There are virtually so many SEO myths that it has become very difficult to know what’s 100% true, but I can advise you on which SEO mistakes you should not make:

1. Buying Links

You might get a short term boost by buying links if your website is already popular, but you’re still taking a risk here. Paid links are sometimes flagged by Google’s search engine experts. You may wonder, how will they ever catch me? Well, Google’s bots and a special team at the company search for questionable linking patterns every single day!

For example, if you pay for a few hundred links to be pointed to your website in the very same day, some links will probably be flagged as a sort of ‘irregular linking activity’. Links from totally unrelated categories will seem suspicious as well.

I would recommend the old fashioned method of comment linking, manually — your blog will still be able to grow, albeit at a steady pace. Over time, the end results will be worthwhile. If you are however settled on purchasing links, do not use the same anchor text for all of them; mix it up a bit.

2. Duplicate Content

Many bloggers I know try to target the same topic with a variation of essentially very similar keywords. For instance, ‘make money on facebook’ and ‘making money with your facebook’ are quite similar, and creating a completely different page for each keyword won’t add much value to your site.

How much can you really play with topics or keywords that are essentially identical? If you can’t, then you’ll probably end up writing the same content for both keywords, which poses a risk of a search engine penalty. Instead, you should try to penetrate one original topic or keyword in detail and make an effort to strengthen each post.

3. Chasing PageRank

Don’t get me wrong, PageRank is important for any website’s success. The higher the PageRank you have, the better you rank in search engines, and the more visitors you’ll get. However, it’s definitely not the only metric that’ll help you improve your blog’s success. Furthermore, Google has mentioned previously that PageRank is just one of two hundred (wow!) indicators used to crawl and rank a website. Instead, you should focus on your analytics, ROI, and relevancy as recommended by Google itself.

4. Leaving Title Tags Automated

The title tag is undeniably one of the most important aspects when it comes to search engine rankings.Beginner bloggers usually write a post with a long title that describes the topic in too many words. First, you want to keep the title rather short, (not more than 60 characters) but more importantly, you should aim your focus at optimizing the title tags.

For example, if you write a post titled ‘What Is A Niche Blog And How Do I Create It?’ your title tag should be more targeted towards a keyword, perhaps something like ‘What Is A Niche Blog?’ with ‘a niche blog’ being a possible keyword. You would surely want to check the popularity of the respective keyword with a keyword tool such as Google Adwords before optimizing for it. Consider changing it and you may enjoy a better placement in the search engines and as a result, more visitors.

5. Sacrificing Looks For Content

While many bloggers depend on content to grow their blog, there are some who had become obsessed with the design of their blog. Don’t get me wrong, if you don’t have an appealing design, some visitors won’t be attracted to your website. However, using too many graphics or images will overcrowd your page and slow it down.

I see many sites using Flash and sacrificing page speed for motion and sounds. Definitely an attractive setting, but not a worthy enough tradeoff. This will also prevent search engine bots from being able to crawl your pages at a desirable faster rate.

6. Using Free Hosting Blogs

Blog services that offer free hosting such as Blogger, TypePad, and many others, can offer a decent platform and an excellent value. However, they are not flexible enough to be able to install the Plugins, themes, and other extensions you truly desire for superior SEO results.

All it will take is to register your own domain, and to purchase an inexpensive hosting plan. If you do enough shopping around, you shouldn’t spend more than $50 for both for the year. It’s worth a few bucks per month to have total control over your website. The power of independence can reap great rewards when your blogging operation grows.

7. Keyword Stuffing

Probably one of the most common SEO mistakes is common stuffing. It’s not only unethical, but also will hurt your search rankings. If you really want to rank for a bunch of keywords, create a separate page for each keyword and optimize for it accordingly. Instead of using hidden or duplicate text, focus on creating useful pages that have your keywords implemented in them as part of the content. Trying to manipulate a search engine like Google is a big no-no.

8. Writing Little Content

Many websites, especially blogs, suffer from posts that are too short. I personally get at least a few guest post submissions per day, and more than often, I have to reject them on the basis that they are too short to publish. How great can a piece be if it’s written at just 400 words? Writing extremely short posts hurts reader loyalty plus your page could be considered as low quality when it comes to SEO rankings.

9. Not Doing SEO Correctly

There’s not only one right way to optimize your posts for the search engine, but there are general proven methods you can use. For example, in regards to link building, several bloggers I know make the mistake of only linking to the front page of their website. Instead, you should build links that also point to your top, most popular posts. There’s always something new to learn about SEO, so make sure your optimization knowledge is up to date by reading articles or guides from qualified authors such as Google’s Matt Cutts.

