Content Based SEO

You use the internet frequently. You love using email. You search on Google for whatever you want to know. But do you know much about SEO, organic ranking, or Web 2.0?

SEO is an acronym for Search Engine Optimization. It is the process of promoting websites in search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo.

Search engines frequently crawl through websites reading text and determining where exactly to place a website in the search results. They decide what comes up when you enter certain words or phrases when searching for information on the internet. SEO plays a large part in this by optimizing web pages in order to make them search engine friendly. This can result in higher positions or organic ranking in search results.

Organic Ranking

 No, it’s not just for health nuts wanting to be positioned at the top of the food chain. Organic ranking is any website that is listed in the free section of search results. It is not a paid or sponsored listing. The vast majority of internet  searchers click on the organic results. People generally trust organic results and they usually offer many choices. They are considered the most significant results.

You might think of it like watching TV. The organic ranking is the program and the paid or sponsored lists are the commercials. Trusting what is said in the program  often comes more easily than it does to a paid commercial. Many people are skeptical of the paid listings, commonly known as PPC or Pay Per Click because they know those listings are there because a company was willing to pay the big bucks to get their message in front of them.

Organic search results are based on content and keyword relevancy.  That, my friends, is where the term “Content Based SEO” was derived. The number of inbound links from other websites also plays a role in your ranking. The amount and types of links coming to your site does make a difference.

Don’t think paying for a service that says they will post 1,000 inbound links for you will do the trick. These links need to be based in content from reputable websites that are actually about or similar to what you do or what your keywords are. This can be accomplished through articles, blogs, web 2.0 pages, comments on other blogs, and social media.

Web 2.0 Pages

Web 2.0 pages have been a buzz word for a few years now in the internet marketing world. Wikipedia gives one of the best definitions.

The term “Web 2.0” is commonly associated with web applications that facilitate interactive information sharing, interoperability, user-centered design and collaboration on the World Wide Web. Examples of Web 2.0 include web-based communities, hosted services, web applications, social-networking sites, video-sharing sites, wikis, blogs, mashups and folksonomies. A Web 2.0 site allows its users to interact with other users or to change website content, in contrast to non-interactive websites where users are limited to the passive viewing of information that is provided to them.

Is that definition a little too gibberish and techy? To give you an idea of some important Web 2.0 pages EBizMBA listed these sites as the top 10 Web 2.0 pages. They are ranked by a combination of Inbound Links, Google Page Rank, Alexa Rank, and U.S. traffic data from Compete and Quantcast.

1. YouTube.com
2. Wikipedia.org
3. Craigslist.org
4. Twitter
5. PhotoBucket
6. Flickr
7. Wordpress.com
8. IMDB.com
9. Digg.com
10. eHow.com

More Beginner SEO to Come

This brief explanation is just  the tip of the iceberg. There are so many more mountains to climb. I’ll be back with more fascinating SEO explanations. I’ll delve deeper into just exactly what is content based SEO.

If you have any specific questions or topics you would like covered just comment below…and if you really like this you can share it with your buddies right below here!

While stumbling through the internet today I found this quote on The John Chow dot Com blog:

“When they ask for help or ask a sincere question, respond. When you have an additional question about a post you or someone else on your blog wrote, put it in the comments. When you have a thought about it, put it in the comments. The post should be the conversation starter while the comments are what get your blog community really rolling. You will build a reputation more quickly and people will value your blog all the more if you take the time to interact with them.”Rahil, 5 Ways To Add Value For Your Blog Readers, Dec 2009

Comments can be a real boost to your Content Based SEO strategy. Blogs are meant to be a conversation. What do you derive from a conversation you have with someone? You get a darn good idea what their personality is.

Blogging with Personality

That’s right! Put your personality in your Social Media. I’ve said it before; it is how you present yourself through your blog that brings people back for more. Not only do readers want to see you as an authority, but they want to feel like they know you. If they like your personality and know what you are talking about you will have blog traffic for life.

If your personality comes across as a kind of person that is easy to talk to you will encourage comments and dialogue. What a great way to keep your content fresh. What a great way for search engines to see your site. Search engines love new content so you are also pleasing the SEO gods.

Continue on blogging soldiers. Have some fun when you write. Comment on your own posts when you think of something new. Always respond to reader comments and watch your organic ranking soar…oh, and don’t forget to leave a comment here!

