May 12, 2012

What Is SEO and How Can I Benefits From It?


Some individuals might wonder what are the main variations between websites that some are on the top of the google look for ratings, while others are hidden on the bottom of the list? The reason for that is this very highly effective web marketing approach called SEO. SEO or seo are the mixed methods and resources that are used to strengthen the google look for ratings of a web page or a web page in google.

These are small changes and changes done to your web page that when considered independently might seem like very minute raises, but when in addition to other resources and techniques could have a huge affect on the buyer of your website's readers and ratings in the google look for. This strengthen in ratings therefore qualified prospects online readers from google to your web page.

People click on the web pages that are on top of the ratings as they understand those to be more appropriate and related to what they are looking for. SEO goals to strengthen the buyer of your website's readers since they are the primary people of the items, and they are the ones using the google to find your website. The sense is: the greater your web page on the top of the collection of look for powerplant seo, the more likely it is to be frequented by customers worldwide. But that is not the only element that the SEO professional should be worried with when trying to strengthen your website's awareness.

Because of the methods that the google implement, SEO has been a challenging and time-consuming procedure. The SEO procedure promotions with the many elements that function its way through the set of regulations the different google implement to help strengthen your website's standing. It takes into consideration what individuals look for on the planet wide web, how google function, the various terms that customers use to look for the google, and which google are desired by most individuals.

But still, these are just some of the things that the SEO procedure promotions with. Doing SEO is a chance. An wrong SEO approach could damage your web page, and your track record as well. While on the other hand, a accountable and good SEO approach could help your website reach greater google look for rates.
A well carried out SEO approach can do miracle to your website. It allows you be more specific with the visitors that you want to focus on, generating sure that you are found around the globe by those who look for what your website offers. Defeat your competition and attract that sought after online readers into your web page. This strengthen in readers also means more customers checking out your website. SEO when done effectively works miracle.

It allows saving money for the obtain the most. Once your web page has been improved properly, its list in the google look for ratings will considerably strengthen, increasing its awareness, generating more individuals from all over the community identify your web page and the products that you offer. All these would only mean one thing--a quicker and greater strengthen in your sales and revenue. Every company wants that to happen to them.

8:00 AM by Joe Collins · 0

Discovery Helps You Advertising Online Site Web


On online advertising spending has already overtaken cinema, pay TV and outdoor media and is expected to overtake radio and magazines in 2006. Spending on general online advertising such as banners grew 51 per cent compared with a year earlier. spending on online advertising will total around $16 billion in 2006, accounting for more than five percent of total advertising spending for the first time ever. By year's end, online spending will hit $1.8 billion, garnering a 15.7 percent share of the $11.4 billion real estate advertising market. We're tracking strong growth in local paid search advertising, as well as online real estate, automotive and recruitment spending.

Professional web analytics software to track your web site, unique visitors, visitor behavior, search engines and online commerce and advertising campaigns. The two most successful techniques for enhancing your online image are: search engine optimization, and pay per click advertising campaigns. The most known tools to marketers in the mid 2000s are currently tools grouped into 2 fields: online advertising and search engine optimization. The legitimate side of online advertising includes search engine advertising, advertising networks and opt-in e-mail advertising. A useful appendix lists projections for local online advertising, including breakouts for paid search, for 211 individual markets.

A strategy session will provide you with ideas and an action plan for maximizing the benefits of online advertising for your business. Whether print or online, your advertising will effectively reach expatriates, business professionals, educated locals, and fun-loving travellers

all with money to spend! All about online advertising for business. If you thought about advertising your defense contracting business online, then there truly is no time like the present. CyanWeb know how to attract targeted clients to your business using online advertising.

Paypopup.com is a four year old online advertising network which consists thousands of specialized websites in providing unique target internet traffic. Investigate the cost of your online internet advertising with the ready-reckoner, below. NON-COMPLIANCE The FTC periodically joins with other law enforcement agencies to monitor the Internet for potentially false or deceptive online advertising claims. Now that the technology world has recovered and the internet has matured, online advertising is again garnering attention.

