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This is my 2nd post here I believe.
I am trying once again to start to promote my web site as I find it a very exciting field, and have some time again.
I am tyring to learn and do this systematically, as a 'budding' web designer and promoter.
So I am trying to maximize the return on my time and money.
Please help me rate how I should start and what to do first.
First general comments :
How to succeed:
1. Research and read
2. Discuss with experts
3. Be organized and document it all
4. Keep current with information
5. Try different methods yourself
6. Find out from the horses' mouth - Market Research
7. Don't spend a lot of time using last years methods, what works now
8. Use fast feedback loops to minimize wasted time and money
9. Target the correct audience with the correct methods
10. Prioritize your tasks based on rewards/importance
11. Who else is doing this?. Who is the most successful, how did they achieve their success, and how are they making their money?
How to succeed in SEO: (anything else?)
-create a 'What works best list' in order of importance
-Find out what % of time should be spent on what task
-Find out what % of budget should be spent on what task
-Be systematic to see what works and what does not. How?
-Examine Real time data to see what campaign getting you the most traffic this month. How?
(Analyze campaigns to see what is most effective over time- don't waste time and money)
Please help me to rate these items in priority:
What works best list for SEO:
-link building
-link renting
-sponsored search results
-submitting to directories
-pay per click advertising (contextual based advertising) like Google Adwords
-SEO page optimization (descriptive headers, sub headers, page Titles)
-Internal descriptive text linking
-domain name itself
-text in incoming links
-words per page
-keyword density
-building content
-Text Navigation (with each page having it's own context link e.g.: Home > Services > Web Design FAQ
-Site map page
-Paid inclusion
-contributing to forums
-writing articles
-having a blog
-banner ads
SEO Task to prioritize (time-wise): Where should the most time be spent on?
1.
2.
...
SEO Tasks to prioritize (money-wise): where should the most money be spent on?
1.
2.
...
Thanks for any tips!
(most of what I learned is from Aaron Wall's SEO book, Bret's Google steps, and lurking at webmasterworld) Any other must have research stuff..?
ON-PAGE
The page Title tag. In site clinics that we run at PubCon, I consistently see websites that have all kinds of other on-page optimization but they let the page title fall through the cracks. It's a very big factor -- work with it!
OFF-PAGE
Natural links from authority sites -- especially strong are links from WITHIN the content of a related page on a domain that's not related to yours.
Some of the other factors you mention are fading away, IMO. For instance, keyword density is a relatively odd notion that can really waste your time. Sure, make sure you use the important keywords in prominent and natural ways, but don't obsess about a numerical measure of density.
In fact, you'll probably do better to let the natural flow of vocabulary expand into synonyms and other related words. Today's algorithms are getting very sophisticated about language use, and that trend will increase.
Just as an aside, you will maximize the number and quality of responses to your posts if each post is on the short side, and/or focussed on a narrow topic or two. ;-)
I would whole heartedly concur with tedster, as usual.
I'd also add that, based on work I've done with other sites, the lack of thorough kw research - and/or the lack of understanding of the importance of keywords - is the number one issue with underperforming sites (technical issues aside). Keyword research is IMO the essence of SEO.
Thanks
Would you be more likely to click on a link that looks like it should have been the keyword tag rather than the title tag, or something that says
Latest Information on Widgets, Plus Installation and Maintenance Tips - Best Practices for Optimizing Your Widgeting Experience
OK, the widgetized example may be a little strained, but the point is your title tag should be considered part of your marketing message, as a way to draw visitors to your site.
