Is Google Shaking Down Paid Links?

September 1, 2010 – 1:37 pm

Is Google shaking down paid links now more than ever? It seems that more and more sites are slipping from page 1 to page 3 or 4 in the SERPs (search engine result pages). What is one possible cause? The obvious conclusion… over-optimization!

Googlebot-penalizing-paid-links

Link Interrogation: GoogleBot Shaking Down Paid Links

What Does Over-Optimization Mean?

It means that you pushed too far with one of the four metrics below. Each tells a story (like a piece of a puzzle) and collectively they sculpt the granular degree of trust, authority and positioning your web pages can acquire.

The metrics are:

  • Link Profile
  • Backlink Diversity
  • Anchor Text Diversity
  • Link Velocity

If you currently enjoy top rankings, its because you approached the SEO metrics above properly. Any funny-stuff could trip an algorithmic filter and invoke a digital pimp smack from Google. In addition to  your page taking some time-off from the top 10 results, the offending site is vetoed for using this abused SEO technique. In other words (the offending sites get their rank pulled) or ability to rank other sites for any anchor text whatsoever. Continue reading “Is Google Shaking Down Paid Links?” »

By Jeffrey Smith | Posted in SEO Resources | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (4)

SEO Keyword Research: Educational vs. Commercial Queries

August 31, 2010 – 7:43 am

There are two types of people online (1) people looking for something with the intent to purchase or (2) people perusing the web searching for information (entertainment, social or otherwise).

Consumers Ordering

Selecting the Right Keywords for Conversion

The key to SEO is keyword research and knowing which category of consumer your website appeals to and how to bridge the gap from educational keywords and maximize positioning for commercial queries to reach more prospects,  sell more products and convert more window shoppers into customers. Continue reading “SEO Keyword Research: Educational vs. Commercial Queries” »

By Jeffrey Smith | Posted in SEO | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Google Website Analysis: Live Site Review

August 27, 2010 – 1:51 am

Watch over my shoulder as I perform a live site review touching on topics such as shingle analysis, visual page segmentation, link flow, server side includes, keyword prominence, keyword proximity, link flow and more – in this 10 minute walk-through behind the eyes of an SEO optimizing a website for optimal performance in Google.

Shameless Plug: >>Interested in SEO Consulting? Let us know…follow the link for pricing and information. Sessions (like the video above) include a 1 hour question and answer format, website analysis with the appropriate SEO tools, a recorded video to extract action items, an SEO scorecard (with your website as the subject) using a 49-point inspection of known SEO ranking metrics. Continue reading “Google Website Analysis: Live Site Review” »

By Jeffrey Smith | Posted in SEO Videos | Tagged , , , | Comments (4)

Using The Google Wonder Wheel

August 25, 2010 – 6:57 pm

Several months ago Google introduced a new feature to their search results called the Wonder Wheel. SEO Design Solutions provided a great post on how to use the Wonder Wheel to improve link building with the use of keyword clusters. This tutorial provides insight in how to use the Wonder Wheel to improve your site’s navigational structure.

Google Wonder Wheel

The Google Wonder Wheel Graphical Search Tool

The Wonder Wheel provides a graphical interface that displays related keyword terms. Continue reading “Using The Google Wonder Wheel” »

By Guest Post | Posted in SEO Resources | Tagged , , | Comments (7)

5 Simple Steps to Quote Content Without Hurting Your SEO

August 24, 2010 – 2:50 pm

When blogging, it is inevitable that you are going to want to share or comment on content you found on other sites and, as part of that, bring some of that material onto your site.

duplicate content

Beware the Side Effects of Duplicate Content

However, Google and other search engines frown upon duplicate content and often times demote sites with such content or even push them into the supplemental index. These penalties can, quite literally, kill a site that was once ranking well. Continue reading “5 Simple Steps to Quote Content Without Hurting Your SEO” »

By Guest Post | Posted in Search Engine Optimization | Tagged , , , | Comments (3)

Competitor Research and Analysis

August 23, 2010 – 7:07 pm


Use these 5 SEO tips for competitor research and analysis to reveal niche markets or affiliate market opportunities by triangulating keyword search volume for domains ranked in the top 3 results for keywords with proven commercial intent. Rather than rely on one tool alone, this method uses SEMRush, Compete and Alexa in tandem with related search and common sense to identify niche market opportunities for search engine optimization.

For the sample set and keyword analyzed I used the “weight loss” market and the root phrase “weight loss pills” which is an extremely saturated market to identify alternative less competitive keyword phrases to target based on such a competitive vertical phrase at the root. Continue reading “Competitor Research and Analysis” »

By Jeffrey Smith | Posted in SEO Videos | Tagged , , , | Comments (3)

Google Acquires Like.com Visual Search Engine

August 21, 2010 – 7:52 am

In another vertical approach to scaling the web, Google confirmed their purchase of like.com here on the Google Operating System Blog earlier today.

Coupled with the visual search functionality like.com presents, if /when they apply this platform on a large scale, Google stands to benefit from scaling this feature set into a variety of potential commercial features.


Watch How To Discover Competitors SEO Strategies in Educational & How-To | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Here is a video from the SEO Design Solutions Blog archives, when we selected like.com for an SEO case study to reverse engineering and assessing the strength of a competitor’s website using SEMRush, Xenu Link Sleuth and other data mining SEO Tools. Continue reading “Google Acquires Like.com Visual Search Engine” »

By Jeffrey Smith | Posted in Internet News | Tagged , , | Comments (2)

SEO Packages or Custom SEO Services?

August 20, 2010 – 9:24 pm

How can you benefit from using SEO Packages vs. custom SEO Services to set the foundation for future ranking endeavors?

SEO Packages

The Value of SEO Packages

Each website has unique needs – meaning its own semantic and topical signature, its own content and indexing cycles, its own rhythm for rankings  (the keyword  ebb and flow) and exists at varying stages of development.

Before delving too deep into this vein of thought of custom services vs. packages, two things matter (1) the extent of the SEO service or (2) the SEO package. Continue reading “SEO Packages or Custom SEO Services?” »

By Jeffrey Smith | Posted in SEO Services | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (6)

10 SEO Tips to Triple Keyword Visibility

August 18, 2010 – 12:40 am

Creating keyword stemming (the ability to have a page returned for multiple results) is accomplished easily through using synonyms and alternative keywords for inbound and internal links.

keyword-stemming

SEO Tips to Triple Keyword Visibility

To promote this SEO tactic simply: Continue reading “10 SEO Tips to Triple Keyword Visibility” »

By Jeffrey Smith | Posted in SEO Tips | Tagged , , | Comments (15)

Don’t Blame the SEO!

August 15, 2010 – 11:16 am

It’s easy to point fingers when the phone is not ringing and the leads have trickled to a halt. But is that really the best way to optimize your business?

SEO-or-Conversion-Optimization

Is SEO or Conversion to Blame?

Instead of blaming the SEO guy or team when things don’t work out, oftentimes it’s a matter of conversions and conversion optimization, meaning – redesigning the website or creating specific landing pages that appeal to the consumers that frequent them. Continue reading “Don’t Blame the SEO!” »

By Jeffrey Smith | Posted in SEO | Tagged , , , | Comments (15)