Most online advertising studies have focused on how successful ads are at driving traffic to the advertiser, using simple metrics such as clickthrough rates. Many of the general principles of advertising law apply to online ads, but new issues arise almost as fast as technology develops. Logos are NOT included in line ads or online advertising. Enter contextual ads Even before the dot com burst, online advertising venues came to realize that click-through rates of standard banner ads were abysmal.

7:54 AM by Joe Collins · 0

Factors to Consider When Outsourcing to a Professional SEO Company - Search Engines - SE Optimization


There are many factors to consider when outsourcing to a professional SEO company. These include aspects such as experience in the industry, organizations served, flexibility of the SEO services offered, customer service and of course, cost-effectiveness. These features are integral to ensuring that the SEO services offered by the company will work for you to develop your online marketing strategies, make your website perform better and be consistently in the top search rankings.

Website optimization is the art on which the success of your business rests. This is simply because there is no better way to reach your potential customers than the Internet, and visibility in the Internet depends on SEO.
SEO Services Must Be Comprehensive

Search engine optimization services need to be comprehensive as there are various elements involved in it - SEO copywriting for keyword-optimized but useful content, efficient web hosting for faster loading of web pages, link building to increase incoming traffic, social media optimization, article submissions, blog writing, press releases, advertising, email campaigns, reputation management, and so on. These SEO services must be effectively coordinated by professional SEO companies in order to provide the best results for client organizations.

When checking the website of a professional SEO company, check the number of services on offer. Check if the SEO company has got its own SEO right - is its website prominent in the search rankings? Secondly, read through the testimonials and see how many companies have actually benefited from it. In addition, ask around and get opinions from others.

Sustained Higher Rankings - Why the No. 1 Spot Can't be Yours Always

The ultimate benefit of search engine optimization services is higher rankings on a sustained and improving level. Changing user search patterns, competition from rival businesses and algorithmic changes in Google and other search engines mean that the top spot varies based on specific search terms. Rankings could change places, but what the professional SEO company does is ensure that the rankings for its client businesses are always on the high side and that they also manage to secure the top spot now and then.
Great Customer Service and Customization Options

Customer service is obviously important too as professional SEO companies always need to be in communication with client businesses regarding the direction of the SEO strategy and to discuss the expectations and requirements of the client business.

Search engine optimization services cater to the needs of various kinds of businesses, and this comprehensiveness is ensured by the presence of SEO copywriters, web designers, social media experts and other professionals as well as state-of-the-art resources to conduct keyword research and testing of SEO strategies. It would be best to check the variety of businesses the particular professional SEO company has served. These are the main factors to consider when outsourcing to a professional SEO company.

7:50 AM by Joe Collins · 0

Apr 12, 2012

Google tweaks social network



NEW YORK — Google is tweaking its social network, Google Plus, to make it easier to use and to distinguish it from rival Facebook.

The most visible change is a new navigation ribbon on the left side of the Google Plus page with icons for the most used features, such as games, photos and your personal profile. Hover over an icon to do specific tasks, such as add photos from your phone or an online album.

You can reorder the features in the ribbon and hide the ones you don't use often.

The changes, announced Wednesday, are designed to help Google Plus adapt more easily to growth — and to make room for new features in the future.

In a blog post, Google calls the ribbon "an obvious (and clutter-free) space for The Next Big Feature, and The Feature After That."

Google Inc. CEO Larry Page has made Google Plus the centerpiece of his effort to tie all of the company's services together. Google is worried that Facebook has been carving out a competitive advantage by stockpiling valuable information about people's social circles and interests. The data has given Facebook the means to target ads precisely and deliver content tied to a user's hobbies and tastes.

Google said Google Plus has attracted more than 170 million users since its debut nine months ago. That lags Facebook's 845 million user count, but it's far greater than Facebook's tally at that stage in its history.
Google Plus has yet to hold most users' attention. Visitors have been spending an average of just a few minutes per month on the network, compared with six to seven hours on Facebook, according to research firm comScore Inc.

The new design could help Google retain users by making the experience more pleasant.
The navigation ribbon, for instance, offers users more flexibility than Facebook in customizing a page.

