Case Study – Organic SEO – Getting Listed On Google Page One

The objective of this post is to blow away the myths around putting your website on Google page one. The evidence is clear to see in the screenshot images attached to this article. Have you ever thought about ‘making a little extra money’ running a website that sells other peoples products for commission? this is common known as ‘Affiliate Marketing’ and I can tell you now Google does not like these sorts of website, just do a google search for ‘google guidelines handbook’ and you will soon get the picture. Ok so bye now you just know what a challenge that would be marketing an ‘affiliate website’ on the internet depending on Google for FREE clicks and the sole purpose of your website, just to make you a little extra money.

What im about to show you now is proof of how I created a brand new website only six weeks ago and within a few days of listing my first products I made sales from 100% FREE traffic sent to me by Google.co.uk

YES thats right a website built at the begining of the month that had orders by the end of the month, in fact the stats go something like this:

BETWEEN 26 December 2011 and 15 January 2012 over 2000 page views, grabbed over 200 Google page one rankings for my keywords inlcuding 8 NUMBER ONE’S for a website that I designed and built using FREE software and FREE marketing techniques to get 15 sales with Amazon that they will pay me commision on.

The myths im going to blow away are:

it can take three months at least to get a google page one ranking in the natural results for competetive keywords and phrases

You cant a decent ranking on Google page one without building loads of links

Im sure their will be many un-answered questions in your mind after you see the evidence below, but rest assured their is no spamming, no black hat techniques, no breaking the rules in anyway. Everything is above board and nothing to hide, except my formula of course, guess what you never know, ask me and i might eve begine to share that with you too.

heres the proof:

1 Domain reg date

2 over 200 Google page one rankings

3  over 2000 page views

4 FREE organic traffic from Google is the top traffic source

5 and here proof i made my first sale within 3 days

6 and here proof i went on to make 13 more sales in 15 days

So if your SEO Company is dragging its heels in getting your webite listed on Google page one maybe its time you had a chat with me.

In terms of Profiles appearing in search, Google is demonstrating why it can pay off in search visibility to be active on Google+ and develop a substantial following. Before it was clear that this was beneficial, but now, you can see directly where this will help you. Not only will Google show people you are friends with, but it will show people it thinks you would be interested in.

Google says it will show autocomplete predictions for “various prominent people from Google+, such as high-quality authors from our authorship pilot program”. http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/search-plus-your-world.html

People can click on these results and easily add the person to their circles on Google+.  It doesn’t look like brand pages will be showing up as autocomplete predictions. When asked about this, a Google spokesperson said,

“For profiles in search, you will see an autocomplete prediction for people who have Google+ profiles. These are people you’re connected to or popular people related to the query. For Google+ Pages, there’s Direct Connect (launched back in Nov).”

These 11 SEO tips for e-commerce sites can help you tackle your e-commerce site’s SEO in favour of ranking higher in the search engine results, and get more visitors, customers and sales for your online store. Many of these tips apply to just about any type of website, too.

1. Create unique content on each of your product and product category pages.
2. Discover what shoppers are actually searching for.
3. Create pages for categories people are searching for.
4. Interlink your pages using good anchor text.
5. Allow people to share your products on social media sites.
6. Get valuable backlinks.
7. Avoid duplicate content issues.
8. Use descriptive URLs.
9. Let visitors leave reviews.
10. Include a sitemap to help Google find all your pages.
11. Update your website content regularly.

Once you know what is a good keyword and how to do keyword research, then you can find the keywords which you should be using for your on page SEO. WordPress combined with a good free SEO plugin like All in One SEO Pack makes implementing most of the following keyword related on page SEO factors simple as can be, but let’s take a look at where we need to make sure to effectively use our keywords.

Keyword(s) In Title Tags - The title tag is the line of clickable text which appears in Google’s SERPs for each ranking page. This is also the text which appears at the top of your browser’s window in naming or identifying the page which you are currently browsing. It’s important to work your best (most relevant, highest searched, lowest competition) keywords into your title tags as Google will consider this over most factors when indexing and ranking your page and in general in determining what it’s about.

Keywords In Heading Tags - Effective use of heading tags helps Google know what is most important on your site, and what text it should pick out over the rest. It’s been estimated that most people when opening a new page will first instinctively read the top left of your page before other elements. Consequently, your most important message using your most important keyword that you want to get across should be here and ideally using the H1 tag.

From here, less important keywords should be put in H2, and even less important but still noteworthy keywords should be in H3, and so on. An effective use of heading tags is a valuable skill to have in on page SEO.

