to the internet for goods and services, you’ve got to be listed if you want to be found. Which means your listing has to be on the front page. The copy on your website has to contribute to getting great rankings and it has to be interesting and relevant to your reader. That’s a tough combination to achieve which is why it is vital your business invests in the services of a good SEO Copywriter who really knows what they are doing. SEO Cheatsheet If you are ...

  The days on the Yellow Pages and Business Pages are fast diminishing. More people today turn to the search engines to find local service providers and products. Therefore getting to grips with local search has never been so important. How geared up it your website and online marketing activities up for local searches? The best way to make the most of your local search potential is to own as much of the web as possible.   Boosting your online presence One of the best ways to boost your profile online is to increase the number of web pages you have. That doesn’t mean to say you ...

  Search engine optimisation – love it or hate it, it’s here to stay so you’d better get to grips with it. Before you ask, no I wouldn’t call myself an SEO expert. So why am I writing this post about it? Well, I am a pretty good SEO Copywriter – what makes me so sure? Well my own site is on the front page of Google for the term copywriter which is very competitive (getting on for 7 million search results) as well as several of my other keywords. Plus a number of my clients are also enjoying front page rankings. If you think writing SEO content is ...

  As an SEO copywriter I hate word count. It’s counterproductive and here’s why. Over the years I have worked on many SEO copywriting projects – some direct with businesses others for SEO web designers and companies. Most clients realise I know quite a lot about SEO copywriting and in particular how it works. Many of the sites I write for rank on the front page of Google for their chosen keywords – not least my own website which is on the front page of Google for ‘copywriter’ (out of about 6 million results). So as SEO copywriters go, I’m pretty good – even if I do say so ...

  If you are a business owner looking to get into online marketing and, in particular, search engine optimisation, don’t forget to think local. More and more people are searching for local companies through the search engines so it’s never been more important to ensure you have a strong local SEO presence on the web. Many companies concentrate their SEO efforts on fairly generic terms that relate to their products and services but forget about their geographical details. With the advent of increased and improved mobile search, it is vital you stand out in your local area. And the best way to do that is by utilising ...