2:43 AM by Joe Collins · 0

Feb 23, 2012

Google does not use the keywords meta tag in web ranking



Recently we received some questions about how Google uses (or more accurately, doesn't use) the "keywords" meta tag in ranking web search results. Suppose you have two website owners, Alice and Bob. Alice runs a company called AliceCo and Bob runs BobCo. One day while looking at Bob's site, Alice notices that Bob has copied some of the words that she uses in her "keywords" meta tag. Even more interesting, Bob has added the words "AliceCo" to his "keywords" meta tag. Should Alice be concerned?

At least for Google's web search results currently (September 2009), the answer is no. Google doesn't use the "keywords" meta tag in our web search ranking. This video explains more, or see the questions below.


Q: Does Google ever use the "keywords" meta tag in its web search ranking?
A: In a word, no. Google does sell a Google Search Appliance, and that product has the ability to match meta tags, which could include the keywords meta tag. But that's an enterprise search appliance that is completely separate from our main web search. Our web search (the well-known search at Google.com that hundreds of millions of people use each day) disregards keyword metatags completely. They simply don't have any effect in our search ranking at present.

Q: Why doesn't Google use the keywords meta tag?
A: About a decade ago, search engines judged pages only on the content of web pages, not any so-called "off-page" factors such as the links pointing to a web page. In those days, keyword meta tags quickly became an area where someone could stuff often-irrelevant keywords without typical visitors ever seeing those keywords. Because the keywords meta tag was so often abused, many years ago Google began disregarding the keywords meta tag.

Q: Does this mean that Google ignores all meta tags?
A: No, Google does support several other meta tags. This meta tags page documents more info on several meta tags that we do use. For example, we do sometimes use the "description" meta tag as the text for our search results snippets, as this screenshot shows:


Even though we sometimes use the description meta tag for the snippets we show, we still don't use the description meta tag in our ranking.

Q: Does this mean that Google will always ignore the keywords meta tag?
A: It's possible that Google could use this information in the future, but it's unlikely. Google hasignored the keywords meta tag for years and currently we see no need to change that policy.

10:41 PM by Joe Collins · 0

Jan 22, 2012

Home Page Title Is Wrong/Different In Google Search Results



Home Page Title Is Wrong In Google Search Results?
I often get asked “why is my page title not showing the correct title keywords in Google (and in sometimes Yahoo) search results pages?”
I thought I would list some of the more obvious reasons and just point those interested here:

Reasons Google Shows Wrong Page Title In SERPS & How To Fix

  • If you’re totally new to this, Google will look in your page <title></title> tags in the HEAD for your page title information, to display as the link to your page in search results (SERPS)
  • If you’ve made changes recently to optimise your page title for search engines, it might very well be just that Google doesn’t know yet, because it’s not visited your page since you made the change. So give it time. Check the Google CACHE link under your listing in search engines to see which page Google is “supposedly” using for your page (it’s usually accurate).
  • If this is clearly not the case, it might be because it is using Open Directory Project (ODP) data (the DMOZ directory) to replace your title with your directory listing data – that is, it’s using the link on that directory to replace your title because it thinks its more relevant to a specific query. If this is a possibility, add <meta name=”robots” content=”noodp” /> and <meta name=”robots” content=”noydir” /> – for the same issue in Yahoo – to your home page and once Google visits the page again, the problem should be resolved See –NOODP & also NOYDIR.
  • If you are not in DMOZ or the Yahoo directory, it may well be your title element My Titleis malformed in someway – I’ve shown before how search engines can choose to use a Header ‘tag’ as a Page title, or ignore the page title completely if you’re a spammer in the making  – so ensure your Page Title is properly marked up and starts with and ends with and is in the HEAD of your document – and there is only one :p
  • Another reason is you may be confusing Google in some way from getting to the correct page title, and/or from displaying it in results, using directives in your meta tags or Robots.txt. When Google knows about the page because other pages it CAN read link to your page with descriptive keywords, it might very well use these links on third party pages to determine what that page title should be if it decides to include the URI in it’s listings, and you CERTAINLY don’t want that. For questions about Robots.txt I go to Sebastian. No doubt he’ll tell me if I have worded that correctly.
  • In 2011, Google uses many signals to help create a search snippet title these days, and will use elements or attributes of your page, or the information in links to your page, to create a snippet title, based on what a searcher typed in.
Obviously having an intelligent, well formed page title, that is relevant to the page, and not duplicated on other pages of your site, is just about the most important single thing you can do to ‘seo’ a page on your site.
You can still it seems fit a maximum of 70 characters in it as the test pages below seem to confirm…
(and 157 characters seems to max out the meta description in one or two keyword searches too in that example. That little test also shows you what happens if Google ignores your page title too).
PS – This is another part of my social media & syndication / status update test….using Google Docs to publish to my WordPress blog.

