SEO Does Matter Inc.

Ever asked yourself, “Why are backlinks important?” Today we will examine this question from an SEO perspective so you don’t make a common mistake!

Search Engines, (Such as Google, Bing, or Yahoo) use backlinks as a way to tell whether a website is popular.  Imagine trying to determine what websites should be in search results for the phrase someone just typed into their search bar! Let me give you an example we all can relate to about popularity.

Go back with me to your high school days. (Yes, I said your high school  days! 🙂 ) Popularity contests occur all the time in high school.  If you had popular friends, it made you popular. If you had half of the freshman class like you, it really didn’t help you out. The popular friends (other well-known websites) you become friends with and get backlinks from, the more valuable your website appears to search engines! This is one way search engines measure your importance from the millions of sites on the internet.

♦ It’s good to build a website, but unless you create backlinks, your hard work building a site will be for nothing. ♦

Here are 5 areas you can start getting backlinks from:

• Clients or Business Partners
• Quality directories or backlink sites like Links Do Matter
• Social Media profiles
• Articles and Press Releases
• Video sites

Don’t let this step of search engine optimization get lost in the scheme of work to be completed.  Need more information or direction? Contact us and get started today because backlinks are important!!

Google concepts and internet marketing are always changing! If you are a small business trying to keep up, get on your running shoes and let’s go!

If you look at Google search results, you will see results for whatever you type into the search bar. In my example I typed in the words “iphone 4.”

Note the different types of results you get! If you want to find your website on the first page of Google, you will need to have an understanding of SEO and internet marketing.

5 types of Google search results:

1. Paid Advertising – Also known as pay-per-click. This advertising costs money each time a user clicks on the ad. This can cost a lot of money if you are not certain what keywords are best to use.  You can get a great ROI if marketed correctly.
2. Organic – Organic results are free and results can linger.  It takes knowledge, detail and expertise to comprehend the 200+ variables of search engine optimization. (SEO) Outsource this type of internet marketing to a reliable SEO company.
3. News – These results are primarily newspaper sites and blog that follow specific criteria to be considered in the news category.
4. Images – Add an image to your website and optimize your images with correctly added keywords to enhance the ability to have your images appear in image results.
5. Video – Take advantage of video marketing! It’s smart to add optimized videos to Youtube.  (Although there are many other video websites.)

If you are a small business with a physical address, make sure to take advantage of all the internet marketing available to you! How do you market your business? Do you know how many ways you can promote your small business?

There are many factors that make up Google concepts and internet marketing.  Google’s information is free! Make sure to use good SEO concepts and internet marketing concepts to make your web business a success!

Marketing products in 1930 commercials is my subject today. Why?  It’s a blast from the past! Watching the promo below,  it really made me think! Wow! Have we come a long way in the way we think about marketing a product! With the invention of the internet (Thanks, Al Gore! :)) and search engines, the manner we market to the public has changed tremendously! Instead of trying to sell a product to the viewer, we now help people find the product they are searching for. (And that of itself would be another topic on search engine optimization!)

Here is one of the 1930 commercials. Spanky McFarland (from Our Gang: The Little Rascals) is the star in this promo.  Here are a few things to pay attention to while you watch this short clip.

1. Note Spanky’s total disinterest in the bike and in the promotion.
2. Spanky is being noticeably coached.
3. After Spanky holds a brochure, he throws it on the ground!
4. There doesn’t appear to be any editing in this promo! Remember what it was like before spell checker or Microsoft Word? Before picture editors or even before we could edit our blog posts after it’s published?

This promo was created for Speed-O Bikes!

Marketing has changed through the years! It’s been more then 50 years since 1930 commercials. If you still haven’t created a website for your small business, it’s time to get out of the past and hit the fast forward button!

Where do you get potential clients for business? In difficult economic times,  this is a very important question that all small business owners or anyone self-employed is asking.  As a South Florida SEO business, we focus on search engines and internet marketing.

Let me list a few of the areas you can get your potential clients for business:

• Internet Marketing
• Search Engine Marketing (paid or free)
• Word of mouth (WOM)
• Email marketing
• TV advertising
• Radio advertising
• Soliciting (door-to-door or phone)

Now I’m going to dig a little deeper into the huge possibilities of internet marketing:

• Social media (Facebook, Linkedin, My Space, etc…)
• Videos (Youtube is the biggest website and it’s owned by Google)
• Articles
• Press Releases
• Directories

When working to find potential clients through internet marketing you need to implement search engine optimization to maximize the possibilities! Otherwise, in a world where millions of people search for websites, your business will get lost in the shuffle of all the other businesses trying to market themselves.

