SearchMasters: SEO Articles

Check Localised Google Search Results with Google's Ad Preview Tool

Fri, 10 Feb 2017 12:40:00 +1300

SearchMasters’ search engine rank tracking setup consists of a virtual desktop running Advanced Web Ranking (AWR) so that we can make the most of the low subscription fee of AWR desktop vs AWR cloud. For most clients, we run monthly ranking scans, and then analyse the results, and for other clients, we do weekly or even daily scans. The scans can take quite some time to complete, depending ...

Source: Check Localised Google Search Results with Google's Ad Preview Tool

SEO Review of Neighbourly Business Directory Listings

Mon, 30 Jan 2017 10:33:00 +1300

Neighbourly launched its business platform in 2015, allowing business to create a listing in the local directory. The directory focuses on connecting local residents to the business by means of the local directory, however, the listings are crawlable by Google rather than being protected by a login-wall.

I created a listing for SearchMasters, advertising our Palmerston North SEO ...

Source: SEO Review of Neighbourly Business Directory Listings

How to create a Bootstrap exit popup and time delay popup

Fri, 07 Oct 2016 15:04:00 +1300

Over the last few weeks I have been asked by two clients, who each sell the same product but in a different country, to build a popup as a tool to improve conversion on their website. I have built two different types of popups, for two different purposes.

An exit popup, prompting the visitor to order a free splashback sample before leaving.
A time-delay popup, prompting the ...

Source: How to create a Bootstrap exit popup and time delay popup

Passionate Young People, Changemakers Tribe at Sort it Expo 2016

Fri, 20 May 2016 13:29:00 +1200

Today I was lucky enough to hold a stand at Sort It Expo Palmerston North, to represent Palmy Changemakers Tribe, whom are a part of the National Changemakers Tribe. Changemakers Tribe is all about connecting like minded young people so they can collaborate on projects and ideas they are passionate about.

In June (after ...

Source: Passionate Young People, Changemakers Tribe at Sort it Expo 2016

Google Tag Manager Ecommerce Tracking

Fri, 12 Feb 2016 15:33:00 +1300

Analytics ecommerce tracking used to be comparatively easy. Now, Google Tag Manager ecommerce tracking has a vast range of options available and its very easy to get it wrong. This article looks at installation of the code for recording transaction details following sale. In addition, you are able to record various steps along the way including adding and removing items from the cart.

Source: Google Tag Manager Ecommerce Tracking

Choosing SEO Keywords - Using Google's Keyword Planner

Wed, 02 Dec 2015 23:07:00 +1300

When I first look at a website to potentially optimise, some of the questions I ask myself are "are they specifically targeting a keyword with a page?", "Are they ranking as expected for that phrase" and "is the phrase ideal to target?" Choosing SEO keywords, that is, choosing effective keywords to target, is a difficult process that can be made easier with Google's ...

Source: Choosing SEO Keywords - Using Google's Keyword Planner

Heat Pumps Auckland

Wed, 14 Oct 2015 16:43:00 +1300

There is a new entrant to the Heat Pumps Auckland and New Zealand market. Heat Pump Masters heatpump.org.nz is operated by SearchMaster's Michael Brandon and is a lead generating website for New Zealand heat pump installers.

The journey ...

Source: Heat Pumps Auckland

Updating a Godaddy Certificate on cPanel

Wed, 15 Jan 2014 10:11:00 +1300

How do you go about updating a Godaddy certificate on cPanel? I like to have secure email for clients on my servers - secure pop and smtp via mail.smhost.co.nz. So I have a secure certificate with Godaddy that I have just updated.

In cPanel/WHM, you need to add the certificate details and the private key to "install a new certificate" (being the renewal of an existing ...

Source: Updating a Godaddy Certificate on cPanel

Non www to www 301 redirects

Sat, 07 Dec 2013 15:23:00 +1300

With SEO, you need to make sure that you only have one domain with the content of your site. All other domains need to have 301 redirects to the initial domain. Therefore you need Non www to www 301 redirects - all non www should be redirected to the www versions of the domains.

For specific code for your site, see the Source: Non www to www 301 redirects

Variable Dump - echo all variables in a script

Sat, 07 Dec 2013 14:48:41 +1300

When de-bugging, it is good to know what variables are available at any one part of the script.

So I often echo out the variables, sometimes having them showing as html comments on the source of the page so as to not to disturb the page content.

var_dump(get_defined_vars());

<?php
print '<pre>' . ...

Source: Variable Dump - echo all variables in a script

SSH - du - Finding large files

Sat, 07 Dec 2013 14:48:00 +1300

du command to identify the largest folders

If you are running a server for multiple sites, you may find you are running out of disk space. One good way to find out what files are large is via ssh root access into your host.

ie using putty to ssh into your server:

du --max-depth=1 -h

This may take a while to run. When it's done, it ...

Source: SSH - du - Finding large files

Multiple Robots.txt files

Sat, 07 Dec 2013 14:10:00 +1300

How do you have several sites coming into the one hosting space, and have one with different robots.txt file. Correct usage of the .htaccess file enables multiple robots files.

Logic - if accessing via domainb.com/robots.txt, then show the robotsfff.txt file, otherwise show the default robots.txt file.

.htaccess file includes:

Source: Multiple Robots.txt files

index.php to root redirects

Sat, 07 Dec 2013 13:28:00 +1300

As well as non www to www redirects, there is a need for redirects from index.php or index.html to the root of a domain.

See the redirect check for a customised recommendation for your website.

The general rule

In SEO, we want one url for each page of content. Redirects from non www to the www version of ...

Source: index.php to root redirects

Ionic Isapi Rewriter

Sat, 07 Dec 2013 13:24:00 +1300

Keen for a free ISAPI rewriter? Do you have php on a windows server rather than apache? Then check out this Free Windows ASAPI rewriter - http://iirf.codeplex.com/

It handles RewriteCond as well as Rewrite, and is great at rewriting url's for SEO purposes.

As an alternative, you consider the ISAPI rewrite
Source: Ionic Isapi Rewriter

Getting Google Postcards to Business Addresses

Wed, 11 Sep 2013 09:11:00 +1200

Part of SEO is getting the Google local listing/Google Plus for business active. Many business addresses are shown on the NZ Post address finder page as no postal delivery to that address. There is no obvious way to be able to get the address verified. So I contacted NZ Post via their online chat about the dilemma - Getting Google Postcards to Business Addresses.

It seems like as ...

Source: Getting Google Postcards to Business Addresses