SEO FAQ and general Internet marketing answers - Common SEO Questions

• Printer-friendly version
• Send to friend

universal search: Also known as blended, or federated search results, universal search pulls data from multiple databases to display on the same page. Results can include images, videos, and results from speciality databases like maps and local information, product information, or news stories.

When you perform a search in Google and you are presented with the list of results you will often see, books, youtube video content, Google map with business in the area you have searched, these are universal results.

Because universal search pulls such an array of information every business needs to address how they are going to be placed in universal search. We Seo have the knowledge to bring any company into the limelight of this new search resource known as universal search.

• Printer-friendly version
• Send to friend

Organic SEO is when all aspects of general SEO requirements have been taken into consideration when building your website.

When a site is Organically optimised the site naturally ranks higher and receives more targeted traffic, a linking strategy should be implemented to further the pages ability to rank for the target keyword phrases.

Requirements for organic SEO

1. Page title tag has been written using as many characters as possible for Google and Yahoo taking into consideration copy and market targeted keyword phrases.
2. META description tag has been written to be enticing to give searcher reason to click through to the website. The description is unique to each page on the site.
3. Page URL is descriptive to the page it is representing maybe using mod-rewrite to achieve this.
4. Page copy has been written with valuable content to the market it is targeted at, and good use of synonyms have been used.
5. Correct usage of heading tags has been used from H1 to H6.
6. Internal linking has been addressed and is varied throughout the site.
7. Tagging ability has been implemented and pages are tagged with logical tags in two or three word format.
8. RSS (real simple syndication) is available for content throughout the site.
9. Both a XML site map and human readable HTML site map is available on the site, and corresponding XML site map has been submitted to Google.
10. Site is built with a flat structure to allow easy access for search engine bots & spiders.
11. Navigation is user friendly and built with CSS or simple HTML navigation.
    

• Printer-friendly version
• Send to friend

Pagerank sculpting is strategically using the nofollow tag to funnel pagerank to particular pages within your site.

Using the attribute rel="nofollow" strategically on your internal linking structure of your website website, allows you to funnel pagerank to certain pages within your site.

This can be particularly useful for building exposure to your most popular products or services, or pages you wish to rank the highest within your website.

Pagerank is playing a larger role in site relevance to keyword searches and overall ranking of the site, although sites with a low pagerank can still rank well. Over time it is going to become even more important to the sites ability to rank. Internal linking structure also plays a critical role in how your site is indexed and gives the search engines extra detail to find relevance to search phrases.

Site structure, navigation structure and internal linking are just some of the areas We Seo take into consideration when performing an seo audit. All these factors are adjusted to obtain the highest opportunity for the clients site to perform when we undertake a clients seo campaign.

• Printer-friendly version
• Send to friend

Having your web site rank high in the search engines is a science and the rules for search engine optimisation (SEO) are always changing.

Here are just a few of the reasons why you may be having poor ranking:

1. Incorrect usage of the TITLE tag or no TITLE tag content.
2. Too many occurrences of the same word in a page (spamming).
3. Missing H1 and H2 heading tag content.
4. Missing ALT tag content in your graphic links.
5. No meaningful content in the first 250 characters on each page.
6. Less than 200 words per page.
7. Very few pages on your website.
8. No links from other websites to your website (link popularity).

Understanding the balance of factors and knowing just how to balance these compared to your competitions pages is part of the skill set a professional seo company such as We Seo possess.

• Printer-friendly version
• Send to friend

Many factors effect your sites ranking ability, age of domain name, originality of content and traffic flow all can play a big role in how your rankings are calculated.

How often your site is updates, internal linking structure, value of external links and structure of the site all play their roll in indexing and overall ranking ability. Below are three major reasons that affect the time it takes to see a lift your site in the SERP's.

Search engine spiders can be slow to return: The greater percentage of sites are not on the Google 'must crawl' list, a select few sites are crawled very regularly but is the exception rather than the rule. For most sites out there it can be a wait of several weeks if not three or four months before an entire site index is updated.

It is not only about your site: If you have recently started a linking strategy with maybe a focus on viral content designed to real in those precious links, 'link baiting'. A considerable time period is going to elapse before you really feel the impact of the campaign. All those new links littered about also have to be crawled and indexed, and again this can take an incredible amount of time.

It is a question of trust and patience is a virtue grasshopper: Let us assume the search directories have picked up on those valuable new links. Due to manipulative linking practises the algorithm waits to see just how credible these links are. It goes into our saying one good link is worth more than many. A link from a reputable source will stand the test of time, like a fine wine it will only get better with age. This is even more relevant for new domains if you have just popped up on the landscape you may have to wait a while before you can be trusted.

• Printer-friendly version
• Send to friend

How could i have the Google site links shown below the search result of my website?

