Google Webmaster Tool console has been updated (or added to) yet again. This time you can remove content from your page that you don't want kicking around and have found robots.txt is not successful at eliminating. Conversely, you can also use the new tool in the console to re-include a web page that's been canned.
For more information on the tool visit the Google Webmasters blog.
It appears that Google, along with the other major online search engines, have combined to change the way they view sitemaps. Before you could submit to each major engine with a location (usually .xml) of your sitemap file and they would crawl it. It appears there is an even better way.
Now you can place a line of text in your robots file so all spiders (who understand what to look for) will be able to locate your sitemap file easily. This is how your new entry in the robots.txt file should look like:
Sitemap: http://www.mysite.com/sitemap.xml
You can still submit to the search engine webmaster consoles directly, however, this is a one stop solution to help the spiders find what they need. Of course, this also implies that you use sitemap.xml files to start with. Many SEOs are now advocating that you bypass the whole 'add sitemap' because you loose certain information like where your weaker pages (PR wise) are.
[tags]sitemaps, site map xml, sitemaps robots.txt, sitemap robots, sitemap protocol, google sitemap[/tags]
Many prospective clients are always asking the same question, here's an excerpt from one of them:
Other than the testimonials on your website, do you have any more?
The answer? Yes, and no. We always have clients but not all clients want to have their info posted on our web site. I suppose I could go, 'Client X loved our services, especially when he started converting more Y sales!' Hmmm, I mind as well just make them up!
Clients who do agree to do a testimonial receive a discount on their bill so it's definitley worth their while.
Are the days of you blowing 300USD on a year long link in the Yahoo! directory gone? I have never been one to submit to the Yahoo! directory but many SEOs swear by it. Well it appears the days of the glorified linking repository may soon be over. It appears that slowly but surely Yahoo! is phasing out their directory. More information posted in this thread at SER.
Andy Beal from Marketing Pilgrim has emerged to offer the annual contest for the best article in web marketing. I'm all for it and even thought about submitting, I mean why not, the prizes are worth $10,000!
But really, the whole contest is quite clever. Marketing Pilgrim gets lots of cool articles and one person gets $10,000 of prizes--not cash remember--prizes. Most of them are things any regular SEO should already have/read so I can't really say I have that big of an incentive to give my super content out in hopes of winning....
Mind you, I will say that the one prize worthy is the one month training/coaching that Andy Beal offers. That alone is worth more than the other prizes combined so maybe I will send one in for giggles.
When Google burps everyone feels it. Last month we reported that Google will never follow or 'remember' links with the 'nofollow' attribute. I surmise other major search engines will follow suit and adopt a similar policy in an attempt to combat link spam, bad link practices (i.e. .edu sites using their position to link to questionable sites), and link purchases. So what does this mean for future web ranking and SEO practices?
Let's face it, the majority of web sites out there are not optimized by qualified web marketers. Why does this matter? Webmasters are semi-aware of the SEO world and many do pick up tid bits here and there about how to rank their web sites higher in the search engines. But only certain pieces of info actually make it into the 'mainstream' web world and I surmise that one of these 'leaks' of disinformation will be the treatment of linking (specifically outgoing links). Here is my reasoning expressed in mathematical equation.
Read the rest of this entry »
Todd Malicoat invited Calum Coburn (from Negotiations.com) to write a blog article on ways consultants could convert prospects into sales. I particularly enjoyed this article because we don't often hear about business component of search marketing in blogs. In the article Calum offers some tactics for SEO negotiations. Now, I agree with the premise and many of the assertions in the article, but would like to offer some additional thoughts.
Herein lies the typical process most consultants encounter with searching clients. The phone will ring (usually the phone) and the prospective client is 'streamed' through some type of 'pre-plan'. Generally you've been through this process so many times before you know the questions you'll be asked and what responses you'll give. Rather than the 'here's what I can sell' Calum suggests the 'reverse sales' approach. He even goes on to suggest prepared answers and questions to help steer your conversation in this direction.
