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Post by PickyChicky on Feb 13, 2014 15:42:18 GMT -6
Changes to the SEO GameNick Stamoulis, Brick MarketingThe above link is to an article regarding the dramatic changes that have been made to the SEO game. While it doesn't really provide any solutions, it does explain a lot about how our old methods will no longer work and why. This should help you at least start thinking about how to change your approach to employing effective SEO. Here's an excerpt: "2013 was a year of dramatic changes for the world of SEO. Google made significant changes to the Webmaster Guidelines, another few rounds of Penguin were dropped on our heads, keyword data was locked up 100% (a far cry from the original 10% we were promised), and more. All of these changes have changed the SEO game dramatically for both those of us on the agency side and our clients." You might also want to read his article below where he discusses the various changes that Google has made. As he says in the article, "The entire search algorithm was actually updated, akin to putting a new engine in an old car. Let’s take a look at all the ways SEO changed in 2013 to make sure we’re starting our 2014 campaigns off on the right foot!" 2013 -- A Year of Big SEO ChangesClick the following link to jump to my post about Nick's article discussing the: Five Required Elements of a Modern SEO CampaignAnd jump to my post about his article providing 4 SEO Resolutions in 2014.
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Post by PickyChicky on Feb 13, 2014 15:49:55 GMT -6
What Are the Goals of Your SEO Program?Shawna Wright, Brick MarketingThe above link is to an article designed to make you rethink your approach to SEO and the goals you wish to accomplish with your SEO program. Shawna points out the importance of having both long- and short-term goals and that your efforts should be geared toward attracting your target audience rather than just driving more traffic to your site. So, read the above article for some tips on how you should be approaching SEO, particularly considering all the changes that Google made in 2013.
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Post by PickyChicky on Feb 13, 2014 15:53:02 GMT -6
The SEO Recipe for SuccesNick Stamoulis, Brick MarketingThe above link is to an article in which Nick Stamoulis covers the "many components of a successful SEO program today. Each piece of the puzzle serves an important purpose and must be in place in order to improve your visibility in the search engines and across the web as a whole."
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Post by PickyChicky on Feb 13, 2014 15:57:09 GMT -6
Is That Drop in Organic Traffic Normal?Nick Stamoulis, Brick MarketingThe above link is to an article in which Nick Stamoulis explains the various things that can affect the level of organic traffic your site is receiving. As Nick says in the article, "Unless your drop in organic traffic happens the same day as a Google update like Panda or Penguin goes live, try not to panic right away. That drop in organic traffic could actually be normal!"
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2014 16:04:31 GMT -6
Thanks for posting these articles, Nicole. This is a subject I always like reading about.
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Post by PickyChicky on Feb 13, 2014 16:08:22 GMT -6
Required Elements of a Modern SEO CampaignNick Stamoulis, Brick MarketingThe above link is to an article in which Nick discusses the five required elements of a modern SEO campaign: "SEO has undergone multiple transformations through the years. During the early days, the focus was on building links to your website. At one point, nearly any link would help. However, that’s no longer the case. The only way a link is going to help your SEO efforts today is if it generates traffic and comes from a relevant, high quality source. An SEO campaign looks much different than it did even just a few years ago and also requires more creativity and effort."
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Post by PickyChicky on Feb 13, 2014 16:16:53 GMT -6
4 SEO Resolutions for 2014Nick Stamoulis, Brick MarketingThe above link is to an article that will help you develop a new SEO campaign designed to resolve the issues created in 2013 by Google's numerous changes to the SEO game.
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Post by PickyChicky on Feb 13, 2014 16:22:57 GMT -6
SEO Statements That Are No Longer TrueDanielle Bachini, Brick MarketingAs Danielle notes, "The SEO industry is constantly evolving due to the fact that the way that the search engines view websites is constantly evolving. If your SEO approach is outdated, your site won’t be viewed favorably by the search engines. In fact, an outdated approach could even get you into trouble and result in a search engine penalty." So check out the above link to her article to ensure you're not falling victim to the old approach to SEO that once worked, but no longer does.
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Post by PickyChicky on Feb 13, 2014 16:30:57 GMT -6
Beyond the Visitor Report: Ways to Measure SEO SuccessNick Stamoulis, Brick MarketingDespite all of the changes that Google made in 2013, most notably hiding keyword data, Google Analytics is still an effective tool for developing a successful SEO campaign. In Nick's article linked to above, he discusses how you can still use Google Analytics as well as other reports you can pull to see how well your SEO program is performing.
