Description of SEO/SEM Services (samples available upon request)
Search Engine Marketing and Search Engine Optimization are critical and complex components of Web marketing. Many have their own preferred approach, or they are mystified about where to begin and what steps to follow. I provide whitehat SEO services in a 2-faceted approach: First, focusing on the organic elements on a business's Web site. The steps involved here are many--see bullet list below. The second facet for SEO/SEM efforts focus on active marketing efforts to drive the right people to your site, through paid search, adwords, and other means. These two facets should complement each other. Progress can be made with small budgets -- yes, it's true!
Below are some samples of some bullet lists that highlight some key elements of SEO/SEM work I've performed with successful results.
Good SEO progress can be accomplished organically through clean code, honed keywords and messages, and more:
- Using clean code
- Meta tags: Search engines "see" your meta tag data, so properly presenteing it maximum advantage helps (some folks will say this is not useful anymore, but my data indicates otherwise. Either way, it never hurts to be correct and on target here.)
- Title and header tags: Making every use of these to your advantage
- Alt tags and graphics filenames: Including and taking advantage of these text areas promotes your messages
- Honing your keywords and messages
- Clean messages: Defining and testing your keywords regularly to ensure your content reflects your messages in ways users respond to
- Competition: Comparing and tracking your SERP results standings with your competitors through reports
- Optimize your content: Building your messages with clarity and conciseness, but avoid keyword "stuffing"
- Getting found
- Directory submissions: Submitting your site to free and paid directories as you're able (Google, Yahoo, Wiki, etc.)
- XML Sitemap: Submitting an XML Sitemap allow search engines to index you properly and often
- Inbound and outbound links: This is huge -- takes time and effort, but is well worth it.
- Tracking and measuring
- Web analytics: Make use of at least one, preferably more, Web analytics programs through your ISP if available
- Google: Google analytics are free -- it pays to get acquainted with Google tracking and ranking services
Paid Search SEO activities can also improve your rank -- even on a small budget:
- Keyword advertising
- Ads (Google, Yahoo, Business.com, etc.)
- Landing pages: Your adword campaign should direct viewers to a specific landing page with a specific CTA. Linking to your home page is generally does not bring a frutiful result.
- Budget considerations: Adword campaigns can and should be tightly and diligently managed. When this is the case, you can reap benefits without spendign a lot of money.
- Tracking: It's critical to track the results of all your adword campaigns. Only then will you be able to see what's working and what isn't, and know what to change to continually improve results.
When I provide an SEO/SEM proposal and plan for customers, I first evaluate the existing SEO state of their site and prepare a summary of findings (including competitive comparisons), and then outline new objectives and goals. If desired, a plan can also include ad campaigns composed of keyword and ads development using Google and Yahoo tools and accounts, landing pages, testing measures, and measurements/ROI.