10:55 PM by Joe Collins · 0

Jun 30, 2011

Difference beetween SEO and SEM


When it comes to having a successful online presence, the quality of your website is just as important as how you market it. In most cases, there’s no point having flawless website design if no-one can actually find your website in the first place.

To help users find you online, there are a number of techniques you can use. Two of the most popular are Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM).

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To the uninitiated, these terms can sound a little intimidating – so here’s a quick explanation of each, and the difference between the two:

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

To understand SEO, it’s important to first understand how search engines work.

When users search the web, they do so via a search engine such as Google, Yahoo! or Bing. These engines automatically and regularly “scale” the web – looking for content and websites which offer the most value to users according to terms (or keywords) that users are actually searching for. These engines then index this content, and match it to relevant keywords. For instance, when you enter the words “Central Coast SEO” into Google, you receive the results that are based on the websites which Google perceives to be the closest matches to these keywords.

Search Engine Optimisation is then, quite simply, a smart way of writing, designing and building your website so that it is favourably indexed by these search engines – or shows up in their top search results.

All search engines have different “algorithms” with which they index online content – and they change these formulas quite frequently. As such, SEO can be quite a complex process. In general, however, there are a few key factors that ensure your website gets positively indexed by the major search engines:
  • Create high value content. Typically, search engines give high rankings to websites that provide a high level of value to users. You can aim for a high ranking by inserting keywords which match those that your users might be searching for. Keywords used in headings and page titles are typically given the highest rankings – however it can also be beneficial to insert keywords into your page copy. Importantly, don’t assume that the most popular keywords are necessarily the best. It might also be worth optimising for terms that are less searched for (as they will often be the most competitive), but which still relate to your brand.
  • Have a good linking strategy. The more websites that link to your website, the higher your website’s perceived value – and the better the ranking you will be given. As such, it’s worth registering your website with business directories as you can – to encourage the number of clicks your site receives. Similarly, it’s important to have a strong and well thought-out linking strategy within your own site – i.e. you need to show how the content on one page links through to another, to encourage users to click through. The deeper they explore your site, the more value your content is perceived to have– and the higher your potential ranking may be.
  • Insert metadata. At any stage of your website development, you can insert keywords and a description of your website into the code of your site – and many development agencies will encourage you to write a meta description and meta keywords so as to boost your rankings. However, while metadata used to be a very important aspect of SEO, it’s definitely becoming less so. Nevertheless, it’s beneficial to understand what these terms mean:
  1. Meta description is a short, keyword-rich “summary of your website”.
  2. Meta keywords are the key terms which you believe your users might be searching for. For example, if your business is in website design, your keywords may be: “design, web, graphic design, website, web design, advertising, marketing…” etc.
Importantly, this form of organic Search Engine Optimisation needn’t cost you a thing. It’s completely free to optimise your site. However, for the best results, it’s worth engaging an expert agency such to help – as the right web designers and web copywriters can ensure your content and website design is optimised for maximum results.

It’s also important to note that as search engines change their algorithms on a regular basis, it’s important to regularly review your SEO strategy and refine it according to what’s working, and what’s not.

And lastly, when it comes to SEO, honesty is very important. There’s no point attracting a click to your website if the content there has no value to your user. You’re simply damaging your brand. You also need to pay close attention to how you optimise your site. Insert too many keywords and “optimise” too far, and you could end up getting black-listed by the major search engines, who will perceive your website as fraudulent or as spam. Speak to us about how you can avoid this.

 

Search Engine Marketing (SEM)


Some people use the term “Search Engine Marketing”, or “SEM” as a very broad one that encompasses anything to do with marketing your website via search engines – and subsequently includes SEO. However, a vast majority of people in the digital sphere simply use “SEM” to refer to the process of paying for your website to occupy the top spots within certain search engines. The New York Times, for instance, defines SEM as “the practice of buying paid search listings”.