When you choose to use internet marketing for your business, you can also benefit from word of mouth and gain potential clients for business by successful internet marketing and search engine optimization; potential clients from WOM can come along without any added work!

I hope this helps you with some new ideas as you look for potential clients for your business! Send us an email  or comment on our SEO blog if you have questions about internet marketing or search engine optimization.

Sometimes internet terms can get confusing. Here’s today’s question:

What is a blog and how does it work?

Asking people on the street you get all kinds of answers! Take a look at this video. Would you respond like one of these people?

Blogs (originally called web logs) are new to technology compared to traditional websites.  Blogs are normally written in chronological order.  Each “journal” (which can be compared to a news article or a diary) is categorized by date or field and normally appears with the newest written blog on top.

Each new “journal” is called a post and each post becomes a new web page. Blogs tend to create more traffic due to their ability to add new posts easily and quickly through a content management system (CMS). There are many CMS brands that range in cost and function.  A CMS allows the layman to create their blog post  without knowing a basic computer language such as HTML.

The differences between traditional websites and blogs have become increasingly blurred.  Blogs tend to be less expensive then a regular website.   Many local small businesses can use a blog instead of a website for a fraction of the cost of a traditional website.

Websites, on the other hand,  can use ecommerce tools so customers can purchase products online.  Blogs can work hand in hand with a traditional website if that is needed.  Still uncertain what you need? Tell us about your small business and we’ll help you make the best decision!

SEO Does Matter, Inc. usually uses WordPress blogs.  We teach people how to use their blog and how to update their blog. Many times when people ask how does it work, we compare the CMS side of the blog in WordPress to a Microsoft Word document.

I hope this gives you the simple answer to the question, “What is a blog and how does it work?” Watch this video and after words, contact us with your comments or questions!

A blog is a type of website or a section of a website that regularly features content, often written in an informal or conversational style, on a variety of topics. The content, known as “blog posts” or simply “posts,” is typically arranged in reverse chronological order, meaning the newest posts appear first. Blogs can be run by individuals, groups, or businesses, and they serve various purposes, including sharing information, educating audiences, promoting services or products, or expressing opinions.

How Does a Blog Work?

1. Content Creation:
   • Blog Posts: The heart of a blog is the content, usually written articles, but it can also include videos, infographics, podcasts, and other types of media. Each post addresses a specific topic or theme, such as “How to Train Your Dog to Sit,” “Best SEO Practices for 2024,” or “Travel Tips for Dog Owners.”
   • Regular Updates: Blogs are usually updated regularly with fresh content. This could be daily, weekly, or monthly depending on the nature of the blog. Frequent updates are essential to keep readers engaged and returning.
2. Publishing Platform:
   • Blog Platforms: Blogs are hosted on various platforms or content management systems (CMS), such as WordPress, Blogger, Wix, or Squarespace. These platforms make it easy to create, manage, and publish content without needing advanced technical skills.
   • Design and Structure: A blog is typically structured with categories or tags that group related posts. This helps readers easily navigate and find topics of interest.
3. Interaction with Readers:
   • Comments: Most blogs allow readers to leave comments on posts, fostering a sense of community and interaction between the blogger and the audience.
   • Social Sharing: Readers can often share blog posts on social media platforms, helping to spread the content to a wider audience and drive more traffic to the blog.
4. Search Engine Optimization (SEO):
   • Driving Traffic: Blogs often use SEO strategies to optimize posts for search engines like Google. By using relevant keywords, adding meta tags, and creating high-quality content, blogs can rank higher in search results and attract more visitors.
   • Internal Linking: Blog posts often link to other related posts or pages within the blog, which helps users navigate and also improves SEO by signaling content relationships to search engines.
5. Monetization (Optional):
   • Ads: Many blogs use advertising networks (such as Google AdSense) to display ads within their content. Bloggers earn money based on clicks or impressions.
   • Affiliate Marketing: Some blogs include affiliate links, where bloggers earn commissions by promoting products or services within their content.
   • Sponsored Content: Bloggers may partner with brands to write sponsored posts in exchange for payment or free products.
   • Selling Products or Services: Blogs can also serve as a platform to sell products (like eBooks, courses) or promote services (such as consulting, coaching, or freelancing).
6. Email Marketing and Subscriptions:
   • Email Lists: Blogs often encourage readers to subscribe to their email lists. This allows bloggers to send updates, newsletters, or special promotions directly to their subscribers.
   • Building Community: By offering valuable content and regular communication, bloggers can build a loyal audience that engages with their brand on an ongoing basis.

