SEO - Search Engine Optimization. Before we get too deep into how to optimize a site to attract the search engines, let’s discuss a few basics. First and foremost, a webmaster or content writer should simply keep the visitor in mind and create content for the actual people that will be visiting your site. See more on copywriting and content creation. Secondarily, you can perform the following tasks to help your site gain popularity with the search engines such as Google, Yahoo and MSN.

Okay. So, what is SEO? These are the tasks we perform to help the search engines push our web pages to visitors performing an “organic” search. Organic meaning, someone at home (or elsewhere) simply went to the Google Search page and typed in something to research such as “autism”, for example.

When this is done, two types of sources are provided within the user’s internet browser: Advertised or Organic. Organic search results are typically on the left side of the page with a bit of a description (a few sentences, technically no more than 150 characters of text.) Also, vertically down the right column, you will see sponsored Ads. These, of course, are paid for and quite a bit shorter in length. The titles and descriptions will vary and will be competing to catch the surfer’s attention.

So, we have two types of results:

1. Organic
2. Advertised (sponsored)

Organic Web Searches

The organic searches are the results of the most searched for topics. The title and descriptions provided are derived from the webmaster’s HTML code on the page listed. You can’t, of course, visually see the HTML code, but there is typically a “tag” or market hidden in the page that says “title” and the webmaster keys in that title during website creation. In the same manner, a site description is provided.

Usually, with an organic search, the web surfer is provided with the “home” or main page of the site. But, “internal” or secondary pages can also be listed. Further, if the secondary pages are in good hierarchal structure - leading to good solid content within a lower category, this will be indented and listed below the main page. Such as:

Autism
http:// web address of the site here
Treatment
Children

The lower sub-categories of the site will be automatically linked to the internal pages that lead in that category. As most are aware, the main page will have the main “navigation” (think table of contents or index). But, the sub-categories, “Treatment” and “Children” in this example, may have navigation (another table of contents) of their own.

If Google, MSN or Yahoos reveals these sub-categories in an organic search, it means the subcategories have been searched for extensively and were most likely structured by the webmaster (or web designer, if you prefer) in such a way that it is easy for both the web visitor as well as the search engines. This is why it is critical to structure you website in a well thought out manner prior to actually creating the site.

Sponsored Web Searches

As indicated above, and as opposed to organic searches, we have the sponsored advertisers. This is also known as PPC or Pay-Per-Click. Why? Glad you asked. PPC advertisements listed down the right side (typically) are created by advertisers to draw traffic to their sites without relying on organic searches. This does a couple of things for the site owners. First, it can create an huge influx of initial traffic. Second, they can advertise some product or feature not stated within the description HTML of their home page.

As the acronym PPC indicates there is a cost involved whereas the advertiser will “pay” for each click on each of their ads that are provided by the search results. If the advertiser wants to claim the top of the page (the number 1 position on the right vertical margin) they will usually pay handsomely for it. And, depending on how popular the topic is, the price is driven up. This is simply a supply and demand effect much like anything else in business.

PPC advertising can be quite dangerous for the novice advertiser and I can’t stress enough that this is a subject that should be fully researched before being approached. You can easily lose a mortgage payment on a PPC ad in a single day. Don’t take PPC lightly. There are several books and online courses devoted entirely to PPC. See our recommended sites for this topic.

On Page and Off

Back to the organic search arena - this can be further broken down into two basic approaches.

1. On-page SEO
2. Off-page SEO

“On-page” search engine optimization is basically the tasks performed to tweak the actual HTML (or other web building language) so that the search engines easily identify each element of your site. For example, providing a good description of an image or, as mentioned, good navigational structure.

“Off-page” search engine optimization, as you most likely determined are the tasks that are not performed directly on the site, yet still help the search engines find your web pages. The most basic and common of these tasks would be another site that has mentioned your site with a hyperlink pointing directly to your homepage.

More on this topic coming.
Sam

There are some services that you would indeed pay for when you can afford to do so, then there are several that you will want to personally handle or simply just have fun doing such as the social arenas like Twitter where I found a tremendous resource for newbies and seasoned marketers alike.

Before I jump into this newly found resource, let’s recap a basic staple for new marketing folks.  Some of the top forms of creating traffic to your site are:

• Web Directories
• Article Marketing
• Blog Reviews (Paid or not, the debate continues)
• Social Arenas
• PR - the Press Release

Many of the above are dirt cheap if you know where to go and especially if you will be handling the bulk of it yourself. Actually, gaining a Google Page Rank of 3 or 4 can easily be done with the methods above. Anyone can get a PR 3 by just about sneezing. Gaining PR above 4 takes a bit more efforts. If you wish (or care) to show page rank of 6 or better, dig in and get ready for some real work (or break out the wallet and get ready to empty it fast.)

One of the most effective means to create a buzz about a new site (or re-establish an existing one) is the press release. I believe this is a far under-looked stream of traffic for most webmasters/bloggers, especially for newbies. There are several press release services out there, but before you join up with one or hire their services, do your homework. Check out what kind of syndication methods are available and how far their audience reach actually is. You DO want to hit Google News and Yahoo News just for starters. Many of the smaller PR outfits don’t offer this.