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Post by PickyChicky on Feb 13, 2014 16:42:29 GMT -6
Are You Expecting the Impossible from Your SEO Program?Nick Stamoulis, Brick MarketingIt is often the case that site owners expect too much from their SEO program and may even give up on it. What they don't realize that it's not typical for an SEO program to produce immediate results -- certainly not the same kind of results that bigger players in your industry realize. It takes time and a serious effort to make your SEO program work for you, particularly since each website and industry presents its own unique challenges. In the article linked to above, Nick discusses three ways you may be expecting the impossible from your SEO program.
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Post by PickyChicky on Feb 13, 2014 16:52:50 GMT -6
Why Your Website Pages Must Be FocusedDanielle Bachini, Brick MarketingThe above link is to an article that discusses how and why each page of a business website should serve a specific purpose. If you're covering too many key aspects of your business on one page, not only does is negatively affect the user experience, it also has a negative impact on your ability to make your SEO program work for you.
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Post by PickyChicky on Feb 13, 2014 16:56:25 GMT -6
Thanks for posting these articles, Nicole. This is a subject I always like reading about. Yes, it's definitely an important topic, especially considering all of the changes that Google made last year -- particularly the fact that they are now hiding keyword data in Analytics. So, I figured I'd post these to help peeps rethink their approach to SEO and develop an effective SEO program for 2014. It's something I also need to read up on since I'm rebuilding two businesses this year.  |
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Post by PickyChicky on Jul 19, 2014 7:30:03 GMT -6
Op-Ed: Finding your way through SEO in 2014Milton Este, Digital JournalThe above link is to an article that discusses ways in which you can improve your SEO in 2014 after the major algorithm changes with Panda 4.0. Although, the article states Panda 3.0 and isn't very well written, as far as I'm concerned -- too many typos and odd word usage (ie, "spreading your legs for social media"). LOL I know just quoting that is going to make you look. Ha-ha-ha!  However, I'm going to paraphrase here, touching on the key points in a bulleted list with brief explanations (yes, I can be brief LOL): The Three Most Important Things You Should Do- Content: No matter what you're doing when optimizing your sites, keep one thing in mind -- quality, original, well-written content. This is what Google is now placing the most importance on.
- Use Synonyms: In the past, it was necessary to use multiple instances of the same keywords, which would result in keyword cramming in short product descriptions. However, Google has grown up and now understands what synonyms are, so we have more options when it comes to using multiple instances of keywords.
- Build Your Authority: Become an expert in your niche with brand building or authority building. The most important way in which you can do this is to interlink to your blog where you share valuable information about your niche or products. Many web hosting services now offer a blog with your site, so use it for more than announcing sales events or other special offers.
For sellers, talking about your products, offering important information about them, their history (especially for used, vintage or antique products), the brand's history, little known facts, how to properly care for them, how they're made, who made them, what materials were used to make them, and the like. Click Here for an example of a blog post I did on my Josef Originals products, which is my all-time most viewed blog post (by thousands).
What You Should No Longer Bother Wasting Your Time On- Backlinks: In the past, people abused backlinks to improve their search ranking because Google placed more importance on them than quality content. Link farms, anyone? Well, that is no longer the case. Content is key now as it plays the biggest role in your search ranking, but it has to be quality, original, well-written content or it won't do you any good.
Of course, you can still use backlinks, but they are no longer a factor in your search ranking unless you're abusing them. Abusing them means that you have low-quality backlinks that either don't point to valuable content or are included on pages that have no valuable content themselves, like link farms or other low-quality directories. Abusing backlinks can result in a significant drop in your page's search ranking.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2014 8:01:34 GMT -6
"The above link is to an article that discusses ways in which you can improve your SEO in 2014 after the major algorithm changes with Panda 4.0. Although, the article states Panda 3.0 and isn't very well written, as far as I'm concerned -- too many typos and odd word usage (ie, "spreading your legs for social media"). LOL"
lol. What a weird choice of words.
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Post by PickyChicky on Jul 19, 2014 8:56:13 GMT -6
I know, right? When I first read that, I was like, "Whuuuut?!?" I had to re-read the sentence a few times because it just kept throwing me off that I was having a hard time figuring out what the writer was trying to say. Maybe he meant "stretching" instead of "spreading"? LOL Then, in the very next sentence, he says "spread your arms in the niche." To me, it sounds like a foreigner trying to use American phrases without knowing what they mean. It reminds me of a true story an ex-boyfriend from London told me about how an elderly American lady checking in at a London hotel was mortified when the clerk asked her what time she wanted him to knock her up.   |
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However, I'm going to paraphrase here, touching on the key points in a bulleted list with brief explanations (yes, I can be brief LOL):