Purpose of a Blog

1. Sharing Information or Expertise: Many blogs are created to share knowledge, insights, and experiences. Whether it’s a travel blog, a tech blog, or a cooking blog, they serve as a platform for people to share their thoughts, tips, and advice.
2. Driving Traffic and Engagement: For businesses, a blog can serve as a key component of a digital marketing strategy. By creating SEO-optimized content, businesses can drive traffic to their website, engage potential customers, and increase leads or sales.
3. Building Authority: Consistently publishing valuable content on a blog helps build authority in a particular industry or niche. Readers begin to trust the blog as a reliable source of information.
4. Establishing a Brand: Blogs are a great tool for businesses or individuals to build a recognizable brand. The content, tone, and style of the blog help convey the values and personality of the brand.
5. Generating Income: Many bloggers use their blogs to generate revenue, either through advertising, affiliate marketing, selling digital products, or providing services.

Basic Components of a Blog Post

1. Headline (Title): The title of the blog post should be compelling and grab the reader’s attention while also including relevant keywords for SEO purposes.
2. Introduction: The first few lines should hook the reader, introducing the topic in a way that encourages them to read further.
3. Body: This is the main content of the blog post, broken into sections with subheadings, bullet points, images, or other multimedia to make it engaging and easy to read.
4. Conclusion: A summary or call-to-action (CTA) that encourages the reader to take further action, such as leaving a comment, sharing the post, or subscribing to the blog.
5. Images and Media: Including visuals, videos, infographics, or other forms of media can make blog posts more engaging and improve SEO.
6. Call to Action (CTA): Many blog posts will end with a CTA asking readers to comment, share the post, or sign up for an email list. This is a way to further engage the audience and drive them to take a specific action.

How Blogs Can Help a Business

1. Increase Website Traffic: Blogging is an effective way to drive traffic to a website. Well-optimized blog posts can attract organic traffic from search engines, social media shares, and backlinks from other websites.
2. Establish Expertise: Blogging allows businesses to establish themselves as experts in their field by sharing valuable and informative content with their audience.
3. Engage with Customers: Blogs offer a space for businesses to interact with their customers, answer their questions, and provide solutions to their problems. Engaged readers are more likely to become loyal customers.
4. Boost SEO: Regularly updated blogs are a great way to improve SEO. Each blog post provides an opportunity to target new keywords and attract different segments of the audience, helping improve search engine rankings.
5. Generate Leads and Sales: A blog can be a powerful tool for generating leads. By offering valuable content, businesses can build trust with their readers and encourage them to make purchases or sign up for services.

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Conclusion

A blog is an incredibly versatile tool for both individuals and businesses. It allows for the sharing of knowledge, attracting visitors, building a loyal audience, and even generating revenue. Whether you’re writing to educate, entertain, or promote a product, blogs offer a structured, flexible, and engaging way to communicate with an online audience.

Have you wondered what the significance is of creating a Facebook Page for business? You have a business website, but the world is also jumping into social media! And businesses and organizations are no exception! Most businesses know about Facebook but many do not understand what exactly is needed.

Facebook has grown tremendously in the last two years! There are now over 400 million active users! You probably have a personal profile on Facebook.  But what about your business presence in Facebook?

I’ve seen many who have incorrectly created a “personal profile” to represent their business.  That’s not good! Here are 5 reasons why:

1. It’s against Facebook rules – Facebook wants profiles created for individuals ~ not an organization. (Ex.  Profiles ask for first and last name, siblings, etc.) It’s not too late to correct this problem. Ask us how to make a smooth transition.
2. Businesses should create Facebook pages – Facebook Pages are customizable to market your business! For search engine optimization, make sure to add good keywords where ever possible and click-able links that will help give value to your website.
3. People can “like” your Facebook Page without requesting a friendship –  This saves you valuable time and stops giving the impression that your business alienates any friendships. How does a person feel when they have to wait a week for confirmation? Compare that to Facebook pages that automatically approve a friend.
4. A Facebook Page has analytic reports – This helps you have a better understanding of who are your fans and supporters, how they respond to your business, and how well you are doing with the Facebook page.
5. A Facebook Page shares administration rights – You can make more then one person an administrator.  This means updates can be distributed to several persons. This is very important for any business organization!!

