*For an intro discussion on long-tail keywords please visit this previous post.*

There are a number of people asking the question regarding the use of long-tail keyword strategies when picking keywords for new content. If you've ever spoken to us or read our blog then you'll know that we never favour writing content based on keyword. Rather, you always write for your market based on your target.

However, one SEO strategy is to watch trends in your log files to see where searchers are winding up on your web site. This will help you identify what new content to create or feature. However, should you dive deeper into the longtail keywords? Should you attempt to capture more of the uncompetitive and low traffic words in hopes of marginally increasing traffic?

The answer is yes if you're a big huge retail web site, and no if you're everybody else. Read the rest of this entry »

Staying on the topic of avoiding potential problem consultants here is another tip: avoid flat rate packages. Any SEO consultant/web firm that provides 1-5 (or however many) flat rate packages with varying price and escalating services is not really paying attention to your needs. Read the rest of this entry »

Take a quick browse through leading SEO forums, SEOChat, SitePoint, and look in their ‘professionals’ or ‘for hire’ threads. You’ll notice that just about everyone, cousins, aunts, dogs, know how to provide SEO services at a 'professional level'.

All jokes aside, how is it possible that 16 year old kids or SEOs without credentials win jobs? The answer is pretty simple, there is a market for low cost SEO. Let's take a look at some issues that show how anybody can get a job in search engine optimization and what is to be done about the issue. This post may also help you to choose the right SEO for your consulting job. Read the rest of this entry »

Small Business Owners Included

Interested in the web marketing industry and looking to get your start. Don't have any clue where to begin? With the looming recession a number of folks are looking for ways to supplement their income by picking up on some existing transferable skills and applying them to the internet. Fact is you can learn search engine optimization and other aspect of web marketing in a matter of hours.

Got ideas? Business skills? Marketing skills? Some computer skills? Programming? Well why not work for yourself? If you've thought about it now take the next step and learn the foundations of SEO.

SEO Training by Distinct SEO

Read the rest of this entry »

Matt Cutts  (Google Engineer that drops hints and info related to the Google search engine) has once again busted another SEO myth. Actually, he's reiterating a position that Google has held for some time.

http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/myth-busting-virtual-hosts-vs-dedicated-ip-addresses/

It turns out that the push to get a dedicated IP from your ISP isn't so crucial after all. I have hosted many sites on dedicated ip's (this one included), and I've also done the converse. The results? No noted change. Read the rest of this entry »

Just a quick note to all our clients and prospective clients, the folks from Distinct SEO.com will be taking some time off until January 5th, 2009. We're in the process of taking some time off and also moving our office. We will be responding to emails sporadically so you can try to get ahold of us from there. Otherwise, Happy New Year, we'll see you all on the 5th!

"Twelve Paid Directories"
"Eleven Bloggers Bloggin'"
"Ten Lord's a Link-Baiting"
"Nine Laides SEOing"
"Eight Web Stats You're Milking"
"Seven Steps to Great SEO"
"Six Blog Promotion Tactics"
"Five Golden Steps to Marketing Planning"
"Four Calling With Phones to Complement SEO"
"Three Search Engines"
"Two Something Somethings"

Today: And a number one Google placement!

Oh wow we wish it were true. To wake Christmas morn and realise Father Christmas, Baby Jesus, whoever, have finally pulled a string in your favor. Maybe, just maybe, Google wised up to your great web site and started ranking you. Albeit, number one rankings never happen overnight, when they do happen, it's a mini-miracle.

Read the rest of this entry »

Have you heard this spiel? "There are only two ways to get quality web traffic to your web site. They involve tactics and strategies to improve organic traffic, and paid traffic." If so, whomever spouted it off is a doofus of google proportions. Albeit, there are two major methods of getting web traffic, there are a few more to consider when trying to reach your marketing goals. Here is a list of some:

• Viral marketing
• word of mouth
• press release
• article directories
• social bookmarking (digg, reddit, delicious)
• pay per click
• banner advertising
• organic results (obviously)
• links
• forum links
• etc.

Read the rest of this entry »

"Twelve Paid Directories"
"Eleven Bloggers Bloggin'"
"Ten Lord's a Link-Baiting"
"Nine Laides SEOing"
"Eight Web Stats You're Milking"
"Seven Steps to Great SEO"
"Six Blog Promotion Tactics"
"Five Golden Steps to Marketing Planning"
"Four Calling With Phones to Complement SEO"

Today: Three Non-French Search Engines

I have no idea what the French have to do with SEO (I'm joking, I do,) but there was nothing appropriate for the song. Of course, finding a suitable analogy for the number three wasn't hard at all. Three is the number of major search engines you have to compete for.

Read the rest of this entry »

"Twelve Paid Directories"
"Eleven Bloggers Bloggin'"
"Ten Lord's a Link-Baiting"
"Nine Laides SEOing"
"Eight Web Stats You're Milking"
"Seven Steps to Great SEO"
"Six Blog Promotion Tactics"
"Five Golden Steps to Marketing Planning"

Today: Four Calling With Phones to Complement SEO

What on earth do I mean? Well do you have a phone? Gosh, if you don't like long distance do you have SKYPE? No excuses here, the telephone is a crucial part of SEO. Let me outline four reasons why.

Read the rest of this entry »