Are You Sabotaging Your SEO – How You May be Zapping the Power of Your Online Touch Points

Many companies are not doing themselves any favor by approaching Search Engine Optimization (SEO) with self-sabotaging practices.  The way a company optimizes their online touch points can really make or break a company’s sales, business development, reputation management, customer relationship building, and Marketing/PR efforts.  
 
The Top 5 Ways Companies Compromise the Power of SEO  

1. Having an “either or” attitude.  Successful SEO Strategies require Social Media and effective Social Media requires SEO.  By having an “either or” attitude, a company misses out on great business advantages that come with the necessary integration of SEO and Social Media. 
2. DIY SEO.  SEO requires specialized expertise.  Most companies have an idea that SEO is important and that they should be using it with their website (and since many of these companies have an “either or” attitude Social Media doesn’t even come into the SEO discussion). However, many companies believe that an intern or employee can do a little reading up about SEO and develop a “good enough” strategy that will get their website to the top of the search listings.  
3. Hiring Cheap “Experts”.  More people are jumping on the SEO bandwagon to promote themselves as “experts”.  You may be seeing this in action when you get email spam from companies that offer SEO services for $15 (USD) per hour.  On the other side, some companies are seeking an SEO “expert” that will create and manage strategies for $17 per hour. 
4. Depending on Web Designers.  Good website designers and developers are crucial to creating a professional website but they are not typically SEO experts.  Finding a balance between good design and usability with SEO is important and some designers may have a lopsided perspective about that balance.
5.  Ignoring online content standards.  To get top search engine positioning your online content must be optimized.  SEO requires a specific style of writing that incorporates very specific SEO tactics. Many Marketing execs, teams, writers, and managers don’t understand the necessity of using a writing style that is appropriate for the Internet and SEO.

Do any of the above sound familiar? If so, just stop!

Till next time!

Carole

Google+ - Can it Really Help Your Internet Marketing Strategy?

Our clients are now asking “what is Google+ and should we start using it”?  Many of our clients have heard about this new platform but wonder why they need to become a part of Google+ when they’re still trying to figure out Facebook.

On June 28, Google launched the trial version of Google Plus (aka Google+) and is an “invitation only” community at this time.  (Get in touch with carole@awarenesscreation.com if you’d like an invitation.) Google plans to outperform Facebook with this new social platform that allows for a higher level of customization, flexibility and privacy.

The one difference between Facebook and Google+ you’ll find appealing is that you can organize your connections in Google+ better than within Facebook.  On Facebook, everybody in your community is a “friend”.  But with Google+ features (such as +Circles, +Sparks, and +Hangouts) you’ll be able to follow, share and communicate with your connections in a more logical, productive and private system.

+Circles. Allows you to organize your contacts into topical groups such as top business resources (Awareness Creation!), business clients, project stakeholders, golf pals, high school friends, etc.  You can easily share specific information, links, videos, etc. with your select circles.

+Sparks. Automatically delivers articles, videos, photos, etc. to you based on your interests.

+Hangouts.  Provides video chat rooms where you can “hangout” with the people in your circles.  A Hangout can accommodate up to 10 users which could be a new option for your webinars, remote meetings, or even catch up time with friends.

Awareness Creation is recommending that you and your company begin to explore Google+ for a number of reasons.

1. Getting to know any new network takes time. Start using the Google+ features while it’s still relatively simple and you’ll be better able to grow within network as more features are added.
2. The features now available are worth getting to know and use.
3. Google+ will be adding the capability to add business profiles. Having a profile that can be indexed by search engines (especially Google) can ultimately strengthen your Internet Marketing – including your SEO.

And last but not least…

Awareness Creation is recommending that the use of any social platform should be included within a strong Internet Marketing Strategy.  When you strategically use online opportunities for the promotion of your company – you can increase your inbound links, website traffic, and client base.

Happy August!

Carole