In essence, there are three key aspects to SEM:
  1. Search Engine Advertising. This is where you place traditional online ads onto search results pages – and you pay the search engine for the privilege of doing so. These ads will be indexed against certain keywords – and if a user searches for a particular keyword, your ad may appear. Usually, you pay according to the number of impressions (or views) the ad receives – regardless of the number of clicks it may receive.
  2. Paid Inclusion. Some search engines (not Google) also allow you to pay for your site to be added to their database – rather than waiting for it to be indexed in the normal way. This means your site will display sooner than it usually would if you simply relied on Search Engine Optimisation.
  3. Pay-Per-Click Advertising. This is where you pay a search engine to give your website prominence at the top of the search results page. You can purchase top listings through programs that are run by the major search engines – mostly Google Adwords, Yahoo! Search Marketing and Microsoft adCentre. Importantly, you typically have complete and ongoing control of your ads and can specify which keywords you want to link to your ad, what copy you want to feature, and how much you want to pay. Payment occurs on a “pay-per-click” basis – i.e. you only pay when a user clicks through and lands on your website.

 

So, which should I use?

The short answer to this question, is both.

SEM can deliver immediate clicks to your website, but it can be expensive if your website isn’t actually converting any new leads. As such, you need to consider how much a new lead is worth to your business, and evaluate SEM on that basis. You also need to ensure that your website is designed, written and built in a way that won’t disappoint users when they arrive – else the click-through (and the associated cost) will have been for nothing.

On the other hand, SEM can help you work out which keywords are getting click-throughs for your website – and these can help form the basis of an effective SEO strategy. For instance, if our Google Adwords statistics indicated that a vast number of people were clicking through to the Big Click Studios’ website after searching for the words: “central coast web design”, we would be wise to optimise our site around these words accordingly.

Overall, it could be argued that the benefits of SEO as a marketing strategy are perhaps more long term, and longer lasting. This is largely because SEO will grow organically over time. The more clicks your site receives, the higher the ranking it will receive – and if you are prepared to tweak your site over time based on what’s working and what isn’t, you can do more to boost your results on an ongoing basis.

2:18 PM by Joe Collins · 2

May 27, 2011

Advanced Link Building Strategies



Link building requires dedication and consistent effort. It is the most difficult, time-consuming and important task an SEO performs to get a website ranked well. Certain strategies are well known to SEOs, while others are in the realm of the experts or forward-thinkers who puzzle them out. I have attempted to list here many of the link building tactics used by the SEO community.
  1. Directories

    Although it may seem an obvious and tired way to build links, directory use is still valuable and valid. I have compiled an exhaustive list of directories including PR, pages that have been spidered, and submission requirements for directories - see List of SEO Directories. When submitting to directories, make sure to vary anchor text and try to use your keywords in the description and title fields as naturally as possible. A good SEO should be able to obtain between 75-150 unique backlinks just from directories.
     
  2. Top Competition

    This tactic can help you generate the most visitors to your site. Search Yahoo, Google, MSN and the other search engines for each of your important keyword phrases and make a point of attempting to get a link from each page. Oftentimes a direct phone call to site owners or a very tactful email can go a long way. I've even used handwritten letters to attempt to cajole site owners into giving me a link. Use whatever resources you have help persuade - links from other sites you own, money (if you have it), free SEO services, contributions of articles or content, etc.

    When I use this technique, I'll typically make a spreadsheet listing all of the sites I have a shot at getting a link from (i.e. excluding direct, obvious competitors). I then get as much contact information as I can about each one and run down the list. This can be very time-consuming, but also exceptionally worthwhile. Even if your site doesn't get ranked much higher, each link from a site that ranks in the top 20 will bring direct, targeted traffic.
     
  3. Link Searches

    This old technique has been honed to a science by many SEOs, but there is always room to improve. The goal is to use Google/Yahoo to search for pages that let you add a link (reciprocal, paid, etc.) that already have your keyword or some closely related content on them. Often these searches turn up smalltime site operators with reciprocal link directories managed by 3rd party software. Don't overlook these, and make sure you submit. But the real prize is pages that give free links or offer paid links to sites they feel are important - many of the highest PR links can be obtained through this method, especially if you conduct the search at SEOChat's PR Search Tool.

