WordPress and SEO can be a confusing combo, especially if you don’t understand the difference between WP.com and WordPress.org. When creating a website (or a blog), your WP platform is a critical piece of the puzzle. As an analogy, it’s like leasing a car versus buying one. They each have their pluses and minuses. Choosing …
Google Search Changes
65 Google Search changes were implemented in August and September that affect search quality. Yowsa, those Googlers have been busy. Most of the changes on this Google list are fairly minor. However, there are a few biggies that are suspiciously absent. For example, the exact match domain update and a new Panda update were tweeted but aren’t …
How Google Search Really Works
And Its SEO Implications Understanding how Google search works is key to understanding and applying SEO, especially White Hat SEO, techniques. As part of their “Power Searching” series, Matt Cutts brilliantly and simply explains how search engines actually work. One misconception is the Google search algorithm searches the web. In actuality, the search engine combs …
Analytics Bounce Rate Nuances & Settings
Measuring your analytics bounce rate is an important but deceptive metric. At it’s highest level, bounce is one measure of how sticky your website is. But depending upon your analytic program, bounce rate can be calculated in a variety of ways. Analytics Bounce Rate Default Google Analytics is a very powerful and free tool that should be …
Spectrum Snippet: Webmaster Academy Merits
Learning to use Web Analytic tools (like Webmaster Tools) can be an overwhelming task especially if you’re new to managing a website. Google has set up an amazing amount of information in their Webmaster Central (help forum) collection. But they also created Webmaster Academy, educational materials designed just for beginners. These modular lesson plans cover …
Long Tail Keyword: An SEO Gem
Changing your SEO keyword strategy can help you generate more qualified leads, create more conversions and ultimately increase your website’s profitability. Although short, concise search terms are more popular and could potentially generate more traffic to your website, choosing a key phrase that contains three to five keywords can result in a smaller, more specific …
SEO Link Love or Landmine?
There are some interesting developments about SEO links also known as inbound links. In Google’s official blog on Friday, Matt Cutts talked about notifications that have been sent via Webmaster Tools. Basically his cautionary message stays true to the theme we continue to share on this blog. If you’re using Grey Hat techniques, it’s time …
Tracking Events on Google Analytics
Not sure if you’re business networking efforts are actually fruitful? Or, want to see if your outbound sales’ efforts are impacting your online sales funnel? Well, there’s a way to track events to your online stats via Google Analytics Annotations. Annotations are a way to chronicle activities like trade shows, new product launches, a video …
What White Hat SEO Isn’t
Finding the line between White Hat SEO and Grey/Black Hat can be tricky. Or, more accurately some SEO agencies are tricky with their techniques, landing them squarely on the dark side of that line. Perhaps a good way to explain White Hat is by what it isn’t as it relates to link building. Paying for …
New Web Optimization Feature in GA
Google just announced a brand new feature in Analytics that helps with web optimization. For techies, we call content experiments A/B testing. We like to test variations of a page to see which performs better. Subtle changes to a page can dramatically improve conversion. Now with Content Experiments, Google has made it even easier to implement …