10. Forgetting The ALT Tag

While Google reportedly (WebCEO software) doesn’t place a big emphasis on ALT tags, other search engines such as AOL, Bing, and Yahoo do. The truth is that a picture is just an image file if it’s not optimized for a keyword. To optimize it, use the ALT tag when inserting your image in a post; you’ll definitely see better results. Also, consider naming the file of the image as your keyword or at least to a defining term. If you’re blogging about copyright laws, name your image as ‘copyright-laws.jpg’, not something like ‘picture10.jpg’ — that simply won’t do you any good.

Conclusion

I see additional SEO mistakes regularly, such as the use of generic descriptions for posts, not updating the sitemap, broken 404 pages, and grammatical errors in various site contents. Most of all, I see posts that lack organization and simply contain too much text without separation of any sort, such as spacing or headings. That’s simply unattractive to your valued readers. It takes away from the overall experience, and the quality of your website will take a beating. These SEO mistakes may seem basic to some but shouldn’t be overlooked or ignored. Better yet, consider evaluating your blog right away to ensure that your overall SEO is in check.

Original article via www.hongkiat.com

©2012 Midas Creative Blog. All Rights Reserved.

The first of the series of three is to promote their restaurant.

The outstanding Bistro style restaurant can comfortably seat 150 diners and their Sunday Carvery has proven extremely popular with a regular clientele of repeat customers.

©2012 Midas Creative Blog. All Rights Reserved.

The event, which was organised by NOF Energy on behalf of Subsea North East, took place over two days in Newton Aycliffe in June, 2011, attracting visitors from around the world. Entitled ‘Subsea: Business Opportunities in the Global Market’, it was created specifically to highlight the economic importance of the subsea sector.

Midas Creative, who in December scooped the Business Idea of the Year at the 2010 Mansfield Business Awards, not only created the branding for the 200 strong conference from their offices in Mansfield Woodhouse but also a 28-page brochure, programme guide together with a series of web banners for use on the Subsea UK website – www.subseauk.org.

Explains Paul Skelton, Director of Midas Creative: “We were absolutely thrilled when we were given the brief to create the branding for the Subsea North East Conference and Exhibition. The team at Midas Creative worked around the clock to turn the design around, and our hard work appears to have paid, with everyone, from the organisers through to the delegates, delighted with the way the event looked.”

Midas Creative was launched in 2008 by Damien Buxton and Paul Skelton to provide a cost-effective alternative to existing graphic design, print and marketing companies in Nottinghamshire. Since then, it gone on to work with a wide range of public and private sector organisations throughout the UK including the Forestry Commission, Motorpoint, NOF Energy, Nottinghamshire County Council and XMA.

For more information on Midas Creative visit www.midascreative.co.uk

©2012 Midas Creative Blog. All Rights Reserved.

After many months of waiting from our initial nomination and presentation, the night arrived. I am very proud to say that we WON!

Onwards and upwards for 2011

©2012 Midas Creative Blog. All Rights Reserved.

©2012 Midas Creative Blog. All Rights Reserved.

©2012 Midas Creative Blog. All Rights Reserved.

©2012 Midas Creative Blog. All Rights Reserved.

D

Data Compression - Technique of reducing the amount of storage required to hold a digital file to reduce the disk space the file requires and allow it to be processed or transmitted more quickly.

Deboss - To press an image into paper so it lies below the surface. Also called tool.

Density - (1) Regarding ink, the relative thickness of a layer of printed ink. (2) Regarding colour, the relative ability of a colour to absorb light reflected from it or block light passing through it. (3) Regarding paper, the relative tightness or looseness of fibers.

Density Range - Difference between the darkest and lightest areas of copy. Also called contrast ratio, copy range and tonal range.

Desktop Publishing - Technique of using a personal computer to design images and pages, and assemble type and graphics, then using a laser printer or image setter to output the assembled pages onto paper, film or printing plate. Abbreviated DTP.

Dots-per-inch - Measure of resolution of input devices such as scanners, display devices such as monitors, and output devices such as laser printers, image setters and monitors. Abbreviated DPI. Also called dot pitch.

DPI - Considered as “dots per square inch,” a measure of output resolution in relationship to printers, image setters and monitors.

Dry Offset - Using metal plates in the printing process, which are etched to .15mm (.0006 in) creating a right reading plate, printed on the offset blanket transferring to paper without the use of water.

Dummy - Simulation of the final product. Also called mock-up.

