Current topics in SEO include Google search engines ignoring metatags and prioritizing title and description tags on the back end of website pages.  Other search engines are reportedly still reading meta tags.

Nowadays, Google search bots are focusing intently on content. Regularity and consistency in posting, and relevancy of keywords used in new pages and posts are the main tools used in ranking websites with keywords.  For the purpose of SERPs, quality link building is also important, as is length of time a website has been online, among some other factors.

Interesting, original content continues to be key in online marketing success.  As the back end optimization of websites fades in significance, keyword rich content development, social media, and posting strategies are increasingly important for white hat SEO.

Keyword Density & Placement in Internet Marketing
Currently, search engines are crawling for around 4% or under in keyword density per page.  To go over this density may imperil a site in SERPs. Keyword density is no longer as significant as keyword placement.  Keyphrases need to be featured prominently in headings and subheads and in the description tag and the introductory paragraph of a page.  In body text, the proximity of words forming a keyphrase is important. Though a keyphrase may not hang together, these words must be close and contained in the same line of text.

Article Website Requirements
Article websites EzineArticles.com and GoArticles.com are both crawling submissions for keyword density. If keyword density exceeds 4% (even by just .2% or .4%) the article site will flag the submission and allow the member to edit and remove excessive keywords.  This is a significant move on the part of these two large article websites. Both sites have been online for some time and are successful portals. The decision to limit keyword density to acceptable levels keeps these sites from being downgraded by Google. If keyword density is too high, pages will not be ranked high by search bots, making these article sites less effective for members.  For article marketing websites, use keywords in titles and subheads for the most impact and use them sparingly in website body text.  Keyword tags can also be used on most article websites, and are worthwhile.

Keyword Tags in offsite Blogs, Articles, Press Releases, Social Media Sites
While engaged in website promotion offsite, it is equally important to use good keyword selection.  Posting to offsite blogs, article or press release websites, or social media is an opportunity to use keyword tagging with a hot link to a website.  Search engines will crawl these posts, identify links and keywords attached to the post and incorporate them into website ranking.

Keyword Variation and Online Marketing
The success of the long tail of keywords may be dead now due to Google’s automatic shortening of keyphrases as a user types them in.   It is more important than ever to find variations on keywords that bring traffic – even if only slight to moderate traffic. Limit selections of these secondary and tertiary keywords to phrases that are (at most) 3 -4 words. Using keyword variation will increase traffic to a page without the danger of being penalized for excessive keyword density.

Stylistic Concerns with Keywords
A question many web writers will often ask is:  Should keyphrases take priority in writing or should theme, style and quality be the focus?   As keyword density is downplayed and good content development is rewarded, the answer to this question is self-evident.  Creative, timely, well-written material is necessary for a website to rank high on search engines nowadays.  When the content on pages (or articles or social media accounts) become popular and more traffic is received, website traffic also increases.

Writing for the search engines is an activity that has changed dramatically over the past two years or so.  Keyword selection and placement on the front end and back end of pages is still important.  Currently, the rule of thumb is to sprinkle lightly with keywords, not liberally.

Request a quote for Keyword Studies or Online Marketing Campaigns. Or, email info@maximumwebmarketing.com.

The creative engine behind social media is perhaps the most important ingredient that makes a campaign successful.  Interesting and timely ‘posts’ on social media sites are necessary to capture your audience’s attention.

Internet Marketing Strategies
Offering Internet only specials may be a good way to generate foot traffic at a retail store, restaurant or bar.  Posting ‘Events’ on Facebook may be an excellent way to promote an arts organization.  Informing and educating clients about a service or organization is another way to gain new clients or members.

Whatever the content strategy may be, it surely involves a stream of new ideas. Social media can be very effective at driving more traffic to a business website.  Yet no company or organization can continue to drop links on social networking sites to a business home page address and continue to be successful. Friends and contacts will get bored with this.

The website administrator or owner must continually create and publish new web pages, blogs, articles or press releases in order to post new ‘links’ to the website on social networking pages.  Every time a new page or blog is added to a website, a new url is created.

Content Fuels Social Media
The creation of new, original content on a website is an excellent opportunity to post to social networking sites. Advertising a special or promotion is another great reason.  There are many ways to angle posts on social networking accounts that are effective for sales. A social networking campaign can be a useful way to amplify content –  by working hand in hand with new content posted to a website.

