Tag Archives: seo
What Not to Do: Pittsburgh SEO Part 1
Pittsburgh SEO tactics can be very powerful for growing businesses, but their misuse can produce disastrous results. Though not necessarily illegal, certain Pittsburgh SEO strategies do violate the rules of Google and other top search engines. Fearing this legal and ethical no-man’s land, many search providers will simply sandbox businesses that use these tactics, taking their websites off the first few pages of search results, or even out of their index altogether. It is therefore imperative that entrepreneurs learn to recognize unprincipled search engine optimizers who will put their businesses at risk with these cheap tactics. Here are five practices you’ll never see from a truly professional Pittsburgh SEO company.
1.) High-Volume, Low-Quality Link Purchases
One of the most important aspects of good search engine optimization is quality backlinking from relevant web pages. However, it is possible to purchase hundreds of thousands of nearly-useless backlinks for pennies on the dollar. Unscrupulous SEO companies will make such purchases under the assumption that an artificially boosted link count will actually make your site better in the eyes of the search engines. They are gravely mistaken.
In truth, such a large, fast link buildup will place your website under the careful scrutiny of Google, Bing, Yahoo, and other popular search engines. This practice may not warrant an immediate penalty, but the engines will consider you a spammer once they realize most of your backlinks come from unpopular, unrelated web pages.
Certain SEO gurus claim that link-building penalties don’t actually exist, but that’s not the point. Hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of irrelevant links have nowhere near the sway of a few, authoritative, closely related links in the eyes of the search engines. You get what you pay for, and if you’re going to invest in professional SEO, you want it to be done right. Quality Pittsburgh SEO providers will know how to build plenty of high-PR, Google-friendly backlinks, and they won’t be lured by temptations of quick and easy link purchases.
2.) Random Content Submission
One of the most common misconceptions in online business is that creating and submitting as much content as possible is a great way to establish an internet presence. Site owners and SEO companies will send large volumes of press releases, blurbs, and articles to thousands of publishers. To the search engines, such indiscriminate syndication is nothing but spam. In fact, even attempting so many submissions is a waste of time, since the editors who see your irrelevant content will delete it without a second look.
Even if some of your content makes it into unrelated publications, it’s useless for SEO purposes. One of the main reasons to submit content anywhere is to build backlinks. For instance, Google might like to see that your online supplement shop has links on popular weight lifting blogs. It wouldn’t do you any good, however, to have your shop’s backlinks on sites about cars or video games. In order to make web browsing user-friendly, the search engines have made context king.
In the next installment of What Not to Do: Pittsburgh SEO, we’ll talk about the ways high keyword densities, spam, and convoluted content will turn off web surfers, tarnish your reputation, and kill your chances of high search engine rankings. If you’re ready for professional Pittsburgh SEO assistance now, however, use the links below for a private, free consultation.
What Not to Do: Pittsburgh SEO Part 1
Pittsburgh SEO tactics can be very powerful for growing businesses, but their misuse can produce disastrous results. Though not necessarily illegal, certain Pittsburgh SEO strategies do violate the rules of Google and other top search engines. Fearing this legal and ethical no-man’s land, many search providers will simply sandbox businesses that use these tactics, taking their websites off the first few pages of search results, or even out of their index altogether. It is therefore imperative that entrepreneurs learn to recognize unprincipled search engine optimizers who will put their businesses at risk with these cheap tactics. Here are five practices you’ll never see from a truly professional Pittsburgh SEO company.
1.) High-Volume, Low-Quality Link Purchases
One of the most important aspects of good search engine optimization is quality backlinking from relevant web pages. However, it is possible to purchase hundreds of thousands of nearly-useless backlinks for pennies on the dollar. Unscrupulous SEO companies will make such purchases under the assumption that an artificially boosted link count will actually make your site better in the eyes of the search engines. They are gravely mistaken.