E

Emboss - To press an image into paper so it lies above the surface. Also called cameo and tool.

Emulsion - Casting of light-sensitive chemicals on papers, films, printing plates and stencils.

Encapsulated PostScript file - Computer file containing both images and PostScript commands. Abbreviated EPS file.

EPS - Encapsulated Post Script, a known file format usually used to transfer post script information from one program to another.

F

Fifth Colour - Ink colour used in addition to the four needed by four-colour process.

Finish – (1) Surface characteristics of paper. (2) General term for trimming, folding, binding and all other post press operations.

Finished Size - Size of product after production is completed, as compared to flat size. Also called trimmed size.

Foil Emboss - To foil stamp and emboss an image. Also called heat stamp.

Foil Stamp - Method of printing that releases foil from its backing when stamped with the heated die. Also called block print, hot foil stamp and stamp.

Folder - A bindery machine dedicated to folding printed materials.

Fold Marks - With printed matter, markings indicating where a fold is to occur, usually located at the top edges.

Foldout - Gatefold sheet bound into a publication, often used for a map or chart. Also called gatefold and pullout.

Folio (page number) - The actual page number in a publication.

Form - Each side of a signature. Also spelled form.

Format - Size, style, shape, layout or organisation of a layout or printed product.

Four-colour Process Printing - Technique of printing that uses black, magenta, cyan and yellow to simulate full-colour images. Also called colour process printing, full colour printing and process printing.

G

Gate Fold - A sheet that folds where both sides fold toward the gutter in overlapping layers.

Gathered - Signatures assembled next to each other in the proper sequence for binding, as compared to nested. Also called stacked.

Gloss - Consider the light reflecting on various objects in the printing industry (e.g., paper, ink, laminates, UV coating, and varnish).

Gloss Ink - Ink used and printed on coated stock (mostly litho and letterpress) such as the ink will dry without penetration.

Grammage - Basis weight of paper in grams per square meter (gsm).

Graphic Design - Arrangement of type and visual elements along with specifications for paper, ink colours and printing processes that, when combined, convey a visual message.

Graphics - Visual elements that supplement type to make printed messages more clear or interesting.

Gravure - Method of printing using metal cylinders etched with millions of tiny wells that hold ink.

GSM - The unit of measurement for paper weight (grams per square meter).

Gutter - In the book arena, the inside margins toward the back or the binding edges.

H

Head(er) - At the top of a page, the margin.

I

Image Area - The actual area on the printed matter that is not restricted to ink coverage,

Image setter - Laser output device using photosensitive paper or film.

Imposition - Arrangement of pages on mechanicals or flats so they will appear in proper sequence after press sheets are folded and bound.

Imprint - To print new copy on a previously printed sheet, such as imprinting an employee’s name on business cards. Also called surprint.

Ink Holdout - Characteristic of paper that prevents it from absorbing ink, thus allowing ink to dry on the surface of the paper. Also called holdout.

Ink Jet Printing - Method of printing by spraying droplets of ink through computer-controlled nozzles. Also called jet printing.

Inner Form - Form (side of the press sheet) whose images all appear inside the folded signature, as compared to outer form.

Inserts - Within a publication, an additional item positioned into the publication loose (not bound in).

ISBN - A number assigned to a published work and usually found either on the title page or the back of the title page. Considered an International Standard Book Number.

J

Job Number - A number assigned to a specific printing project in a printing company for use in tracking and historical record keeping.

Job Ticket - Form used by service bureaus, separators and printers to specify production schedule of a job and the materials it needs. Also called docket, production order and work order.

Jogger - A vibration machine with a slopping platform to even-up stacks of printed materials.

K

K - Abbreviation for black in four-colour process printing. Hence the ‘K’ in CMYK.

Keylines - Lines on a mechanical or negative showing the exact size, shape and location of photographs or other graphic elements. Also called holding lines.

L

Laminate - A thin transparent plastic sheet (coating) applied to usually a thick stock (covers, post cards, etc.) providing protection against liquid and heavy use, and usually accents existing colour, providing a glossy (or lens) effect.

Landscape – Artist style in which width is greater than height. (Portrait is opposite)

Leaf - One sheet of paper in a publication. Each side of a leaf is one page.

Letter fold – Two folds creating three panels that allow a sheet of letterhead to fit a business envelope. Also called barrel fold and wrap around fold.

Lithography - Method of printing using plates whose image areas attract ink and whose nonimage areas repel ink. Nonimage areas may be coated with water to repel the oily ink or may have a surface, such as silicon, that repels ink.

