Three Key Factors in SEO

Anyone who has tried to get a site to rank highly in the search engines knows that it takes a lot more than "great content" to get the job done. There are millions of sites competing for each keyword or keyphrase that's worth going after, and thousands of them have content worth reading. Clearly, many other factors have to be in place for any site to make it all the way to the top. What are some of these factors?

Links

Links are king. Content has tried to lay claim to the throne for over a decade, but Google's algorithm depends on links. A site that doesn't have any other sites linking to it will not be seen regardless of anything else.

For this reason, any comprehensive search engine optimization (SEO) strategy will include a campaign to get more links. The catch is that some link-building efforts can actually get a site penalized or banned instead of causing it to rank higher. Some of these bad methods are obvious. For example, it doesn't take much to realize that spamming out tens of thousands of links on unrelated blogs is going to raise red flags at the Googleplex. Other, more subtle, methods are better.

Keyword Density

Some SEO companies swear that keyword density no longer matters, while others will meticulously aim to put a specific percentage of keywords in every 100 words of other content. Which is correct? It's likely that neither extreme are on the money. Instead, content should have a "natural" amount of keyword mentions. Unfortunately, the search engine isn't telling which percentage it considers to be natural on any given day. However, thanks to the very way automated algorithms work, there has to be a specific density or range of densities that open this lock. Automatic sorting programs may not be Sith, but they most definitely deal in absolutes.

Content

There once was a time when the idea of content being important was flatly dismissed by those at the top of the engine, but those golden days ended quite a while ago. Now, Google has finally devised algorithms that can tell the good from the garbage. This means that sites have to have content that is humanly-readable, relevant, and generally of decent quality. Those that do not will soon suffer ranking penalties.

These are just some of the factors that go into SEO Denver and other places. To learn about the many other aspects of the art, contact an SEO expert.

Local SEO: Targeting Search Engine Optimization to Local Customers

There are many advantages to focusing on search engine optimization on a local rather than a global scale. For companies that maintain a local clientele, attempting to achieve high SEO rankings globally usually amounts to both wasted time and effort. Local SEO is the practice of tailoring SEO to a specific geographic location.

Geographically Targeted Keywords

The first step towards local SEO is to make sure that the content of the business is targeted towards a local audience. This usually means inserting place names and other local keywords into the content so that local users can find the website. Usually, the larger the variety of keywords the better. Referencing multiple locations naturally is usually preferable to mentioning the same location multiple times.

Local Events, Places, and Attractions

Search engine optimization can often be achieved through the use of local events or attractions that local customers would be familiar with. Content marketing is often used to increase SEO performance in these areas. Companies will frequently highlight local festivals or notable news; when searching for this, members of their community will then be exposed to their business and their services.

Updated and Maintained Online Profiles

Search engines generally identify a business by their online profiles. If an online profile has not been properly maintained, it may not show the business in the proper area -- or in any area at all. Usually an online search profile can be "claimed" by a business owner if it hasn't been already; the owner will simply need to show proof to the search engine of their business ownership.

Social Media Accounts and Reviews

Online reviews often tie into the search results that local users will get when they search for a business. Restaurants, bars, salons, and other entertainment venues are all examples of businesses that are generally shown in a "phone book" listing format. 

These listings will show the name of the business, its location, social media accounts, and whether it has positive or negative reviews. This type of highly local advertising is dependent on the company's online presence.

A local SEO campaign is often used in conjunction with content marketing to further draw in a local audience. As an example, an SEO Denver company will likely coordinate local social media, SEO, and content campaigns with timely information that matters to their customers.

Is SEO a DIY Job?

There are plenty of websites, books, webinars, seminars and podcasts that offer free tips on how to optimize a website so that it gets a high placement in Google. Given this fact, a Denver business owner may wonder why hiring a professional SEO Denver consultant is worth the cost. Following are some reasons why working with a professional in this field can be a good idea.

SEO is Time Consuming

Optimizing a site is an ongoing job. Given the fact that many business owners are occupied with important tasks such as meeting potential clients and business partners, training employees, keeping track of inventory, staying up to date with news and developments, etc., it is clear that delegating SEO to an expert is not a bad idea.