Keywords In the Body - There is no substitute for good content, and in SEO a large part of good content is effectively including keywords where applicable. This means no over saturation because as I mentioned in the last chapter this will get you penalized and possibly de-indexed. A number of SEOers have argued for years over just the right saturation which will get you ranking well but not penalized and they have thrown out different figures to try to answer this magical ratio.

My advice is to not waste your time trying to crunch ratios as there is no perfect ratio. Besides, you have better things to do with your time and other ways to optimize your site. Just make it look natural and don’t over think it and you’ll be fine.

Words Surrounding Keywords - This all may seem a bit redundant, but the words around the keywords are just as important as the keywords which you include to begin with.

Google not only looks at the keywords which you are targeting, but it looks at the words surrounding them to get a better idea of what your site is about, not to mention that it does this to check you on keyword stuffing and make sure you’re not doing anything “black hat” which could get you in trouble.

Keyword In Domain Name - This takes some careful planning, but many SEOers agree that this has a decent amount of bearing on how Google ranks a site for a keyword. In continuing with this point, you can set your site up as it expands to be more SEO friendly by naming subdomains after keywords, as well. So be as specific as possible when naming if you can. For example name a subdomain of a music site “Gibson-guitars” rather than just “guitars”.

Note the use of the hyphen in the example. Hyphens represent spaces, so if you are using keywords in your URLs, break them up. While keywords in the subdomains don’t carry quite as much weight as the top level of the domain, they’re nonetheless important and helpful to Google in identifying what your site is about.

How Much Does A Website Cost?

You should NOT choose a web designer based solely on the price you will be paying without also knowing what you will get for your money. You need to ask more than that one question ‘how much will it cost to design a website?’.

Here are 10 more questions to ask you web designer:

1. Prepackaged website “templates” rarely comply with W3C standards and can never be fully optimized the way a custom template can. Will your web design include a custom template that is both W3C-compliant and search-optimized?

2. Flash sites have an unfortunate past … because they are search engine suicide… and an uncertain future because they can never be “iPad ready” much less Web 3.0 ready. Will your web design use flash only for accent, and never for content?

3. Will the rendered HTML of your web pages avoid the use of deprecated table tags, be validated as error-free and W3C-compliant, and separate content from format and behavior so as to be search-friendly and Web 3.0 ready?

4. Will the rendered CSS for your web pages be validated as error-free and W3C-compliant and contained exclusively in stylesheets that separate format from content and behavior so as to be search-friendly and Web 3.0 ready?

5. Will the rendered Javascript for your web pages be “Unobtrusive”, i.e. contained in separate source files with no inline coding, and separate behavior from content and format so as to be search-friendly and Web 3.0 ready?

6. Will the rendered source for all web pages be tested for compliance with WAI/WCAG and Section 508 accessibility guidelines, thereby assuring that the website will be accessible via all manner of mobile and other computing devices?

7. Will the rendered source for all web pages be tested for semantic richness to verify that key content can be understood not only by humans but also Semantic Web applications, user agents and other “machines”?

8. Does your web design quote include comprehensive link verification, incoming link facilitation, and a pervasive link proliferation program?

9. Do you offer seamless integration of incoming and outgoing RSS updates to enhance user experience and extend website exposure?

10. Do you offer a comprehensive suite of online marketing resources (seo/SEM/SMM/PR) to assure that over time the website will achieve the high search and social media visibility necessary to maximize both traffic and bottom-line results?

If your web designer cannot answer “Yes!” to all ten of these questions, we encourage you to speak with a Web 3.0 design specialist who can.

Why Hire A SEO Company ?

Do SEO Services Really Work?

People often ask “does SEO work or is just smoke and mirrors?” well I think that is a very valid question worth asking. To those professional SEO Consultants like myself who have been doing search engine optimization (SEO) for over ten years, for those with even a little SEO knowledge this may seem like a very odd question!

Google and any search engine is looking for the best site to rank for your particular target keyword phrase. When you understand how Google chooses the best site you can then manipulate your site to take advantage of that. You accomplish this by doing two things:

Search engine optimization aims to put your site link right there in the Organic column when someone types in a search phrase related to your site. You can’t buy your way there! You have to earn it. So you can imagine how powerful it can be once you harness this method and put it to use for your Web pages!

This method will take time but in the end, your result will be well worth the effort. Often people get frustrated and give up with this method because there are too many aspects that need to be covered. This is principally because they just don’t have the right tools or know how. In reality doing basic SEO is a simple step-by-step process that anyone can do, for more competetive search terms you could use SEO services provided by a professional SEO Company.