    The following searches are worthy of being tried, but feel free to experiment: 
    1. intitle:add+url "keyword phrase"
    2. intitle:submit+site "keyword phrase"
    3. intitle:submit+url "keyword phrase"
    4. intitle:add+site "keyword phrase"
    5. intitle:add+your+site "keyword phrase"
    6. intitle:directory "keyword phrase"
    7. intitle:list "keyword phrase"
    8. intitle:sites "keyword phrase"

    All of the above searches can be used without the intitle to give even more results. As with other link building processes, these are tedious and time-consuming, but it is critical to stay focused on finding quality, relevant links. When using this method, make sure you note to which other sites the page is linking and what text content is listed. If it fits well with your content, don't worry if the page is PR0.
     
  4. Usurping Competitors' Links

    Although this may sound unseemly, it is one of the most effective ways to build links, and is commonly practiced. The goal is to find as many domains and pages as possible that link to your competitors' sites and get those sites to link to you as well. This is often easier than it sounds, because the site is already linking out to people in your industry. Money, services, links or simple requests are all used to get the job done.

    The most effective ways to find your competitors' links are listed below: 
    1. At Yahoo! type linkdomain:url.com -site:url.com
    2. At MSN's techpreview type link:url.com -site:url.com
    3. At Yahoo! type link:http://www.url.com
    4. At Google type "url.com" -site:url.com
    These are typically the most reliable way to find the sites and pages that link to your competitors and, incidentally, those sites which link to you. Remember to be as courteous, direct and friendly as possible. Don't forget how effective non-electronic methods of communication can be - phone, letters, etc.
  5. Article Writing & Submission

    Writing unique, valuable content about your subject matter for your own site is the most critical piece of on-site SEO. But it can also be a fantastic way to generate quality links from other sites. Many existing websites are designed around hosting the content of others and providing links back to them. I have listed some of the biggest 3rd-party article hosting sites below.

    General Articles - These cover a wide range of subjects and will accept submission on many topics:
    These are just some of the thousands of sites that offer the ability to spread your content around the web. Additional sites on your specific topics can be found using the search engines. Especially prevalent are sites offering content in website marketing & technology - there are hundreds of sites that deal in content on these issues.
  6. Forums & Online Communities
    Generating links through forums is often considered spam, but forums are valuable tools for link builders as long as the proper methods are employed. The forum signature of a member is certainly a fair place to promote your site, and while doing so may not provide a worthy backlink in the search engines' eyes, it does offer visitors on the forum a chance to see your site.

    The primary goal of joining a forum should be to contribute and learn from the community, but promotion certainly isn't out of place, as long as it remains on-topic. In SEO forums, people constantly plug their new directories, tools, articles, etc. These are all appropriate as long as they are subtle, relevant and not overdone.

    When a specific page, tool or link would provide a great resource or answer to a question in a community, don't hesitate to provide it. Much of the information used to write this article and the SEO Survey tool was provided in forums through links. Just remember to carefully read the terms of use for the forums you post in - many are harsh if they feel someone is there to spam or advertise.
     
  7. Blogging & Comments

    Blogging is a very effective way to get natural inbound links, and by having a personal blog at your site, you can more easily make commentary at other sites that link back to you. DO NOT spam blog comments with advertisements; your goal is to create an online reputation you can be proud of. Blog owners and visitors will not take kindly to blog spam. The key to effective blogging for links is to make sure you comment relevantly & intelligently about the specific subject in the blog. A well thought-out response to a relevant blog or article can bring not only search engines, but more importantly other readers of the blog to your site through the link. If your content proves interesting, you could build much more than just a single link through your comments.

    Another important thing to remember is that your link in blog comments may not count at all in the search engines. Many blogs prevent access to these comments or don't provide direct, spiderable links for blog visitors. This, combined with the fact that these comments are buried at least 2-3 links deep from the main page means that you should keep your focus on the visitors you might generate, rather than the search engine optimization you might get.