Getting it Wrong Can be Costly

Not all sources of information about SEO are accurate. SEO has changed a lot over the past few years and going by outdated information can have serious consequences. In a worst case scenario, Google may blacklist a site, which means that it will not appear for relevant search engine results. Alternatively, Google may flag the site as being "spammy," a designation that is difficult if not impossible to get rid of.

Boosting Marketing Results

SEO is not something that can be ignored or put on the back burner. It can have a large bearing on whether a business stagnates or grows. As more and more people turn to the internet to find what they need, a site’s placement online will often determine if a customer chooses the business in question or a competitor. An SEO expert will help a business boost a site’s standing online so that the business website will get more traffic to boost sales. Just as importantly, an SEO expert will ensure the business uses only highly relevant keywords so that the people coming to the site are potential customers rather than random visitors.

SEO is an important aspect of marketing that deserves proper attention. While many SEO tasks can be done without professional help, business owners may find these tasks to be a time consuming project in order to get them done right. Outsourcing SEO related tasks to a professional in this field can help a business owner dedicate time to his major portfolio. It also ensures that SEO is done properly to enhance a business website’s standing in Google rather than put it down.

Mountain High with SEO Denver

A new mountain high comes from SEO efforts invented in Denver ("SEO Denver"). These techniques dramatically increase online sales.

The SEO Denver program includes the use of localization optimization to capture interested potential customers with the use of “Sales Funnels.”

What are Sales Funnels?

Sales funnels first appeared in combination with television advertising during the 1950s to increase sales using these steps, with each step getting a certain percentage of the efforts:

1. Get attention by building rapport - 10%

2. Qualify potential prospects - 20%

3. Demonstrate the features and benefits of the product or service that solve a need - 30%

4. Close the sale with whatever strength needed to get the money - 40%

This was rudimentary mass marketing with the focus on forcing the customer to buy the product or services, whether they really needed them or not. By advertising on television, consumer needs were created in the minds of consumers, even when they not exist before.

Through the 1970s, 80s, and 90s consumers developed tremendous resistance to the “hard-sell” approach, so the sales funnel flipped upside down. The newer method had these steps:

1. Build trust by salespersons acting as friendly “consultants” - 40%

2. Salesperson assesses the client’s needs - 30%

3. The product or service is presented - 20%

4. The deal is confirmed (closed) - 10%

This method was popularized by the likes of Zig Ziegler and others.

The Advent of the Internet was a Game-Changer

By the late 1990’s, until present day, the commercialization of the Internet completely changed the way consumers hunt for information that supports their buying decisions. Some consumers still cling to the older ways of shopping in stores and talking to salespersons; however, this has seriously declined.

Now consumers may still shop in stores, but even while physically being in the store, they search online for product information and buy the product online if it is cheaper on the Internet. Consumers no longer have to trust what a salesperson says. Companies cannot hide from poor product reviews. This actually makes the salesperson’s job easier, because consumers more frequently talk to a salesperson, when they are really ready to buy something.

Online Sales Funnels 

Expert SEO efforts now place online sales funnels in many channels, including on a company’s website and in social media. Quality content is used to attract potential customer interest and let the customer find the information about the product or service. The mountain high comes from using SEO in powerful ways to make it easy for potential customers to find what they are looking for and that creates more sales.

How a Good Consultant in Denver Can Make SEO Easier for Company Owners

B2B, IPO, ROI, OEM: there are so many abbreviations in the business world that adding one more like SEO may seem like too much. However, search engine optimization isn't going anywhere. In fact, it will likely only become more and more of a necessary facet to everyday promotion, so small business leaders or new company owners that have tried to dodge SEO practices will have to get on board sooner than later to see more customers, thriving sales, and true success.

Those that have recently decided to start a business are probably saddled with a lot. They have to worry about hiring employees, doling out responsibilities, attracting customers, having enough product on hand to keep up with demand, and managing money, among other jobs. Who has time for a website when a Facebook business page can suffice instead? It can be easy to get overwhelmed in the early days of running a business until the tasks and knowledge needed become second nature. Until that day arrives, there's nothing wrong with getting in touch with an SEO Denver.