Over the last week SEO Experts around the globe have been debating Google Freshness Update

Thе freshness update follows οn frοm whаt Google ѕtаrtеԁ last year wіth “Caffeine”. Thе nеw search algorithm determines whеn сеrtаіn search queries ѕhουƖԁ return more timely content, instead οf older pages thаt mіɡht rank higher. Sο content freshness іѕ given more importance.

Google Engineer, Amit Singhal, announced thе update οn Thе Official Google Blog:

Given thе incredibly fаѕt pace аt whісh information moves іn today’s world, thе mοѕt recent information саn bе frοm thе last week, day οr even minute, аnԁ depending οn thе search terms, thе algorithm needs tο bе аbƖе tο figure out іf a result frοm a week ago аbουt a TV ѕhοw іѕ recent, οr іf a result frοm a week ago аbουt breaking news іѕ tοο οƖԁ.

Whісh 35% οf searches wіƖƖ bе impacted? Here аrе thе examples Google hаѕ provided:

• Recent events οr hot topics. Fοr recent events οr hot topics thаt bеɡіn trending οn thе web, уου want tο find thе latest information immediately. Now whеn уου search fοr current events Ɩіkе [occupy oakland protest], οr fοr thе latest news аbουt thе [nba lockout], уου’ll see more high-quality pages thаt mіɡht οnƖу bе minutes οƖԁ.
• Regularly recurring events.Sοmе events take рƖасе οn a regularly recurring basis, such аѕ annual conferences Ɩіkе [ICALP] οr аn event Ɩіkе thе [presidential election]. Without specifying wіth уουr keywords, іt’s implied thаt уου expect tο see thе mοѕt recent event, аnԁ nοt one frοm 50 years ago. Thеrе аrе аƖѕο things thаt recur more frequently, ѕο now whеn уου’re searching fοr thе latest [NFL scores], [dancing wіth thе stars] results οr [exxon earnings], уου’ll see thе latest information.
• Frequent updates. Thеrе аrе аƖѕο searches fοr information thаt changes οftеn, bυt isn’t really a hot topic οr a recurring event. Fοr example, іf уου’re researching thе [best slr cameras], οr уου’re іn thе market fοr a nеw car аnԁ want [subaru impreza reviews], уου probably want thе mοѕt up tο date information.

The Content Freshness Update Is A Good Move

Wіth internet users looking tο Facebook аnԁ Twitter fοr more timely аnԁ relevant updates, the freshness update bу Google іѕ a ɡοοԁ mονе.

Justin Briggs wrote a great post evaluating the Google freshness update here: http://justinbriggs.org/methods-for-evaluating-freshness

Highly respected Rand Fishkin of SEOMoz also posted a video in his daily blog: http://www.seomoz.org/blog/googles-freshness-update-whiteboard-friday

There have been more reactions to the algorithm update. There seems to be a divide over whether or not Google putting relevance on freshness will indeed provide better quality for readers. Most of the skepticism comes from those are unsure whether or not Google will know when recency should truly be important.

 ”As we announced just over a week ago, we’ve made a significant improvement to how we rank fresh content. This change impacts roughly 35 percent of total searches (around 6-10% of search results to a noticeable degree) and better determines the appropriate level of freshness for a given query.”

The update, which seeks to build on the Caffeine web indexing system, has said to be affecting approximately 35% of all search queries. For example, if you search for “upcoming Brooklyn theater shows” Google understands that the search results should not include shows from last year.

The freshness update follows on from what Google started last year with “Caffeine”. The new search algorithm determines when certain search queries should return more timely content, instead of older pages that might rank higher. So content freshness is given more importance.

Google Engineer, Amit Singhal, announced the update on The Official Google Blog:

Given the incredibly fast pace at which information moves in today’s world, the most recent information can be from the last week, day or even minute, and depending on the search terms, the algorithm needs to be able to figure out if a result from a week ago about a TV show is recent, or if a result from a week ago about breaking news is too old.

Which 35% of searches will be impacted? Here are the examples Google has provided:

• Recent events or hot topics. For recent events or hot topics that begin trending on the web, you want to find the latest information immediately. Now when you search for current events like [occupy oakland protest], or for the latest news about the [nba lockout], you’ll see more high-quality pages that might only be minutes old.
• Regularly recurring events.Some events take place on a regularly recurring basis, such as annual conferences like [ICALP] or an event like the [presidential election]. Without specifying with your keywords, it’s implied that you expect to see the most recent event, and not one from 50 years ago. There are also things that recur more frequently, so now when you’re searching for the latest [NFL scores], [dancing with the stars] results or [exxon earnings], you’ll see the latest information.
• Frequent updates. There are also searches for information that changes often, but isn’t really a hot topic or a recurring event. For example, if you’re researching the [best slr cameras], or you’re in the market for a new car and want [subaru impreza reviews], you probably want the most up to date information.

