Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the volume or quality of traffic to a web site from search engines such as Google or Yahoo via natural or organic search results. Search Engine Optimization has been around for over 10 years, and it has morphed into a fiercely competitive service.   At one time, small tweaks to a site could yield great rankings in the search engines. But in 2009, SEO requires site modifications, additional content, a network of links to your site, and programming changes.

More Content, More Competition

A few years ago, an Internet search via Google might return a few pages of results.   The number of websites on all topics has exploded over the last 5 or 6 years and one of the main results of this is an increase in the amount of content on the Internet for all topics. So much content is being written for the web that it is diluting the web and creating more competition. A search can turn up millions of results. This can present quite a challenge, especially for new sites.  It is increasingly difficult to achieve the results you need as there are more sites with similar goals to yours on the Internet.  The focus of Search Engine Optimization has always been on rankings.  We are now asking if a ranking alone is really important if it is not generating leads and sales for your business.

Getting the number one ranking is great, but if it is not generating traffic and converting sales, then something is wrong. The common searcher is much more knowledgeable today than in the past, and their searches are more specific. You may have the number one ranking for your industry, but if no one searches for your terms, does it matter? That is why key phrase selection, optimization and utilization are so important on your website.

Optimized Content for Targeted Traffic

Search Engines like Google and Yahoo determine your placement in the search results based on the content on your site.  Search Engine Optimization can target specific phrases that potential buyers use when they are looking for your product or service. That is why key phrase selection and optimization is so important. To get this targeted traffic you need content. To develop the most effective content, you need to know what terms your customers are using as their key phrases to find your products and services.
Here are some pointers for writing effective content for your site:

•      Research, Research, Research.  It is impossible to optimize your site to drive sales for your business unless you first understand what words your potential customers use when they are looking for you.  
•      Website content needs to be fresh and creative.
•      Do not copy your competitors. The best content is unique.  Use your own ideas to create unique and interesting content for your site.
•      If you are having trouble writing for your website, work with a professional writer to optimize your thoughts for presentation on the web.  

Targeted Traffic

Once your content has been written and optimized, it will take a little time for the search engines to notice. Pay close attention to your rankings, the traffic to your website, and the sales leads generated by your site to see if additional changes may be necessary.  Searchers are the most impatient people on earth. They don’t read each result in the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs).  Most people briefly skim the results, searching for their keywords and similar phrases. In order to increase sales through your website, it must be optimized for the search terms that your potential customers are using. Rankings are important for your visibility, but targeting your content is the key to generating leads that will ultimately make your site more successful.

 

 

"Our mission is to connect the world’s professionals to accelerate their success. We believe that in a globalconnected economy, your success as a professional and your competitiveness as a company depends upon faster access to insight and resources you can trust."

- LinkedIn Mission Statement

Facebook.  My Space.  You Tube.  Twitter.  The list of social networking sites goes on and on, and while Twitter buzz is all over the media, LinkedIn remains the most prominent social networking site tailored for the business community. If you haven't discovered LinkedIn, it's time to take a look.  More than 40 million people in 200 countries have joined LinkedIn, and a new member signs on every second. 

LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking site founded in 2003 to help professionals develop their business networks.  LinkedIn provides an on line platform where individuals can share their professional profiles and highlight experience and qualifications.  In addition, LinkedIn has a well-developed infrastructure that includes tools to help users collaborate on projects and share files.

LinkedIn is all about making connections that open the door for multiple business applications from expanding sales and identifying potential customers to recruiting top talent. It's no wonder leaders of every Fortune 500 company are members of LinkedIn.

There’s no fee to join, but most LinkedIn users aren't realizing the full potential of the connection. Many LinkedIn users simply set up a profile, make a few connections and move on. Those who know better are making the most of it and using LinkedIn to tap into valuable business connections they never knew existed.

Infomedia is excited to announce we are bringing in LinkedIn expert David Sher to present an exclusive LinkedIn workshop May 19 from 3:00- 5:00p.m. David Sher is Co-CEO of Amsher Receivables Management, one of the top privately owned companies in America and an Inc 500 company. David is the top LinkedIn trainer in the state of Alabama and his program will provide you with valuable insider knowledge you can put to work for your business.  Learn more about David's work on his LinkedIn profile at http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidsher.  Listen to his bite sized podcasts on how to market yourself and your business at http://www.whOOyouknow.com. 