This company may be run by a specialist that has over a decade's worth of experience managing new and small startups all the way up to renowned brands with instant recognition. No matter how popular that a company is, all of them have the same needs: to stand out from the competition, to rise to the top of the pack, and to attract the most customers. A good consultant can reveal the ways to do that, such as appearing at the top of search engine result rankings based on post content and links. Even better, since this consultant can help a small business owner, they can show them that maintaining good SEO isn't that hard.

It all comes down to writing good posts that are passionate but also informative, presenting this company as a leading expert in the field. A small business owner doesn't even need to a hire a freelance writer or blogger for this job. Instead, they can mine into their own experiences and write the kind of content that others working in the same type of business won't be able to resist sharing. By including keywords that customers can search to find the small business' website, a company owner is already making wise choices in terms of online marketing.

By using free, automatic analytics software, a small business owner can get results delivered straight to their inbox, reviewing weekly or monthly sales, website hits, and customer retention. There's no need to fear SEO. Let a consultant in Denver help today. 

Build a Powerful, Compelling Website to Attract Customers with SEO Services in Denver

Becoming a small business owner is a very exciting career achievement, especially for those living in the bustling, prosperous Denver, Colorado area. Once the bricks and mortar shop is bought and set up, the phone lines are ready, and the Internet is running, it's time to open the doors and let customers in.

These days, every company big or small must have a website. There's no getting around this. While having social media presence in the form of a Facebook or Google+ page is a great start, these profiles cannot replace a company site. Customers that search for a small business site and come up empty will surely move on to the competition. 

However, a small business owner has a lot of responsibilities, especially at the beginning. They're trying to serve customers and dole out daily duties to their coworkers. At the end of the day, building a website gets put on the backburner.

Rather than miss out on droves of customers, contact an SEO Denver instead. SEO stands for search engine optimization. Through inserting keywords in blog articles and social media posts and generating links from this content that lead back to the website, a small business owner's site can appear higher in the list of results when customers use a search engine to find products and services. 

Of course, first a company has to have a website. Rather than make a cheap-looking free one, turn to this consultant, who may have years and years of experience serving major brands and companies in Denver and beyond.

Services offered may include marketing through various means as well as helping clients write the kind of content that customers want to read. This consultant can help a small business owner get their website right the first time with content that will attract attention and get many customers clicking the link to the business' online shop. Even with a clean, appealing website though, a small business owner's online domain is just one in a sea of other clean, appealing options. 

To really stand out, this consultant can help the small business owner learn to brand all of their content for instant recognition from customers. With better content in blog posts and social media, the small business owner will see their website rise in the search engine result ranks.

The Truth About Finding Keywords For SEO Purposes

The label of "Keyword" sounds like it should be a magic formula, a secret code known only by the initiated. Fiction has a lot of this kind of keyword, from "Open Sesame" for the legendary Arabian Nights cave of fabulous riches to Tolkein's "speak friend and enter" riddle at the Doors of Durin. 

While it is true that finding keywords for SEO purposes sometimes can seem as perplexing as a riddle, the truth is simple: keywords are what people enter in search boxes.

At the Doors of Durin, saying "Mellon", the elvish word for "friend", opened the doors wide. The door was for the Elves to come into the Dwarves' kingdom and do business with them. It wasn't supposed to be a secret code because the inscription on the door said, "speak friend and enter". Simple, right? But those who came later had forgotten that simple truth and were perplexed.

Finding The Right Words

People who use search engines are trying to find information. The words they put into the search box are their best guesses at finding the information they want, and the search engines take it from there. If the user doesn't find what they want on one search engine, they might try another. 

So Google, the top search engine at the moment, has to stay ahead of Bing and the others who are struggling to take its place. This is why the Google algorithms keep changing -- Google wants to make searching for information easy for people so they stay loyal to Google.

Therefore, a person searching for a good SEO consulting firm in Denver may type in "SEO Denver" and get a list of possibilities and suggestions for other ways to find what Google thinks they are looking for. 

