What’s the difference between Local SEO and Organic SEO?
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Local SEO and Organic SEO in Denver
Google Citation and Links DEnver
Interesting Changes in Citations and Links this year.
Last year, as a matter of practice , when we did on line visibility programs for clients we added directory links to many of the major on line directories, yellow pages, and other local web sites. We would then track the traffic from each (as part of the analytics) and quality scoring. Part of that was watching the back links report to see when the listing, citation or link was “indexed”.
We do much more than just this process during on line visibility programs, so we have a very rounded profile to drive traffic to a clients site.
The interesting thing is, most of the local directory and y.p sites are no longer showing up as links, or as indexed, and the traffic to a clients site from these sources is way down
Here is an example. Hot Frog has traditional been a good citation site and gets a lot of traffic. But sine January, we have not seen a clients listing appear as a link to there site, and traffic is almost non existent.
This listing has been live for almost three months. No sign of it any where on Google Web Master, SEOmoz reports and any other reports we use.
I could add 10 more examples here. But the point being, has the search world stopped recognizing this directory listings? And if so how valuable are they to driving traffic to a site.
Let me know what you have seen.
Internet Marketing tip Denver
SEO, Social Media, and P.R. in Denver
A company’s Social Media program is in intent, very similar to the reasons they may employe search engine optimization programs. Both bring visibility to their web site, and web properties. Both are promotional devices.
Good SEO and Social media is nothing more than great P.R. So to really understand either, a business needs to understand P.R. first.
I am not a P.R. expert. What I do understand about it, is it’s all about making your business stand out, and attractive to your target market, and therefore you have to start with the well thought out process of knowing who your target market is, and what they want.
Notice the word want, not need in the above sentence. The number one mistake you can make is talking about what your prospects need. Frankly, a lot of what you think your prospects need, is really boring. Do you see Chevrolet promoting the most basic form of automobile transportation possible? Nope, they promote the flash people want. You should do the same.
So, your first two tasks in Social Media and SEO need to be:
- Who are my people?
- Want do they want?
If you are a bagel shop (I use this because I once owned three of them) you can promote what your prospects need, that being breakfast. ” Come get breakfast at Mike’s Bagel and coffee”
Or what they want.
“Come enjoy a freshly baked all natural bagel of your choice, served hot in 3 minutes or less. for less than $1.00”
Now you want to promote your coffee and espresso sales. Add this banner in your store.
“Turn in any used Star Bucks coffee cup, and get a free espresso”
And then, there is the simple premise that different gets noticed, and noticed is what you want to be.
Different: ” Our employees wear Pajamas on Tuesdays because…Tuesdays are PJ mornings at Mike’s Bagels. Wear your pajamas and your bagel and Coffee is free!
How does this have any thing to do with Social Media? Well, you just found what you can be promoting on your face book, Web Site and twitter properties.
Your people are the people that drive past your shop every morning and stop somewhere for coffee or breakfast. The same cars going through the Starbucks or McDonald drive thru, could be in your store. Target your promotions to the zip codes that use the streets that go close to your Bagel Shop. Send a coupon or welcome postcard to the zip codes that are clearly moving past your store on the way to work/school/ where ever, each morning. Don’t send to zips or area’s past your store in the main direction of traffic (Unless you are promoting Dinner). On the postcard or letter, have your Face Book address, and they can get their free stuff and see your current cool promotions there.
How does all this tie into SEO? Simple, the more social followers you have, and tweats about your site, the more your sites rankings will improve. Not only that, but if your Pajama Tuesdays takes off, people will start searching for Pajama Tuesdays and your site (which mentions it of course) will come up very highly for the term.
So I have just defined the basics of my social media strategy for Mike’s Bagels. Start with the P.R. and the rest will follow.
We would love to hear what great “Promotional” idea’s you have seen on social media for local businesses.
Related articles
- Social Media for SEO vs. Customer Engagement (toprankblog.com)
Is Google the Universal Mind?
So if all things material (even the digital empire) are reflections of the true and one intelligence, and our development of these material manifestations of spiritual truths continue to advance as our collective understanding advances, then could it be that Google is in fact… the material manifestation of the universe mind? The keeper and communicator of all knowledge?
Or is all that technology, just something they use to promote ad words.
Yes, these are the thoughts that dance through my little mind from time to time.
SEO should always work with Web Design
Received a call yesterday from a business who had been investing in SEO and seeing limited results. After looking over the site and off site SEO it was very clear their current SEO had done no on site work. The days of adding a few links to a poorly thought out (from the SEO prospective) site and seeing rankings, are long gone, yet many Search engine optimization firms continue to ignore this.
Although generally speaking, the most respected SEO firm’s in the country (SEOmoz, SEObook, Majestic SEO) will publish research that about 25% of your rankings come from on site, and the rest of rankings happen through off site, social, and citations and such, the 25% that is your web site structure is the foundation.
