search engine optimisation

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 currently ...

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 eye-catching ...

    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 the ...

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 ...

  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 Look ...

  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 looking ...

  One of the most important aspects of your SEO strategy is the generation of back links. One of the best ways to do that is to blog. Constantly adding fresh content, in the form of blog posts, will help drive traffic to your website, enable you to build a constant stream of back links and attract links to your website. Blogging will also: Add value to your relationships with your customers Position you as an expert in your field Boost your online exposure because you’ll own more of the web No matter what your market sector, you can utilise the power of blogging to drive more traffic to your website and improve your rankings. Of course, you do have to come up with a constant stream of ideas. Idea generation Trust me, you have a wealth of ideas to write about – you just have to tap ...

  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 lovely ...

  Your headline is the make or break of your article. If it doesn’t immediately grab attention, a reader is unlikely to read your article  - regardless of how many hours you slaved over it. Many online marketers write articles because they know they are a great way to build backlinks which are vital to any SEO strategy. So a steady stream of them (written either in-house or by using a professional copywriter) will boost your visibility on line and position you as an expert in your field. But because it’s such a popular marketing tool, there are an awful lot of articles out there. That means, if you ...

  Press releases are a valuable marketing tool for any business. So how come so few businesses use them? They are fairly easy to write, you can even publish them online so avoiding the impenetrable newspaper editor. Yet many companies turn their backs on them in favour of other forms of marketing. Whether you write them in-house, or you bring in a professional copywriter, creating an eye-catching, informative press release will get your company noticed. Writing powerful press releases Unlike other marketing forms, press releases have several elements that must be present if they are to be successful. 1. Temptation ...

  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 ...

  You’ve heard it time and time again that blogging will help your business’s online exposure. You’ve probably got your blog set up ready to go but there’s a question lurking in the back of your mind… How do I start blogging? If you’ve got this far you’ve probably already answered the question “why do I want to blog?” Just in case you haven’t, you need to think about it carefully. A blog is an online platform from which  you can give your opinion and offer tips and advice. It will add value to your customers and provide a rich source of back links for your website. ...

  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 first thing your website has to do is engage your reader. Granted, the design of your site and its copywriting will go a long way to persuade your reader that you are the company for them. But how about getting a bit more personal? Be visual with video More and more companies are using the power of video within their websites. It seems to be one of those things you either love or hate. But if you’re undecided here are a few things to think about. 1. Getting personal A corporate video (especially if you’re on it) is a powerful way of conveying your ...

  What is content marketing? It’s all about building your reputation as an expert online. That doesn’t mean posting loads of mediocre articles and blogs in the vain hope that someone will read them. Content marketing is about providing quality, informative and interesting information that will add value to your readers. The 3 elements of content marketing If you want to excel at content marketing there are 3 things you have to do: Create content that sells you Write content that’s optimised for the search engines to increase its longevity Repurpose your content and spread the word ...

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). ...

  Most people see press releases as off line marketing tools. But that doesn’t mean you should lose sight of the fact that they can also be published on online press release websites. The main advantage of that is that where printed press releases appear for just one day and then become someone’s chip wrappings the next, online press releases will be attracting a new audience for months or even years after its original release date. That’s why you should always write your press release to include your main keywords so it will continue to attract the audience you want. Although it is important you still follow the usual rules of press release writing. The usual rules apply Your press release should still: Be regarded as newsworthy rather than a thinly veiled advert Be ...

  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 ...

  Once upon a time if you wanted to research a subject you had to go to the library and scour numerous reference books for the information you needed. Today, you just have to Google it. So how long will it be before the humble books is consigned to the history web pages of the internet? With the arrival of the Kindle reader (iPad and smartphones) the traditional book looks to be under threat of extinction. This ‘electronic-paper’ wonder  is supposed to offer a reading experience that looks and reads like real paper. Really? Not for me thanks. When I read I like to hold a book; ...

  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 ...

  Online marketing – love it or hate it, if you’re a business owner you have to get to grips with it. As the vast majority of the population use the internet to search for products and services these days, if you you don’t have an online presence you will be missing out on a massive marketplace. But that doesn’t mean you can just lob any old website into cyber space and people will come running with open wallets. Being online badly can seriously damage your business The first thing to remember when starting out in the online world is that the internet isn’t a static entity. It ...