Link building suggestions - Do you have a list?

Most new link builders really don't know where to start or maybe you have some experience, in either case.  This list can help refresh your memory or give you new ammo.  We we are helping a client with SEO or link building.  These are some of the areas we cover with them.

1. Brand build your links - build links in your business name.  If your really building a brand then start now.  You're not going to get a good keyword phrase for every link. 
2. RSS feeds - Write your content in a way that people want your RSS feed.  People will want your content and the passion that shows through your writing.
3. Media Outlets can be an awesome way to build links.  Press Releases can be picked up on a number of levels to increase your links and to help your content go really viral.
4. Running a competition, give away, or distributing a coupon.  A great way to get out a link and to gain really good traffic.
5. Internal links within your site will build up your websites link profile quicker than any other technique. As time goes on the links between blogpost and articles can build their own page rank which only benefits your site.
6. Local links will be come more and more important as the years go on.  The world wide web is quickly becoming the "World's Local Web".  There is nothing wrong with asking a local business to trade links with you.  
7. Social Media can be your greatest advertiser think of ways to create your links in spaces like Facebok, Google Plus, Twitter, You tube.  
8. Guest blogging can be an great way to create links from authoritative content building sources.  If you can guest blog then your brand and your link network can continue to grow.
9. Link Request - I don't want you to forget the oldie but goodie.  Link request are still alive and kicking.  This also builds relationships in your arena.  
10. Last but not least.  Create a link building strategy.  Your links should be well balanced among a number of different areas.  Don't get bogged down in just one area.  The greater number of areas is just as important as the total number.

Good luck in your link building efforts.

Do you have a "responsive website"?

The question on my mind today is a simple question, but the answer can be pretty detailed.  The question - Do you have a responsive website?  First, let me explain in a little more detail, what is considered a responsive website.

A responsive website is an online presence that adapts, it almost becomes fluid.  It can change with the needs of its surroundings.  Most websites do a very poor job with thoughts of the future.  They are brainstormed, constructed, and then outdated.  It can happen in just a couple years if your industry moves fast enough.

When constructing your site, do you think of Video marketing, Link building, A/B testing, Site Architecture, social media, etc?  These are the directions your site is moving towards today, there can be 5 more in the next 2 years.  So don't build your site and think its completed when your version 1.0 goes up.

Also don't get over discouraged and the different directions to explore.  Each of these directions give you a larger audience to market to.  It is work the extra time.  A responsive website will allow you the opportunity to grow.  In any circumstance.

Here are some things to think about.

• Branding
• Architecture 
• Size
• Market

These are the areas to really focus on in the very beginning.  This may seem like a lot to consider but it will save you many man/woman hours down the road when you are branching out and not just working on SEO.

Quick SEO Tips

Here are few tips that you should consider.  Keep in mind, this isn't a complete list, but these are simple and should be done quickly.

• Add a viral component to your site or your blog - sharing, reviews, comments, rating, stats etc.
• Make sure you have your "enhanced image search" enabled in your google webmaster central account.
• Use the word "image" or "picture" in your alt tag.  When people perform a search they usually have one of these two pics added to it.
• Add good content around all video so the engine and see your effort to show the video content in text too.
• Optimize the text in your RSS Feed
• Remember SEO is no good if you don't work on your call to actions.
• Remember that content is king.  
• Remember that Search Engines want Natural content.  Keyword spamming is just wrong.
• Try to cut down on all frames.

Good SEO is not a single shot.  It is more of a shotgun approach, it takes multiple applications of similar work to edge out your competition.

Good luck with your SEO.

"Spam" avoiding the label is getting harder and harder.

No one wants to be labeled as a spammer.  The negative connotation is only one of the problems associated with it.  Eventually you will get kicked out of the places you are spamming and you can also have legal troubles from it.

Today generation of online shoppers, and web users don't care for it actually most hate it.  The way most people look at it is really simple, if you make money from your content, submissions, links, etc then you are a spammer.  Pretty Harsh.

The way to avoid a lot of this is through "Great" content.  Awesome content (not just ok) content doesn't get accused of spam, it get viral love.  Think about the ways you create your links - social bookmarks - link trading - social media - blogs.  What is black, what is white and what is grey that really shouldn't be passed on as white.  

Don't Spam

Create your links with a purpose - Content is king so make sure if your comment in a forum or a conversation then contribute.   Don't just create a link.  Don't just choose a popular video to add to your blog to get traffic, make it relevant.  Please don't highjack the content from someone else and just change the title, give the credit.