In truth, such a large, fast link buildup will place your website under the careful scrutiny of Google, Bing, Yahoo, and other popular search engines. This practice may not warrant an immediate penalty, but the engines will consider you a spammer once they realize most of your backlinks come from unpopular, unrelated web pages.
Certain SEO gurus claim that link-building penalties don’t actually exist, but that’s not the point. Hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of irrelevant links have nowhere near the sway of a few, authoritative, closely related links in the eyes of the search engines. You get what you pay for, and if you’re going to invest in professional SEO, you want it to be done right. Quality Pittsburgh SEO providers will know how to build plenty of high-PR, Google-friendly backlinks, and they won’t be lured by temptations of quick and easy link purchases.
2.) Random Content Submission
One of the most common misconceptions in online business is that creating and submitting as much content as possible is a great way to establish an internet presence. Site owners and SEO companies will send large volumes of press releases, blurbs, and articles to thousands of publishers. To the search engines, such indiscriminate syndication is nothing but spam. In fact, even attempting so many submissions is a waste of time, since the editors who see your irrelevant content will delete it without a second look.
Even if some of your content makes it into unrelated publications, it’s useless for SEO purposes. One of the main reasons to submit content anywhere is to build backlinks. For instance, Google might like to see that your online supplement shop has links on popular weight lifting blogs. It wouldn’t do you any good, however, to have your shop’s backlinks on sites about cars or video games. In order to make web browsing user-friendly, the search engines have made context king.
In the next installment of What Not to Do: Pittsburgh SEO, we’ll talk about the ways high keyword densities, spam, and convoluted content will turn off web surfers, tarnish your reputation, and kill your chances of high search engine rankings. If you’re ready for professional Pittsburgh SEO assistance now, however, use the links below for a private, free consultation.
Benefits of Local SEO for Small Businesses
A bulk of revenue for small businesses comes from its local area. Businesses must streamline their marketing strategies and efforts in such a way that the local market is thoroughly covered. Local Search Engine Optimization is a reliable marketing tool that gives business a feasible option to increase sales from its local area.
A study by TMP/comScore has revealed that 61% of local searches lead to a purchase. It was also found that nearly 80% of the customers searching locally, follow up office via a phone call or in-store visit or a purchase. Customers these days are checking the details about products, particularly in their local area before purchasing.
Google, one of the major search engines, knows that customers are looking for products or services in their local area. That is why it makes sure that local results appear above the organic results. In view of these observations, it becomes increasingly important for a small business to be actively present in local searches. Read further to know more about the role played by local SEO in adding value to a small business.
Get brand recognition
Brand recognition is the degree to which your customers are able to recognize your products or services. Local SEO helps in improving the visibility of your brand before the potential customers in your local area. Frequent exposure of your brand to your customers leads to enhanced brand recognition, which may eventually lead the customer to a purchase.
Improves website visibility on local listings
Local SEO attracts potential customers to your website. This is done by ranking your business higher in their local search results. A customer finds it comfortable to deal with businesses in his/her local area. By purchasing products from a local supplier, he/she eliminates unnecessary transportation and middlemen costs. So, when you are found in his/her local search results, chances are more that your business gets a new customer.
Website traffic and leads
According to Search Engine Watch, around 60% of the clicks in Google search results are taken by the results in the top three rankings. By investing in a Local SEO campaign, a business will be promoted higher in the local search results. This causes more number of people to click on the website. With an increase in traffic coming to the website, the number or prospective customers also increases, which may lead to increased sales.
Increases earning potential
Local SEO offers a business tremendous potential to increase earnings. The revenue you generate by using Local SEO will be many times higher than the investment with which you start. The improved visibility that a Local SEO provides will help a business in maximizing sales, leading to revenue generation.
In todays competition, having a website alone does not signify a good online presence. Businesses must take significant steps to reach targeted customers. With a good SEO campaign in place, a small business can get maximum benefits even if it is not nationally well-known. With more and more customers preferring to buy locally, optimizing your website for local searches is one such step, which can be both feasible and effective.