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Keyword Research Methods for Effective SEO
One of the most important aspects of a successful PPC campaign is choosing your keywords. Choosing the wrong keywords for your campaign can result in users never finding your site or can waste your advertising budget on non-targeted traffic. But how do you choose your keywords? There are countless tools to estimate search volume and competition of specific keywords. But, this research from Marketing Sherpa finds that looking at keywords that are already driving traffic and conversions is the best method of determining which keywords to choose.
Understanding the terms that your customers are using is critical to finding the best keywords and this research supports that idea. Determining the keywords that actual customers are using is critical, and can be done looking at your analytics to determine keywords that are currently directing traffic to your site as well as your site search to find out what visitors are looking for when they are on your site. Analyzing competitor’s sites is also an important tactic in determining popular industry-specific terms. Using keyword tools is still one aspect of choosing the right keywords, but should be used in conjuction with many other research methodologies as well.
SEO Vs. SEM – What’s the Diff?
They sound pretty similiar – SEO and SEM, but they actually refer to two different parts of the same Internet marketing strategy. Obtaining website traffic through search engines falls into two major categories — search engine optimization (SEO or organic search) and search engine marketing (SEM or paid search). SEM is a much broader term than SEO, and actually includes SEO as one of its techniques. SEM is all that a company can do to advertise itself on a search engine, including pay per click and other online advertising techniques.
While both techniques result in an influx of website visitors, the methods and goals are radically different, especially when considering where your site visitor came from and what page they see when they arrive to your website. SEO, is the key to making content rank highly in natural or organic search results. And while these “free listings” in a search-results page are technically, well, completley free, most companies pay an SEO company to keep their content at the top of the search engines.

But remember - both SEO and SEM are essential for optimal website conversion. It is the strategic combination of both that brings traffic to your site but it is the exclusive domain of SEM to get people to purchase products or contact you for a chance for you to sell them something. For example, you invent something new and the SEO of your website helps search engines find your site when customers become aware of your new product or service. Once the potential customer finds your site, they then need to be guided to make a sale – this comes back to basic marketing principles which is where SEM comes in.
The Net Impact provides strategic services for companies wishing to market their business online. Our process is clearly focused on learning your business, marketplace and competitors. As your SEO firm, we are committed to providing you with the most up-to-date methods for optimizing your website. We are constantly researching new trends and techniques to keep pace with the ever changing search engine marketing industry. Contact The Net Impact to boost your company to the top of the search engines!
The Content Management System That Bolsters SEM: Part I
To hear most search engine optimization gurus tell it, “There’s no such thing as a content management system (CMS) that works in accordance with the search engine marketing (SEM) campaign.” In fact, many contend that CMSs are prone to hinder a site’s search engine optimization features. But, that’s because most have not driven the power of Auctori ™.
Auctori is not your ordinary, content management system, bug-ridden with SEO limitations. Programmed with integrated search engine optimization, Auctori refines design into a user-friendly, fuss-free interface—that just happens to give the authors the ability to maintain all SEO features, without hindering a site’s marketing endeavors. That means that Auctori empowers companies to maintain the autonomy or managing their sites regular updates.
To understand how content management systems actually build on streamlining the search engine marketing (SEM) campaign, SEO St. Louis interviewed Steve Thomas president of The Net Impact, Auctori’s proprietary content management system’s creator.
Q: Most SEO programmers contend that CMSs are apt to have glitches, detracting from measuring the paid search conversion rates. Is Auctori any different?
Thomas:
Auctori is distinctive in that it works in confluence with paid search campaigns. Whether the landing page calls for a custom, limited or even a navigation-less interface, Auctori treats each design according to the requirements of your pay-per-click ad search campaign.
All we have to do is create a variation of master pages. Depending on the purpose or to test the conversion rate of each page, landing pages are designed with Auctori to work in confluence with the secondary, tertiary or even no navigation parameters. Moreover, Auctori eases these design elements with a reusable content block module.
Q: Does Auctori allow advertisers to track conversions?
Thomas:
Unlike other content management systems where Java Script and the CMS experience irreconcilable differences, inhibiting accurate conversion tracking. On the contrary, Auctori enables the user to embed any JavaScript or even other custom scripts. Not only is Auctori suitable for JavaScript site wide, we developed Auctori to let you track conversions on a page-by-page basis.
…to be continued
Click CMS to read more about the power of Auctori.