    However, you should still be as SE friendly as possible. If the subject matter deals directly with your keyword phrases, you're in fine shape, but if they are on related subjects, it can't hurt to use your keyword phrase(s) once or twice in a longer comment/entry. You should also try to make your 'name' - which is typically the anchor text for your link contain at least one of your kw phrases, but remember to keep it varied and never let it overtake the importance of getting visitors, i.e. if your site is about Orange County T-Shirts, having a 'name' of OC-Tshirt-Man can't hurt you, but Orange-County-T-Shirts is probably not as wise.
     
  8. Renting Pages from Authority Sites

    This tactic is not often mentioned, but can be extremely valuable. The premise is to rent, for a monthly fee, a page hosted on a larger or more authoritative site in your industry. You then add content & links on the page to your own site(s) with the anchor text you choose and in the format you select. These are almost like 'advertorials' in magazines, where you provide content that the site links to (hopefully not more than 2 links from the homepage) and then link back to your own site.

    The fundamental difference between this tactic and simple article hosting is that you approach a site or company that doesn't normally host other people's content about having your information. Although rejection is often likely, the benefits can be phenomenal, as the page itself may rank well for your search terms very quickly.
     
  9. Purchasing Online Advertising

    Link building through advertising is exceptionally expensive, but it can bring in good returns if properly managed. Make sure as you buy links that you get the click-through rate from the seller for the past 6 months. You should get a lot of other statistics to review as well - make sure to avoid advertising in places where the seller doesn't have good information on click-through rates, visitors, etc. You'll also have to work around re-direct scripts, links sent through ad networks (like DoubleClick), etc. As long as you are up front and friendly, you'll be able to have some success in this arena as long as you have the funding.
     
  10. Text Link Brokers

    Although initial thoughts about link brokers can give a bad impression, this new industry can actually have a positive value on your link building efforts. I recommend against purchasing sitewide links unless your only goal is to build PR (i.e. directories or SEO related sites, etc.). Sitewide links have come to be associated with "manipulation" of the SERPs by search engines and should be largely avoided. However, purchasing text links on specific, related sites surrounded by the content of your choice can be beneficial, if difficult to find.

    The key to a successful text link is that all the components of natural SEO are there: 
    • Is the page closely related to your site's topic?
    • Is the link placed in a strategic position - i.e. not in an obvious advertising space or footer?
    • Is the site related to the topic of your site and the topic of the page?
    • Is the site spidered frequently by the search engines and do the pages have visible PR?
    If the link meets these criteria, it could be very worthwhile. However, be careful to avoid paying high prices for a particular page or site, simply because of its PR. It is more likely that multiple low PR (3,4 & 5) pages are worth more to you than a single PR7 or 8.

    Several lists of text links sellers are available online:
    1. Link Sellers - List of Text Link Ad Sellers
    2. Text Link Brokers - Discussion and some links at SearchEngineWatch Forums
    Be wary and always do some search research and asking at the major SEO forums prior to buying from text link brokers. The industry is, sadly, rife with scammers & companies that don't deliver as promised.
  11. Unique Tools & Services

    By offering specific, relevant free Internet tools/services at your site, you can generate naturally built links. My recommendation is to find a tool or service that isn't currently offered or that you believe you can improve upon. For some industries, this will be much harder than others, but creativity is your best tool. Imagine what automated web service, list of resources or submission-type tool would best benefit you and then build it and offer it on your site.