Live Area - Area on a mechanical within which images will print. Also called safe area.

Logo (Logotype) - A company, partnership or corporate creation (design) that denotes a unique entity. A possible combination of letters and art work to create a “sole” entity symbol of that specific unit.

Loose-leaf - Binding method allowing insertion and removal of pages in a publication (e.g., trim-4-drill-3).

Loose Proof - Proof of a halftone or colour separation that is not assembled with other elements from a page, as compared to composite proof. Also called first proof, random proof, scatter

M

Magenta - One of the four process colours.

Margin - Imprinted space around the edge of the printed material.

Mark-Up - Instructions written usually on a “dummy.”

Mask - To prevent light from reaching part of an image, therefore isolating the remaining part. Also called knock out.

Master - Paper or plastic plate used on a duplicating press.

Match Print - A form of a four-colour-process proofing system.

Matte Finish - Flat (not glossy) finish on photographic paper or coated printing paper.

Metallic Ink - Ink containing powdered metal or pigments that simulate metal.

Metallic Paper - Paper coated with a thin film of plastic or pigment whose colour and gloss simulate metal.

Midtones - In a photograph or illustration, tones created by dots between 30 percent and 70 percent of coverage, as compared to highlights and shadows.

Mock Up - A reproduction of the original printed matter and possibly containing instructions or direction.

©2012 Midas Creative Blog. All Rights Reserved.

The creative marketing specialists, founded over two years ago by Damien Buxton and Paul Skelton, discovered they had been shortlisted for the Business Idea of the Year category in the Mansfield and Ashfield Business Awards 2010 shortly after moving into their new premises at The Business Place in Mansfield Woodhouse.

The duo, who have over 25 years experience working within the creative industries in the East Midlands, have earned a solution reputation within the business community for their cutting edge design, print and online media for public and private sector clients including Nottinghamshire County Council, Forestry Commission, County Enterprise Foods and IT reseller XMA, where its work is used to promote leading IT manufacturers such as Apple, Brother, HP, Lexmark and Toshiba.

Explains Creative Director Paul Skelton: “We are absolutely delighted to have become finalists for the Mansfield and Ashfield Business Awards. We have worked tirelessly over the last two years to establish Midas Creative in the region, and to be shortlisted by the judges, we believe, helps to reaffirm our belief in the potential of our business”.

“The Awards also provides us with a platform from which to demonstrate to prospective clients in Nottinghamshire and beyond the depth of talent that does exist outside of the big cities such as London, Birmingham, Manchester etc.”

©2012 Midas Creative Blog. All Rights Reserved.

Make your branding work!

There are a few simple ways of making the most out of branding, they include:

•  Simplicity – brand building doesn’t have to be complicated. It can start with a clean, simple font that’s followed consistently through all corporate materials.

•  Be distinctive – think of things such as choice of colour in design or packaging that creates an impression in the minds of consumers.

•  Be consistent – every aspect of your brand such give the same look and feel. Virgin for instance has many arms to the company (Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Media, Virgin Money etc) they are all using the same colours, fonts and logos and the branding is unified.

•  Listen to your customers – your brand is no good to you if it isn’t delivering what customers want.  If you are a solicitor for instance, don’t opt for a bright garish logo, font or colour, it will give the wrong message. It would need to be smart, simple and professional.

•  Communicate your brand – make sure every advert, brochure and letter helps reinforce the same message. If you have a logo, use it where ever you can.

•  Evolve your brand – continually look for opportunities to make improvements. Think of Coca Cola, since it originally formed many years ago the branding has changed with the times.

•  Involve your employees – make sure they understand the brand and believe in it.

•  Create an inspirational brand – pay attention to customers’ needs, control what you want your brand to mean to them, creating something customers can aspire to.

How do I keep my brand consistent?

Consistency is an important part of branding and brand management.

You should build the same brand characteristics into all areas of your business’ operations, all stemming from your ‘big idea’.

When creating your brand, it’s important to think how it can be applied consistently across different media, from online and print to packaging.

After working through creating a brand, your designer should leave you with brand guidelines to ensure consistency.

This will detail how the different design elements should be applied in different situations.

It will include information on how the following should be used whenever the brand appears:

•  Font used

•  Images and graphics

•   Colours

•   Templates and style design

You can use these brand guidelines to manage the brand after the designer’s work on the project is completed, to ensure you maintain brand consistency and – most importantly – your original big idea.

For more information on company branding and logo design visit us at www.midascreative.co.uk or call us on 0845 094 6168

©2012 Midas Creative Blog. All Rights Reserved.