Definitive?? List of Google Ranking Factors

I read two articles this morning, and while I'm not sure I agree with everything in them, they do represent A) SEO expert opinions and B) results of a 'study' on what influences Google's search engine rankings.

The first article: New Study on Google Ranking Factors does offer this disclaimer that is VERY important to keep in mind when reading these two articles:

I would not personally bank on either study by themselves but rather a combination of both with an emphasis on personal experience, trial/error and real world data analysis. There simply is no substitute for real world insights, practical experience and data.

The second list: Search Engine Ranking Factors V2, is much more in-depth and is commented by those SEO experts that participated in the survey. You'll note that there is some disagreement from the experts based on their own experience.

Important stuff here for all internet marketers and web site owners. If you're new to the game of SEO, I highly recommend reading both. If you've got that "real world insights and practical experience" these lists could validate what you've been doing, or help you clean up your act.

As a web designer/developer/marketer, I'll be sharing these with my client base. It can only help them to know why I make the suggestions about SEO that I do, without me having to rewrite the book on SEO myself.

MSN or Google - Who Rules?

Yahoo didn't even make it to the final round folks....that may explain why the rumor is flying that MSN will likely buy Yahoo. Another "Beast Who Ate Cleveland" sort of thing?

OK, on to the post......there's definitive proof on who rules in this video. If you have a few minutes to find out how the search engines really play, then go watch! It's a scream and gives you a scary look at the "brains?" behind the SE's.

Link

Turn Customer Complaints into Assets

Interestingly enough, we purchased a major appliance this week, and when we got the wrong color, we went to the dealer. He did not try to turn our issue into an asset. He took it as a personal affront, without offering to "go the extra mile" to please us. Then I get this article called "Turn Customer Complaints into Assets" in a newsletter today.

I need to say that the sales person who sold us the appliance was the best I've worked with in a long time. If you need a new appliance, see Ryan at Dreydan's in Canon City. Yep, he's the one with the tattoos, earring and shaved head. He's also the one with answers to all your questions, the savvy to know when to let you look by yourself and customer care skills we're all looking for. I would recommend you avoid dealing with the owner, Lance.

Now as a small business owner, I know it's hard to not 'take it personally' when someone is less than satisfied. I know I do take it personally sometimes.

I also know better and have proven it to myself over and over again. By giving the customer the concern their issue deserves and finding a solution to make them happy, they become customers for life. Not only that, but they WILL tell others about the great customer service.

Not because Lance offered, but because I demanded, we got our issue resolved to our satisfaction. But you know, that irritating attitude he took with me will be remembered for a long while, but then so will Ryan's great service.

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M S Forest Gets A New Look

No, not the forest, it's lovely just as it is, although as a designer, I could tweak it a bit...LOL

M S Forest has been a huge community supporter for a long time and they wanted to promote themselves as the good stewards that they are. They are very good at getting pictures of projects so I decided to go heavy on the graphics in this website redesign mockup, even using images for the navigation links backgrounds using CSS.

I think the images portray, better than words, just how environmentally conscious the company is, and it does help to promote product as well.

Keep watching msforest.com in the next few weeks for the live version.

Web Site Marketing: Online Press Releases

Online press releases, like writing and submitting articles, generate great web site traffic. Why? For the same reasons articles generate traffic: they get distributed all over the net and they all have (or should have) a link back to your web site. When your press releases are read, you've confirmed yourself as an expert and a trusted source. People will follow the link to your web site to see what other gems of information you have that will be helpful to them.

Those links back to your web site is the gravy on your mashed potatos, and honestly, what good are mashed potatos without it? The search engines love to see backlinks to your site and rank you better for them. The one or two links you provide to the online press release distribution service is not the only one you'll possibly get either, every time your press release is used on any other web site, your link is there also and counts as an additional incoming link (backlink).

Your press release will be used on web sites that are relevant to yours. Why would a sausage web site use a press release about rafting? They wouldn't. So, a relevant site linking to yours is what you get - and more importantly, what you want most in life.

Before you go shooting off a press release, be sure to do your research on how to write an online press release. Then start submitting to the free distribution services first like prlog.org, and if your budget allows, submit to paid distributors.

This 'job' rocks!

Some days this business of mine is a lot like a 'real' job. Then there's days like yesterday when I got out of the office and went to Trinidad to meet a prospective client. We talked at her office about their businesses and what they were looking for a website to do for them.

Then, she took me out to the site of their other business venture where I got this picture. This is a mama bear who was a little agitated because her two small cubs were on the other side of the road from her with us between them.

Kassie of course stopped - not so much so I could get a pic, but to let the cubs find their way back to mama.

It was a beautiful thing to see and just really made me appreciate this 'job' and the diversity of where I live and the clients I get to meet.

In the coming weeks, you'll see some big changes at msforest.com so be sure to watch this one in progress and give me your feedback. I'll also be working on a brand new site for this company at bearlakeco.com.

Colorado's Favorite River Dog Injured In Fall

All together now: Awwww, poor Baxter!! Read about Baxter's fall and subsequent surgery at Colorado's Favorite Rafting Company's website. I've met this wolf-dog and was heartbroken to hear about his injuries. Go read the story and send Jim and Kelly a couple bucks to help cover the expenses.

