New SEO Firms and Paid Search Advertising Agencies Buyer’s Guide
Marketing Sherpa just released their new Buyer’s Guides to SEO Firms and Paid Search Advertising Agencies: 2005-2006.
If you’re considering hiring an SEO firm or Paid Search Ad agency, I’d suggest SEO inc of course - but I’d recommend checking out Marketing Sherpa’s Guide if you need more information about the numerous SEO firms. The guide will save you time from researching over 100 different SEO firms.
This year Marketing Sherpa has split up old guide into two separate guides. One guide covers Search Engine Optimization Firms and another guide covers Paid Search Advertising Agencies. The Paid Search Advertising Agencies Guide is 100% new, since this is the first time Marketing Sherpa is releasing a guide covering only paid search. The SEO Firms Guide is a 4th edition release.
Michael Nguyen | Search Engine Marketing, Search Engine Optimization | Comments (0)
Greybar For Directory Category
There’s a discussion over at Digitalpoint talking about the ‘Directories’ category being banned.
The ‘Computers > Internet > Searching > Directories’ category is showing up as grey for PageRank in multiple sites (Yahoo, Google, Dmoz).
Michael Nguyen | Search Engine Optimization | Comments (0)
GoogleGuy Hints at Historical Data
GoogleGuy recently responded to a Slashdot article regarding 302 hijacks. GoogleGuy explains how Google incorporates PageRank to determine reputations of sites and thus preventing most 302 hijacks.
What’s more interesting about GoogleGuy’s comment is the reference to Google’s tracking of PageRank history.
A lot of sites that try to spam search engine indices get caught, and their PageRank goes lower and lower as their reputation suffers. We do a very good job of picking canonical urls for normal sites; sites with their PageRank going toward zero are more likely to have a different canonical url picked, though, and to a webmaster I understand that it can look like “hijacking” even though the base cause is usually your reputation declining.
There has been alot of speculation as to whether or not Google has implemented any result ranking based on historical data. GoogleGuy’s comment hints that Google is tracking PageRank history and determining results based on historical trends. In addition to using the current PageRank value, Google is considering reputation trends for web pages.
Most search engine optimizers felt Google was doing this. But I believe this is the one of the first public references from Google since the release of the patent.
Michael Nguyen | Search Engine Optimization | Comments (0)
Google Update
Google is in the middle of a backlink/PR update - started about 10 days ago and is still moving across the datacenters.
Michael Nguyen | Search Engine Optimization | Comments (0)
Google AdSense Site Hijacked
Google’s AdSense homepage has been hijacked - JenSense gives us the details on the hijacking spotted by Dotcomicide.
Google really needs to address the redirect hijack issue.
Here’s the simple code causing all the problems:
<html>
<head>
<meta HTTP-EQUIV="Refresh" CONTENT="0; URL=https://www.google.com/adsense/">
<title></title>
</meta></head>
<body>
</body>
</html>
Update: Danny wonders why Google can’t fix this if Yahoo can.
Michael Nguyen | Search Engine Optimization | Comments (0)
Sandbox Discussion
Over at SERoundtable, Barry is highlighting some of the discussion over the Google “sandbox”.
Here’s how I define if a site has been “sandboxed” (I agree with Barry’s definition):
- The site is indexed
- The site initially ranks well for it’s terms
- The site is placed into the “sandbox” and now cannot rank for certain terms
I feel that “sandboxed” sites have triggered Google’s spam systems and Google then prevents these sites from influencing its rankings.
So how do you avoid triggering Google’s spam filter when launching a new site?
Pay Attention to Your Links
All search engine marketers know that Google loves links. Typically the more links coming into your site, the better.
During the launch of your site, pay great attention to the growth of your links.
Are the incoming links growing at a steady pace?
Or does the growth look unnatural?
How relevant is the anchor text?
Is it all the same anchor text?
Are the links permanent?
Or do the links constantly change location?
Are the links coming from trusted authority sites?
