Thursday, September 16, 2010

Google Analytics Blog: Back-To-Basics: How much mobile traffic do you get? (Part 2)

Google Analytics Blog: Back-To-Basics: How much mobile traffic do you get? (Part 2)

Parameter handling

Many sites make the same content available via different URLs. Say you have a clothing site and one of your top items is a green dress. The product page for the dress may be accessible through several different URLs, especially if you use session IDs or other parameters:

http://www.example.com/products/women/dresses/green.htm
http://www.example.com/products/women/dresses?color=green&cruel=no
http://example.com/shop/index.php?product_id=32&highlight=green+dress&cat_id=1&sessionid=123&affid=431
http://example.com/dresses/cocktail?gclid=X20382

If Google knows that these pages contain the same content, we may index only one version for our search results. However, you can specify up to 15 parameters you'd like Google to ignore (Google treats these requests as suggestions rather than directives). Ignoring certain parameters can reduce duplicate content in Google's index, and make your site more crawlable. For example, if you specify that the parameter sessionid should be ignored, Google will consider http://www.example.com/dresses/green.htm?sessionid=273749 to be the same as http://www.example.com/dresses/green.htm.

This feature is case-sensitive, so be sure to enter your parameter exactly as it appears in your URL.

(For information on other ways of indicating your preferred page versions, see Canonicalization.)

To specify how you would like Google to handle parameters:



1. On the Webmaster Tools Dashboard, click the site you want.
2. Under Site Configuration, click Settings.
3. In the Parameter handling section, click Adjust parameter settings.
4. For each parameter, select the option you want. (If no parameters are listed, Google did not find any when crawling your site. You can still add parameters yourself.)

http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=147959




Monday, July 12, 2010

SEO Writer - An Essential Part of Your Website's Search Engine Marketing Strategy

Why hire an SEO writer? What can an SEO writer do for you?

On the World Wide Web, it is not only your potential customers you need to convince that your company is the best. You also need to convince the search engines that bring your website to the customers' attention in the first place. An SEO (Search Engine Optimization) writer is an expert in the inner workings of these search engines and knows from experience and research how to strategically create content that increases your website's ranking.

The higher your website's ranking with search engines like Google or Yahoo, the higher your website will appear on a list of search results. The consumer will rarely look past the first or second page of those search results - so coming up on the tenth or eleventh page is almost as bad as not coming up at all.

The goal of the SEO writer is to get your website to appear at the top of all relevant search results so that more potential customers are driven to your website - which means more potential income for you!

The Tools of an SEO Writer

The experienced search engine optimization writer has a wide array of tools in his or her arsenal to help increase your website traffic:

• Well-placed, relevant keywords: Using just the right amount of relevant keywords in the right places in your website content will also draw the right kind of attention from search engines. What these search words are, where they are placed and how often they are used are all crucial in yielding the desired results.

• Avoiding outdated and overused keywords: The lack of relevant keywords or the use of outdated keywords can demote your website in the search engine's eyes - as can the overuse of the right keywords. If you have broken any of these rules, search engines will disregard your website as junk and push it right to the bottom of the pile - no matter how beautifully designed and informative your website may be!

• Proper formatting of keywords: Strategic formatting of keywords can also be used to help draw even more attention to your site and further improve your search engine rankings.

• Meta Description Tags: For every website, there is a 200-word description of the site which search engines may use to determine whether or not your site is relevant to a particular search string. The SEO writer knows how to phrase keywords properly within this description for maximum results.

• Articles, Press Releases and Newsletters with Deep Linking: Generate even more interest in your website by hiring a search engine optimizing to produce a series of articles, newsletters and press releases for distribution on the Internet. The writer will include many links back to your website, which will help bring potential customers right to your door!

• Taking Advantage of Current Events and Trends: The savvy writer knows that bringing current events into the mix is a sure-fire way of generating even more interest in your website. For instance, after a certain major event, the writer might write an article which references this event. This way, your website will benefit by being included in a search string executed by millions of Internet users.

• Keeping Web Content Fresh, Accurate and Up-To-Date: Search engines like websites with quality, dynamic content. The experienced writer knows how to capitalize on this fact by updating the site regularly with new, informative and relevant information, as well as making sure that all basic content is accurate and up-to-date.