I'm pleased to report that after following some of my suggestions to help LostPaddleRafting.com in the search engines, the site is doing better, and gaining some traffic. Those of us who do this for a living know that none of that comes overnight, but immediate improvement is encouraging for the web site owner.

Oh yeah, here's the Whitewater Rafting Colorado blog, too. Keep watching it and hopefully Jim will keep us all updated on the state of the river and rafting.

Link

Internet Marketing - Why Is It So Difficult?

I some times feel awfully inarticulate and I don't understand it because I'm a voracious reader and love words. Anyway, I've never been able to put into words how different Internet marketing is from old-style marketing, and it frustrates my clients as well as myself, I know.

This article by Mike Moran says it for me in a way I like. He says

If you understand the kind of culture change you need, and how to bring it about, you'll be more accepting of the time it takes to really make it happen.

Read the rest of Mike's article.

Link

Web Marketing in the Brave New World

This is another great article I got today about how the web and web marketing has changed in the last 10 years. If nothing else, the stats are interesting!

What a difference a decade makes

Ten years may not seem like a long time, but at the pace of change in business, it sometimes feels like a lifetime.

For example: When Outsource Marketing first launched in 1997, outsourcing was not some trendy term for staffing CSRs and software programmers in India. It would be eight years before Tom Friedman's The World Is Flat was published and introduced people to the notion that the global economy had arrived.

Marketing has changed even more dramatically during the past 10 years than any other similar period in the past. Why? Technology and its incredible impact on how we access and process information.

In 1997:
* There were fewer than 500,000 Internet Web sites
* Google, YouTube, MySpace or the iPod didn't exist
* Cell phones were just phones

Now there are more than 100 million Web sites, 35 million blogs, and cell phones are hand-held computers that can multitask phone calling, text messaging, photography, video downloading, digital music files and an endless variety of games. It was in 2004 O'Reilly Media coined the phrase Web 2.0--a group of second generation Web-based services.

A decade ago, high-tech acronyms such as CRM, PPC, SEO, MP3, DSL and DVR were yet to join the lexicon. Television consisted of sports, movies and shows you watched on a set in the living room and maybe on another in the kitchen or bedroom. Now TV programming--all 580 channels--can now be TiVo'd, recalled on demand or viewed on a laptop, MP3 player or cell phone. Cable providers now offer high-speed broadband, as well as local and long-distance phone services.

New tech, new media, new Marketing

What does all this mean for marketers? A change in the landscape, a whole new set of consumer and customer segments and a wealth of new tools that still must be smartly deployed and effectively targeted.

Marketing in today's crowded, infoglutted world is more exciting than ever, but it's challenging in new ways. Here are three key dynamics affecting small and mid-market businesses, and some new media strategies to connect customer with your message.

1. Marketing is now in the hands of the people.

As coined by Peter Kim, from Forrester Research in Reinventing the Marketing Organization, participation is now the fifth "p" joining price, product, placement and promotion.

Whether it's blogs, consumer produced Super Bowl commercials or e-mail sharing, customers have never been in such control. Embrace that change. Give your customers opportunities to generate testimonials, feedback and suggestions for product improvements. Allocate time to listen to what they say and respond promptly and honestly. Product and service improvements start with feedback from your own customers.

Instead of being talked at, customers now expect being talked to. Wikis, e-mails, live chat, bulletin boards, texting and video sharing are just some of the ways the word gets spread. Start with the right product (that's never out of date), couple it with good customer service, and you won't need to be afraid of interactive communication--as much communication as you can handle.

American Idol and similar television reality shows are the epitome of the new customer participation model. Instead of just sitting back and watching shows, viewers are now choosing who they want to see by voting. Be creative and think about how you could develop your own company's "fan base." With the technology tools now available, you can deepen your relationships with customers and create the dialogue that leads to loyalty.

2. Online media are mandatory in today's marketing mix.

The Internet continues to absorb more and more of the advertising dollar, leaving other media with less. Newspaper readership is declining. Network TV ratings have declined steadily over the past 10 years. With Internet search engines, consumers can find what they want, rather than be pushed toward purchases with advertising messages. In fact, 66 percent of high school students report that they get their news and information from Web portals such as Yahoo! and Google. More than one-half of U.S. broadband customers said that a recent purchase was influenced by an online message (36 percent by shopping sites and 15 percent by search sites), exceeding the impact of TV commercials (11 percent) and magazine ads (6 percent), according to a 2007 study by market researcher Media-Screen.

"Even the most intensive users of newspapers and magazines spend less time reading these publications than they do online or watching TV," a 2007 Jupiter Research study confirmed.

While a Web site is a marketing "must-have" for today's businesses, additional online presence is also required. E-mail newsletters, blogs, interactive Web elements (videos, podcasts, direct response tools) keep your site fresh and relevant. Targeted e-newsletters are a great way to provide inexpensive yet highly valued information of interest to customers and prospects. New tools now make it easy to personalize the messages and track e-mail opens and click-through rates.

