Saturday, January 28, 2012

XML Sitemaps: Best Practices & SEO Benefits

XML sitemaps are often included in your typical top 10 best practices for SEO list. And while they should be, often we overlook their importance, how they should be utilized, and the concept behind their importance for any SEO campaign. Too many webmasters and professionals in the SEO community will generate a sitemap and upload it to the website in question without making any adjustments. And therein lies the problem. If you are going to make use of an XML sitemap, you have to know what the purpose is of such a file and how to best configure it to experience any SEO benefit. Let's revisit the best practices that will ensure such benefits are realized!

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Open Site Explorer Review: the SEOmoz Link Analysis Tool

More search engine marketers are relying on Open Site Explorer (OSE) to analyze backlink profiles. Is that a good idea? OSE, the backlink analysis tool from SEOmoz, is quite effective, although there are a few things that people should be aware of. OSE has become more relevant in the world of internet marketing since Yahoo! Site Explorer shut down towards the end of 2011. So, what is there to like about OSE? What are the drawbacks of using it to assess backlinks? Let's break it down!

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Why SEO is Important for Websites

Running a website without SEO best practices in place is like having a high definition, big screen TV in a home without electricity. In the long run, the website isn't going to do much. Over the course of the last several years, I have discussed this issue with many individuals that have recently launched a new website. When I ask these people if they have optimized the website for search engines, I am often surprised to learn that many have no idea what I am talking about, or simply do not understand what that would entail. With that in mind, here is why SEO is important for websites!

Saturday, January 14, 2012

SEO for Blogs: Best Practices

From my perspective, implementing SEO best practices for blogs is not that difficult. It requires a little research, attention to the demographic you may be reaching out to, and an understanding of what type of traffic you are most likely to generate from Google's search results. A lot of individuals start a blog and assume that eventually, people will find it. Not really. In order for Google to display your blog in the search results - you need to follow these best practices for blog optimization!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

SEO for Beginners: A Guide for Optimizing Websites

The goal of this post is to provide a simple SEO guide for beginners. There will be a list of 10 things any novice SEO or individual looking to optimize their website should be aware of and make sure they are attending to. If you are an advanced SEO or well versed in the field, there is no need to read on. If you are new to SEO and are looking for tips and strategies to get your site off the ground and ranking well in the search engine results pages (SERPs), I suggest you stay and check this out.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

SEO for Restaurants: What You Need to Know

Search engine optimization (SEO) for restaurants is becoming more important as we move in to 2012. Search trends suggest that restaurant owners looked for SEO services online more in 2011 than any year prior. And  justifiably so. With the amount of people that search online for restaurants in their respective areas, having a website and business listing that is well optimized becomes essential for restaurant owners looking to increase their visibility online and drive new customers through their front doors. Here are some things that restaurants owners need to consider when it comes to SEO.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

How Much do SEO Companies Cost?

Knowing how much SEO companies cost is extremely important prior to selecting an organization to manage your internet marketing campaign. Often, business owners want to increase their online presence and do so quickly. It is apparent especially for small businesses that in order to increase your visibility, build your reputation, and drive leads, operating a successful website is a must. My friends over at SEOmoz recently put out the results of their survey that attempts to answer the very question regarding what SEO companies are charging. Before you make a decision - take a look at the survey results!