• Website Analytics: By studying the activity around your website, the writer can better determine what is working well - and what is not. What consumers want can change on a daily basis. Keeping abreast of these changes is easier to determine by studying these analytics.

When so much of today's business world is conducted over the Internet, hiring an experienced, quality SEO writer is an essential ingredient for your success!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nikki_May

Learning the Latest in SEO Techniques

One of the fastest growing forms of marketing is the use of search engine optimization or SEO. Think about it, how many use the Internet today for searching things that they need as compared to using, say, the yellow pages? There is a cool marketing viral video about Google vs. Yellow pages that can shed light on the issue in fact.

If you are a business owner who owns a website, or even without one, you should get with the program if you aren't already. Without a website? Time to start one if you want to take advantage of SEO. Already have a website but no SEO yet? Time to jump in. Learning SEO is a pretty straightforward thing to learn, but it requires time and dedication. You know what they say, you cannot rush perfection.

A primer on how SEO works, you first start by figuring out the keywords you want to get ranked for. Then you optimize your site using these keywords. You then do some off page optimization by linking back to your site using the same keywords. There are many more steps and procedures to learn if you really want your site to rise up from the ranks. This is why you must be on your toes when it comes to learning the best and most recent SEO techniques available.

SEO can be simple or it can be complicated. It is really up to you which direction you want to take, but learning the latest SEO techniques will always help your cause. There are tons of SEO experts out there, and it will be good for you to grow as an SEO practitioner if you learn from them. Though the techniques they use vary from user to user, it is also up to you how you build your SEO campaign. Many can live with simple SEO, while others prefer to rise up to the challenge and do it the complicated way. However, do not let the word complicated confuse you. Being complicated does not mean it is difficult, it only means that it requires a little more work.

So whether you are an SEO newbie, or a seasoned SEO expert, learning the latest SEO techniques will keep you on your toes and give you a leg up no matter what. A boost to your business is almost always recommended. So utilize SEO to its maximum and watch your profits rise.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Reed_Slidell

Friday, January 29, 2010

Squeeze Page strategies in SEO

Squeeze pages are single pages or Landing Pages created to solicit opt-in email addresses from prospective subscribers. Once the visitor has provided their email address, they are usually placed on an automated follow up list using autoresponder software that immediately delivers information about the product or services you are selling via email. These messages continue over a period of time. On the "subscription confirmed" page, there are usually links to further information as well so that the visitor doesn't have to wait on the email.

Squeeze pages are often used in conjunction with PPC. Using a squeeze page can allow for easier ROI (Return on Investment) calculations.

Create the squeeze pages layout more attractive by providing Pictures, audios, videos, catchy sales copy and keyword rich contents. Use catchy headlines, dot point features that will specify about your product, testimonial including positive review about your product, Teasers should specify free offers and discount about your products, Subscription Box etc.

Place your minimum links like Home, About Us, Contact, Sitemap, Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Pages in the Header, Footer, or in side bar according to the layout. Make sure to link to your Main Website or Blog from the squeeze page so that Google can see your site is not a single-page site, but has a real website behind it.

Start optimizing your web pages by both on-page and off-page. Make sure all of your pages containing unique Meta tags according to your keywords and each page should be optimized for a particular keyword phrase. Make sure that each of these pages links to your squeeze page with the main keyword that you want it to rank for.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Google Analytic IQ

Since the Google Analytics IQ launch, people from all over the world have taken the online course and test. Web analytics is increasingly important to all kinds of organizations. Online retailers, agencies, large consumer brands and non-profits are just a few of the many kinds of organizations that rely on people who are trained in Google Analytics. So, we've decided to raise the bar on what it means to be Google Analytics qualified and increase the minimum passing score from 75% to 80%.

If you're already Google Analytics qualified, but you received a score less than 80%, don't worry. This change doesn't affect your current qualification. But be sure to review the online course when it's time to renew your qualification (18 months after you initially qualified). At that time, you'll be expected to score at least 80%.

For details or to start the course, visit ConversionUniversity.com. There's a FAQ with details and a link to the Google Analytics IQ test. Best of luck to everyone!


By Alden DeSoto, Google Analytics Team
http://analytics.blogspot.com/

Friday, January 1, 2010

Google PR Updated

Google Toolbar PR has been updated in the New Year 2010 as of Last Year 2009. This seems as New Years tradition for Google.
Custom Search