[N]etiquette: Ethics and Your SEO Campaigns
Okay, we admit that the SEO rules could fill up way more space than this newsletter offers. Search engine optimization is such a vast practice that encompasses many tactics and at times can seem like the wild, wild west. What we’re offering here is the crash course in the proper care and feeding of search engine optimization campaigns. These tips will have you playing nice in and out of the Google Sandbox.
Tip #1: Play nice and play fair. No black hat tactics!
If this means that you wait upwards of 90 days for rankings to really begin pulling solid first page SERP spots vs a quick-fix SEO tactic promising you instant first spot placement – take our advice and wait it out. Black hat tactics carry heavy consequences with search engines and can get your website forever banned. Be on the lookout for any suspicious sounding search engine optimization promises; if it sounds too good to be true, chances are it probably already is. Play nice and stick to the rules for the best rankings in the shortest time possible. This is one social circle that does not tolerate any trickery.
Tip #2: Let your web designer know who’s boss.
All too often we see web designers create entire websites in Flash, add extra flair or fancy code pieces that do little to help boost search engine results page rankings at all. While we’re a fan of pretty webpages, we’re a bigger fan of getting you customers and turning those customers into leads. Double check all web design work to make sure links are in working order, redirection plans are in place, and establish your goals for search engine optimization first.
Tip #3: Carefully consider your brand’s image.
You’ll want to first begin with your website’s imagery. What picture are you trying to paint and what actually made it to the canvas? Is there a disconnect? If so, look to your website’s content for the culprit. It’s important that you perform enough research to know your target audience before you begin crafting the content for your website. You’ll want your words read as though you’re talking to them rather than at them.
Tip #4: Don’t be the wallflower at the dance.
Analytics and log files exist for reasons so that you are completely aware of the strategies in place and their various achievements. Don’t be afraid to ask questions when it comes to a new term or a seemingly strange figure in the data. Your business’ online marketing success depends upon your careful review and challenging questions. Don’t sink into the shadows when report time comes around!
Tip #5: When in doubt, go back to the basics.
Viral videos are not for everyone and they can have a real impact on your SEO efforts. Social media marketing present the same obstacles. When it comes to deciding between two different methods of marketing, NetSearch Direct points to faithful search engine marketing techniques like SEO. We know the rules, we’ve played the game, and we’ve developed winning strategies – 70% of all organic traffic comes from the first page of search engine results; with numbers that big you’ll want to be sure that your website is holding solid rankings.
NetSearch Direct offers many more search engine optimization tips and ideas for strategy formulation, deployment, and execution. Like any good networking event the key is in how you present yourself. If your website is currently not putting its best foot forward, contact one of our SEO Specialists today at (804) 228-4400 to discuss ways to build your website’s SEO reputation.