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These days predictive utilities like Trellian, WordTracker and AdWords are only half the keyword research story. State of the art processes combine these standard search predict tools’ output with “what we already know,” by mashing in site-specific datasets at the keyword level.
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ResearchBuzz writes about an interesting search engine called SnappyFingers, a Q&A search engine that has a data set of over 13 million questions.
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Great article by SEO Theory writer Michael Martinez who takes a look at the downturn in Google Blogsearch quality and indexing over the past couple of months.
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Great article by Search Engine Journal about FireFox addons that let you access alternative data right from Google SERPs based on your search query.
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Pandia Search Engine Detective is a one stop shop for search engine intelligence. This useful collection of links to all kinds of search engine and SEO information is now updated with new categories and links.
links for 2009-02-15
February 15, 2009 By
10 Valuable Things I Learned About SEO In The Last 30 Days
December 1, 2008 By
The advance of technology is based on making it fit in so that you don’t really even notice it, so it’s part of everyday life. (Bill Gates)
Although the cofounder of Microsoft referred to computer technology in this quote, I’m sure it can be applied to search engine optimization as well. SEO has become part of our everyday life. The (non SEO savvy) internet user might not notice it – but the SEO pros do everything to “make it fit” for their clients. Too much of a stretch? (Feel free to disagree with me by posting a comment…)
As I noted many times before, SEO is such a fast paced industry. So many news items, so many updates and changes every day.
Following a list with things I learned in the last 30 days about search engine optimization, internet marketing and social media:
1. I would like to visualize the basic SEO process? Is there a great chart which helps me to understand it?
Yes. Aaron Wall from infamous SEO Book created a impressive and very comprehensible chart, IMHO. The original PDF version can be downloaded here.
2. Is the bounce rate really a search engine ranking factor?
Yes. At least Top SEO’s must now take bounce rate into account when designing and refining a site, SEO Blackhat writes.
3. Does a non-indexed page pass on PageRank?
Surprisingly, yes. Dutch Search Marketer Eduard Blacquière received the answer through the LinkedIn group LinkedSEO. It said: “NoIndex is a request to not show the page in the results. PR still passes. NoFollow, PR doesn’t pass but does accumulate”.
4. How can I get 800,000 visits from Google.com in just 7 days?
Well, I don’t know if we’re ever going to make it to the homepage of Google. But the “Big G” linked to its new phone with T-Mobile at the end of October. According to Search Engine Roundtable, more than 800,000 unique visitors went to that page during the week the link was active. In one day, more than 233,000 unique visitors were registered. One can only dream…
5. Is the BrowseRank the new PageRank?
Maybe. Marios Alexandrou from All Things SE explains BrowseRank, a measure developed by Microsoft with the purpose of outperforming Google’s PageRank, in a very interesting post.
6. How do I build authority links (including .edu .gov .mil)?
Saad Kamal reveals the secret in a very useful post. First, in order to find authority links: spy on your competitors Find out which .edu/.gov/.mil are linking to your competitor, with a command like “linkdomain:www.google.com site:edu”. Then get Links from .Edu/.Gov/.Mil blogs on your Niche, with a command like the following: “Keyword+inurl:blog site:.edu”. Saad offers many more great tips.
7. Can SEO and user generated content really be a good match for each other?
Yes. Laura Callow delivers great insights on that, backed up by research and data. Among others, she writes that online comments and reviews posted by the enthusiasts are second only to word of mouth as a purchase driver for all web users.
8. Which are the Top 25 most powerful web directories?
Paul Teitelmann from Search Engine People provides a fantastic list. It includes directories like World Site Index, Dmoz Zilla and Octopedia.
9. How to I avoid to screw up a change of my domain name?
Andrew Heaps from Latitude has some valuable tips. Among others: Phase the transition. And don’t forget to tell the search engines.