Content is still king, especially with Google’s latest “Farmer’s Update.” This new algorithm change penalizes websites that are content or link farms. It also downgrades websites where owners/administrators reuse published content instead of creating their own original material.

New, original content is more desirable for higher search engine ranking. Jill Whalen, of HighRankings.com has been saying this for well over a decade.  Yet programmers, designers, business owners, and SEO specialists are always looking for ways to trick or outsmart search engine robots.  Though it may take Google programmers some time to catch on to these methods, the end result is usually the same:  the website is identified with these ‘tricks’ and downgraded.

Social networking is a wonderful way to create new business and start conversations with prospects and clients. By dropping fresh new links to a website on social networking accounts, a website owner is also helping in search engine ranking and recognition. Search engines crawl these links for related keywords and compile a list of links that point back to a website. Link baiting on social media accounts is a white hat technique.

The key to a successful social media campaign is the quality of the original content. In most cases content must be linked back to a company or organizational website.  Once the visitor reaches a website, an appropriate call to action may be all it takes to convince a prospect to buy.

Without original content, any social media campaign is in danger of stagnating.

Learn more about organic SEO, white hat link building techniques, and social media campaigns. Request a quote  by visiting http://www.maximumwebmarketing.com/contact.

Many who participate in article marketing may be wondering if this strategy still works. The truth is — yes, it does, and always has. Sites I watch have seen a 5-10% increase in traffic and many of these websites have been posting articles for 5 years or more.

Marnie Pehrson, owner of IdeaMarketers.com, one of the largest and oldest article portal sites, does a good job of debunking the myth of by stating “Article Marketing Isn’t Dead…”

http://marniep.typepad.com/ideamarketers/2011/03/article-marketing-isnt-dead-no-matter-whats-happening-at-ezinearticles.html

EzineArticles.com is still sending all of my sites referral traffic after the farmer’s update on Google. EZineArticle referral traffic on these sites has declined about 10% — and that’s it.

Good content is great for business as always. Don’t worry about your website losing any traction on Google if you have consistently been placing good relevant copy onto a site and distributing it to PR or article websites, you will most likely NOT experience traffic loss during this Google update.

Instead, my sites have seen a 10%+ increase in traffic, underpinning all of my beliefs about the staying power of Good Organic SEO strategies.

On November 17, I attended most of the sessions in the Search Intensive. I was impressed with the list of specialists. Michael Marshall, SEO Guru, lived up to his title quite well.  He gave participants some great hands on tips for keyword optimizing pages.  Marshall recommends that keyphrase density be only 2-4% per page. Placement of keywords was the most important. Keyphrase occurrence on the page should be evenly placed. Marshall all emphasized proximity of keywords to links was critical.

According to Marshall, keyword stuffing (which occurred several years ago) was no longer a good idea (perhaps it never was).  In my opinion, keyword stuffing makes for some really awful writing.  Marshall stressed that internal linking and outbound links were being scanned by search engines. The importance of incorporating outbound links came as a surprise to me but it makes sense.  Search engines are crawling outbound links to be certain these links relate to content. Bots are smarter these days.

Dan London, the Director of Online Marketing for  ShareFile.com, gave a great overview of the state of search marketing. Google’s newly incorporated global positioning into search engine software impacts geo targeting campaigns, making them somewhat irrelevant. Basically, Google now knows where your laptop, mobile device, or desktop is situated.  When you type in a general term, such as pizza place, Google automatically adds the town to the term, and brings up local pizza places.  It’s sort of frightening to think that Google’s search bots know where you are at any given time. But if you’re only searching for a pizza – who cares — right?

London suggested that everyone list their business address on Google Local (for free) to make certain they are in search results for their area.  He also noted that Google’s social network is evolving, with tools like Google Knol, it was easy to get into search engine rankings quickly.  London said that Google Instant is making the long tail keywords less relevant and short tail terms more effective.  He said shorter title tags and good keyword rich descriptions are extremely important.  For businesses wanting more Google exposure, he suggested having clients write Google reviews, and scanning Google Trends each day to see if content on a website would sync with what’s hot on Google. Dan London had some wonderful tips for the Google aficionado, and his information is obviously hot off the digital press.