Search Engine Optimization Tips 2010
How to do search engine optimization without any technical experience or training?
That’s right. Search engine optimization is increasingly easier than ever. Aside, from selecting a domain, developing the URL structure and composing a succinct and compelling meta tag description, a state-of-the-art, Web site content management system simplifies the entire process.
Here’s what’s needed to get started:
Duly dub the domain. Starting with a domain, select a keyword combination, which best reflects your products and services. For instance, HDA, Inc. an online publishing and distributing company used a similar model to spinoff its online division, HousePlansandMore.com. The site garners top page ranking on Google.
Search engine optimization tip: Also, beware that the age of a site counts. Search engines are the one beholder, who perceives age, as credible resource. As a result, don’t be too hasty to drop a domain for a better named version. Instead choose a new domain to brand and link to the company site. This Web design SEO company is a valuable resource for developing a streamlined search engine marketing strategy.
Select words, wisely. As we mentioned last year, the words, which make up the company Web site pages, or the URL structure–should reflect the content of that page. So, avoid naming pages obscure titles, such as: ‘About Us’, ‘Our Services’, ‘Testimonials’. Since, most consumers are not searching for the aforementioned terms, try to select words which reflect your services and offerings.
Meta tags matter. Among search engine analysts, the meta tag is a controversial topic. While some contend that the description used to describe a web site are superfluous, evidence shows otherwise. For instance, using the words: SEO St. Louis, the description
(AKA meta tag reads:)
SEO St Louis – Google Page Results
And beyond the domain, url and meta tags, the Net Impact’s proprietary software, Auctori, does the rest of your search engine optimization (SEO) for you. Read more how this content management system delivers autonomous search engine optimization.
4 Basic Questions you should be Asking Your SEO Company
1. What am I doing to be noticed?
The web is a crowded place and it can be hard, but not impossible to stand out. Make sure your SEO Company is providing you with relevant inbound links and keyword heavy content. Other ways for search engine spiders to find your site is to have a crawlable architecture and a quality presence in social media like Facebook, Twitter, and Blogs.
2. What is my ranking?
If you want exposure and unique visitors to your site you must be ranking on search engines. Ask your SEO Company where you and your competitors rank on Google, Bing, and Yahoo. 82% of search engine users do not go past the first page to find what they are looking for. So, if you aren’t showing up early for some of your most targeted keywords, perhaps you and your SEO Company should devise a new plan.
3. Am I relevant?
Ranking is great, but it only matters if the traffic you’re driving is relevant, quality traffic. You don’t want users to bounce away from your site right away, you want them to stay awhile and click through. If the keywords you are using are not relevant to your site and your landing pages are not sticky, you are wasting time and money on your SEO Company.
4. Where are the results?
By now you know that it is important to be setting goals and tracking your conversion funnels. However, are these goals being met and what proof is being shown of it? Your SEO Company should be providing you with reports of how your site is performing, good or bad. This will help with future marketing and budget plans.
If your SEO company is not answering these four basic questions the way you want them to, perhaps it is time to look into a new SEO Company.
5-Reasons Blogs Influence Consumers
It’s no secret that blogs and other social networking platforms are redefining how businesses reach their target markets. As print advertising continues to dwindle, blogs remain instrumental for effective online marketing. There are five underlying reasons that blogs are influential:
Awareness.
Exposing brands to the target market. Consumers are in quest of resourceful information. Sometimes, that content is smartly disguised on a blog. For example, Best House Floor Plans.com doubles as a homeowner’s design guide and an awareness site for House Floor Plans and More.
Information-value.
Awareness and information value share the responsibility of edification, specific to the target audience’s needs. For instance, the Best House Floor Plans.com imparts a wealth of intelligence, ranging from the home design tips, finding a floor plan and other useful homebuilding resources.
Entertainment.
Blogs are a passive forum for entertaining the target audience. The ability to upload a video or publish a humorous post, not only entertains the potential new consumer, but also influences a viral marketing effect.
Interaction.
Since most blogs are interactive forums, the target audiences are encouraged to leave feedback, post questions and get involved in online promotions.
Obviously, blogs leverage a site’s search engine optimization characteristics. But, these require the expertise of search engine marketing (SEM) or search engine optimization (SEO) firm expert. Next, time, we’ll review how to develop an influential company blog. Learn about hiring a St. Louis SEO company to manage your organization’s blog.
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