How does the index time of the link relate to the index time of the page? Are they both “fresh”?
Are there any deep-links?
Google is constantly building historical data about your site. Since new sites have no historical data at conception, any small spurts of unnatural linkage could easily raise a flag.
Michael Nguyen | Search Engine Optimization | Comments (0)
Keyword Research
Every website can benefit from some initial keyword research and analysis. Whether you are planning a new site, building content, or reoptimizing - start off with keyword research and analyze how people are going to arrive at your site.
Initial Keyword List
Start off your keyword research by building a keyword list. Try and come up with the most relevant and specific keywords you can for your site. If you only sell blue widgets, then add “blue widgets” to your list but don’t add “green widgets”.
Look into your logs for keywords that searchers are using to find your site. Your referring sites can tell you a great deal about which keywords you should be targeting. If most of your referrals are coming from sites dealing with “big widgets”, you’ll know to add “big blue widgets” to your list. Keep track of what your visitors are reading. If most of your visitors are reading your articles about “building widgets”, you might want to target “building widgets” and “building blue widgets”.
Visit your competitor sites and analyze what keywords they are targeting. Are they targeting keywords that would be relevant for your site? Add those to your list.
Your goal for this step is to build a list containing relevant keywords - targeting irrelevant keywords wastes your time and brands your site as spam.
Michael Nguyen | Search Engine Optimization | Comments (0)
Jeff Barr of Syndic8 Responds
Jeff Barr admits in his response regarding Syndic8’s spam issue that he was “really stupid and greedy too.”
About a week and a half ago, Syndic8.com was banned from Google for content spamming. Today it seems they are back in with a PR of 8.
Jeff admits to “crossing the line” and regrets doing so. His response addresses some very interesting issues regarding SEO and the blogosphere.
In this link-happy world, I have found that people are more interesting in talking about you than talking to you.
I’d have to say that is true and as for why - Jeff answers this himself.
Apparently it is easier to create a link than to send an email.
Why do people expect others to spend the time include them in the conversation?
Jeff could have involved himself in the conversation simply by posting a response much earlier. This is a great example of blogs as a tool for crisis control. The only way to impact the public conversation is by partaking and expressing your point of view. If you wait for someone to ask your point of view - it is too late.
But that doesn’t mean there is only one chance to join the conversation. Jeff wasn’t able to respond initially and impact the first wave of the blogmob. But his response demonstrates the power and effectiveness of being transparent and responding with blogs.
So now another word-of-mouth wave is passing and public opinion is changing. Bloggers are spreading news of Jeff’s response as fast as the blogmob initially spread the news of Syndic8’s mistake.
Michael Nguyen | Blogging, Search Engine Optimization | Comments (0)
Basic SEO Tips for Blogs
If you are using Movabletype or Wordpress to power your blog, then most of the hardwork is already done.
Both these systems produce very clean default code and utilize header tags.
Basic SEO tips
However, there are a couple basic things you can do to improve the SEO of your blog.
- Rewrite your urls - Clean up the dynamic urls with a rewrite. Use your keyword rich post title in the url.
- Linearize your content - Move your content higher up in your code. Search engines place greater weight on text found near the beginning of your page. Use css to layout your site.
- Use Categories - Break up your site into categories. This automatically creates on-topic minihubs of content.
Optimize Dynamically
What do I mean by optimize dynamically? Utilize templates in your blogging software to your advantage.
For example, you could create three templates - one for your homepage, one for individual post pages and one for categories. For the homepage template you can optimize for a general set of keywords. For the individual pages template you would optimize using variables generated from the post title. For the categories template you would optimize around the category variable. This way every post in the future is automatically optimized.
If you spend the time to optimize templates for variables, every blog using the templates will be optimized - saving you alot of time.
Update: Forgot a really basic one. Make sure you change your title tag so that it displays relevant keywords (like your post title) before your site name.
Michael Nguyen | Blogging, Search Engine Optimization | Comments (1)
Snydic8 Banned for Spamming
Charles Coxhead has the scoop and Andy Baio has the details.