    Some excellent examples are listed below (these come straight from my imagination): 
    • For a site about animals, a tool that visually diagrams the phylum/genus/species relationships
    • For a site about travel, a tool that creates a pre-planned itinerary based on a selection of interests
    • For a site about real estate, a tool that estimates property value or gives a % chance of selling for a based on time, region & price.
    12. The possibilities are endless, and there is little doubt that the web can automate and make easier hundreds of tasks in any industry. The key, after you have built your tool, is to promote it with industry leaders - send it to bloggers who discuss your subject matter, ask people to use and evaluate it on forums, etc. You can even try to promote it by writing an article about your findings, development or the simple existence of the tool and submitting it across the newswires.
  12. Automated Link Building Programs
    Many SEOs feel that automated link building is a surefire way to get banned/penalized by the search engines. If you are caught practicing this tactic, I would certainly agree. However, for those willing to take risks, the rewards can be substantial. Well-built and well hidden link networks often bring higher rankings in a short amount of time. The key is to select a provider who will offer the following: 
    1. A vastly distributed network that is not interlinked and doesn't share any C-Block IP addresses
    2. Linking pages that contain some relevant content that has been well-linked through a sitemap system
    3. Pages that are as close to naturally-designed and built as possible
    4. A company that can speak at an expert level about SEO and the tactics they use to avoid detection - call them and talk to them first; their knowledge and competence should be instantly apparent.
    5. Someone you trust and have researched thoroughly - I DO NOT recommend posting on forums about these companies, as you could damage your chances for success. Just ask for recommendations from trusted members of the SEO community.
    6. Pages that link not only to your site(s) but to other relevant, related sites as well - even if they are your competition. That way, if you get penalized, at least your competition is suffering as well.
    This is one of the riskiest strategies that can be pursued in link building and I recommend it only with extreme caution. You are breaking the search engine's printed rules by "intentionally manipulating the search results" and you should have a contingency plan in the event of disaster.
  13. Donations & Charity

    Many high PR websites are run by charity organizations, open-source technology groups & the like. Contributions of time, money or resources in exchange for links are commonplace and very worthwhile. For this type of link building, relevancy is still important, but you may not be able to find any link partners in this segment if you focus solely on topic-sensitive sites & pages. It may be very worthwhile to donate regardless and see if the links from PR7 & 8 pages can help to boost your importance.

    In order to find sites like these, I use the PR Search tool at SEOChat to search for terms/phrases like donate, contribute, give, etc. Appending your broadest search terms to these types of words can help you find the sites most likely to pass you a good link. Remember that even if non-profits, charities, etc. don't have a link program in place, they may be more than happy to provide a special link for you if you request it when contributing. If nothing else, these links and the time/money you spend getting them are a great way to sleep better at night.
     
  14. Press Releases

    Press releases written by an SEO firm can contain a carefully worded title, well placed keywords and a link to the site that is the subject of the article. SEOs have been using press release services for some time, and as with many other things, the more you spend, the better distribution is. Press releases can also rank well on their own, particularly in the first few days/weeks of release as they receive the 'fresh content' boost in the SERPs. A particularly interesting or well-written press release may even garner the attention of some larger players in the new market, and if your article is picked up by one or several good sources, it can serve as a great boon to traffic and exposure.

    Success relies on the careful crafting of the article itself - providing excellent, factual information in a way that is interesting to read and relevant to the industry. Hiring a journalism student for $100-$200 an article or a more experienced professional for more may well be worth the money. In any case, the press release needs to be sent through a distribution site. The following are popular in the SEO industry because they offer links, serve to a large variety of sites and provide enough flexibility to let an SEO perform well. 
    The top two sites listed are the largest, with the greatest distribution networks, but each site offers its own unique benefits and some are less expensive than others. It is worthwhile, especially if you have the money and are in a competitive arena, to opt for the maximum spend at PRWeb - somewhere around $250 per article. The distribution that is achieved will determine the value of the links and the article. It's also important to keep in mind that duplicate content penalties may hurt you - DO NOT re-publish the press release on your own site.
  15. Natural Link Building

    Although undoubtedly a difficult and time consuming method, as well as one of the more unreliable ones, natural link building is what powers most of the top sites on the Internet. This method involves developing the most useful, relevant content that provides the best resources, tools, services, prices, etc. in the industry. By offering the web community the best possible site, you can gain natural links through the power of having others on the web link to you.

    Sadly, this tactic is somewhat usurped by the search engines, as newer sites often fair exceptionally poorly in the search results, especially for popular terms. In order to build natural links, people must be exposed to your site. At one time natural link building was the very best method to get traffic and links, but in the current state of search and traffic, it is more of a boost that you use to help convert some of the webmasters & bloggers who might visit your site into link builders.

    Building valuable content is no easy task, and building an industry-leading resource is even more challenging. However, the long-term benefits can be spectacular, assuming you have the money and time to maintain your resource without proportional income. Remember to ask yourself what someone who comes to your site might want and try to provide the absolute best service/information in your industry in the cleanest, most usable site possible
Credit: SEOMOZ

2:28 PM by Joe Collins · 1

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