With internet users looking to Facebook and Twitter for more timely and relevant updates, this “fresh” update by Google is a good move.

Ads Above The Fold

Matt Cutts said that Google was testing algorithms that determine how much content is available above the fold on your web pages.  He cautioned that sites that have ads that obscure content could be in trouble.  Check your site – do your website visitors see the content easily and readily on your site or is it obstructed by ads and other distractions?

10 Algorithm Updates

http://insidesearch.blogspot.com/2011/11/ten-recent-algorithm-changes.html

23 questions to ask yourself about your content quality

While Google has dropped some hints here and there on what it considers to be a low quality page or article, Google has now been clearer than ever as to what it’s looking at.

“Some publishers have fixated on our prior Panda algorithm change, but Panda was just one of roughly 500 search improvements we expect to roll out to search this year,” writes Google Fellow Amit Singhal on the Google Webmaster Central blog. “In fact, since we launched Panda, we’ve rolled out over a dozen additional tweaks to our ranking algorithms, and some sites have incorrectly assumed that changes in their rankings were related to Panda. Search is a complicated and evolving art and science, so rather than focusing on specific algorithmic tweaks, we encourage you to focus on delivering the best possible experience for users.”

Google lists the following as “questions that one could use to assess the ‘quality’ of a page or an article”:

• Would you trust the information presented in this article?
• Is this article written by an expert or enthusiast who knows the topic well, or is it more shallow in nature?
• Does the site have duplicate, overlapping, or redundant articles on the same or similar topics with slightly different keyword variations?
• Would you be comfortable giving your credit card information to this site?
• Does this article have spelling, stylistic, or factual errors?
• Are the topics driven by genuine interests of readers of the site, or does the site generate content by attempting to guess what might rank well in search engines?
• Does the article provide original content or information, original reporting, original research, or original analysis?
• Does the page provide substantial value when compared to other pages in search results?
• How much quality control is done on content?
• Does the article describe both sides of a story?
• Is the site a recognized authority on its topic?
• Is the content mass-produced by or outsourced to a large number of creators, or spread across a large network of sites, so that individual pages or sites don’t get as much attention or care?
• Was the article edited well, or does it appear sloppy or hastily produced?
• For a health related query, would you trust information from this site?
• Would you recognize this site as an authoritative source when mentioned by name?
• Does this article provide a complete or comprehensive description of the topic?
• Does this article contain insightful analysis or interesting information that is beyond obvious?
• Is this the sort of page you’d want to bookmark, share with a friend, or recommend?
• Does this article have an excessive amount of ads that distract from or interfere with the main content?
• Would you expect to see this article in a printed magazine, encyclopedia or book?
• Are the articles short, unsubstantial, or otherwise lacking in helpful specifics?
• Are the pages produced with great care and attention to detail vs. less attention to detail?
• Would users complain when they see pages from this site?

The company is careful to note that it’s not disclosing actual ranking signals used in its algorithms, but these questions will help you “step into Google’s mindset.” These questions are things that Google says it asks itself as it writes algorithms.

Singhal also reminds webmasters, “One other specific piece of guidance we’ve offered is that low-quality content on some parts of a website can impact the whole site’s rankings, and thus removing low quality pages, merging or improving the content of individual shallow pages into more useful pages, or moving low quality pages to a different domain could eventually help the rankings of your higher-quality content.”

Everything comes with an expiration date, even you. Your college diploma, your knowledge and experience become dated and even your life won’t last forever. Yesterday is gone, and with it all the old rules, processes and techniques. Marketing is evolving at a staggering rate, and if you are not on the steamroller you will be under it.

There are hazards and opportunities in this new marketing landscape, continue to develop and learn and you can meet the challenge, and take advantages of the opportunities. The worst thing you can do as a marketer is nothing. Don’t read books and articles on marketing trends, don’t attend conferences, seminars and trade shows, don’t do your homework, and you will be quickly left behind. Squished.

We now compete in a global market, unlike any in the history of marketing. Knowledge and execution are the keys to the new marketing universe.

If you haven’t already, subscribe to some good tech and marketing publications and blogs, you could even start right here and subscrie to my feed http://www.seogoogle.biz/feed . But be aware that nobody nowadays is really an expert, we are in unchartered waters, a place where no one has ever been (like star trek). So take information, research it, collaborate it, build your networks, partner with your competitors and keep focused.