I’m surprised big established sites resorting to spamming Google for revenue - there are so many other ways to make cash, why stoop to spamming.
For all those ready to blame this on SEO - Syndic8 getting banned has nothing to do with SEO, black hat or otherwise. This is a case of straight spamming Google and getting hit with their penalty. There was nothing “black hat” going on, Syndic8 did not cloak or hide their content, everything was out in the open.
Michael Nguyen | Search Engine Optimization | Comments (0)
Transparent Keywords
MarketerToday explains why targetting the correct keywords can enhance customer relationship.
Larry realized more qualified traffic to his site specifically because he, like, utilized keywords that said what they did.
I’m sure all professional SEMs know how to target keywords, but I really like how this ties into blogging and transparency.
Customers are out there searching and you can strengthen your relationship with them by optimizing for their search. Communicate clearly what you offer, and they will find you again and again, book mark your site, inquire, purchase and come back!
Customers are creating a relationship with your company the moment they arrive on your site. Attracting traffic through unrelated keywords destroys relationships. Why waste resources only to antagonize your audience?
Blogging is all about the conversation and the transparency conveyed through your voice.
SEM is exactly the same - aim for transparency - keywords that truthfully describe the services/products offered. Give customers what they are seeking and you will be building great relationships.
Michael Nguyen | Blogging, Search Engine Optimization | Comments (0)
Analyzing Competitor Backlinks
Ever wondered what Anchor Text your competitors are targetting?
Check out the Yahoo Backlink Anchor Text Analyzer.
Using this tool you can see what backlinks your competitors have and more importantly the anchor text.
Michael Nguyen | Search Engine Optimization | Comments (0)
More Patent Information
Danny Sullivan linked to some articles covering Google’s new patent.
Michael Nguyen | Search Engine Optimization | Comments (0)
Randfish is my hero
Randfish breaks down the google patent paper and highlights all the “need to know” information. Awesome.
Michael Nguyen | Search Engine Optimization | Comments (0)
Google Patent Paper Hints at Sandbox
On the subject of the “sandbox”:
[0039] Consider the example of a document with an inception date of yesterday that is referenced by 10 back links. This document may be scored higher by search engine 125 than a document with an inception date of 10 years ago that is referenced by 100 back links because the rate of link growth for the former is relatively higher than the latter. While a spiky rate of growth in the number of back links may be a factor used by search engine 125 to score documents, it may also signal an attempt to spam search engine 125. Accordingly, in this situation, search engine 125 may actually lower the score of a document(s) to reduce the effect of spamming.
Taken straight from google’s patent. (via SEW Thread)
The patent paper is a great read and covers everything from desktop search to sandbox theory.
Michael Nguyen | Search Engine Optimization | Comments (0)
Page Hijacking Overview
Claus Schmidt posted a great overview of what a Page Hijack is and how it could affect you. (via Search Engine Roundtable)
Page Hijacking has been around for a while and I’m although I hoping the engines fix the problem, I doubt they will anytime soon.
Michael Nguyen | Search Engine Optimization | Comments (0)
IR Theory and SEO
Randfish from SEOmoz is highlighting the debate over at SEW involving the value of IR formulas its relation to SEO.
I’ve been keeping track of these threads and this is my summary with regards to SEO:
- C-Index should be used as a guideline to calculating semantic connectivity - Not a perfect measure.
- EF-Ratios is a good indicator of keyword competiveness but proper analysis requires a review of competing websites.
- Fractal Summarization - I’ve found that the methods in these papers extend to copy writing.
The search engine technology forums on SEW and SEOchat are a must read. If you are optimizing without understanding the theory behind search engine technology and how search engines retrieve/rank information, then eventually you’ll find yourself trying to catch up.
Here’s some good reading:
Measuring the Connections between Words – Semantic Analysis & Clustering
Local Popularity vs. Global Popularity
Advanced On/Off-Page Optimization for Engines using Semantic Analysis