Just a few things to keep in mind as you work on your link building and content creation.  SEO through great link building can be effective and can be fun with a little creativity.  

Link Building For Your Local Business

Do you need a tighter link relevancy?  Try going local.

Here are some ideas to help you add to your links.

1. Links on College Websites
2. Local directories and Organizations
3. Local News papers
4. Local Blogs - Farmers Markets, Town websites, Group sites, etc
5. Charity websites

These are just a few of ideas and you there are many others.  Pay attention to the links your building.  Not all links are good links, so don't just trade with anyone and don't just accept links from anyone.  Analyze the links your going after and know that search engines review all your links.  

Great links don't just happen.  You make it happen, good luck with your work!

Content, SEO, and your market

If content is King in the world of SEO, then what kind of content should you really be focused on?  How much of your content is just fluff and not quality.

Here are some things to keep in mind while you review and then re-review your content.

1. Who is the leader in your industry in content?
2. How much content do they really have?
3. Who is all this content for?
4. Does your market really care about content?
5. What kind of content is best for your market?

Understanding your target market is what make all these questions much easier to answer.  While your are trying to have more content than the next guy, I don't want you to sacrifice usability for additional content.  That always a bad choice.  

What really counts for your Target market is what they want, what that means is you should focus on what popular with your target market and then write the content for them.  This shows that you really do connect with your market and in the end they will stay with you longer because of that connection.

This is one of the reasons social media has completed over taken the web.  People like the connections, the world is a big place and the connection fills that open spots in a persons life.  That may sound a little hokie but it really is true.

Learn the finer points of your market and your can sell, teach, share and create that business you have always dreamed of.

Good luck with your market and your content and your SEO.

Creating your brand

Do you have a brand?  Does your site/company have a logo that it uses for its identity.  The closer the web brings buyers to business owners the more you need to have a company brand.  The brand is what you become know for.

A brand can be a symbol such as nike's swoosh, master cards two circles, or the outline of Jerry West on the NBA logo.  The brand is what a customer will think of when they reflect on your specials or previous purchases.  Just text along can also be used, however I will admit if you do not create brands for a living it can be tough.  Its easy to use to many colors, which can create the wrong feeling.  It is also easy to get lost in the work.  It can tak so much longer than it should and in the end time really is money

I would suggest going online and looking for a graphic artist with good previous work.  This is what they do for a living so it will help you keep things moving in other areas that may require more attention.  We suggest the brandingstamp, they are a company that we have used before and we are happy with the results.

Don't settle in this area.  If you really have a good brand you can use it time and time again.  When you are not happy with your brand you will alway be unhappy.  Make a presentation that you can be happy with.

Good luck with your first impressions

Increase your traffic with Google +

If you haven't gotten your invite yet then get on it.  + is Google's version of a social media platform.  No other platform has 100 million users so fast.  So it is growing at an amazing rate.  You can use it for lead generation, enhanced relationships with customer and a open line of communication for future products.

Plus offers you what a number of  platforms offer you except its all in one place.  + offers you chat, talk, video conference, posting options, you can email etc.  So the trick is just using your imagination.  Sit down and think of how your business can benefit from this amazing tool.

Example - If you are a professional blogger then start to place your full post in +.  Your engagement will be higher and your links will be create more traffic.

As you build customers you can place them in groups that will allow you create specials for just certain buyers.  How exciting!

Take some time and find out how this new bit of technology can help you.


Good luck!  For more information go to the enhance SEO library.

Drop Shipping for your business.

Do you know what a drop shipper really is?  Do you understand what happens when you choose your drop shipper?  I often wonder when someone is in the process of choosing a drop shipper, what steps are they really going through in their mind.

The fact is there are thousands, yep literally thousands of drop shippers to choose from.  Some are a "mom and pop" shop with a couple of garages of "stuff".  Others are full developed companies that have a warehouse, an inventory software, multiple departments and a true goal to be the best in the business.  As you would guess there is everything in between.  

So how do you choose?  The goal is to choose a company that will help you be competitive in 3 areas - Shipping cost of product, Return policy of product, retail product cost.  It sounds simple, but it isn't.  The secret is in your market research.  You really have to look at the market to determine where you should be in the first place.  

1. Perform a search for the type of products you would like to sell.
2. Look at the retail price of your competition
3. Look at the shipping cost of your competition
4. Look at the return policy of your competition

These three areas should be every online business owners priority.  If you cannot compete in any one of these areas you will not have any notable level of success.  These 3 areas are the what your customer base their decision on.  So in this situation, market research is essential..