Website Optimization: What is SEO?
What is Website Optimization?
Most business owners think that website optimization (SEO) happens by magic on their website. Website optimization is so much more than your website. It includes:
- Onsite Optimization
- Off site Optimization
Website owners naturally think that the optimization performed by an expert ON their website is way more important than the off site optimization. They are wrong. I have seen some extremely poorly optimized site perform really well in the Search results. The reason – Off Site optimization.
What is SEO?
Every January I sit down and go over all my clients – where did they come from, what marketing methods are working, which ones are not working, and plan out my business for the upcoming year. My website has always been a steady 20% of my business. It is not because of the search engine optimization I have done to my website. It is everything else.
Just because someone contacts you from your website does not mean that it was just your website efforts that earned your placement in the search engine results. There are many things a business owner can do to earn higher placements. All the small things add up to better placement. Here is a list of things I have done that helped to boost my search engine placement for my website.
Website Optimization Ideas
- Guest blog posts
- Social Media participation (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, BizNik, Google Plus)
- Fan Page for business
- YouTube and informational/educational videos
- Article databases
- Forum posting
- Testimonial writing
- Blog commenting (not comment spam)
- Press Releases
- Using SlideShare
- Creating profiles on various websites
- Directory Listings
- Social Bookmarking accounts
- Blogging
- the list goes on…
Anything you can do on other websites that points back to your website is helpful and worth the time and effort. Over time all these various activities grow and accumulate.
SEO is not a quick fix – it is not something that can be accomplished in 1 month. It is an ongoing project – one might say never ending. It can reap huge rewards in the future – think of it as making deposits into a savings account that earns 20% interest. 20% of my business comes from Search Engine Optimization.
What is Website Optimization
It is:
- Increased sales
- More clients
- More phone calls
- More dollars
- More business
Google+: Bust or Success?
Do I REALLY Need a Google + Account?
I get this question daily. Google+ is NOT a social Media site – it is not going to replace Facebook. That is not the goal with this part of Google. Check out this article: Google + is not a social Network, but it’s not a Graveyard either
That article does a great job of explaining Google’s goals for Google+.
I feel that every business owner will need a Google+ account. The ability to tie all the Google tools together will be a great advancement for us. Imagine going to one place to get your email (are you still using Outlook?), get website analytics, access YouTube, Google Docs, and all the upcoming great tools they will offer. Social Search excites me – why not make it easy for yourself.
Get your own Google+ account – then link up to me! Dotty’s Google +
Keyword Rich Content: You Can Create It!
How to create Keyword rich content
In this live workshop you will be actually creating a blog post, or web page content. I will teach you:
- How to choose the right keywords for your topic
- Where in the post or page to use them
- How often to use them
- The science behind Keywords and Search Engine placement
There is a specific method for creating well optimized content – it is NOT hard and I know you can learn it too.
Come to the Workshop on October 27th 2011. You can register here.
LinkedIn and Lovin It: A Review
I love a Good Read on LinkedIn!
Susan Johnston wrote an ebook called LinkedIn and Lovin’ It, and I had an opportunity to contribute to her book. This ebook is for anyone that has questions on LinkedIn. It covers topics like:
- How to create a great Profile
- How to build your Network
- How to Maximize your LinkedIn presence
- How to use Linkedin for research
- How to use LinkedIn Companies
It is a great overview, and look for my tips on creating a great LinkedIn profile. You can find it on Pages 19 and 20.
Get the ebook: LinkedIn and Lovin’ It then return here and leave your comments or questions. I would love to get them answered for you!
Create Search Engine Optimized Content
Learn How ~ Make It EASY
Creating content for your website includes more than just putting words onto a page. It is very different from creating ad copy for print advertisements or creating book copy. Online is all about getting the right message while using the right keywords. It is also about where the keywords are used, how often they are used, and is the text readable for a human visitor.
Content Creation Made Easy
This seems hard – but I have a very easy method for creating great Search Optimized Content – it is so easy that anybody can do it. Once you learn this method you will no longer need to cringe when web content is mentioned, and you will not feel the need to avoid it either.
What you will learn:
- How to find the “Right” Keywords
- The Secret Format for great web copy
- Where to use the right Keywords
- How Easy it is to write great web copy
When: Thursday October 27th from 10:00 ~ Noon
Where: SOHO Training Room – 953 Officers Row, Vancouver Wa
Cost: $ 89.95
- This is a WORKSHOP
- Bring your Laptop and an idea for Content
- We will all be writing a blog post or web content during this workshop.
Facebook Changes
More Facebook changes to come: 2 very good ones!
There have been 2 changes this week in Facebook that I am really loving.
- Facebook Lists ~ I have been using lists for a very long time. I find it frustrating when others do not. It is so easy to do and it allows people to invite specific people to events, or to post updates for specific lists. It really cuts down on spam. Now Facebook has Smart Lists – ones it creates for you and automatically puts your friends into based upon profile information. Facebook created a Vancouver list, and Acquaintance list, and more. Now I hope people start to use this feature!
- The second enhancement that I like is the ability to unsubscribe someone from my News Feed. I found something in my News Feed tonight that I thought was inappropriate and when I hid the photo it asked me if I wanted to unsubscribe the person form my wall. This seems similar to the old Hide feature but it takes it one step further – I will never see anything from that person again (no loss) and he will not see anything from me. Not to be used lightly. It is also possible to unsubscribe from just photos, or just videos from a specific person.
I have heard many complaints this week about all the changes Facebook is making – I would like to say I think the changes are for the better. They are making it easier to use, easier to target updates (like Google +) and easier to filter my News Feed over time.
Realtors need SEO
How Buyers find YOU
Having a targeted, content filled, website with quality SEO is a game changer for Realtors. Buyers start their search online, so who do you think they are going to call?Search Engine Optimization for Realtors
Off-Site Optimization – Link Building
WordCamp PDX 2011
WordPress Conference
The first day of WordCamp PDX Unconference was well worth attending. I met some great new local talent as well as learned some new ideas and techniques that will benefit all my clients. I so appreciate the vibrant and talented WordPress enthusiasts here in the Portland Vancouver area and have benefited from attending WordCamp the past 3 years.
Some of what I have picked up so far:
- There are vibrant local Musicians that ar3e using WordPress successfully here in the Portland area
- A number of new and very useful Plugins – keep an eye out for the video reviews of these plugins at AskDotty.com very soon
- Ideas to better enhance the client experience when using WordPress as a CMS
I am looking forward to learning more this afternoon.
Content Creation Webinar
Can you create Optimized Web Content?
Are you confused about:
- Choosing Keywords
- Creating Optimized Content
- How to write for the Web
- How to effectively use Other Peoples Content
March 25th 2011 from 2:30-3:30 there will be a Webinar that will cover:
- A simple method for choosing Keywords
- How to create Optimized Blog Posts and Web Content
- How to Structure your Web Content
- How to Get More Traffic by showing up higher in the Search Engines
The cost for this Webinar is $19.95 or if you are a member of Dotty’s Training Website the webinar is included as part of your training.
You may register for the Webinar here and you will be emailed the link for watching the Webinar.
$19.95
Register for Online Marketing With Dotty and get this Webinar for free.
Facebook Q&A
Get your Facebook Questions answered
When: Feb 23rd from 2:30 – 3:30 PM (Pacific Time)
Where: My FanPage!
There is an Event on my FanPage where you can ask your question before the event. There will also be an opportunity to ask a question on the Live Webinar as well. Get your question in early to be sure there will be enough time.
You can also ask your question in the comment stream below!
