blogging 102

Reading time: 4 – 6 minutes Would you buy a house without checking out the neighborhood and schools first? Or a car without researching its reliability and safety ratings? Of course you wouldn’t, unless you enjoy throwing caution to the wind (and in that case, you can stop reading). Search Engine Optimization is – or at least should be – all about seeing improved results on your website. That’s why it’s crucial to ask to see an SEO company’s case study information before selecting them for your SEO efforts. While you’re at it, ask to meet the SEO staff who will be optimizing your site. Sound a little over the top? Maybe, but here’s the thing: it’s really fashionable for businesses to jump on the SEO bandwagon right now, regardless of whether or not they actually know how to do SEO. Many of these companies don’t even have dedicated SEO staff; they simply outsource the work. Ad agencies, for instance, desperate to make themselves... 

Reading time: 13 – 22 minutes Table of Contents I. Introduction II. Search Engines: A Brief History III. Web 2.0: The New Internet IV. Web 2.0: The Technical Landscape V. SEO Linking Strategy in Web 2.0 VI. Social Media Optimization: A Piece of the SEO Puzzle VII. Usability vs. Searchability: The RIA Search Challenge VIII. Googles Personalized Search: The End of Traditional SEO? IX. Search Behavior R&D: Customized Engines and Long Tail Keywords X. Conclusion References I. Introduction To those of us whose passion for the growth of the World Wide Web is exceeded only by the marketing possibilities that emerge from that growth, the Internet has become a playground for the imagination. There is a large number of marketers, however, who are fascinated by the Web but approach its marketing capabilities more out of necessity than lifestyle. The Internets capacity has advanced in so many areas in the past few years that marketers playing catch-up are at a significant disadvantage. Marketing... 

Reading time: 4 – 6 minutes The first myth I would like to focus on regarding search engine optimization is the myth that revolves around the notion that search engine optimization (SEO) is complicated. I am always interested in the reasons people give for certain thoughts and I have heard many regarding how complicated search engine optimization (SEO) can be – especially for non-seo professionals. But I must say that I have not found this opinion to be true regarding search engine optimization. I do not feel that search engine optimization (SEO) is complicated. I know many people who have achieved great search engine rankings using SEO, including myself, and most have stated that using search engine optimization on their websites was not complicated. At times some stated that depending on what they were doing it took time to complete the SEO work; but seo being complicated – no. I tend to feel that if individuals have an average amount of computer knowledge and skills... 

Reading time: 14 – 24 minutes In few ways RSS is pretty much identical to HTML, the language normally put in place to create websites. As is the case with HTML, webmasters opting for traditional search engine optimization techniques when creating an RSS feed will come to know that their RSS feed is getting additional exposure and interest. Below mentioned measures can go a long way in optimizing an RSS feed for search engines: 1.) First and foremost, the title should consist of pivotal search terms. In simple terms, the title should be up to the mark and not misleading, while still pinpointing keywords. In an ideal scenario, the title should generate curiosity among the readers to read on, not mislead them. 2.) Secondly, it is of utmost significance that you display RSS feeds properly. Theoretically speaking, majority of webmasters display their feeds as content on their website. Remember to use PHP, ASP or HTML when displaying a feed, as this can lead search engines to spider the... 

Reading time: 3 – 4 minutes The Search Engine Optimization (SEO) industry has grown tremendously in the past few years, and to such an extent that many SEO practices have become important components of the Internet marketing strategies for many businesses. However, although the ever-changing dynamics between search engine algorithms and SEO techniques have evolved in complexity and in many different directions, very little has been done to actually measure the effectiveness of these SEO methodologies and processes. Significant amount of money is budgeted yearly by businesses for their website’s SEO projects, but only a few actually conduct a regular review of their SEO programs. A well-designed SEO audit is therefore a necessity. The SEO website audit is also fast becoming the norm in many companies wanting an objective assessment of the effectiveness of their SEO initiatives. As with any other audit, SEO website audit is a means to examine the efficiency and effectiveness of...