These related search terms along with the autocomplete suggestions that show up when entering a search are words other people use to find things similar to "SEO Denver" and are a good source of keywords, too. Other sources of keywords are industry forums & calendars, conference agendas & abstracts, and Wikipedia indexes.

But the key thing to remember about keywords is that they are supposed to open doors to information being sought. Think like the seeker, and it will be simple to find keywords for SEO purposes because the search engine uses keywords as clues to which doors should open.

Identifying Doorway Pages Which May Harm Search Engine Rankings

Google's search engine rankings have penalized doorway pages for some time. In early 2015, Google took further steps to demote doorway pages in their search engine rankings, which can harm the overall performance of a domain. Site owners that want to avoid penalties will need to identify and either remove or modify any doorway pages that may occur on their website.

Automatically Generated Content

Doorway pages may lean heavily on automatically generated content to push users towards the actual site or towards a landing page. Doorway pages may be generated from "spun" content which looks good to the search engine but not to the user -- and this content will be automatically seeded with certain keywords, especially geographically-targeted keywords. Having a large amount of pages which all "point" the user to a single location in a site is a very clear example of having doorway pages. In general, any time the content has been designed specifically for the search engine rather than the user -- and is designed to get the user to go somewhere -- the page is a "doorway."

Landing Pages With Lean Content
A landing page is not a doorway page, but it can become one if it has lean content. Landing pages are usually content-rich pages that drive users towards conversion through the use of compelling copy and customized content.

But if a landing page has very lean content and is overly keyword-optimized -- particularly with irrelevant or useless keywords -- it can be considered a doorway page. In this situation, the landing page is acting as a 'doorway' to the conversion mechanism.

Automatic User Redirection

The easiest way to identify a doorway page, by far, is if it redirects the user immediately. There should be no need for a page that redirects the user once they have connected to it -- barring some very specific applications. This form of doorway page is also considered a "cloaking" device. The doorway page will usually have content designed to appeal to the search engine and will then immediately direct the consumer to a page that is focused on conversion instead. Though doorway pages have always been known to be detrimental, some site owners may not realize that doorway pages are on their own websites because they are using an e-commerce solution, content management system or other application that operates these doorway pages on their own. A SEO Denver company can help business owners who are concerned that their website may contain doorway pages.

Understanding Seo in 2015

Search engines are constantly upgrading their formulas. With each upgrade, seo strategists must adapt to any kind of modifications in the way the algorithm produces search results page. Below are a few of the most significant Search Engine Optimization adjustments online marketers can expect in 2015.

1. Focus on top quality content over keyword densities.

In the previous, websites might rise to the leading of online search engine rankings simply by flooding their web pages with specific key words. Today, nonetheless, online search engine SEO Denver have actually learned to compare useful, high-grade material and keyword phrase stuffing. Thus, one of the most effective sites will certainly be those that have the ability to target particular expressions while still providing something of worth to users.

2. Much more focus on location.

With the increase of geotargeting, a growing number of individuals expect to receive material that is tailored to their specific area when they carry out a search. For many brand names, incorporating place into Search Engine Optimization strategies may imply the distinction in between increasing to the top of search engine outcomes and also sinking hidden. If a firm gives Search Engine Optimization seeking advice from services in Denver, focusing on the expression "Denver Search Engine Optimization consulting" is most likely to generate better results compared to focusing on "Search Engine Optimization consulting" alone.

3. Short load times needed.

Whether they are looking on a computer or cell phone, people don't prefer to wait for pages to tons. In fact, many individuals will surrender and also go to a new website after just a couple of secs of frustration. Therefore, web sites that don't fill rapidly are likely to be up to lesser positions on search engine results pages in 2015.

4. Updated material is a must.

The goal of any type of online search engine is to give customers with fresh, useful material that is highly relevant to the search inquiry got in. Thus, newer versions of online search engine formulas make sure to offer inclination to those websites that current their material regularly.

5. Social media is important.

Conventional online search engine are not the only outlets customers will certainly utilize in 2015. As social media sites websites continuously increase in popularity, individuals will spend even more time hunting for businesses on these systems. Because of this fad, companies who spend time optimizing their social media sites sites can anticipate to gain more earnings than those that focus only on standard search engines.