10. Which are the best books on social media marketing?
Lee Odden from the Online Marketing Blog wrote a great post with over 20 Must Read books about social media marketing. It includes “Cluetrain Manifesto“, “Groundswell”, Seth Godin’s “Tribes”, James Surowieki’s “The Wisdom Of Crowds” and Paul Gillin’s “Secrets of Social Media Marketing”.
I am aware that this list could be ten times longer. Did I miss any of the “big stories” in SEO, in your opinion? Let me know!
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Surviving The Economic Downturn With SEO
December 1, 2008 By
“There’s no two ways about it – SEO is hot again”, writes Rand Fishkin, CEO of the Seattle based SEO company SEOmoz, in his latest blog post. He observes that not only his firm has received a higher than normal volume of requests for consulting, but also various job sections for SEO professionals are thriving.
The employment trend chart by job search engine Simply Hired shows a 147% increase in SEO jobs in the last one and a half years alone:
Fishkin lists 8 reasons why Search Engine Optimization is becoming more attractive to companies in a down market:
- The Web Outperforms Other Sales Channel
- It’s the Right Time to Re-Tool
- Paid Search Drives Interest in SEO
- SEO is Losing its Stigma
- Marketing Departments are in a Brainstorming Cycle
- Search Traffic Will Be Relatively Unscathed by the Market
- Web Budgets are Being Re-Assessed
- Someone Finally Looked at the Web Analytics
While I never would dare to compare my one man consultancy with a well-known SEO agency like SEOmoz, I personally can confirm that there is an increased interest in SEO. Although, as Search Engine Watch summarized recently in a great post, “the SEO process still requires an introduction at the onset of any presentation.”
Indeed, the majority of companies still seems to have a lack of knowledge when it comes to SEO. They either want you to be the miracle worker (“Can you help me to rank no. 1 in Google for keyword XY in one week?”), or prefer a paid search campaign only. As Rand explains perfectly in his post, SEO being discovered because company delivers more bang for the buck in times of marketing budget cuts.
Additionally, Forrester’s Kim Le Quoc and Jaap Favier stated in their report titled“How to Stimulate Consumer to Buy Online”:
“Creating preference with online buyers starts with search engine optimization (SEO). As search increases in complexity, marketing leaders need to move their teams toward advanced search marketing programs.”
These are my personal 4 tips when talking to a potential client:
- Consider SEO, because it doesn’t require a huge investment (unless you’re working with a top-tier agency that charges an excessive amount of money);
- Have an audit performed of your site to see where your site;
- Implement a simple rewrite of your URL structure. Often times, it can be enough to move your site into a position to be indexed by the search engines;
- Check to make sure that your navigation and pages are properly built with text links and easy to understand text. This can really help improve your site’s accessibility to search engines.
Do you have other suggestions?
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Happy Thanksgiving!
November 27, 2008 By
Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds. (Theodore Rosevelt)
Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! I wish you a relaxing day, a wonderful gathering with family and friends – and a delicious culinary feast.
In honor of this day, many search engines and websites in the search industry got ‘dressed up’. Here is a little collection of Thanksgiving logos:
Ask.com:
Live.com:
Google:
Yahoo:
Dogpile:
AOL.com:
Friendfeed:
Cre8asite Forums:
Search Engine Roundtable:
Plus: Check out Search Insider’s great post “10 Reasons Search Marketers Should Be Greatful”. It’s a must-read!
First Pages of Search Engine Results Matter Most
November 1, 2008 By
A new whitepaper by search marketing firm iProspect shows that 62% of search users click on links found on the first page of search results.
Overall, 90% of search users will click on links found in the first three pages of search results. The findings show the increased importance of first page placement, along with the value of being found in the Top 20 and Top 30.
Other findings:
- 41% of respondents would either alter or abandon the keywords used in their queries if they could not find results on the first page.
- 82% of the time, respondents would alter search queries by adding descriptive words, most often resulting in a successful search.
Pretty impressive results. This definitely show how important it is to rank in the first 20 SERPs of the major search engines.
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