Archive for March, 2008
published by Dan in SEO | SEO Strategy
Last time I explained the difference between SEO and SEM. Today I will be discussing whether you should opt for SEO or SEM.
In truth I believe that ALL websites should invest in SEO except for the very few that, due to the site’s nature, do not need to do well in search engine listings (See my post on Instances When SEO is Not Needed). Even if you plan on doing SEM doing SEO is a good idea because, as mentioned in my previous post, once you pull down your ads in search engines you can fall back on the positive results brought about by SEO. Furthermore, by doing SEO you can be sure that you will be doing relatively well in all the major search engine listings. This means that if you concentrate your SEM efforts in just one search engine (Google AdWords or Yahoo Search Marketing) you can still rest easy knowing that you aren’t neglecting the user base in other search engines.
Search engine marketing can also be done by anybody but it is most apt for those that need results fast and can not wait for the effects that organic SEO brings. It is also for businesses that are on a very competitive industry and know that they will have a really hard time getting to the top of the search listings.
The important thing to remember when choosing whether to do SEO or SEM is to always put aside a budget for SEO and then work with the rest of the budget for your SEM campaign. There are plenty of good SEM strategies out there to fit budgets of all kinds.
Popularity: 20% [?]
published by Dan in SEO
The difference between SEO and SEM is actually more than just one letter. By definition SEO or search engine optimisation is “the process by which a website is shaped in structure, technology and content in order to encourage search engines to rank it highly for selected key phrases.” Its aim is to improve the visibility of a website in search engine listings. SEM or search engine marketing on the other hand is defined as “the process of marketing a web site on search engines, including search engine optimization, submitting your site to the search engines and directories for organic listings, pay per inclusion, pay per click, banner ads or any other marketing programs offered by search engines.” In short it is a way to market or advertise a website through search engines.
As you can see in the definition SEO is actually a subset of SEM. SEO is crucial to search engine marketers because placing well in SERPs will actually help your marketing campaign. Even if the marketing campaign focuses on pay per inclusion and/or pay per click programs SEO can still help since the skill set and the knowledge used to optimise a website for search engines is very useful for learning how to choose the proper keywords to compete for.
Another important difference that people should realise about SEO and SEM is that SEO does not yield results overnight but the effects are long term. SEM on the other hand can yield results more guickly but then as soon as you pull out the ads the website will have to fall back on SEO to see to it that it gets a substantial traffic from search engines.
Popularity: 17% [?]
published by Dan in SEO
Many people have a misconception of what SEO can and can not do for them. Because of this people either think that SEO is useless or expect too much from SEO. Here are some of the most common SEO fallacies or myths.
- A good SEO can guarantee you number 1 ranking in Google or other search engines - No SEO can guarantee such results. If someone promises you this they’re either deluded, lying, or do not know what they are talking about. Either way it is best to steer clear of such SEOs.
- Google will penalise your website/blog if it catches you doing SEO - This is definitely not true. Google will however penalise you if it catches you using shady/black hat SEO methods. Google and other search engines actually give tips on how to optimise websites using legitimate techniques.
- SEO can be done by anyone - While it is true that almost anyone can learn SEO the truth is that not everyone has learned enough to do it properly. Many can do the basic things to optimise a site but less people actually have the knowledge and experience to optimise a website to the hilt.
- SEO is a one-time thing - Ask any SEO and anyone will tell you it is an ongoing process. Because of this paying an SEO a one-time fee will result in an optimised website FOR NOW but with all the changes in the search scene they can not promise that it will stay that way in a year’s (or even month’s) time.
Popularity: 18% [?]
published by Dan in SEO | SEO Basics
The question to this answer depends on whether you already have an existing site or not. If you already have a website and you have determined that you do wish to get more traffic from search engines then the time to start optimising your site is immediately. Of course this means assessing the current state of your website first but this assessment and planning stage is actually already a part of the process called search engine optimisation.
If you do not have a website yet SEO can be started before the website is finished. Factors that affect search engine optimisation should be considered during the planning stage of the design process. Some of these factors would include your website’s hosting, the domain name, layout/positioning of keytext, etc. It is better to integrate search engine optimisation with web design to save on time and effort rather than having to backtrack after the whole design, which is full of holes (at least in the SEO perspective), is already implemented. Because of this it is obviously a good idea to hire a web designer that also knows about SEO or that at least has SEO partners they can work with.
Popularity: 19% [?]
published by Dan in SEO
There are rare times when SEO is actually NOT needed.
- You do not want your website to be searchable - If for some reason you do not want your website to be searchable then you surely do not need your website to be optimised. However, if this is the case you should also know how to exclude your URL from the index of search engines. Here are a few articles that should help you:
Options for Removing URL from Google (PhoenixRealm)
Excluding Pages from a Search Engine’s Index (an old post of mine)
- Getting more traffic isn’t important to you - Even if you site/blog is searchable but your purpose for putting up the site is not commercial nor do you particularly want to spread the information in it, then you do not need the benefits SEO brings. Examples of this are personal or family blogs and websites.
If you have a commercial site though it is important that you do SEO in order to get the most traffic that you can.
