Link: A connection from one resource to another. In our case; a connection from one website to another.
Link Popularity: The value made up of the amount, quality, and trustworthiness of links pointing to your website from other sites.
Gaining quality links to your website will be an ongoing process of your SEO campaign. Search engines pay attention and give credit to sites with high inbound link volume. The search engines do this because the websites linking to you are putting their reputation on the line to recommend you. The incoming links are a yes or a supporting vote for your website.
Advertising
Inbound links are an excellent form of free advertising. Your website will be viewable by visitors to sites all across the web that may not find you otherwise.
Anchor text: is the process of using HTML to attach a keyword rich title to your link on a friendly site. You have seen this before; when an anchor text command is in place in the HTML code the title text is displayed. When the title is clicked you are taken to the attached link’s website. Anchor text is important for two reasons: 1. the search engines recognize a link with anchor text as being more relevant, and 2. the anchor text can act as a mini ad for your site.
Effective Link Building
Search engines are known to give closer attention to links that come from websites with content, purpose, and function similar to the site they are providing a link to. Another way to get your links out onto the web is by submitting your website to industry / product related directories.
Link Bait
Link baiting is the process of creating a website with valuable information that will encourage others to link to it.
An important practice to remember is; you get in what you put out. There is nothing wrong with asking a website owner for a link to your site, but by creating quality content and resources you will cause site owners to link to you without an invitation or plea from you. If you have a truly valuable website others will notice and want to offer that value to their visitors. You will gain quality links and quality visitors.
About the author,
Amanda Woodrum is a certified Search Engine Optimizer and the owner of New Tree Design, a Cary, NC Web Design and Marketing firm.
Friday, January 25, 2008
An Introduction to Social Networks
Social networks are a great resource for your web campaign. Social networks offer free advertising, greater exposure, and a voice in the community.
Social networks are free to join, and you may create multiple accounts. This is effective for building your personal network. When creating accounts, create an account for the company owner/expert, the company as a brand, and key staff members. Link your accounts to a network together, and then get out there and grow.
Most social networks have a search tool that will allow you to search for business contacts. Find and network with businesses and individuals whom you already know personally and professionally, and then with industry related businesses and professionals. Creating a large network within each social network site will give your web presence a farther reach than your company website alone. Members search around their personal networks and the networks of their contacts. When you are mutually connected with other business and individuals, their members will come across your listing as they are searching their contacts personal network. This works well for you also; search around on your contacts networks to find more contacts to add to your own network.
Many social networks give you the ability to post remarks, comments, and questions to other members. This will give you the opportunity to openly communicate with members, as these comments are left for open viewing of all members. Personal and professional comments and remarks are acceptable on social networks. The fun of social networking is the personal touch. Don’t spam member’s comments with ads about your company. Remember the goal is to gain more contacts, so make sure to keep your listing approachable. Don’t make your social network a copy of your website. If a member decides to visit your website after viewing your network listing and find the same information, they may be disappointed.
Here are five popular social networks. While all social networks are similar, each one has it’s own setup and guidelines. They are easy enough to figure out and navigate. Take a little time to access the dynamic of each network, and act accordingly. Be creative and have fun.
- Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/
- Friendster: http://www.friendster.com/
- Face Book: http://www.facebook.com/
- Rollyo: http://www.rollyo.com/
- BOOMj: http://www.boomj.com/
About the author,
Amanda Woodrum is a certified Search Engine Optimizer and the owner of New Tree Design. New Tree offers Web Marketing services to small and large businesses
Eight Definitions As An Introduction To SEO
1. S.E.O. - Search Engine Optimization: The process of improving the volume and quality of traffic (visitors) to a website through search results.
SEO is an ever evolving process as new technologies, ideas, and techniques form. SEO is important-if not neccesary to effectively use a website as a means of generating business on or from the internet.
2. Search Engine - A program that performs a scan (search) through the internet to index (store) their results to produce a list of results when a consumer performs a search of keywords.
Search engines provide a significant amount of traffic to successfully optimized websites.
3. S.E.R.P.(S.) - Search Engine Results Pages: A list of results returned by the search engine’s index to the consumer when a search is performed.
The goal of an SEO campaign is to reach as close to the number one result of a SERP as possible.
4. Key Words - Words and/or phrases used to perform a search.
Broad and specific keywords and phrases should be used in targeting your audience.
5. H.T.M.L. - Hyper Text Mark Up Language: A code / language used to build web pages.
The HTML code is where your website and your SEO begins.
6. On Page Optimization - SEO work done within the HTML and building of your website.
Proper titles, content, keywords, and layout are all examples of on page optimization techniques.
7. Off Page Optimization - SEO work done on other avenues within the internet to point traffic and search engines to your website.
Joining and creating profiles and network groups on social network sites , creating and submitting blogs and articles are forms of off page optimization. Having other websites provide a link pointing from their website to your website is a highly valuable off page optimization practice.
8. Link Popularity - The value made up of the amount, quality, and trustworthiness of links pointing to your website from other sites.
Having a large number of valuable links pointing to your website is one of the major factors in a successful SEO campaign.
About the author,
Amanda Woodrum is a certified Search Engine Optimizer and the owner of New Tree Design. New Tree offers Web Marketing services to small and large businesses
SEO is an ever evolving process as new technologies, ideas, and techniques form. SEO is important-if not neccesary to effectively use a website as a means of generating business on or from the internet.
2. Search Engine - A program that performs a scan (search) through the internet to index (store) their results to produce a list of results when a consumer performs a search of keywords.
