Stuntdubl Business Search Marketing Consulting

Here are ten things I generally check out first with most every website that I look at. Most are fairly simple and straightforward, but the combination of each of these things and the other six dozen variables on my checklist usually add up to pretty good rankings. While these are seemingly simple things, it is AMAZING how many sites (even with SEO’s) miss at least one of them. It’s all about the details folks.

10 SEO Tips to Make Any Website Better

EcomXpo sounds like a pretty slick idea. It’s basically a virtual tradeshow focused around internet marketing. I think this will be the second show, and it has already experienced some pretty impressive growth from the looks of things.

Until fairly recently, directories have been an excellent business model for the web. Choose a niche, aggregate some content, and charge for advertising. They were also nice for link developers trying to raise their link popularity, as many had high Page Rank and offered the ability to place your prime keywords in anchor titles. Directories are also a good example of how Google has changed the face of the web. During one of the G updates (perhaps Dominic if I remember correctly), Google’s algorithm was changed and became quite favorable for directories. This caused somewhat of an explosion in the number of directories created, and those trying to manipulate the flaws in the algorithm. In the recent past, Google has pointed a slanted eye towards directories with more of a guilty until proven innocent kind of mentality (funny how SEO’s always seem to personify Google’s thoughts and emotions). Directories have thus fell under the “quality microscope”, and seem to be on their way out if their models are not somewhat changed, or they offer some type of unique value proposition.

This all being said, I still like many directories. When they’re not built for the SOLE purpose of manipulating PR, they can be a very good addition to a site’s backlinks. I don’t think the directory model will ever completely die, but it does have it’s flaws. As a final note, don’t go over board with getting ALL the directories in one sitting. Too high a percentage of directory backlinks may *potentially* disrupt the balance of your link equation. Spread out your submissions over time, and use them as only a portion of your link power.

Directory Quality Control Questions

Check the:
• cache date
• inbound links to the page
• inbound links to the site
• age of the site
• theme of the links to the page
• other links on the page
• title of the page
• site or pages are not in the supplemental index
• make sure their IP Address is “clean” - DNS Report
• submission guidelines and quality level of listings
• make sure they are giving static links that pass link popularity and not just some type of redirect

Directory Tools

There is a ridiculous amount of information regarding internet marketing. A majority of it is very basic, written by those who have gotten through the basics. Some of the information is just plain bogus or outright lies. Then there are those who are grateful for having learned a craft from the online medium and want to give back to the communities that has given so much to them. As the bright folks in the audience know…the internet is a “give to get back” kind of place. There is an unwritten tradition in online forums to help those that are most helpful. In quality communities the good information will rise to the top and be referenced repeatedly.

It is a bit unnerving where someone may start in their quest for knowledge, with all the information available to those just getting into SEO and internet marketing. A simple search for “internet marketing” reveals 273 MILLION sites at the time I am writing this. The worst part is that there is SO much different and conflicting information that it could drive someone mad, or drive them away from the pursuit of more effective internet marketing.

The answer to the internet marketing information overload quandry?

Usability is more of an issue than accessibilty to internet marketing in general, but I think BOTH topics certainly have some overlap into search engine optimization as well. Using best practices and well formed code that passes strict quality and accessibility standards is definitely going to have benefit for an SEO or other type of internet marketing campaign.

While I don’t visit Cre8site forums near often enough, Kim Krause-Berg has developed a great community over the years full of some phenomenal tools and resources. Do yourself a favor and check out the new website hospital, which is full of some awesome assistance for webmasters.

Usability and Accessbility Tools

I had the pleasure of meeting quite a few of the folks helping to get SMA NA rolling while at SES San Jose. I really think this organization is going to be positive step for the industry, by taking a more “bottom up” approach to attracting SEM consultants and smaller agencies rather than SEMPO’s top down approach of trying to attract those with the most money. I’m not saying SEMPO is a bad thing, only that I think SMA NA will serve the little guys better.

Can I blog less now Jim? - Jim Boykin - Internet Marketing Blog.