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zamina · 01-17-2012, 12:57 AM

. Mismanagement: Considering SEO at the End of Your Project

People love the creative part of building websites. Choosing colors, designing graphics, approving layouts and making videos is fun. By comparison, keyword research and writing good content is a little tedious. It�s often handed down to someone on work experience or whoever complains the least.

Don�t fall into that trap. Identify your customers before embarking on any web project. You should understand who they are, what motivates them, and the language they use in search queries. Ideally, your website content should be researched and written before your designer launches Photoshop.
2. Outsourcing: Pushing SEO to a Third-Party

A good web agency will include SEO in their development plan. Be wary if it�s not considered or they recommend handing the SEO effort to another company. I�m sure there are some great SEO consultancies � it�s just a shame I�ve never worked with one.

Seek advice by all means, but don�t assume another person can solve all your SEO problems.
3. Technophobia: Equating SEO with Witchcraft

Despite what many �experts� say, most SEO techniques are bleeding obvious. Some of it can be laborious or take time, but it�s rarely difficult.

Anyone who tells you their sophisticated technology is a secret or highly complex is a liar or doesn�t understand SEO. Politely decline their services.
4. Laziness: Divorcing Yourself from the SEO Process

Ask yourself this simple question: �Who knows more about my business?� Is it you, your web developer, or the pushy SEO salesperson who called 10 minutes ago?

You should be actively involved in the SEO process. If you�re not, there�s only one person to blame if your site isn�t gaining the traffic you hoped for.
5. Ineffectiveness: Neglecting your Business Model

This is one of the worst problems caused by outsourced SEO. An �expert� will recommend an SEO technique without considering what it means for your business.

For example, they�ll tell you that blogs are a great way to engage with customers and create interest in your services. That�s absolutely true. But what if you�re a sole trader manufacturing table legs for a few big clients? Do you have time to write an article every week? Do you have the inclination? Can you think of many interesting table-leg-related topics?
6. Ineptitude: Hoping Meta-Tags will Solve Content Blunders

If you�re selling Blue WidgetsTM, it�s really a good idea to mention it.

Of course, you�re absolutely free to write about your corporation�s environmental ethics, leadership interfaces, organizational diversity and accountability strategies. But will anyone looking for Blue Widgets find your site?

And, no, meta tags are not a magical answer. Search engines apply considerably more weight to readable content than invisible text.
7. Cheating: Attempting to Trick the Search Engines

It won�t work. If there were a sneaky trick which could guarantee a #1 position, everyone would do it. You won�t beat Google and Bing at their own game.

In 1998-BG (Before Google), some tricks were possible and websites would stuff pages with repeated keywords. Today, that practice will get you banned. Search engines look for good quality content which matches a search phrase. It�s even better if that content is regularly updated and lots of other sites link to it. In a nutshell, that�s SEO.

01-17-2012, 12:57 AM	#7
zamina Registered User Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 156	. Mismanagement: Considering SEO at the End of Your Project People love the creative part of building websites. Choosing colors, designing graphics, approving layouts and making videos is fun. By comparison, keyword research and writing good content is a little tedious. It�s often handed down to someone on work experience or whoever complains the least. Don�t fall into that trap. Identify your customers before embarking on any web project. You should understand who they are, what motivates them, and the language they use in search queries. Ideally, your website content should be researched and written before your designer launches Photoshop. 2. Outsourcing: Pushing SEO to a Third-Party A good web agency will include SEO in their development plan. Be wary if it�s not considered or they recommend handing the SEO effort to another company. I�m sure there are some great SEO consultancies � it�s just a shame I�ve never worked with one. Seek advice by all means, but don�t assume another person can solve all your SEO problems. 3. Technophobia: Equating SEO with Witchcraft Despite what many �experts� say, most SEO techniques are bleeding obvious. Some of it can be laborious or take time, but it�s rarely difficult. Anyone who tells you their sophisticated technology is a secret or highly complex is a liar or doesn�t understand SEO. Politely decline their services. 4. Laziness: Divorcing Yourself from the SEO Process Ask yourself this simple question: �Who knows more about my business?� Is it you, your web developer, or the pushy SEO salesperson who called 10 minutes ago? You should be actively involved in the SEO process. If you�re not, there�s only one person to blame if your site isn�t gaining the traffic you hoped for. 5. Ineffectiveness: Neglecting your Business Model This is one of the worst problems caused by outsourced SEO. An �expert� will recommend an SEO technique without considering what it means for your business. For example, they�ll tell you that blogs are a great way to engage with customers and create interest in your services. That�s absolutely true. But what if you�re a sole trader manufacturing table legs for a few big clients? Do you have time to write an article every week? Do you have the inclination? Can you think of many interesting table-leg-related topics? 6. Ineptitude: Hoping Meta-Tags will Solve Content Blunders If you�re selling Blue WidgetsTM, it�s really a good idea to mention it. Of course, you�re absolutely free to write about your corporation�s environmental ethics, leadership interfaces, organizational diversity and accountability strategies. But will anyone looking for Blue Widgets find your site? And, no, meta tags are not a magical answer. Search engines apply considerably more weight to readable content than invisible text. 7. Cheating: Attempting to Trick the Search Engines It won�t work. If there were a sneaky trick which could guarantee a #1 position, everyone would do it. You won�t beat Google and Bing at their own game. In 1998-BG (Before Google), some tricks were possible and websites would stuff pages with repeated keywords. Today, that practice will get you banned. Search engines look for good quality content which matches a search phrase. It�s even better if that content is regularly updated and lots of other sites link to it. In a nutshell, that�s SEO.