Get More Clients Online

How to Improve my Ranking on Google

Q:  What are the two most important things that I can do to improve my ranking on Google?

Rachel

A:  Great question, Rachel!  Actually, there are 3 things I'd advise you to do:

1.  Optimize your site for keywords by which your target market can find you.

Here are 2 articles on my blog that might help you:

Keyword Density in Metatags

Search Engine Optimization: 11 Basic SEO Strategies for Beginners

2.  Drive traffic to your site with content marketing, also known as repurposing your content

Here's an article from one of my sites that might help you:
10 Ways to Re-purpose Your Content

And, if you want more info about that topic, buy the audio of the teleclass I conducted:

Repurposing Profit Machine: 20 + Ways to Write Once and Get Paid Again and Again

3.  Create one-way backlinks from high traffic sites.  One way to do this is by repurposing your content on high traffic sites and using your keywords as the hyperlinks that link back to your site. For example, if you're a professional organizer, rather than saying " For more information, click here" and link back to your site, say "For more information, contact Seattle professional organizer" where "Seattle professional organizer" is the hyperlink back to your site, and you want to rank higher in the search engines for the term "Seattle professional organizer."

Bonus tip:  For more help in creating and implementing these strategies, names of the resources and tools I use to implement these strategies, and answers to your questions, become a member at OnlineBizU.com.

Got an Internet Marketing question?  Ask it here: AskDonnaGunter.com.

Keyword Density in Metatags

Q:  Could you tell me how the right percentage of keywords in my meta tags?
Reece

A:  Hi Reece!  Great question!  Actually, there are three primary of metatags to consider. A metatag is a special HTML tag that provides information about a web page but have no affect on how the page is displayed. Instead, they are present in the source (web design code) and help search engines decide how to index a site.

1.  Title Tags: Your title tag is a simple piece of HTML code that's located in the "head" of your web page and is only seen by search engine spiders -- not in the body of your page. Your title tag is important because:

• Most search engines look at your title tag FIRST when they're spidering your website.
• Your title tag usually determines what will appear as the title of your website in the search engine results.

This means that your title tag is a great way to appeal to both search engines AND your potential visitors!

The most effective title tags contain description simple -- just a sentence or two, limited to 250 characters including spaces and punctuation. Anything longer and the search engines will likely cut the end off. While it's important to use your main keywords in your title tag, you definitely DON'T want to "stuff" your title tags full of a meaningless jumble of keywords.  Do include a descriptive, accurate title that describes your business clearly, letting potential visitors know EXACTLY what they can expect to find on your site
 
It's important to focus on one main keyword phrase like this in your title tag -- or two keyword phrases at a maximum.  And, your most important keyword phrase should come first, which can make a difference.

Google allows only 70 characters in title tags and will cut off the text after the last whole word, so your best bet is to optimize for 70 characters because of Google's importance in the world of search.

2.  Description tags: A description meta tag describes the purpose of your web page and ideally sits just below the opening title (<title>) tag in the source code of your website.

The text you include in your description tag usually appears as the blurb that's included in your listing in the search results. This blurb gives searchers an idea of what your site is about before clicking through to it.

Just be sure to keep your description simple -- just a sentence or two, limited to 250 characters including spaces and punctuation. Anything longer and the search engines will likely cut the end off.  Your keyword should appear no more than 3 times in your description meta tags.

3.  Keyword meta tags:  At one time, the keyword meta tag was essential for letting the search engine spiders know the keywords a web page was optimized for.  However, these days, the keyword meta tag tends to be ignored by search engine spiders, mostly because they became overused by people trying to "keyword-stuff" their way to the top of the search results.  Here are some simple steps to follow in creating your keyword metatags:

• List the 2 – 3 keywords you're optimizing the page for in order of importance, with your main keywords appearing first.
• Separate keywords with a comma or space or the | (pipe, on the same key as \)
• Don't overdo it. If search engines think you are keyword stuffing, you run the risk of being penalized.

Bonus tip:  For more help in creating and implementing these strategies, names of the resources and tools I use to implement these strategies, and answers to your questions, become a member at OnlineBizU.com.

Got an Internet Marketing question?  Ask it here: AskDonnaGunter.com.

SEO Companies

Q:  Do you use a SEO service?
Kathy

A:  Hi Kathy--

No, I don't use an SEO service.  I did hire one about 6 years ago, but the info that they found for me in a keyword search was not very different from what I'd discovered for myself, and the fee they wanted to charge me to optimize my site was much more than I wanted to pay, so we parted ways.

It's really not that tough to do your own basic SEO.  One key element you need to understand, however, is the terms by which someone might use to search for a business like yours.  If you don't know, ask your clients/colleagues for suggestions and broaden your search from there.  A second key element to remember is not to mix businesses on one site.  It's tough to get a high ranking for any aspect of your business if you offer disparate services, say like  dog grooming, graphic design, and bookkeeping.  You really need a separate website for each.

