Search Engine Optimization (SEO)-- What is it? Why is it important?
Many have asked me how to get their web site to the top of the search engines? One answer is you can pay to be at the top with advertising called pay per click (PPC). You can bid to be at the top and choose which searches you want to appear on. Some clicks will cost you $2-$3 or more depending on the popularity of the phrase. This can be effective, but also very costly. The other concern is many people ignore the advertisements because many times the ads do not apply to what you are searching for. I will address PPC at a later date.
So the question is, how do you get the top of the searches naturally or as they call it in the business "organically?" Meaning when people search your web site shows up in the list. There isn't a simple answer but here are few items search engines look at to establish rankings.
Off Page Factors
1. Age of the Domain 2. Number of Inbound Links 3. Link Text (Anchor Text) Keyword 4. Age of the Domains of Inbound 5. Age of the Inbound Links 6. Keyword Theme of Domain/Link 7. Google Page Rank of Inbound Link 8. Directory Listings (DMOZ.org, Yahoo, Second Tier Established Directory Listings. 9. Niche Directory Listings 10. Inbound Links From Authority or Matter Expert Sites. 11. Domain Registration Length
On Page Factors
1. Title 2. Body Text 3. Headings H1/H2/H3 4. Link Text (Anchor Text) 5. Domain Names, File and Folder Names 6. Keyword Repetition, Proximity, Prominence 7. Alt tag attributes in Images and Links 8. Page Size 9. Search Engine Friendly Navigation 10. Number of Pages on the Website 11. Website Freshness/Frequency of Updates 12. Number of Outgoing Links 13. Domain Class (.edu/.org/.com..etc) 14. Site Map
As you can see there is quite a bit to it.
I thought I would call an expert for an explanation, and tips on what we can do with our web sites so they rank higher on the search engines. I called Mike Parker from The Blackwater Consulting Group to pick his brain a bit. Mike has been featured in Broker Agent News and other publications. Click below to listen to our conversation.
You can click on the link and it will open an MP3 player on your compter like Windows media player, real pleayer, or quick time. Or you can right click the link and click "save target as" and save the file to your computer and listen to it later.
Below is a link to a report explaining SEO. It is an interesting read. (the file is large so it may take some time to load)
You can contact BlackWater at 949-760-3002 Let them know you are with Assist2Sell. or you can email them at info@theblackwatercg.com
)Simplify your surfing with RSS Feeds
There is so much good information floating round on the internet, but it is difficult to organize and track it all, let alone have time to read it. RSS Feeds are the perfect way to organize info from your favorite blogs, and web sites.
RSS feeds have been around for a while now, but plenty of people have yet to discover them. RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication," and it allows users to browse quick updates from favorite sites in one place -- an RSS reader -- rather than surfing to each site individually. If you see something you like, you can click through to read more. There are many different RSS readers available for download. The technologically timid aren't out of luck. Yahoo users can receive feeds on their My Yahoo page, and Google users can put RSS readers on their iGoogle home page. Google reader can also be used.
Setting up a feed is relatively simple and takes only a few minutes. Most sites and blogs you visit (including this one) have an icon or hyperlink that read "subscribe" or "RSS Feed" or something similar. When you click on the link you would normally be asked what service you would like to use to subscribe. Pick the site you are using subscribe.
Below is a link with further instructions. I have also posted a video with a good explanation.
Setting up RSS Feeds on Google
Google info on Auto Pilot!
If you don't have Google Alerts set up, you need to! This is a very useful tool and it's free! Google alerts will automatically search/scan the web for new items posted on any topic you choose. For example, you can set up an alert to let you know when anything is posted on the topic of Real Estate. After the alert is set up, anytime a news story, blog post, web site, or anything related to "real estate" is posted on the web you will be notified. You can set up alerts for any topics or key words you choose. This tool will assist you in keeping track of local markets, builders, mortgage issues, interest rates, competition, anything!
The Google Alerts can be set up to notify you as it happens, once a day, or once a week. Make sure when you set up your alerts, you are a specific as possible. This will reduce the number of alerts on topics that don't apply. For example, you may want to set up an alert for Reno NV real estate instead of just Real Estate. This will filter out many of the national and international real estate stories you may get sent.
The only thing you need to get started is a Google account. Guess what, the Google account is free as well! You can start with one or two alerts and add more as desired. I currently have at least 25-30 alerts set up. This automatically searches topics I am interested in and delivers the newest, latest, and greatest on the topic to my inbox on a daily basis. Now that is info on auto pilot !
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