Search engines provide a significant amount of traffic to successfully optimized websites.
3. S.E.R.P.(S.) - Search Engine Results Pages: A list of results returned by the search engine’s index to the consumer when a search is performed.
The goal of an SEO campaign is to reach as close to the number one result of a SERP as possible.
4. Key Words - Words and/or phrases used to perform a search.
Broad and specific keywords and phrases should be used in targeting your audience.
5. H.T.M.L. - Hyper Text Mark Up Language: A code / language used to build web pages.
The HTML code is where your website and your SEO begins.
6. On Page Optimization - SEO work done within the HTML and building of your website.
Proper titles, content, keywords, and layout are all examples of on page optimization techniques.
7. Off Page Optimization - SEO work done on other avenues within the internet to point traffic and search engines to your website.
Joining and creating profiles and network groups on social network sites , creating and submitting blogs and articles are forms of off page optimization. Having other websites provide a link pointing from their website to your website is a highly valuable off page optimization practice.
8. Link Popularity - The value made up of the amount, quality, and trustworthiness of links pointing to your website from other sites.
Having a large number of valuable links pointing to your website is one of the major factors in a successful SEO campaign.
About the author,
Amanda Woodrum is a certified Search Engine Optimizer and the owner of New Tree Design. New Tree offers Web Marketing services to small and large businesses
Introduction To Web Marketing
So your finally ready to generate business from the internet. If you have a website already, great. If you don’t have a website there may still be hope for you! But you will have to get a website now. Regardless of the age of your website, it's time to start optimizing it for the results you want to see from your internet marketing campaign. An effective website and web campaign begin with these key elements.
Website
1. Keywords: Keywords are words and phrases consumers use to perform a search. Choose a few different industry related keywords to repeat in your website’s titles and content. Choosing more than one keyword or phrase will help to keep your potential search results from being too narrow.
2. Content: Content is what your visitors are looking for. Offer quality content that is brief, informative, and professional.
3. Image: Be sure to make your website attractive. Use fonts and colors that are easy to read. Use basic top and left side navigation bars. Use professional images. No clip art.
Marketing Campaign
1. Links: Gaining links pointing to your website from other sites is a key point in your web marketing campaign. Links coming from industry related sites are top priority in building links.
2. Directories: Joining and submitting your website to industry related directories is a good way to jump start your incoming links.
3. Social Networks: Joining social networks will expand your web presence and extend the reach of your internet marketing.
Once you have tackled these factors the work is not finished. An effective website continues to grow and evolve with your business, the internet, new marketing techniques, and most importantly - your customer. If you continue to work to be the most valuable site in your field, your customers and industry will notice. With millions if websites on the internet it is an important thing to be noticed.
About the author,
Amanda Woodrum is a certified Search Engine Optimizer and the owner of New Tree Design. New Tree offers Web Marketing services to small and large businesses.
Website
1. Keywords: Keywords are words and phrases consumers use to perform a search. Choose a few different industry related keywords to repeat in your website’s titles and content. Choosing more than one keyword or phrase will help to keep your potential search results from being too narrow.
2. Content: Content is what your visitors are looking for. Offer quality content that is brief, informative, and professional.
3. Image: Be sure to make your website attractive. Use fonts and colors that are easy to read. Use basic top and left side navigation bars. Use professional images. No clip art.
Marketing Campaign
1. Links: Gaining links pointing to your website from other sites is a key point in your web marketing campaign. Links coming from industry related sites are top priority in building links.
2. Directories: Joining and submitting your website to industry related directories is a good way to jump start your incoming links.
3. Social Networks: Joining social networks will expand your web presence and extend the reach of your internet marketing.
Once you have tackled these factors the work is not finished. An effective website continues to grow and evolve with your business, the internet, new marketing techniques, and most importantly - your customer. If you continue to work to be the most valuable site in your field, your customers and industry will notice. With millions if websites on the internet it is an important thing to be noticed.
About the author,
Amanda Woodrum is a certified Search Engine Optimizer and the owner of New Tree Design. New Tree offers Web Marketing services to small and large businesses.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Launching New Tree Design
Well here I am. After years, almost 23 exactly of trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up, I finally figured it out. While I can't expose my entire future, I can reveal this next step. First, some background info. My father is a successful (if not the most successful) home inspector in Northern Virginia. In his spirit of keeping up with the world he decided to see what internet marketing was all about. He spent over two years figuring out how to use the internet, web design, search engine marketing, etc to his advantage. When this new venture began to take on a life of its own, he called upon no other than his fabulous daughter to give him a hand. While working full time as a Nanny, and always some small entreprenual project on the side (eBay, craigslist, consignment..) I started helping him out with some of the "manual labor" of his project and learning quite a lot in the process. When my Nanny contract came to an end, and my skills in web design and marketing began to blossom, there was only one obvious thing to do. He hired me as his Marketing Director with only one phone call. After 6 months of quickly gaining skills and experience I decided to take The Leap. Enter, New Tree Design. And here we are. February 1, 2008 will mark the beginning of a lifelong dream come true for me. My own business, that I can actually succeed with! No more eBay schemes, no more hobby crafts, no more trying to think up some great invention. Now I get to do what I love, with the people I love, my father is still my boss at ThoroSpec home inspections, and my husband is my partner. So thanks to a little (ok a lot) of hard work, late nights, and long planning sessions, I get to take part in the American Dream.
*Amanda
Check out my site!
*Amanda
Check out my site!
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