I've been using the public Google Keyword tool for my keyword research.

Here's a link to an article I wrote recently that should help you called, Search Engine Optimization: 11 Basic SEO Strategies for Beginners. 

Got an Internet Marketing question?  Ask it here: AskDonnaGunter.com.

Search Engine Optimization: 11 Basic SEO Strategies for Beginners

Search engine optimization is the process getting your website ready to be found in organic webs searches.  By organic searches, I'm referring to web searches that appear naturally as the result of a search for a particular keyword or phrase, rather than appearing in the sponsored links (pay-per-click advertising) section of a search page.

Frankly, for the first few years I was online, the thought of doing my own SEO made my eyes cross, and I was overwhelmed at where to start.  I even toyed with the idea of hiring a specialist to do this for me, but never got around to it. However, over time, I slowly began to see a pattern emerging, and started to optimize some of my sites accordingly.  One of the best days of my business is when I recently ranked #1 for a particularly competitive search term.

I'm not a search engine optimization (SEO) specialist, nor do I play one on TV.  However, even a new business owner who creates and updates her own websites can implement some very basic SEO strategies to make her website appear higher in the organic rankings on certain keyword searches.

Here are the 11 strategies that I regularly implement on my sites for better SEO positioning:

1.  Page title tags.  This is the page information that you see in the blue bar of your browser in the upper left-hand corner when you visit a website. For best SEO, use your top 2 keywords in your title tag.  The best way to do that is separated with a bar, as illustrated in this example:  Internet Marketing |  Web Marketing.

2.  Domain name:  If at all possible, use one primary keyword in your domain name.  You will have a slight edge over your competition by doing so.  If you already have a domain that you have used for some time, include a keyword in the name of files for your website pages.  Example:  http://www.yoursite.com/internet-marketing.htm if your keyword is Internet marketing.

3.  Meta tags.  These are descriptions on a web page that are not seen by most visitors except when looking at the page source code in their browser. While the keyword and description metatags used to be the primary way that search engines indexed sites, that is no longer the case.  However, you shouldn't ignore them entirely, as it is still worthwhile to include them as a part of your page description.  For optimal SEO, your meta description and keyword tags should be no more than 150 characters each.

4.  Header tags.  Header tags are the HTML code that indicates a headline, like <H1>, <H2> and <H3> and show up as bolded headlines in your page content.  The first 3 header tags are the only ones you need to be concerned about, and the primary header tag, <H1>, is the most important.  Use your primary keyword one time in the <H1> tag, 2-3 times in your <H2> tags, and multiple times in your <H3> tags.

5.  Alt image tag:  The alt tag typically describes an image in a floating text window when you put your mouse over the image if the image isn't able to be displayed.  The best use of any <ALT> tag is to use your keywords in your image descriptions.

6.  Content formatting.  Search engines pay attention to formatted content, as in when text is bolded, italicized, and underlined.  Make sure that you are bolding your keywords in the content of your website.

7.  Keyword density.  Keyword density refers to the number of times a keyword or keyword phrase appears on a web page.  Rather than trying to focus on the number of times a keyword appears in the content of your page, aim for a more natural density by keeping your keyword phrases in mind as you write the copy for your page.  Optimally, keyword density should be between 2% - 7%.  There are a number of keyword density checkers available online to assist you with determining the keyword density of a page.

8.  Anchor text.  Anchor text refer to links on a page that connect your visitor to other pages.  So, rather than telling someone to "cl*ck here" in the content of your page, include a keyword in your anchor text, as in "cl*ck here for dog training tips."

9..  Inbound links.  Reciprocal link exchange (you link to my site and I'll link to yours) used to be a great way to attract the attention of search engines to your site.  Now, search engines pay attention only to the quality and popularity of the site providing you with an inbound link that is not a reciprocal link.  One of the best ways to get quality inbound links back to your site is to submit articles to high traffic article directories and submit press releases to paid press release services.

A second way to gain high quality inbound links is by listing your site in search engine-friendly directories in which humans review the listings.  Google and other search engines place more credibility in the directories in which the listings are reviewed by real people than they do other kinds of directories.  Consequently, these links are weighted more heavily and favorably in the inbound link evaluation process.  Members of OnlineBizU.com can see the most effective search engine friendly directories here in this download.

10.  New content.  Content is still king, so one way to increase your page rank for a search term is to write high quality articles containing one or two of your keywords in the title and posting those regularly (weekly is best) to your site.  Search engines are always seeking good, fresh, content, so your goal should be to make your site into an information-rich resource for your industry.

