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Secrets to Search Engine Optimized Content
We have all heard the phrase "content is king," and unique content indeed reigns supreme. However, beyond the mantra of writing highly unique content, exists additional SEO copywriting secrets. Some of these "secrets" are simply SEO guidelines that simply get neglected from being applied to the art of copywriting. Let’s look at some applications of SEO in generating search engine optimized content.
1. Including Target Keyphrases
Apart from achieving a moderate keyword density for your target keywords, you should be including your target keyphrases as well. (You should be doing this concurrently). Your title and header tags need to include your main keyphrase, which should also be sprinkled throughout your content. Other ingredients to your search engine optimized content cake are variations to the main keyphrase, along with secondary target keyphrases.
Note: It’s perfectly alright to deviate slightly to secondary keyphrases, as well as overlap keyphrases between pages on your website. If anything, this will make your entire website more relevant and help maintain authority.
Tags: keyword research, SEO, web developmentGoogle Search Results Becoming Case-Sensitive?
There have been a few reports from the search community that Google is showing signs of being case-sensitive. I’ve ran a dozen or so test searches myself with varying uppercase and lowercase letters, but there hasn’t been any changes in the search results. The total number of search results found differed by less than 10%, but this isn’t out of the ordinary.
So what does this mean if case-sensitivity becomes more prevalent?
For the average searcher, you’ll be able to (in theory) get more relevant results by using uppercase letters where appropriate. If you’re looking up the name of a particular brand of product or service, then you might find it useful to apply some capital letters. This will especially come in handy if your query involves common words.
For example, a search for "band aid" might give you advice on starting a band, while "Band Aid" will list product information for your boo-boos.
Tags: Google, keyword researchTop Five Advantages to In-House Link Building
There are many benefits for having an in-house (internal) search engine optimization team, and link building is one method of capitalizing on them. You will notice that some of the following factors spill over to other SEO endeavours as well. A caveat I should mention is that the following advantages alone will not enable an in-house SEO to outperform an outsourced SEO, unless the in-house SEO has a solid foundation and understanding of search.
Now without further ado, I give to you the top five advantages to in-house link building.
1. Understanding of the Business
An internal employee is more likely to have a deeper understanding of your business and the industry. This knowledge and insight definitely comes in handy in choosing the right keywords to optimize for. An in-house SEO is already familiar with the language, brands and product lines involved.
As a result, the keyword research phase could be cut in half, and your staff might even discover keyphrases that an outsourced SEO firm might not have.
Tags: keyword research, link building, SEO, web developmentLong Tail Searches Are On The Rise
An introductory post was made here on SEP last November about capturing long tail search traffic, and this subject is getting more attention as of late. An exclusive meeting was held earlier this month, where Google’s Analytics expert Avinash Kaushik disclosed an interesting trend.
In Q4 of 2007, the average query on Google reached four words for the first time ever. All previous averages were limited to three words or less, and the three-word average was unwavering for quite a while. In light of discovering this trend, I thought it was time that we revisit the topic of long tail searches and how to optimize for them.
Tags: Google, keyword research, long tail, search traffic, SEO, tools