Personal profiles, group pages and business pages share information, upload videos, pictures and can link to other websites. That’s why it can be very confusing since it may not seem any different at first glance.  There are also aspects that can not be changed once you create it. So, be careful if you plan to create a business page on your own!

Creating a Facebook Page for Business is a great step toward integrating social media into your marketing plan.  If you haven’t taken this step, what’s stopping you? Need  some help? Contact us today!

Are you learning a little about web development and trying to make sense of HTML? Perhaps you are wondering, “What are meta tags used for in web development and search engine optimization?” That’s the question we are going to focus on in today’s post!

There are many different meta tags in HTML. When creating a web page, meta tags are typically used to tell search engines what your web page is about. Just as a term paper has titles, a synopsis and headlines, meta tags in HTML do the same.

Some primary meta tags include the following:

• Title tags
• Descriptions tags
• Keyword tags

Search engines use robots to “read” websites to determine what information is on your website. When meta tags are filled out correctly, it can help your website appear higher on the list of  search results because it helps categorize your website among the millions of websites that exist.

Although there are many other factors involved with search engine results, some meta tags are essential to search engines like Google. Search Engine Optimization (the art to getting your website on the first page of Google) uses good keywords in the meta tags to enable better search results for your website.

Many factors structuring your website are fundamental to search engines. If you are considering having a website created,  create a good foundation before you buy your domain name.

Many people build a website without realizing what is needed and spend thousands of $ dollars $ when it isn’t necessary to get the results you want!

“What are meta tags used for?” I hope you know the answer to this question and will implement this factor into your website development.  If you would like to know more about search engine optimization (also know as SEO) and want to learn how to accomplish this, contact us today!

“What’s SEO?” I get asked that question all the time. The acronym means search engine optimization. But you may still be asking…what’s SEO?!?

In short, SEO is what gets your website on the first page of Google. In this post, I will go into a little more detail for the layman who wants a better understanding and how it’s relevant to their business.

With millions of people searching the internet for information, any business should desire to get their product or information out there on the web. Are you aware that in North America alone, there are 260 million internet users. This figure has more then doubled in the last 10 years! In the world, the figure is over 1.8 billion!

When you go to Google, Bing, Yahoo or other search engines, you typically will see a list of website results. There are often named “sponsored links”  on the top of this list and on the side and another list of results. These results come from two types of marketing. Pay-per-click (PPC) and Organic Results.  PPC marketing (sponsored links) costs you money every time someone clicks on your ad. With the best keywords, it can be successful. But today we are going to focus on organic search engine results.

Organic results are formed by search engines looking at over 200 different factors of your website. Some factors have greater significance then others, but the more you have conquered, the greater your site will be seen as a valued result. That is where SEO comes into play.

What’s SEO? It’s the skill set of looking at the different variables and developing or revising a website that will achieve high ranking search engine results.

Can a business person take care of SEO themselves? Sure, you can do it yourself!! There is a lot of information out there from all of the primary search engines.  We have found it depends on your personality whether you choose to learn SEO or hand it to a creditable SEO company like ourselves. Many times we teach business owners how to maintain their own websites.  Many times, business owners prefer not to learn and to focus on their business while we provide results.

The bottom line is,  are you implementing SEO into your business website? If you are not, why not? Are you trying to understand what’s SEO and it’s value to you? If so, contact us today.  In this economic time, we want to see your business bloom and grow!

What is deeplinking? That is the question today in the third part of this linking series. Basic linking is important for SEO! But, a better use of linking with other websites is a term called deep linking.

So, what is deeplinking? Linking to webpages further down in the structure of your website. Here is an example. Many times, a person will add a link to their site such as website.com. The structure of your site can also take you deeper within your site as with this example.  (website.com/about/person)

Instead of linking to the homepage (website.com) you should add the link to a web page in a deeper folder.  (website.com/about/person) Search engines will be directed deeper within your website which will also help give more pages propensity to be indexed.

You might be thinking that XML sitemaps guide the search engines to find these webpages. Yes, XML sitremaps are created to guide Spiderbots to your webpages but deep linking provides additional help.  Adding your deep link to the more valued web page from another site will promote your web page and give that page you are linking to added value.