11.  Site maps.  There are sitemaps that help a visitor navigate a site, and sitemaps that are expressly designed for the search engines.  The two are not the same. To enhance your site, submit an xml sitemap to Google Webmaster Central and Yahoo Site Explorer.  I use  XML Sitemaps to build search engine-friendly sitemaps on my sites.

Search engine optimization strategy is not a difficult as it appears.  Take some time to do some keyword research for your site, and then spend another 15 minutes a day employing a few of these strategies until you have a well-optimized site.  Why pay for visitors through pay-per-click advertising if you don't have to?

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this blurb with it: Online Business Resource Queen (TM) and Online Business Coach Donna Gunter helps independent service professionals learn how to automate their businesses, leverage their expertise on the Internet, and get more clients online. To claim your FR*EE gift, TurboCharge Your Online Marketing Toolkit, visit her site at OnlineBizU.com. Ask Donna an Internet Marketing question at  AskDonnaGunter.com.

Home Address for Local Web Searches

Q:  My office is in my home and I'm concerned about using my physical address for any online marketing.  I currently use my PO Box as my "physical" address. How can I submit my website for local search without disclosing my home address? 

A:  The best way to work around this is to have a PO Box at a UPS store, which can act as a physical location, as you get a street address with this. A PO Box from the US Postal Service won't really suffice. There are no UPS stores locally to me, so I just bit the bullet and listed my home address. So far, so good...;->

If I had a choice, however, I'd would attach my home address to the local listing feature only as a last resort. I always tell my clients who work from home to protect their home addresses whenever possible, as you never know what kook will come looking for you..:) I had an inmate from the GA correction system write me a letter several years ago, wanting to go into business with me. Fortunately, it went to my PO Box, so at least he didn't have ready access to my home address.

Got an Internet Marketing question?  Ask it here: AskDonnaGunter.com

Tip of the Week: SEO Book Keyword Tool

SEOBook Keyword Tool is a great resource to let you view the popularity of keywords across a Google, Yahoo!, and MSN, which are the 3 key players in today's marketplace..  No longer will you need  to log into each engine's keyword finder tool to do keyword research.  The numbers that you're given for searches, however are only rough estimates.  In addition, SEOBook Keyword Tool provides links to price estimate tools from Google AdWords and estimates roughly how much traffic you could expect AdWords to send you based on that bid price and ad position. This resource is driven off the Wordtracker keyword suggestion tool.

Start researching your keywords here.

Google Fight

First of all, this site has no official affiliation with Google, although it uses the Google search engine in the "fight."  While I don't endorse the metaphor they use for GoogleFight (it's such a guy thing), it's a useful tool to have when you're doing keyword research or copywriting, nonetheless.  What you do is enter two keywords or phrases into the "fight" and let them duke it out to see which one is a more popular phrase in Google's search engine.

For example, I was looking at some additional ways to promote my site, and I was debating about whether to use the phrase "how to promote my business" or "how to market my business".  When I entered one phrase each into each of the keyword boxes, I discovered that "how to market my business" won the competition hands-down.

Stage your own Googlefight here.

Thanks to Lorrie Morgan-Ferrero of Red Hot Copy for this tip!

I'm #1 on Google!

I just Googled the term "internet marketing virtual assistant" and discovered that my online business manager site, SOHOBizSolutions.com, is #1 in organic results for that term.  Pretty cool, especially since I don't promote that site very much.  And, I'm #3 for online business manager, which connects to the SOHOBizSolutions.com website via my OnlineBizCoachingCompany.com site.   

And, it's even more amazing that I got this ranking because there are some misspellings in my description metatag--oops!

Web Page Analyzer

Want to know how your website looks to a search engine?  How about the effectiveness of your meta tags?  What about the keyword density on your home page?  If you want to get started with SEO tasks for your site, try the Free Web Submission Web Page Analyzer. Use this tool to improve your meta tags or web page content, as well as check URLs displayed on the web page and your web page file size and load time.

See how your site stacks up here.

Hittail.com

Hittail.com is a new service that turns traditional search engine optimization on its head.  In a nutshell, it gives you info from people that come to your site based on how they got there so that you can optimize pages, write posts (for blogs) or articles to continue to get traffic on those terms. What makes it different from normal page optimization (where you take and optimize your site for terms with the greatest searches) is that with Hittail, you're optimizing for alot of little searches, which in theory, could add up to more traffic than a few big search terms. Then, Hittail makes suggestions for terms to use to optimize your site.

It's free of charge while still in Beta, and will continue to be free for lower traffic sites.  The PITA factor is individually pasting the code on all pages of your site between the <body> tags of each page. 

The service is optimally designed for blogs, but will work on websites that already have traffic coming to them. You can track different domains by signing up for multiple accounts, but you need to use the same email address for each account.

Start tracking your traffic here: Hittail.com