Everything you do online to optimize your website, social media sites, blogs, press releases and more, revolve around keywords.  It’s all about the keywords people.

If you develop a sound keyword strategy, through keyword research and competitive analysis and then take those keywords to develop a sound internet marketing strategy, you can’t go wrong.

Google and Bing are using Twitter and Facebook to influence the natural search results, which means, now more than ever, everyone needs to think about the keywords they use when they post.

So, what is the easiest way to develop a keyword strategy?  Here is just a quick checklist that may help you.

1. Develop a list of keywords. This is accomplished in a number of ways, such as having a brainstorming session, doing competitive analysis, using Google’s keyword tool and more.
2. Each page on your website should be optimized with unique keyword rich content and tagged appropriately.  These keywords should be directly related to the research you did in step #1. Please note, do not stuff your pages full of keywords just for keyword sake.  This is frowned upon by Google and could get you banned.
3. Take your list of keywords and create an excel spreadsheet.  Simply put the keyword in one column and then the landing page in another.  This will help to keep things streamlined and organized.
4. When posting on facebook and twitter, or when blogging, use those keywords and link where applicable to the appropriate landing page.

Keyword research can be time consuming, however, if you take the time and do things the right way, the reward will be a strong web presence.  Just remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Have a great day everyone and enjoy the sunshine.

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Search Engine Strategies  2010

I was fortunate enough to attend Day 1 and 2 of the Search Engine Strategies Conference in New York City.  It was my first SES conference, so I really didn’t know what I was getting into, plus it was my first time in NYC. I came with high expectations that I was going to learn a lot about search engine marketing.

The great thing about this conference was you got a very good feel for where you are in the scheme of things.  There are some very brillant people out there and some not so brillant people.

Loved, loved loved Avinash Kaushik.  He used a common sense approach to explaining keyword research and analytics.  He actually had me crackin up with his great sense of humor.

The thing I didn’t like at the SES Conference is the fact that I felt like I was in with a herd of cattle going from one session to another.  Not only that, but some of the sessions just didnt’ capture the attention of the people in the room.

Maybe I just didn’t get the overall intention of the conference. I certainly left with some direction on where to go to do more research into what I should do, but  I would have preferred to have learned what I should do…make sense?

There were some very dynamic keynote speakers and I enjoyed the roundtable discussions very much. Unfortunately, the session speakers had limited time to talk and just when things were getting good with some, time was up and then on to the next speaker.  I found myself frustrated at times and wanting more.   

I loved the people who didn’t refer to notes and just talked from the gut. There were some speakers who were simply dull and referred to notes.  These people really shouldn’t be speakers, because frankly, they suck at it.

High Rankings Seminar 2006

I attended a High Rankings seminar in Dallas in 2006 and it was pretty great because they talked specifics. It wasn’t about their philosophy on things, but actual meat and potatoes. They gave me so much information that I could really chew on.

I went into the High Rankings seminar with many dots that needed to be connected and I left with a complete picture.  Also the great thing at the High Rankings seminar was the fact that at the luncheon we actually sat with the speakers and got to pick their brain and talk shop.   

I do understand that things have completely changed since 2006, however, the idea of learning the tips and tricks to blogging, twitter and video, etc. could have been taught better at the SES Conference if they used the same intimate approach.

Bottom line is when I left the High Rankings seminar in 2006, I went back to work and was a machine.  When I went back to work after the Search Engine Strategies conference 2010, I went right back to doing my own reasearch to find out the answers.  Don’t get me wrong I did get direction and am grateful, but I have a lot of research to do yet people.

My focus when attending these seminars is to learn as much as possible and then implement those ideas into my business and help others.  Although I understand that I was at a different level with each of these conferences, my expectations were still the same and I believe the SESNY conference fell short.

I have seen many websites that are written well and easy to navigate, only to discover they have not  been properly optimized.  Many small businesses are missing out on an opportunity to make a real impact on the web.  Search engine optmization could be the difference between you and your competition.

Search engine optimization involves steps to help your website rank well on the search engines, Such as Google, Yahoo and MSN.  Initially, what needs to be done is keyword research.  Knowing what people are actually typing into the search engines to find your services is very important.  Strategically placing those keywords throughout your sites, as well as in it’s title tags are very important.

Fuel the Web can help you with your SEO strategy.  Contact us today for your Free Quote.