We work with several highly competent web design firms accross the country, most of which provide SEO to their local clients and are very good at it. One is being featured in the USA today evry 6 weeks. We also will work directly with our client’s web design firm if needed. We don’t do web design on any large level, but we understand the principles of good web design from both the marketing, and SEO stand point and can direct the web design firm in these matters.
We also do SEO for several Web design firms nationally. When their clients ask for SEO, its our services they receive under their company name.
I would recommend you do not work with an SEO who doesn’t offer web design, or work directly with a web design firm (including yours). These two elements are both essential in rankings success.
There also is an advantage to working with a SEO that also provides your web design. One point of contact, and more efficient communication. If they are good at both, its a win win. Is there a down side? Depends on the firm. All your eggs in one basket isn’t a bad thing if the basket is great.
It’s the same principle as buying any other service. Get references for both the web design and SEO.
Local SEO
Local SEO in Denver is changing as Social Media, local reviews, video, and Google places become more important to your sites ranking.
SEO in Denver combines the standard methods you would use for organic listings and then adds the “local” tactics. Local SEO has many elements we have written about. SEO for a local site has many pieces compared to standard organic, but the use of all of the web visibility programs can put you in great positions on the search engine.
Bing and Yahoo now 30% of Search Engine Traffic
For businesses in Denver and throughout Colorado, who are interested in promoting their services utilizing the Internet, this weeks news that Bing + Yahoo is now over 30% of searches should not go ignored.
The Bing Yahoo combo picked up over 6% while Google fell 3% in Search traffic. These are big numbers, but they still represent the “gross” numbers. We will be watching to see if we can get more industry specific statistics. It should be noted that on a very small scale we have seen Bing searches (Clicks) pick up in the home improvement area last month, but, far to little data to make a definitive statement.
What to do? Check your Bing SEO rankings. Make sure you read information (specific) on Bing optimization. Make sure you use the Bing web master tools, and have your local company listed in Bings local program.
If you are using Google exclusively for pay per click it may be time to divide the budget and spend 30% with Bing- Yahoo. Or add 30% and use them.
We will follow up with a few specific tips on SEO on Bing for Denver and Colorado Businesses over the next few weeks.
Related articles
- Bing Powered Search Hits 30% Share (marketingpilgrim.com)
Free SEO Services for Denver Nonprofits
We made a decision Friday to offer free Search Engine Optimization services to qualified nonprofits in Denver. For a nonprofit or charity to qualify please call us for details. The only limitation is the number we can support monthly
This is just one way we feel we can do our part, and give something back to the community we have been a part of for 11 years as a business and the community we grew up in. Hopefully this will allow some nonprofits to gain better Internet visibility and further their unique programs.
Charities and nonprofits can receive all of the normal SEO services including:
- Local Directory set up and optimization
- Site assessment and recommendations
- Off site optimization and promotion.
If you are aware of any nonprofits that could use a helping hand in this area please refer them to us via our main number or web site.
SEO and the voice of Saruman
A client
calls a few weeks ago. He is interested in expanding his inbound marketing through more web visibility work, and adding content to his web site. His site is currently in the number one position on Google and Bing for the targeted audience, and well represented through out the local web community. He is very happy.
We give him a assessment and proposal to add content and do some additional work to make sure the new service is well ranked on the search engines. He does mention he is looking at one other option, which I think is fine. One should always check out options when buying.
I speak with him yesterday. He went with the other option. Because we have known him for a long time I feel comfortable asking why. The other company is $149.00 per month and is building a web site for him included in the fee. The longer the discussion, the more clear to me that he has been “sold”, and that the decision was made on a bunch of marketing lingo and facts and figures some SEO’s use to bedazzle prospects and convince them they have the super secret, cross your fingers and hope to die information that for almost no money will bring them a huge amount of traffic and customers. Ie Yi Yi
This is what I call the Voice of Saruman syndrome. Remember Saruman the wizard from the Lord of the rings? Anyone listening to his voice (with the exception of a few very powerful other wizards and such) came under his spell, and would be convinced what he was saying was the truth and very powerful.
It happens so often in SEO and many other areas. SEO and I.T. seem to have a larger share of Saruman’s out there convincing businesses that their magic is the best magic. Perhaps it’s the nature of the business.
What is strikingly odd is this client really understands price and quality. We have discussed how his service isn’t cheap, and how he won’t lower his standards to offer poor work for low dollars.
Yet he listens to the voice of Saruman.
Here is what I advise , and the principle I use in business when selecting a service. First, if what I have is working I am not very likely to change. If I am approached, I always ask this question, can you provide me with just 3 local accounts you have that will tell me what you are saying works. That seems to knock out the VAST majority of bad decisions I might make while under the spell.
I should note this client is continuing with us on his existing service. I mean, you can not do much better than the number one spot.