I agree with his approach, however, would argue with semantics. 'Reverse sales' should be called 'reverse marketing'. You see, it benefits your business when you move away from sales focused activities to marketing focused activities. What's the difference? Frankly, one is more concerned about the needs of customers, and the other tries to 'sell things'. Clients don't want to be sold to, but rather, they want to be enticed, romanced, and drawn into a process that they can call their own.
Personally, I like to chat with clients until a point where both company and consultant have articulated and identified the correct needs and benefits. From this process an action plan and solutions are created to make their dream reality. This of course takes time that many of us don't have. Calum Coburn's article suggests a certain degree of 'confidence' right off the bat, to create a first impression that says, 'I don't need to sell you anything cause I'm the best at what I do.'
Again, I like the approach. Obviously it's harder to pull off if you aren't confident in your services, but it certainly gives the impression you have a solid handle of your business. This gives you a certain level of legitimacy, however, it also brings up some problems.
Firstly, you have to be ready to loose clients. Some prospective clients (although the number is quite a bit smaller nowadays) want to be sold to and don't want to be asked questions about why they chose you. Approach them the wrong way and your 'reverse marketing' may turn into an interogation. Identify who the quality client is early and be ready to loose a few in the proposal. Frankly, there is a market out there for client's better suited for the low low prices of the ESL SEO.
Secondly, a good SEO firm will ensure client's feel completely immersed in the planning and analysis process, and they generally complete this process for free of charge. Why free you ask? It serves two functions:
It is at this point that I would engage Calum and ask him to shed some light regarding ideal timeframe with clients. I got the impression through his article that there is an expectation clients will choose to love or hate you in one phone conversation. I do agree first impression are crucial, but I don't think it is wise for prospective SEO clients to choose any consultant based on one phone conversation, nor do I think SEOs should judget clients on the first call.
My experience suggests 3-5 conversations is what it takes to move to the action stage (the signed proposal). Investing the time necessary will turn prospective clients into lifelong clients. And I mean this seriously, invest time into the right client, show them genuine concern for their goals, and deliver on those goals, and you'll create a long term relationship that will put money in your bank.
To sum up: be confident in your approach, try the 'reverse marketing' be ready to loose prospective clients, be prepared for 3-5 conversations to close the deal, and use cheat sheets to help lead your phone conversations.
[tags]seo negotiations, negotiating seo, how to negotiate seo sales, marketing negotiations[/tags]
I recently did an interview for a provincial business magazine (more details later if it comes out), and one of the questions highlighted was, "I'm the small business coming into your office that knows nothing about SEO, what are you going to tell me?"
Well the answer is pretty simple, I'm going to walk you through the basic elements of search engine optimization and highlight how it can benefit your bottom line. The process is really the same regardless of web size or who walks in.
However, I also came to the conclusion long ago, and reiterated within the article, that SEO is not for everyone. Actually, let me take a step back, SEO consultation is not for everyone.
For many larger firms, consultants buy time. The company does not want to invest in the time to learn the new knowledge or stay current so they hire out. The fact is, many small sole-proprietorships may not benefit from a sizable investment into SEO consultation. We have turned away clients simply because it does not make any sense for us to charge thousands of dollars to rank the local vet clinic or drycleaners. (Quite simply, qualified and good SEO consultants are not a dime a dozen.)
For example, if you own a web site with a target market spanning a 10 mile radius then SEO consultation is probably the wrong investment. Don't get me wrong, if you have any web presence at all, then search engine optimization is a necessary component to your web site, but paying top dollars for a professional may be the wrong route.
BUT, like I said, there are options out there. You MAY in fact have the time to learn some basic foundational aspects of SEO that will benefit your local community web site. Yes, there are options for you that don't cost into the thousands. Distinct SEO often turn small clients to our training option. (See: Distinct SEO Training Pages for more details.)
Quite frankly, we do not have an interest in running a client through a process they don't need. Business owners like to put their investment dollar in the right place, and we do our best to accomplish and facilitate that. Not everybody needs an SEO consultant, most do, but not everyone. But remember, you DO need SEO for your web site, but maybe you save the money and learn yourself--really it's not that hard (at least the on page optimization stuff :P).
[tags]seo training, local seo, small business seo training, intro seo training, intro seo[/tags]