Popularity: 17% [?]
published by Dan in SEO | SEO Basics
Being an SEO blog, Doublespark obviously believes that SEO is beneficial to websites. But what exactly are the benefits that SEO brings? Here are just a few of the benefits that SEO bring.
- Increases the amount of targeted traffic to your site from search engines.
- Increases the amount of traffic to your site from links found in other pages (an effect of your link building campaign, which is an integral part of SEO).
- Leads to adherence in sound web design principles in terms of accessibility.
- Contributes to your site’s usability.
- Targeted incoming traffic results to higher sales as well as a high ROI (return of investment).
- SEO principles can be applied to your online ad campaign particularly to search engine marketing (SEM).
Got any other benefits in mind? Share it and leave a comment.
Popularity: 17% [?]
published by Dan in SEO
SEO is meant to get you visitors. It helps you rank well in SERPs so that you get a good amount of traffic from search engines. However, when the visitors get to your website do they stay?
Ensuring that visitors stay and actually browse the site as well as take the actions you wish them to is beyond the cope of SEO. As an SEO though it is good practice to give your clients’ website a cursory review and give them advice in case you feel that they need to make improvements on their website that is beyond the scope of SEO.
Usually content improvement still falls under an SEO’s domain since SEO copywriters do need to make sure that the text is optimised. If the content is really poor though and needs to be revised/replaced/added upon not only for SEO purposes but because the site lacks meaningful content it is wise to suggest these changes. Make sure you are really tactful when doing this.
Sometimes the content is good enough but it is not presented in the right way. The best way to tackle this is to suggest that your client hire the services of a web design company. If your SEO firm also offer web design services it is best to have clear points and even data on why a website redesign is in order since the client (if of a suspicious nature) might think that you are merely trying to get them to hire you and thus make a bigger profit.
Always explain to your clients the reasons why you think they need to make changes in order to ensure that your SEO efforts and their money doesn’t go to waste. Your clients will appreciate it especially if they begin to see improvements in their bottomline and not just the amount of traffic they get.
Popularity: 15% [?]
published by Dan in SEO
From time to time it’s good to take us back to basics and tick off the things we should remember when doing SEO. Here are some of the things I consider most important when doing SEO.
- Always remember the basics. On-page and off-page SEO and your link building campaign.
- Keep yourself updated about the latest stuff in SEO by reading SEO blogs and attending SEO conferences.
- SEO is not the main key to your website’s success - it is your website concept and content.
- Though not the main key SEO surely is an important ingredient in ensuring your website’s success.
- You SEO efforts should be coupled with other techniques to get more traffic (use of social sites and your ad campaign both online and offline).
- Stick to white hat methods.
Looking at my list I would say that to sum it up SEO is just a tool, albeit an indispensable one at that, and that your overall approach to building and maintaining your website in order to achieve its purpose is the key to your website’s success.
Popularity: 15% [?]
published by Dan in Black Hat SEO | SEO
I recently read a post by Nabha on YOUmoz about why he thinks being a white hat is better than using black hat techniques. I couldn’t agree more with his points when he pointed out that white hat techniques…
- Attract the most valuable links;
- Produce a sense of well-being, a feeling that you have contributed to the world (as Rand’s younger brother said in a different context, you can sleep well at night, knowing that you’ve helped someone); and
- Will never go out of fashion
I do understand that there will always be SEOs that will resort to black hat techniques but I simply believe that sticking to white hat will pay off better in the end. It might result in opportunities lost (some clients actually want you to employ black hat techniques to get faster results!) but it will make you a better/more skilled and reputable SEO in the end.
On the other hand, even though I believe in sticking with white hat techniques I also believe that it is important that an SEO be knowledgeable about black hat methods as well for the following reasons:
- knowledge is power - Black hat methods will also give you further insight on the workings of search engines and you want to know all you can about search engines.
- to know what to avoid - The truth is that there are SEOs out there that start off using black hat techniques simply because they didn’t know any better. As they say though ignorance of the law excuses no one! So you’d better stay updated!
- so you can explain things better to your clients - If a client has heard of a black hat method and think it’s really great and want you to use it you wouldn’t be able to explain your stance if you cannot point out why you do not want to use that method.
Popularity: 18% [?]
published by Dan in SEO
One of the great things about SEO is that it never really gets boring. Like anything connected to the computer/internet industry search engine optimisation is so dynamic that there is constantly something new you can learn. However, this very same thing also makes learning about SEO a difficult thing. While some might think that by attending a seminar on SEO or reading a book once will leave them equipped with the knowledge to do their own website’s SEO it actually isn’t true. With SEO your knowledge might be enough to address current issues and ensure that your website is optimised today but it surely doesn’t ensure that it will be tomorrow.
Search engines continually strive to improve their search algorithms and it takes a dedicated person to keep up with the latest changes. One of the traits that a good SEO has is the passion to learn, to soak in knowledge. If you do not like the idea of continually “studying” then SEO is not for you. If you marvel at the way this age is churning out new information and finding ways to apply this to make things (specifically search) work better then welcome to the world of SEO – you will definitely fit in!
Popularity: 15% [?]
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