SEO Strategies

In an online environment where it is harder and harder to be seen, decision makers can be overly eager to shell out more and more money to be displayed in Paid Search Results and other sponsored link placements. In reality, much of your website's long term value will be achieved by aggressively optimizing your own content, links, navigation, and code. By optimizing your site first, you give search engine spyders and "web bots" the ability to properly navigate and file site pages and content within online databases. A website that is properly designed, with simple navigation, proper linking, and content that has sufficient keyword density, has a much better chance of rising quickly in search engine results than a similar, non-optimized site.

Once a website is optimized, SEO and SEM strategies used beyond the scope of the website have a chance to be much more effective. These 'outside' strategies include filing your domain with online directories, link building campaigns, forum posting, article & other content submissions, and more. Each of these strategies may be a large or small part of what you decide is best for your business's goals, but before moving in any specific direction, be sure to set attainable goals with reasonable expectations; depending on the keywords you target, it may be more or less difficult to move up in search engine rankings.

Often it is best to outsource SEO and SEM duties to ensure you get headed down the right path and to cut down on time spent learning and overall cost. As you begin to develop a familiarity with the different strategies involved in online marketing, you may be able to start implimenting specific tactics on your own.

Look for details on each of the SEO strategies listed above in upcoming posts.

How the internet has changed your market

The fact is, your customers use the internet more now than they ever have in the past. Most likely you know this, that's why you're business has a presence online!

Having a website is one thing, but ensuring you reach your target audience is an entirely different animal. Before discussing how you can go about reaching more potential customers, consider how your customers might use the internet during the buying cycle. Clearly the landscape of your market has changed, but just how much?

Below is an illustration detailing the fundamental differences between the old buying cycle and the new buying cycle.

source: "The flying penguin"

Some Simple Glossary Terms to Get You Started

This post is intended to give you a quick run through of the most important terms associated with Search Engine Optimization. Upcoming posts will dive into further detail and explanations of different SEO and SEM tactics.

Search Engine - A website or tool that allows database searches to be performed by keyword. Google, Yahoo, and MSN Live are the 3 most popular search engines, with Google seeing over 75% of online search traffic.

Keyword - The word(s) used to perform a search on a search engine.

Search Results - The list of websites provided after a keyword search is performed on a search engine. Comprised of Organic & Paid Results.

Organic Results - The natural search results that appear after searching for a keyword. Each search engine has it's only qualifying criteria to rank websites, including the website's domain age, the number of inbound links, the amount of relevant content, etc.

Paid Results - Sponsored Links that appear based on the advertiser's choice of keyword. Generally follows a Cost-per-click (cpc) model. These results can be placed ahead and/or beside organic results depending on the search engine.

SEO - The process of optimizing a website to perform/rank higher in search engines for targeted keywords.

SEO Presentation

Use the widget below to explore a simple breakdown of SEO, SEM, Email Marketing, and Blogging. Click the labeled buttons to see the corresponding page.

SEO Assistant is Here to Help You

In a highly volatile market, the importance of streamlined marketing tactics becomes increasingly important.  SEO Assistant is here to show you what improvements can be made to your online efforts.  With a little help, you can begin to see an increase in organic and paid traffic, higher conversion rates, and increased consumer awareness. 

SEO Assistant knows that as a small business owner, you don't have a lot of time to dedicate to website optimization, link building, forum posting, and Search Engine Marketing.  That's why SEO Assistant offers affordable solutions designed specifically for small businesses.  And SEO Assistant won't stop there, we also offer viable email communication design and blogging content specially for you!

This blog was designed in order to bring you up to speed on the terminology and benefits of adding SEO to your online marketing efforts.  Feel free to post questions and comments as they come, and we will do our best to get back to you as soon as possible!