I know Google site links are automated, but could I possibly improve site links for my website
This question has been asked by Gonerlee

Yes you are correct in that it is an automated system by Google but at the same time you can help your chances and time it takes to get site links to your website.

I have read many sites that come up with ideas for getting site links but most are not valid and contradict our own findings, we can only draw on our own experiences for this answer seeing as Google is more than vague in their explanation of site links.

What you can control, you are able to block links you do not wish to be used as site links and this is done in webmaster tools, go to links then site links. Once you have been selected for site links they will be displayed and you can then block them. The links will be blocked for 90 days and each time you block them this time frame is extended.

How can you improve your chances of obtaining site links?

1. The number of links pointing to your website’s index page, using several main keywords of your website as anchor text.
2. The number of searches and SERP clicks for the main keywords I described above. you have to have a certain number of clicks for that keyword, to be able to reach a minimum requirement for the appearance of site links. Traffic seems to be a major consideration for the Google algo to chose you for site links. Having ranking for your major high traffic keyword phrases and good CTR seems to be a major consideration for site links.
3. The number of indexed pages for the keyword you are targeting is also important. Please keep in mind that I am not talking about the number of indexed pages of your website, but for the number of results shown in Google for that particular keyword.
4. The age of the domain is definitely an aspect when deciding how and when site links are shown. So far it seems to be a site needs to be a minimum of 12 months old and more often 18 months to two years.
5. Your site needs to rank No1 for the keyword term and it needs to be a stable rank as well, no fluctuation a solid No1 ranking for a extended point of time.
6. Navigation structure, good clean CSS or HTML no Java write menus or flash.

   I hope this help to answer your question, and as I said this is all from our own research and if anyone can contribute further we welcome any and all input.

• Printer-friendly version
• Send to friend

Simply put yes you should have a site map for your website, in fact you should have two

Apart from a general HTML site map you should also have a XML site map, the latter is for Google and other search engines and spiders. An XML site map gives a short cut as it were to allow search bots & spiders to better index your site.

A XML site map should be place in the root of your site directory, once set up, you can go to Google web master central and add the site map to your website.

If you have not set up your site in Google web master central you should also do this, it provides useful statistics and tools designed to better rank and gain better targeted traffic to your website. It also can inform you on problems your site may suffer from. These problems could be, parts of your site that are unable to be indexed, duplicate content issues, not found errors and more. Check out Google web master central today and better understand your site.

• Printer-friendly version
• Send to friend

This is one of the most common questions we are asked

It can be a gut wrenching seeing a ranking or worse multiple rankings drop, but is the nature of the beast.

There is no hard and fast answer to this question as it can be because of so many variables but below are the most common reasons.

1. Fluctuation:
   This is the most common explanation and happens on a daily basis. Search Engine Result Pages (SERPs) are in a constant state of flux with Google leading the bunch.
   Gone are the days of the "Google Dance". This has also meant, unfortunately, that you can be Top 10 one day and disappear the next. The only thing you can do in this case is be patient and give it a few days to see if your ranking reappear.
   
   
2. Stop or Poison Words:
   Have you added new content lately? It is possible you have added what Google calls "Stop" or "Poison" words.
   These may include Adult words or commonly used words such as Links, Search Engine, Bookmarks, Resources, Directory, BBS, Paid-to-Surf and Forum which although won't knock you out of the SERPs, they can drop you a few spots
   
   
3. Broken Links:
   The major Search Engines view a site with dead end links as "broken". In some cases this can cause a major hit to your rankings. It is always advised to run a check using a tool like a Broken Link Checker and fixing them. I have seen a site rebound time after time within days of fixing this issue
   
   
4. Links to Bad Neighbourhoods:
   A single link to a banned site or a bad neighbourhood can torpedo your rankings.
   A banned site can usually be shown by a site that had previously been indexed but is no longer in Google. A grey toolbar can indicate either a new site or one that has been banned.
   A bad neighbourhood is one that employs black hat tactics. This may include a link farm. Link Farms are one of the most often asked about things and the general rule of thumb is "If it looks like one, it is one". Avoid linking to sites with hundreds of links on its pages with little to no content.
   
   
5. Use of Black Hat Methods:
   This will usually result in an all out ban and includes things like Hidden Text, Cloaking, etc.
   To get back into the index usually requires you to remove the offending method and email Google (or whichever SE banned you) asking to be re-indexed. In most cases you will be successful although be prepared to wait several weeks if not months.
   
   
6. Your competition:
   Your competition have lifted their own SEO efforts, if the competition site is naturally stronger than yours, higher page rank, older domain, higher trust, greater value of content. These factors can allow them to drop your ranking terms soon as they concentrate on the same terms.
   
   
7. Buying links: You have been busted for buying links and now have been penalised for it.
   
   

• Printer-friendly version
• Send to friend