Dear Santa,

Ever since last Christmas you would not believe how good I have been. Yes, it has rather amazed me too. I’ve done everything the right way and have been a good little “white hat” SEO girl. My content based SEO work has been impeccable. My internet marketing techniques are beyond reproach. I’ve done everything by the book and anticipate a great year ahead. I don’t think there is anyone in the whole world wide web that has behaved any better.

My list is really not much, and I know you can easily get me all these items on my list. If you do I promise I will stay at my computer and not bother anyone…not even the cat when he foolishly tries to walk on my keyboard. That last time, I swear my hand just slipped.

1. 500 links a day from .edu and .gov websites. All my comments to be praised and honored by presidents, governors, senators, and deans.
2. Keywords: I really don’t have that many and if you could find it in your heart to rank my website at the top of the SERPs for all of them I would greatly appreciate it.
3. Please, I don’t care how you do it, eliminate all those nasty “black hatters” that have bombarded the internet marketing world. Perhaps an anonymous phone call to the FTC is in order. You know their new ruling went into effect just in time for the Christmas season.
4. Digg.com:  Please place my website and my blog on the first page of Digg. I’m certain everyone will enjoy them so it will sort of be like a Christmas present for everyone.
5. Technorati:  Please see #4 above.
6. Inbound links:  This, dear Santa, is kind of a double present. As mentioned in #1 I would like to have many inbound links from .edu and .gov websites. But let’s not stop there, let’s get inbound links from every single website that has anything to do with what I do. Part two of this double present is that if something  mysteriously happens to my competitors inbound links that might really help things along.
7. Meta Schmeta: I’ve become a little bored with all the meta tags, meta data, meta descriptions and all that silly meta stuff. Would you please take care of that for me and optimize my website for me?
8. A nice shiny robot: I would like my websites crawled on a daily basis and a personalized robot that I can command to crawl at my whim would fit the bill.
9. Website domain registration:  Please backdate my domain registrations back to the year 1846. I think that should be sufficient to show that my sites are committed to their domain name.
10. Directories: I’m getting a little weary submitting to applicable directories so if you could have some of your cute little elves take over this tedious task for me I would have more time to concentrate on doing my nails and hair.
11. Articles: I could really use some more articles. I think about 2,548 articles a day would be just fine…and don’t forget the keywords.

Just to remind you again; I have been extremely good this year. I have even helped old ladies cross the street. I’ll be waiting patiently Christmas morning sitting at my computer waiting for my organic rankings to skyrocket. Thank you in advance!

That’s about it for now Santa. Your milk and cookies will be here waiting.

Sincerely,

Eliz

So you have your blog, your Twitter account and your Facebook page and nothing is really happening for you. Are you using it how you should? Are you taking full advantage of what social media has to offer? Probably not! 

Don’t Forget the “Social” Part

It is “social media” after all. Be sociable and get your personality out there. When you are writing for your blog let your personality shine. Unless you are extremely boring, and can only come up with some mind-numbing content,  you need to promote yourself through your social media platforms.  If you happen to be one of those engineer type personalities, perhaps it is you that needs a good ghost writer.

Not to stray too far from the subject matter here, but that does bring up one of my favorite jokes:

Q.  What does an engineer use for birth control?

A.  His Personality

Sarcasm and Witt Never Hurts

Afraid of causing any controversy because you might alienate some of your traffic? Don’t worry about it. Controversial subjects often bring more traffic, more comments, and more awareness of…who else? YOU! Write what you think and don’t look back. Interject some sarcasm and witt to keep your readers alert. You just might be surprised what it can do for you and whatever it is you are promoting.

Stand Out from the Internet Crowd

More and more businesses are using social media to build their business. So what makes you stand out from the crowd? Whether it is something miniscule or huge that’s the message you need to be getting out there on the world wide web. Think about it and ask yourself some questions:

• Are all the widgets green and yours is blue?
• Are your products manufactured in the United States while your competition imports from China?
• Are you an all female business in a male dominated industry? Or vice versa for those of you who might think I am gender biased.
• Is your product cheaper but better?
• Does your customer service guarantee immediate results?

Softly Promote

The internet is full of spam, advertising, and links galore. Don’t always be promoting your business or product. Tell the world something interesting and unique. Be daring and don’t even put a link in your post or blog.

Your Social Media ROI

Return on Investment is almost always determined and measured through sales. Use your social media avenues to get a bigger return at a nominal cost. Internet marketing can be fun and easier than you might think. It beats pay-per-click and besides a better ROI it will bring you some personal satisfaction. You got yourself out there and made it happen.

78PSJSFJ6KSX

5MKGP5V4G8CY