This third factor of this series on the different types of linking in search engine optimization is probably the less common method used. If you are wondering about the first two types of linking, take the time to read our previous posts on internal linking and external linking.

With time, you will reap the benefits of deeplinking! I hope this answers the question, “What is deeplinking?” Got SEO questions?  Contact us and let us help you get on track so your business website can be a success!

Deep linking SEO refers to the practice of creating or acquiring links that point directly to specific, internal pages (or subpages) of a website rather than just the homepage or a general landing page. These internal links are called “deep links,” and they help search engines and users navigate to the most relevant, specific content within a website.

Here’s a deeper look at deep linking in the context of SEO:

1. What is Deep Linking?

In the simplest terms, deep linking occurs when a hyperlink on a website points to a specific page or piece of content within a website, rather than the homepage. For example, instead of linking to www.example.com, a deep link might point to www.example.com/dog-training-tips or www.example.com/services/dog-boarding.

2. How Deep Linking Helps SEO

Deep linking provides several benefits for both users and search engines:

a. Improves Indexing of Internal Pages

Deep links help search engine crawlers (like Google’s bots) discover and index the content of a website’s deeper pages more efficiently. By directing attention to internal pages, you make it easier for search engines to understand the full scope of your website, which can lead to better visibility in search results.

b. Distributes Page Authority

When other websites link to internal pages of your site (rather than just the homepage), it helps to spread the link equity (also called “link juice”) across your website. This can increase the authority of not just your homepage but also other important internal pages. A more diverse backlink profile can boost your website’s overall domain authority and ranking potential.

c. Improves User Experience

Deep links direct users to the most relevant and specific content that meets their needs, which improves the overall user experience. For instance, if someone is looking for dog training tips, being taken directly to a page that has this specific information is much more useful than landing on the homepage, where they would need to search further for what they want.

A better user experience can also lead to higher engagement metrics (such as time on page and lower bounce rates), which are indirect ranking factors in SEO.

d. Helps Rank Internal Pages for Specific Keywords

By pointing external links to specific internal pages, you’re helping those pages rank higher for long-tail keywords or specific search queries related to that content. Deep linking to internal pages that cover niche topics can increase their chances of appearing in search results when users search for very specific information.

For example, if you run a dog training business, a deep link from a relevant pet blog to a page on your site titled “How to Teach Your Dog to Sit” can help that page rank higher in search engines for keywords like “teach dog to sit” or “dog training sit command.”

3. Benefits of Deep Linking for Dog Training Businesses

If you run a dog training business, deep linking SEO can help you in the following ways:

• Promote Specific Services: Instead of just linking to your homepage, deep linking can highlight important service pages, such as “puppy training,” “obedience training,” or “behavioral modification.”
• Boost Local SEO: Deep linking can help individual location pages rank better, especially if you offer services in different geographic areas (e.g., “dog training in Columbia, SC”). External websites linking directly to your location pages can improve your visibility in local search results.
• Showcase Valuable Content: If you have a blog with expert dog training tips, deep links to individual blog posts can help them rank higher in search results for specific queries (e.g., “how to stop a dog from barking”).

4. Best Practices for Deep Linking SEO

When implementing a deep linking strategy, it’s important to follow best practices:

• Use Descriptive Anchor Text: The clickable text in the hyperlink (anchor text) should accurately describe the content on the page you’re linking to. For example, instead of using generic anchor text like “click here,” you should use descriptive phrases like “dog training techniques” or “puppy obedience classes.”
• Ensure Pages Are Well-Optimized: Internal pages that are receiving deep links should be properly optimized with relevant keywords, good content, and user-friendly design. This ensures that once users land on the page, they find valuable information that meets their needs.
• Diversify Your Backlink Profile: While deep links are valuable, it’s important to have a healthy balance of both homepage and internal page links. Too many links to one internal page (especially if done in an unnatural way) may raise a red flag to search engines.

5. Deep Linking in Mobile SEO

In the context of mobile SEO, deep linking can refer to app deep linking, where links direct users to a specific page within a mobile app rather than just the app’s homepage. This is a slightly different concept but operates under the same general principle—taking users directly to the content they’re seeking, whether on the web or within an app.

Conclusion:

Deep linking SEO is an effective strategy for distributing the value of backlinks across your site, enhancing the visibility of specific, relevant content, and improving both the user experience and search engine rankings. For a dog training business, deep linking can highlight specific services, training tips, or location pages, allowing you to attract more targeted traffic and grow your client base.