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Posts Tagged ‘search engine marketing’

10 Tips and Tactics for Website Video Search Engine Optimization

March 26th, 2010

We all have seen the research that has been pouring out all over the internet with regard to the growing popularity of online video content. Internet users are consuming online video content at a rate greater than previously predicted. And, consumers all over are learning to produce and share online video content. Video can often be a more effective means for a producer to get a message across than typical offline or online content. In order to take advantage of the opportunity that exists today with regard to online video, one must learn the tips and techniques that can be used to allow for greater discoverability of online content - this is called Video SEO or video search engine optimization.

1) All SEO specialists know that the search engines are built to index and rank text. Being that it is more difficult for the search engines to understand the content within a video (though they are working on it), it is a good idea to include as much text surrounding the video itself if possible. One excellent way to do this is to include a text transcript of your video alongside your video with keyword rich title and descriptions.

2) Keep in mind that when users search for videos on search engines, often time they use the word “video” in their search. For example, “car racing video.” Therefore, in addition to the keywords that you are targeting, also be sure to include the word “video” or “videos” in your description, text, title, meta data, etc…

3) Search engine crawlers rely a lot on the link texts to figure out what the video is all about as they are not capable to figure out the contents of the video otherwise. Therefore it is advisable to get as many back links as possible for your video.

4) It is advisable to create a separate sitemap just for your videos in your site and try to keep your video files in one directory this would help the web crawlers to locate your video files speedily and effortlessly.

5) It is very difficult for the web crawlers of any search engine to crawl into the video contents inside flash players so they usually prefer to stay away from such files. It is therefore advisable not to use such kind of file formats which discourages the web crawlers.

6) Keep a keyword friendly URL structure that uses a few of your main keywords in the url string. For example - website.com/videos/car-racing-video/ is much better than website.com/videos/?videoID=123kjh

7) The first thing that users see when browsing for or searching for videos is the video thumbnail. Research shows that the thumbnail you choose for your video can really effect the number of viewers that watch the video itself. Try to experiment with the thumbnails that you choose to see which ones create more interest and get seen more often by viewers.
8) When hosting videos on your own site, keep your videos one per page and put all the pages with videos into one directory. This combined with a video sitemap will help search engines find and index all of your important videos.

In addition to the specific optimization techniques listed above, make sure that you also follow some common guidelines for online video content:

9) Keyword research, as with search engine optimization for other online content, is crucial for targeting the audience you desire most effectively. Use keyword research tools available in order to identify those words that most often are searched for when searching for related content online.

10) Allow users to submit comments and feedback on your videos. Studies show that viewers who offer feedback are those most likely to convert and take the desired action that you are trying to solicit, whether it be an email, website visit, or purchase.

Search Engine Optimization

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Google- The Most Popular Search Engine In The World!

March 23rd, 2010

When it pertains to the World Wide Web, as well as search engines particularly, there’s an unrivaled company that prevails over all of the others, Google. Google serves as the most utilized search engine, with many more customers as well as many more searches than any additional search engine out there. It appears that regardless of what you’re looking for, Google will forever come back with the related internet sites for the data you’re searching for.

Sometimes your topic is so obscure or narrow, that nothing will be able to find it because there is just not enough information online. But that rarely happens and if it does, you can often just change the keywords or change the parameters around and find what you are looking for.

Google has been know, for a long time now, for its search engines. In addition to this, what many do not know is that they are also writing programs for other search and retrieval products. You can find Google programs on laptops, desk top and even on your cell phones. Google has even, at one point, built their own phones. Overall, they have not been satisfied with writing programs for other companies, and have built an entire device around their own system.

Since the appearance of the Google phone, it has been nothing but a success. It continues to sell strongly, in competition with other more established phones such as the iPhone and Palm series phones. Google has taken a leap into the iPhone and palm industry and built their own version that is making for some excellent competition. This was a smart move on Google’s part as mobile devices are starting to replace the laptop and desk top computers.

Now with the Google phone you can be anywhere in the world and find the information that you are searching for. Whether you are on your laptop, desktop or sitting under a palm tree on a tropical island you can find the information that you are looking for.

Search Engine Optimization

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Small Businesses Can Grow By Using An SEO Service

March 20th, 2010

In an economy like this one, small businesses must use any and all marketing tools at their disposal so, many are turning to SEO services to reach untapped client pools and extend their market influence. Most businesses today use their web-site to find traffic as well as cultivate a loyal client following.

SEO services provide clients with search optimization packages. Nearly every website out there today has a multiplicity of errors that need to be fixed, and your SEO consultant should address those right up front. One of the pivotal functions of this is to assess the strength of the websites your site is being shaped to displace, as well as develop a plan to refine your site to do so.

After the initial profile, the SEO firm can move on to the next step, which is to create effective strategy and planning services according the websites needs and wants. Having an SEO case study is an important initial step that SEO consultant services should provide their clients in order for business owners to get a clear grasp of the SEO world.

As part of your SEO services, your consultant should go over exactly how and what it is that they will do. It should not be too difficult to get your SEO expert to clearly and concisely explain their plan to get your website to where you want it to be. This fully makes the business owner get a good grasp of how search engine ranking are very much important for websites today. It goes without saying that any SEO company you hire should obviously include keyword research as part of the package for their services.

Using social media marketing as part of your SEO services package is a great addition so you can proverbially kill two birds with one stone. Relying on a reputable SEO service should give you some peace of mind in that you are receiving the knowledge and experience of a seasoned veteran in the science and art of search engine optimization, as you turn over your business marketing management to them.

When you are mulling over the benefit your SEO service provides your company, if you do not feel that it is growing into the centerpiece for your marketing efforts, something may be wrong. Making sure that your expectations are being met, as well as expectations of you, will go a long way in helping your business reach its fullest potential and profitability.

