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When it comes
to search engine optimization, there are a lot of myths and rumors
floating around about what does and does not work. A lot of this
"knowledge" appears valid because it is coming from people that are
considered credible, but beware!
I attended a
local Chamber of Commerce Showcase and I now clearly understand why Tampa
Bay Florida is technologically lagging compared to other metropolitan
cities.
During an
advertising presentation claims were made regarding Search Engine
Optimization that were so off base I almost fell out of my chair. As I listened to the
presenter I wondered how someone could take the stage and communicate to a
business audience such inaccurate information.
Fact: The Internet is
one of the most powerful tools available to local businesses and is the
least understood.
Myth - No one
needs SEO
The presenter
proclaimed that she has never paid anyone for SEO and she comes up number
1 on Google if she types in her company name. For one, you should
most definitely always come up on the first page of the Search Results for
your company name, anybody can achieve that, but coming up under your
products and services are what are going to drive business to your
company. When I came back to the office and did a search on her
services and her city she was not in the top 100 on Google. People
are not going to sit down and type in your company name when they are
searching for your services because they already know about you, unless
they are simply looking up your phone number and/or address.
You can
optimize your Web site yourself if you understand the process and what
people are searching for!
Myth - HTML
Emails are what make your site rank higher on the Search Engines ... "Say
what?"
I have
absolutely no idea where that bit of information came from. HTML
emails can increase your Web site traffic but they DO NOT make your Search
Engine ranking do anything. Email and Search Engines are mutually
exclusive items.
Myth - Spend
your money on Pay Per Click Advertising not SEO
Pay Per Click
Advertising has its place in your Digital Marketing Campaign especially
when a Web site is new, but it is more important to rank in the Organic
Search Results (SEO). People see the Organic Search Results first
when the page is loaded because they are in the Hot Spot (where your eye
immediately goes because people scan the page top to bottom, then left to
right). You pay upfront for the ranking by hiring a professional SEO
company but you don't have to pay every time someone clicks on your link
and they don't disappear when you allocated budget is depleted.
Myth -
Having a visually appealing site is enough!
A Web site is not only a visual
tool for your business, it is a computer program and must be designed for
easy navigation, the search engines, and the user (customer). A Web
site goes through an entire development lifecycle similar to any computer
program. Planning is the most important stage and if you hire an
experienced Web site development company your SEO is often built in to the
site from the beginning.
If you have any questions about
your Web site and SEO please feel free to email me at
deirdre@kissmarketing.com
...
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Deirdre
Cavener, MCP
KISS Marketing, Inc.
Deirdre Graduated with
honors from the University of South Florida in 1996 in Management
Information Systems and is Microsoft Certified in Analyzing
Requirements and Defining Solutions Architecture. |
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