As a cartoonist, I don't get asked too many questions regarding the world of website SEO. As an Internet consultant who studied business at Western Governor's University, I get asked questions daily. And it really is not much of a surprise. A great many web owners do not know SEO. There are others who think they know SEO, and "learned from experts", only to find out within a few weeks or months that their site has been removed from Google for using backdoor or blackhat methods of marketing. The sad thing is that most of them didn't have a clue they were doing it unethically. They simply downloaded an Ebook that they paid way to much money for and followed the instructions.
I have found that most authors of ebooks simply gather information from another ebook or ebooks, thinking it must be good information because it came from an "Internet guru" and copy it. That is sad. It usually is bad information. Most the ebooks I've seen show you how to get to page one of Google, and fast. That is not the way you want to do it. You may be there a few weeks or even months, and then you are off the map. Patience and building your name with white hat seo is the key.
I don't write Ebooks or consider myself an expert by any means, that is a master expert. If I billed myself as such, I would be hurting you, especially if you believed me, and paid me for my writings. I know much more now than when I started my own web stores (and college), but guru status is years down the road, if it ever comes at all. If it never does come my way, that is okay too. I love learning and implementing SEO and that is all that matters. How do I know? I have SEO'd my own cartoon site up to number 65,000 in Alexa. With 6-8 billion websites on the Internet, try getting in the Alexe Top 100,000. Congratulations if you can do it. If you did, please share how you did. It took me seven years but I kept studying and learning, and now know a few things. But I still research numerous times to make certain those things are correct. There is just too much bad information out there that even the author believes is good information.
A day doesn't go by that someone doesn't say, "My website is a month old and I think I'm using the wrong keywords. I'm using "X" company for PPC and they aren't worth a damn. I've been with them a month." And many other complaints that reflect a lack of patience.
What method(s) of SEO work the best? The question is not the same for everyone, though a few of the basics apply to all sites.
I like to think of a new website as the moon. It is a place people have been before but they don't go often. One has to give them reason to go. Motivate them. Make the moon a pleasant place. Give them an incentive. That is what SEO marketing is all about.
Can all this be done in a week? Certainly, if you want to get kicked off most of the major web engines. You simply start spamming and spamming is a numbers game. The problem is spamming is bad netiquette and even illegal in some states. And you will be spinning your wheels. That is not just email spamming but blog spamming, article spamming and any other kind.
The first key is patience and to take things one thing at a time. Keywords are a basic. Overture and others offer keyword services. Find out what the most appropriate keywords are for your tags and metatag and use them. Don't overdo it. Simply use the most targeted ones.
Get a blog, preferably a blog within your own domain. Remember you are also branding your product or service and you want it to be your blog, not Myspace, or Facebook. When you blog with them, which is okay for meeting people, socializing etc., you are helping brand them. If you feel so charitible then do so. I have blogs at many different sites, but I use my main blog with my company's name on it the most often. That is my "focus blog". I go to pinging services like Pingoat as welll
I am a firm believer in article marketing using keywords. You are not just reaching your targeted audience, you are offering them extra value. If you are not a writer, considerer hiring one, even if it is just for a few articles. Don't forget Ezinearticles and Isnare. Those are the two most read directories. There are many others that can help too.
Some SEOs use article submission software and online services that prevent spamming, and can write and rewrite your article and allow you to use targeted keywords that prevent it from pinging unwanted blogs.
Be careful though, when using these softwares and services and make certain they do what they say they do. A good place to start is Tucows or Download and read some of the reviews. Cnet offers a good many reviews as well.
Please, again, be patient. You may have a hundred articles under your belt before you notice a change ina rank change dramatic increase in visitors. Also, in article marketing, as in any other kind of SEO, "Its a jungle out there" or even a war, and everyone is vying for the top position. So for heaven's sake don't just write an article and put your link. Google is on to that and can see through it pretty fast. Write something of value and substance that people can and will use.
Google Adwords and Yahoo Search is frequently mentioned in conversations. I use ppc, and so should you. But before using it, read the tutorial or knowledge page that the service offers. I have used most of them and find Google Adwords to be the easiest interface and most flexible. MSN Adsense, though not as big, offers some fun surprises too. Both offer quality hits.
There are many second-tier ppc services and I tend to stay away from them. They bring in a lot of traffic but it tends to be low quality curiosity-seeking untargeted surfers. It is more economical but one gets what one pays for.
There are many other things to know, and a lot of them I am currently learning. I will share them as I research and find them to be true. I know proper SEO works in my own Londons Times Cartoon stores, and I have seven of them. If I didn't use it, I would simply have seven desert islands with seven unbuilt hotels.