Recently, on Twittter I came across a fantastic new site by Kelly Crane of SoloPRpro.com. Kellye has nearly 20 years in the field and has worked with some huge outfits such as Fortune 500 companies, Coke, BellSouth, and the list continues. I reviewed several of her posts and she has some great tips, advice and tools anyone considering entering the field of PR Consulant.

Highly Recommended Reading:
44 Tools for the PR Consultant

While many of these tools are listed for the PR consultant, I have used several of them in the past to create press releases myself.  It’s simply a good concise list that I have needed to create for quite some time - way to go Ms. Crane!

I believe it goes without saying that writing a good Press Release takes skills.  I have seen several poorly written ones and there is no doubt that the company wasted a serious traffic resource and probably a nice chunk of cash.  If you are new to media copy, feel intimidated by “sales jargon” or simply don’t feel you write well, check with Kellye or another PR Consultant and get some help.  A fantastic press release can be worth it’s weight in gold!

Cheers,

pj

Technorati Profile

1. Buy a site that has targeted traffic for merchandise or a service. You can gain straight traffic from the fresh site to your present products/services in the course of promotion, email lists or sales pages. This is a fantastic way to launch a customer base very rapidly but you have to be positive that the traffic is quality, targeted traffic. Don’t fall prey to the catch of buying a high traffic site that munches through lots of bandwidth but doesn’t contain the kind of consumer you can pull for profits, or else you may be buying a beast, not a benefit.

2. Buy a site to produce advertising profits. In this instance you might not modify the site other than by willing to augment the quantity of traffic and progress the performance of advertisements on the site. Sites with lots of high-quality content are optimized for this strategy. Once you possess the rights to the material you can then additionally leverage it by repackaging and republishing the material in further ways – possibly information products, commentary marketing or as free enticements to attract an email list.

3. Buy a site purposely to turn it over quickly. This is, I know is the most scary method, because you have to find sites that are evidently under performing with the prospect for a big upside effect after you complete your revamping. If at all possible, you should seek e-commerce sites selling a product that has a reputable marketplace that is only just starting to take off online AND the owners are not well-versed in search engine optimization or online advertising, but are ready to sell.

The assumption is that you can swiftly put into practice your changes, fine-tuning a small number of points that creates increases in several areas, resulting in a good double figure boost in sales in a tiny period of time. If you can complete your efforts in a minimal timeframe, prior to the public catching up, you can make a mint by advertising the site at a premium previous to the Internet becoming drenched and your early mover advantage is eroded or the market slows.

4. Obtain a community driven site. If you are into flipping websites, and can purchase a community driven site wherein there is an enormous forum overflowing with a nice objective niche audience you can make a gold mine. Time and again hobbyist fans, not meaning to build a huge traffic machine may not know the value they have in other fields. Their website might have ballooned in expansion to the position where the bandwidth is costing them a lot each month and given that they are not skilled in website monetization, they will be in a position to sell the site at a great price. This can be an awesome strategy to make create a huge income, but be very cautious with your new audience. Some forum communities are very tricky to make money from and may end up costing you more in ongoing hosting fees.

Janae

With Bukisa, you simply create a profile and begin posting on their site.  You can earn a split advertising revenue on page views as well as referrals - 3 levels deep.  Also, not only can you upload high quality text, they allow audio, videos, slides and more:

Image Courtesy of Bukisa

Not only is it fast and easy, you can use Bukisa to get articles indexed and drop in a few links to your other sites - promotional value.

Anyone can do this and best of all, it’s a free service. Bukisa makes money and you make money.  It’s a win-win situation.  The more content you post, the higher your income.  Sure, it is not very much at first, but if you stick to it and perhaps invite a few friends (although not required) you can easily supplement your current income.

We are testing them out, have already made a few bucks in just a few days and will post updates from time to time.  We hope they stick around for a while.  Check them out.  It’s definitely worth a look!

Cheers,

Sam

Regardless, having the O.C.D. (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) tendencies, I’m often texting on the way to the car, in the grocery store, etc.  Well, just as I was about to give up on the idea entirely, I found a brand spanking new WordPress plug-in by Brian Feldger, A.K.A. Mister Nifty.

As you can you see, I have it installed here on my site.  It installs in a snap.  I had a minor issue with the sidebar as it somewhat overlapped and my OCD kicked in and I had to fix it.  I jumped over to Brian’s page and he already had a quick fix with the DIV setting.  (Just set it to null, leave it blank) and then it looked fantastic.

Of course, I tested it out first on my nifty Apple iPhone and then asked a few friends to check it out.  The plugin creates a cool little sidebar utility within your WordPress Dashboard:

WP Ver 2.7

As you will notice, you have the ability to create groups, see a list of your subscribers and effect style changes.  Additionally, it, of course, has built-in phone verification quite similar to the aforementioned script that I purchased.  But, YES, this one is totally free.

Now, you can add this to your WordPress blog and text your loyal subscribers whenever you have an update or simply to clue them in on some quick news.  (Psssst…., you can also create a group and simply text your closest friends.)

It’s a quick install, easy to use, great social value and simply fun to enjoy!

It’s available at Brian’s site: Mister Nifty or at your regular WordPress Plugin respository. If you decide to obtain this latest free Wordpress plugin, please buy Brian a “soda” via the Paypal donation link within the plugin management area.

Have fun with it. I did!

Great Work Brian!

Scott