LinkedIn Workshop Details: May 19 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.  Fee $99 per person (discounted price of $59 for Infomedia customers).  Space is limited so register today at www.infomedia.com/LinkedIn.

A New Learning opportunity from Infomedia

What is Linked In, and how does it affect my business?

We made a bold statement during our most recent Lunch and Learn: Linked In is the most powerful social website for business. The flip side of this statement is that it is also the most under utilized.

LinkedIn users often create an inadequate profile...send or accept a few invitations...and then what? LinkedIn is the most powerful marketing /sales tool of the century, yet people don't know how to use it. Uninformed LinkedIn users make mistakes that hurt their businesses and break rules that could seriously restrict their accounts.

Since we hosted our Social Media event, we have fielded numerous requests for training and help with Linked In. Therefore, Infomedia is excited to announce that we are bringing in an expert to help unlock the full potential of Linked In. David Sher is the co-CEO of Amsher Receivables Management, one of the top privately owned companies in America and an Inc 500 company. David is a past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce. He has become the top trainer in the State of Alabama on LinkedIn.

You can learn more about David's work on his LinkedIn profile at www.linkedin.com/in/davidsher and you can listen to his bite sized podcasts on how to market yourself and your business at www.whOOyouknow.com.

At this workshop you will learn:

• how traditional media is dying & being replaced by Social Media
• about Facebook, Twitter, Plaxo & how they relate to LinkedIn
• how to locate prospects and build relationships
• how to improve relationships with your existing clients
• how to help prospects find you and your business
• how to find quality employees
• how to locate financing, strategic partners, and other alliances
• how to avoid serious mistakes that could hurt your business
• how to grow your business using tools available on LinkedIn

We are pleased to invite you to attend our LinkedIn Workshop on May 19 from 3pm to 5pm. The cost for this event is only $99. Please register today at www.infomedia.com/LinkedIn.

We host this event at our office, which is located in Homewood at 201 Summit Parkway, Birmingham, AL 35209. If you have any questions, please contact Jamie Parris at 205-271-8443 or at jamie@infomedia.com.

There was a good article written by the guys over at Macworld on Twitter and its use for business (referenced at the bottom of this post) that highlighted several tips on how to communicate effectively in this new medium.  I've read a number of articles on the what to do and what to avoid when Twittering and thought I would give a quick summation for those trying to stay on top of the curve.  If you've heard of Twitter but don't know what it is, go here.

What seems to be at the top of everyone's list is that Twitter is for personal communication, not sales.  Keep things personal and and loose--and avoid sounding stuffy or corporate. This may seem at odds with your idea of professionalism,  but by showing the personal side to your organization you're making yourself more attractive to your existing relationships and making yourself approachable for potential new relationships. 

A recent Tweet from Infomedia said:

can't wait for IE6 to go away http://tinyurl.com/cp8cyr

While it may seem odd for us to say it outright, one of the big issues Infomedia and other web developers face is browser compatibility, especially out-of-date browsers that force us to refit perfectly good code so that it displays correctly on all platforms. One of our biggest nemeses is Internet Explorer 6. It's old and outdated, yet some users are still hanging on to it, so we have to factor that in when building our sites.  Sure, our personal complaints aren't headline news, but by Tweeting in this way we've invited a dialog with our followers--a way to bring up the subject in a personal way instead of with sales or marketing.  

But enough about browser compatibility and back to the main point: keep your tweets casual and personal. Some of you may never know that we face issues with various browsers but we decided to broadcast it on Twitter. It gives you the chance to get to know us just a little better and in the end, will enhance the relationships with our clients and other followers.

Even if you keep it casual, it's inappropriate to Tweet about your products or services too much. Think about it: if you don't want to be bombarded by commercial tweets, neither do your followers--and it only takes one click for them to disconnect from your message entirely.  Twitter is not a replacement for marketing. An occasional informative tweet about what you offer might be okay as long as there are about 500-1,000 other tweets that are not self-promoting (that's not scientific by the way--just one man's opinion).

Be informative, provide links to interesting articles and promote other people that are following you by retweeting their tweets and crediting them when due.

There are a lot of other things to know and other people have said them better than me. Here are a few links to help you think through your Twitter strategy.

• Nine Twitter tips for business
• 50 Ideas on Using Twitter for Business