I have found that most authors of ebooks simply gather information from another ebook or ebooks, thinking it must be good information because it came from an "Internet guru" and copy it. That is sad. It usually is bad information. Most the ebooks I've seen show you how to get to page one of Google, and fast. That is not the way you want to do it. You may be there a few weeks or even months, and then you are off the map. Patience and building your name with white hat seo is the key.
I don't write Ebooks or consider myself an expert by any means, that is a master expert. If I billed myself as such, I would be hurting you, especially if you believed me, and paid me for my writings. I know much more now than when I started my own web stores (and college), but guru status is years down the road, if it ever comes at all. If it never does come my way, that is okay too. I love learning and implementing SEO and that is all that matters. How do I know? I have SEO'd my own cartoon site up to number 65,000 in Alexa. With 6-8 billion websites on the Internet, try getting in the Alexe Top 100,000. Congratulations if you can do it. If you did, please share how you did. It took me seven years but I kept studying and learning, and now know a few things. But I still research numerous times to make certain those things are correct. There is just too much bad information out there that even the author believes is good information.
A day doesn't go by that someone doesn't say, "My website is a month old and I think I'm using the wrong keywords. I'm using "X" company for PPC and they aren't worth a damn. I've been with them a month." And many other complaints that reflect a lack of patience.
What method(s) of SEO work the best? The question is not the same for everyone, though a few of the basics apply to all sites.
I like to think of a new website as the moon. It is a place people have been before but they don't go often. One has to give them reason to go. Motivate them. Make the moon a pleasant place. Give them an incentive. That is what SEO marketing is all about.
Can all this be done in a week? Certainly, if you want to get kicked off most of the major web engines. You simply start spamming and spamming is a numbers game. The problem is spamming is bad netiquette and even illegal in some states. And you will be spinning your wheels. That is not just email spamming but blog spamming, article spamming and any other kind.
The first key is patience and to take things one thing at a time. Keywords are a basic. Overture and others offer keyword services. Find out what the most appropriate keywords are for your tags and metatag and use them. Don't overdo it. Simply use the most targeted ones.
Get a blog, preferably a blog within your own domain. Remember you are also branding your product or service and you want it to be your blog, not Myspace, or Facebook. When you blog with them, which is okay for meeting people, socializing etc., you are helping brand them. If you feel so charitible then do so. I have blogs at many different sites, but I use my main blog with my company's name on it the most often. That is my "focus blog". I go to pinging services like Pingoat as welll
I am a firm believer in article marketing using keywords. You are not just reaching your targeted audience, you are offering them extra value. If you are not a writer, considerer hiring one, even if it is just for a few articles. Don't forget Ezinearticles and Isnare. Those are the two most read directories. There are many others that can help too.
Some SEOs use article submission software and online services that prevent spamming, and can write and rewrite your article and allow you to use targeted keywords that prevent it from pinging unwanted blogs.
Be careful though, when using these softwares and services and make certain they do what they say they do. A good place to start is Tucows or Download and read some of the reviews. Cnet offers a good many reviews as well.
Please, again, be patient. You may have a hundred articles under your belt before you notice a change ina rank change dramatic increase in visitors. Also, in article marketing, as in any other kind of SEO, "Its a jungle out there" or even a war, and everyone is vying for the top position. So for heaven's sake don't just write an article and put your link. Google is on to that and can see through it pretty fast. Write something of value and substance that people can and will use.
Google Adwords and Yahoo Search is frequently mentioned in conversations. I use ppc, and so should you. But before using it, read the tutorial or knowledge page that the service offers. I have used most of them and find Google Adwords to be the easiest interface and most flexible. MSN Adsense, though not as big, offers some fun surprises too. Both offer quality hits.
There are many second-tier ppc services and I tend to stay away from them. They bring in a lot of traffic but it tends to be low quality curiosity-seeking untargeted surfers. It is more economical but one gets what one pays for.
There are many other things to know, and a lot of them I am currently learning. I will share them as I research and find them to be true. I know proper SEO works in my own Londons Times Cartoon stores, and I have seven of them. If I didn't use it, I would simply have seven desert islands with seven unbuilt hotels.
About the Author:
Cartoonist & Owner Of Cartoon Gift Stores Rick London Learned & Did Search Engine Optimization his own way. Research. See several of his Hilarious Gifts & Collectibles at Guru-Free Search Engine Optimization Cartoon Empire Builder Reveals All, and Grab a totally unique version of this article from the Uber Article Directory
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