Finally, Donna Bedford, The Global SEO Lead for Lenovo, will live in my memory as one of the all time great Internet superstars.  Bedford’s seminar was entitled “Critical Metrics for Search Success.”  She is the queen of website analytics – a tool that for some SEO and SEM marketers- — needs some serious sharpening.  Bedford’s use of website analysis software transcended traffic numbers and conversion ratios.  She analyzes user behavior with a focus on click thru ratios and abandonment rates. If Bedford sees high traffic and low click thrus – she knows something is wrong with the page and she sets out to improve the usability, content, and linking strategies on the page in order to get better results.  For high abandonment rates, Bedford applies a similar technique that includes testing functionality and identifying page layout weaknesses to improve visitor engagement. Clearly Bedford knows how to work in a team environment and maximize the knowledge of all of the tekkies involved  in cleaning up a page – no small feat in any type of organization.

Because I was burned out on hearing about social media, I visited the Analytics Intensive and listened to Jim Hazen, Metrics and Analytics Director for Capstrat. Hazen spoke about User Behavioral Targeting. Coming from a background in behavioral psychology, he has a great deal to say that hit the mark for SEO.  Hazen stressed the importance of identifying business objectives and focusing on them in analytics interpretation. He cautioned that without clearly defined goals, a person could easily get lost in all of the information that website metrics provide. Not every website has the same objectives.  Some sites are service based and search marketing campaigns are geared towards filling out forms for leads; some sites are ecommerce based and product and cash register driven; some websites offer education, cultural enrichment and information and seek to expand their membership base. Hazen believes that sometimes website metrics need to focus on visitor loyalty and engagement, while at other times, metrics need to look at growing subscribers and the effectiveness of organic search strategies and social media messaging. Measurement of traffic and analysis of user behavior should clarify the  business objectives of a website and test the results of campaigns and usability improvements.

For me, the Search Intensive offered useful information for my day-to-day business, with some refreshing new ideas. The portion of the Analytics Intensive I attended was well worth it, too. Now it’s up to me to apply these newfound ways of seeing SEO, SEM and analysis of website traffic.

To request a quote, just answer a few quick questions, and someone will contact you.

A longtime partnership with R.J. Paradee, the CEO of First Impression began in 2000 and has continued steadfastly, to the present day. As Maximum Web Marketing continues to offer web audio and video production, First Impression, the parent company to Media Right Studios, is a full service audio and video production studio in the heart of Norfolk, VA. First Impression is our creative partner for web audio and video projects for our website clients.

The first seminar Maximum Web Marketing presented with First Impression was “Web Marketing” and the seminar was held at the Norfolk Public Libraray Pretlow Branch in Ocean View from 7-8:30 p.m. on May 27, 2009. Reservations are required for admission and participants can register online. The web marketing seminar offered an overview of all types of effective ways to promote a website: article writing and distribution, press release writing and distribution, blogging, website content development, podcasting, link building, and social networking. Participants will learn the basic concepts and be given suggestions on how to execute these methods of promotion, which are far more economical than print, radio, direct mail, or television advertising.

For more information email info@maximumwebmarketing.com.

The website publicist or owner needs to understand that a digital press release generates online success and helps increase a website’s visibility on search engines if it is well-written and linked correctly.  The word count is usually limited to 400 words, for many of the top press release websites. Additional charges usually apply for a word count above this.

The traditional press release can and does exceed 400 words.  It aims for success in print, radio, and television.  Since the Web is a secondary focus for this type of release, keywords may not be integrated into text. One primary link may be inserted into that traditional PR, while a well conceived digital press release will display multiple hotlinks to different pages of a website.

Traditional print media writers and editors also need some re-training on this and other issues that affect the visibility of text on websites, but this is another topic for a future article. Today, this article outlines the defining points of a digital press release and compares the effectiveness of this type of distribution to traditional PR channels and news wires.

What is a digital press release?

There are several characteristics that define a digital press release. First, a digital press release is posted on the World Wide Web at PR websites, where it is distributed to various news wires and archived on the sites as well.  The Internet press release is optimized with live links to different pages of a website and a fee is usually charged for each link or a set number of links. Digital press releases are written with keyphrases in mind for optimum impact on search engines, while traditional press releases do not focus upon or integrate keyword selection.

How does distribution of an Internet Press Release differ from Traditional Press Releases?