3. Integration is the key to success.

Do all these new media seem like a bit much for any one customer? Possibly. Most people average more than 3,000 commercial message exposures a day, and the volume continues to grow. (Reality check: After you've bought your next $12 movie ticket, count the commercials and previews you have to sit through before the film begins). Creating clear, concise messages that are smoothly integrated is absolutely crucial to successful customer communications.

That's because, despite all the new technologies, this marketing principle hasn't changed: You must start with a relevant position, supported by consistent communications, to achieve a desired position with your target audience.

It used to be that companies could get away with broadcasting clever commercials that generated awareness, and even sales. Now, thanks to infoglut, your company and product and service positioning must be clearly evident across all media. Every customer contact point--how you answer your phone, your e-mails, your customer service and your advertising--need to project the reason why your company provides a unique, relevant value for your intended audience.

Ten years goes by quickly, doesn't it? In 1997, Outsource Marketing started as a way to help companies get the best, most efficient marketing. Even as we strive to keep pace with evolving trends, that remains our most fundamental mission.

Kathy Cox, Outsource Marketing's Marketing Integrator and New Media Strategist, is a former marketing executive and entrepreneur who negotiated the Seattle Mariners' first cable TV contract, helped launch Northwest Cable News and founded ParentOrganizer. Having worked on both the client and agency sides of the business, she is uniquely qualified to provide a wide variety of clients with strategic guidance on utilizing new media channels.

Choosing a Web Hosting Company

Here's a great article on choosing a web hosting company. Although it's written by a 'competitor', I think it offers some good information on what you need to know before choosing a web hosting company:

Some Of The Most Important Issues You Need To Consider When Choosing A Web Host Company by Gregg Hall

The vast array of new web hosting services on the market today can be more than a little overwhelming. There are thousands of web hosting services from which to choose. Because of all the choices, it has become increasingly difficult for the beginner to decide what web host will serve them best. Choosing your e-commerce hosting service basically comes down to the features the company offers and their customer service, which, especially for people new to setting up web sites and blogs, is extremely important. This article endeavors to cover some of the important issues you need to be aware of when choosing a web host.

First, a caveat regarding free web hosting: you may be tempted by free web hosting but these services offer very little in the way of features and almost nonexistent customer support. Good customer support cannot be stressed enough when you're starting out in e-commerce. You will have problems and you'll need a real live person who can help you. Cut-rate and cheap web hosting services aren't much better. If you want to be successful you'll avoid these kinds of web hosting services. Diving into e-commerce requires enough effort as it is; you don't want added hassles from your service provider. If you're serious about e-commerce on the Web, you need to start off with the right tools. The company you choose to provide your web hosting is one of these tools, and it can be the difference between failure and success.

Again, your web host's customer support can make all the difference in the world. Quality customer service can make or break you. It's what separates a good host from a bad host. One of the things you should look for in a hosting company is if it provides customer support 24 hour, 7 day a week availability with a toll-free number. You have to be able to get help whenever you need it. If you have just a few simple questions, the answers should be easily locatable on the web host's site. If time isn't of the essence, then you should be able to email customer support and receive a response within a day, if not hours. If you have more involved questions, there should be a toll-free number and friendly informative staff available at all times. Many hosts offer online support in the form of instant messaging. Being able to "chat" with a customer service representative is an excellent feature.

The next thing you need to determine is how much disk storage and bandwidth you'll need for your online enterprise. If it's a relatively simple affair then you should select a relatively small plan. Someone who just wants to put up an informative page about their business won't need as much from their host as someone who intends to supply images, video, and audio. As always, it's important to decide what you need and then base your decisions on that.

Remember, you'll also want to give yourself room to grow. Read the company's user terms and policies. If you're contracted to stick with a certain plan for a certain amount of time, make sure that it gives you room to expand your site. Maybe your site will be more successful than you planned. How bad would it be if your site starting getting tons of visitors but you had a cheap plan, with little storage and bandwidth, and then your host shut it down for exceeding its limits? If you're not sure what you'll need, start out with the low-level plan from a good company, but don't sign on for a year or two at once. Stick with monthly plans or make sure you can change yours at any time so you can adjust to unforeseen popularity.

Along with the amount of disk storage and bandwidth, make sure you check your hosts data transfer rate and uptime. It won't do you much good if you choose a service with slow speeds and frequent crashes. Reliability and speed are of the utmost importance when doing business on the Internet. It'd be like if you had a great store but the power kept going out and you closed randomly.

Another feature to look at is the control panel offered by the company. The control panel allows you to manage your web site and keep track of activity. It allows you to check your bandwidth and disk storage. It also lets you see what your customers are doing. The control panel should be intuitive and informative. It should provide more information than the novice knows what to do with so it can grow with you, but it should be easy to interface with at the same time.

The web hosting company you choose should be well-established, have the right hardware, and it should provide the appropriate tools for their clients. Research the issues and avoid second-rate web operations. Once you get past the initial bump in the learning curve, you'll find that doing business on the web can be easy and extremely profitable.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as business web hosting at http://www.businesswebhostingsolutions.com

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