Search Engine Optimization

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What Search Engine ‘Spiders’ Are And How They Work

March 16th, 2010

Search engines employ automated processes or robots, casually known as ’spiders’ or ‘crawlers,’ to find various sites. They’re an important part of the whole internet infrastructure, but why is that so? What do they do exactly?

Robots actually have the same basic functionality that earlier browsers had. Just like these early browsers, search engine robots do not have the ability to do certain things. Robots cannot get past password protected areas. They do not understand frames, Flash movies, nor Images or JavaScript. Even if you use a robot, you have to click the buttons on your website. They can cease to function while using JavaScript navigation or when indexing a dynamically generated URL. A search engine robot retrieves data and finds information and links on the web.

The robot makes a list of the web pages in the system at the ’submit a URL page, then searches for these web pages in order from the list the next time it goes on the web. Sometimes a robot will find your page whether you have submitted it or not because other site links may lead the robot to your site. Building your link popularity and getting links from other topical sites back to your site is important. The first thing a robot does when it arrives is to check for a robots.txt file. This file tells the robots which sites are off-limits. Usually these are files that should be of no concern because they are binaries or other files that are not needed by the robot.

Submitting a new URL to a search engine adds this URL to the queue which the spiders are due to ‘crawl’ or visit. However, even if a URL isn’t submitted directly, the spiders usually find it through links from other websites. If you build link popularity, this will help the spiders find you faster. When the robots arrive, they’ll check your site for a file called ‘robots.txt,’ which will tell them what areas of the website they are not allowed to visit. Off-limits files may include things like binaries or other information that the spiders need not report back.

To ensure that searchers get the right results with the most relevant response to their query, quick calculations are done to see that this happens. Server logs and log statistics program results can be checked by the user to see what pages have been visited and how often. Some robots may be easy to identify such as Google’s ‘Googlebot’, while less well-known ones such as Inktomi’s ‘Slurp’ are not easily identifiable. Some robots even appear to be human-powered browsers.

A robot ‘reads’ your site by collecting data on any visible text, on tags you may have in the coding of your page, and on any links available. These are the things that determine what the search engines ‘think’ your content is about, so these are the things you really need to pay attention to when building a site that you want to have high visibility in search results.

If you’re interested in seeing which pages the spiders have visited on your website, you can check your server logs or the results from your log statistics. From this information you’ll know which spiders have visited, where they went, when they came, and which pages they crawl most often. Some are easy to identify, such as Google’s ‘Googlebot,’ while others are harder: ‘Slurp’ from Inktomi, for example. In addition to identifying which spiders visit, you can also find if any spiders are draining your bandwidth so that you can block them from your site. The internet has plenty of information on identifying these bad bots. There are also certain things can prevent good spiders from crawling your site, such as the site being down or huge amounts of traffic. This can prevent your site from being re-indexed, though most spiders will eventually come by again to try re-accessing the page.

Search Engine Optimization

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Get More Leads With An SEO Expert

March 12th, 2010

Successful websites are supported by strategies carefully implemented by an SEO firm that has an understanding of the latest search engine algorithms and robots. In the fast changing world of Search Engine Optimization, strategies that may have been effective six months ago may already be outdated.

Comprehensive services provided by SEO consulting firms include multi-faceted design, analytics, content and diverse marketing strategies. To make your site as productive and profitable as possible, a one-tiered SEO approach will fall short of full potential. The SEO firm will offer a variety of comprehensive initiatives that will yield a strong return on investment and build your bottom line while increasing accessibility and sales.

The Total SEO Experience

A professional SEO firm will provide information about a host of services that can sustain a high search optimization ranking and maximize the return of your website.

* Website Analytics * Content Development and Copywriting Services * Link Building * Search Engine Friendly Web Design * Targeted Local SEO Development * Search Engine and Internet Marketing Services * Keyword Research * Competitive Analysis * Search Engine Optimization * Pay Per Click Search Marketing * Social Media Optimization * Contextual Advertising * Weblog Marketing * Online Public Relations including Press Release Optimization

Sites that adopt SEO strategies will stand apart from others. A comprehensive, aggressive strategy will draw viewers and attract new prospects quickly. The Internet is flooded with sites. An SEO firm will set your online presence apart.

Single Tiered SEO - Long Gone

Sites that are not supported by the advanced SEO technologies will most likely get lost in the shuffle and become even more irrelevant as time and SEO change continues to advance. A site without efficient supplemental marketing including implementation of a new social media initiative is falling further behind the marketplace every hour of every day. Marketers have come to realize the potential of a strong Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter presence.

Additionally, the algorithms and robots that drive the big three search engines Google, Yahoo and Bing, have changed dramatically. SEO consultants acknowledge that strategies once deemed effective have quickly become outdated.

Analysis By An SEO Firm

Experienced SEO firms can perform an in-depth analysis of your current site. This analysis will reveal what is working and what falls short of expectations. The consultants will provide recommendations about how to improve the current design, keyword usage, content and other online marketing tools.

While the significance of the company’s website may once have been viewed with modest expectations, the fact of the matter is that 90% of today’s consumers perform online research. Much of that research is about products and services. If you want your company to increase your market share, the use of an SEO consultant can definitely help.

SEO Firms are Cost Effective

Your website has as much potential as your budget and commitment to new SEO technologies permits. The reality is that a good SEO strategy will improve your local, national and international visibility.

While promoting a tangible sense of permanence, an experienced SEO firm will drive your ranking, expand your global exposure and increase sales. When considering the gains, the expenses allocated to the SEO firm will most likely prove to be the most effective marketing weapon in your arsenal. This year, build consulting by an SEO firm into your budget and watch profits rise.

Search Engine Optimization

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