Distribution networks for a digital press release usually focus on large search engines such as Yahoo, Ask, MSN, and Google, as well as  news distribution websites where Associated Press, Reuters, and Real Simple Syndication (RSS) subscribers may pick up information. The goal in pushing out a digital press release is to have it reproduced on as many websites and RSS feeds as possible, with backlinks to the website spread across the Web for the maximum exposure. For widest exposure a reputable web distribution service may be selected. There are many different geographical options that affect pricing.

A traditional press release is geared towards print, radio, and television. Some digital press release services (such as Marketwire and BusinessWire) offer penetration into traditional media as well. With a focus on being picked up by traditional media, the distribution channels and priorities are clearly different for a traditional PR.  A traditional PR service might focus on good regional or statewide lists that are up to date with recent names and phone numbers of editors who may be contacted with follow up phone calls and emails.

How does a digital press release increase a website’s visibility on search?

The digital press release, if written professionally with a hook, can be posted at multiple locations on the web. A link to the website is sometimes provided for free (in the contact info) or the user must pay for multiple links. The digital press release is very effective at stimulating search engines because once added to the websites search robots will dig for keywords and find the new text. The backlinks are set up on PR websites where the release is posted immediately. Many of these sites archive their press releases so these backlinks are mostly permanent (unless the PR site goes out of existence). As the release is republished by website editors and picked up by those who subscribe to RSS feeds with related topics and themes, the backlinks are spread even more widely.

Should a digital press release be used with a website launch?

The answer to this question is yes!  Do not miss the opportunity to help search engine spiders find a brand new website.  When the press release is  posted on the site, it gives search engines tangible keywords by which to identify the site. If the press release is properly syndicated online, then search engines will also find backlinks  from valuable, industry related websites, which is tremendously helpful for high ranking on select keyphrases as well.  In addition to posting the press release on the company web site, it can also be posted and shared on various social networking web sites including Facebook, Linked In, Fast Pitch Networking and any other sites where user generated content is encouraged.

The digital press release was still in its infancy 10 years ago, and not well recognized by marketing specialists  or SEO firms even five years ago. Yet, with the downfall of large newspapers and other print publications, the digital press release can no longer be ignored.  Writing and posting a digital press release can be very effective at aiding a website in gaining recognition by search engines immediately and at promoting an existing website.

For more information about Maximum Web Marketing’s digital press release service email info@maximumwebmarketing.com or call 828-258-0222.

The stock market and the traditional arrangements of longstanding companies is in disarray. With the advent of the long tail of internet marketing, the business climate has changed. Web entrepreneurs can make great inroads into markets which once belonged almost exclusively to larger fortune 500 corps that ruled print, radio and television with huge ad budgets to help them stake their claim in markets. Nowadays, these traditional forms of media are looking for ways to capitalize on website markets. The presidential election is a perfect example of mismanagement of advertising and marketing funds. Hillary Clinton and John McCain’s campaigns spent excessive amounts of money for print, radio and television advertising, and they lost to Barack Obama, who successfully utilized the new media to launch a truly populist campaign.

As traditional media squares off with tech, digital media will win. It’s about ¼ the expense and does not waste resources such as ink and paper. No postage is required. Access is granted to anyone with a wireless hook-up. As resources shrink, more and more companies will be looking to digital media for results. The components of success include a well-researched keyword based campaign where regular, quality text materials are produced and disseminated on the web.

Small to medium sized companies can afford the cost of monthly organic search campaigns where a high quality of writing is produced and disseminated widely. The solution is to cut back on print media and direct mail advertising and redirect a portion of those resources to digital media. Don’t rely on traditional forms of media to produce the same results as before. The younger generation especially is living in the Internet universe the optimum place to capture their attention and their dollars.

In May of 2007, I traveled to the DCamp Conference in Raleigh. With one big toe in academia and the rest of me set squarely in the tech industry, I must say I really do understand the importance of the un-conference. Unlike academic conferences, it’s an open forum for teaching and learning, and it’s free. So there is no pre-arranged schedule and no conference fee.’BarCampers’ arrive at the conference and propose sessions (it’s very exciting actually) and then the group splits off into different rooms. Since I’ve been a participant of the un-conference I can say it works well in action.

The organizers of BarCamprdu are wonderful, and the list of sponsors they’ve assembled is impressive. Some of these include: Lulu.com and Icontact.com, as well as Design Hammer, a Durham based website design and programming firm that Maximum Web Marketing professionals have presented educational seminars with at the Raleigh School of Communication Arts.

Without the barcamprdu sponsors, the before and after party (this year the pre-party is being held at Tyler’s Taproom in Durham) would not be possible, nor would the complimentary lunch or free t-shirts. These are all great ways of celebrating the tech community and continuing to engage with each other.

More than anything, I appreciate the spirit of sharing information, knowledge, and methodology that exists in the un-conference format. As I collaborate with programmers and designers on complex projects, I learn from them, and they learn things from me about organic search. I feel that these aspects of teaching and learning are the most important for professional growth and yet they are often overlooked, because there is very little formal context. It’s not formality that matters, but the dedication of organizers who put an event like Barcamprdu together and the campers that come to participate that ultimately determines the success of the teaching and learning experience.

I’ve learned a great deal from my collaboration with website designers and programmers. In this format, I can listen to them speak about technology they are working on developing. This is fascinating for me, and exciting for the opportunities it brings to the tech world – always on the move and changing quickly.

Thanks to all of the people in the Raleigh Durham area for organizing BarCamprdu this year.

Podcasts are Portable
Podcasts offer the perfect solution.  They can easily be downloaded onto an ipod, onto itunes on a pc or Mac, and even onto some cell phones with enough memory to handle audio and video podcast files.  Audio and video podcasts can be carried on a trip or listened to while driving or at a person’s convenience.

Podcasts Can be Syndicated Widely
Podcasts are the perfect vehicle for website marketing, because website visitors can send links to interesting podcasts to friends and associates. Podcasts can also be syndicated widely across the web, if they are set in a proper format for RSS feeds on the website.

Organic SEO With Podcasts
In one year organic search marketing campaigns, we always recommend to clients that they first build out their website content, and create a keyword strategy and foundation. Then, six to nine months into the campaign, we recommend adding podcasting to the monthly website promotion techniques which are already in place. Podcasts tend to hold the visitor on the website longer, while they stay and listen on the player.

Podcast Descriptions With Keywords
It’s important to add a keyword rich description to all audio and video podcasting materials, so these materials can be found on search.  Without this description, the podcast could very well get lost and not claim the audience it rightly deserves.

Podcasts Contain Useful Information
Remember to use podcasting as a syndication tool, and as a way of embedding real information on your website. Fill podcast descriptions with keyphrases that help a website rank on search engines and assist your intended audience to find the information quickly.

Podcasting is not a new technology. The ability to digitally record on PCs or Macs has been possible for some time.  Podcasting has only just recently (within the last 2 years) reached a peak of popularity on the Web, mainly because of the multimedia tools now available on Web 2.0. And, all new computers are being outfitted with the necessary software to easily read the new media.

Professionally Edit Audio and Video Podcasts
Now that podcasting is widely in use, contribute to the stock of audio and video podcasts by employing low cost and easy-to-use recording software such as Garage Band or Audacity or Final Cut.  Then, if you do not have the time or expertise to learn audio or video editing, send it off to a professional editor for finishing. This will ensure that the final cut to be the highest quality possible.

Organic SEO campaigns are greatly enhanced by the use of podcasts in the short and long term.  Podcasts that are not date sensitive retain a longer shelf life and have a huge impact and visibility over the long term if they are professionally conceived and produced.

Email info@maximumwebmarketing.com for more information on promotional podcasting and podcast syndication.

Now the class is available to the independent professional, or as a training for a company or organization.  Email info@maximumwebmarketing.com to book a class today.

Website Writing is for the professional who is adept at composing standard written English. Participants  will be expected to engage in keyword studies, and apply their knowledge gained to writing projects assigned throughout the semester. Through careful analysis of keyword popularity and word trends on the World-Wide-Web, the participant will learn how to create websites and blogs that are not only popular and well-trafficked, but attract the intended audience, and carve out a niche on the Web.

Professionals will learn and apply best practices for website writing, including writing with links, keyword writing, designing short paragraphs with descriptors for the casual visitor, and more. Formats for the web to be discussed and created include: blogs, website pages, articles, press releases, and keyword rich descriptions for audio and video podcasts.

Email info@maximumwebmarketing.com for information on taking this class independently