Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is one of the most effective ways to promote your website and build your company.
Let’s take a moment to look at some of the fundamentals of Search Engine Optimization also known as SEO.
Top Search Engine Ranking = Winnable Keywords + Keyword Focused / High Value Content + Quality Backlinks
Simplified -> Top Ranking = Keywords + Content + Backlinks
As you can see, it is a fairly simple formula. However, there is a method to the madness. There are also some very specific strategies that work better than others.
To really be successful, takes planning, preparation and patience. It takes selecting the right keyword phrases and creating website content that is useful to the reader and keyword focused.
Here are seven proven steps to help you win at the search engine marketing game:
Step #1 – SEO Keyword Analysis & Selection
Identifying the keywords or keyword phrases is the next step in creating an effective internet marketing strategy. Starting with a few root terms or phrases, you can conduct an extensive analysis of at least 300 keywords and how frequently they are search for over the internet each month.
There are a lot of tools out there to help you conduct your keyword analysis. Here are a few to help you get started:
This analysis tells will tell you exactly what your prospects want and their demand for it. Begin your research with a root keyword phrase. This should be a broad term based on your niche. You will have an opportunity to refine your list later.
After conducting the initial Keyword Phrase Analysis, you are now prepared to begin identifying the absolute best words and phrases for your marketing strategies and content development.
Identify and select 10 -15 winnable keyword phrases that best match your prospective client’s searches. Typically, you will want to select phrases with 4,000 – 6,000 local monthly searches. These phrases will be easier to gain top positions on major search engines like Google, Yahoo & Bing.
You may also find some great phrases in the 1,000 – 3,000 range. They are much easier. However, you will have to use more than above. Either way, you are in good shape!
Step #2 – Create High Value – Keyword Focused Content
Once you have selected your winnable keyword phrases, it is now time to create some content. This content should include the desired keyword phrase in the title, first paragraph and last paragraph. Try to use it in the body of you article or blog where possible. Remember not to over do it. About 2% – 4% should do the trick.
When adding video or audio content to your website, you can still use an abbreviated version of this strategy.
- Opening Paragrah with keyword phrase in 1st sentence.
- [ Video or Audio Content ]
- Closing Paragraph & Call To Action with keyword phrase in last sentence.
This is also useful when placing your video/audio on YouTube, iTunes, Vimeo and other similar websites.
For a more detailed explanation, visit the following links below:
http://www.wpseotoolbox.com/wordpress-seo-101/wordpress-seo-101/content-development
http://www.wpseotoolbox.com/wordpress-seo-101/optimizing-content/
Step #3 – Press Release Writing & Submission
Writing and distributing a press release in a great way promote an announcement of new products or achievement of business milestones or creating great online brand awareness. There is no other SEO strategy that can match the effectiveness of Press Release Distribution.
In fact, Press Release Distribution is the most economical method to build great online presence in no time. You will see an almost overnight improvement in the amount and quality of the traffic to your site.
Look at this press release about my ebook – MicroBiz Marketing 101 – 7 Key Principles to Building Your Business. There are over 34,000 listings on Google alone!
Even though you may take you a few hours to submit your releases to the popular PR websites, it is well worth the effort. For a list of the top 90 free press release distribution sites, use the following link:
http://www.microbizmarketing.com/resources/press-release-websites/
If you do not have the time to do it yourself, then you may want to check out our Market Blaster SEO Linkbuilder Services.
http://www.microbizmarketing.com/solutions/market-blaster-seo-link-builder/
Step #4 – Video Development & Distribution
As you may already know, online video is the new trend in internet marketing. Video is a highly effective way to communicate with your prospects and clients.
If you create some videos related to your site and then distribute them to sites like YouTube, you can get some quality backlinks coming into your site. Shortly after your video is posted, other website owners will put your video on their sites and share it with the world for you.
This has a double benefit in that you get good backlinks and you can also get lots of traffic from these sites. If the videos you’ve created are interesting and add value, viewers will share them with there social networks and it may even go viral.
TubeMogul is a site that you’ll want to check out for distributing your videos to a number of different sources. Traffic Geyser is another.
Here’s a list of popular video distribution websites:
http://www.microbizmarketing.com/resources/video-websites
Step #5 – Article Writing & Distribution
As a marketer, your goal is to reach your prospective customers. You strive to deliver a message that will help make a sale or get a new subscriber. When you submit articles, you achieve those objectives. The process sweeping the internet is called “article marketing”.
Article marketing allows you to become known, build credibility, and establish a relationship with your target audience using the web sites they are already visiting. There is no need to waste your time, effort or money marketing to a general, untargeted audience.
Speak directly to a specific audience who is already showing an interest in what you have to offer. Post your articles in the newsletters that your target audience subscribes to. Get your articles published on the websites that they are visiting. Have your words included in the RSS feeds of the most popular sites on the net. Article marketing lets you speak directly to your perfect customer.
Here’s a screen shot of one my client’s recently submitted articles (7,850 links):
Most savvy webmasters know that article marketing is an effective way to build organic traffic. Article marketing offers many advantages, it offers a great way to optimize your web site and build communities based on a specific idea but it also helps you be perceived as an expert in your field.
Just like we need water to live, the internet needs fresh and relevant content to survive. The beauty of it is that content from every corner of the globe is needed everyday, so regardless of your expertise, you may be able to share valuable experiences, recommendations, etc.
Article marketing has the power to send targeted and highly qualified traffic to your site since prospects are attracted by the content you are providing resulting in better conversions and customer acquisition.
Achieving a goal worth something is never easy, article marketing involves work and effort in order to see results. The first thing you will need is constant and quality content.
As you can see, article writing and distribution is a great way to promote your products and services. For a list of the top 50 article directories and distribution sites, use the following link:
http://www.microbizmarketing.com/resources/article-directories
If you do not have the time to do it yourself, then you may want to check out our Market Blaster SEO Linkbuilder Services.
http://www.microbizmarketing.com/solutions/market-blaster-seo-link-builder/
Step #6 – Social Networking & Bookmarking
Social bookmarking sites enable people to bookmark all their favorite sites and pages in one central place (examples include Digg, Propeller, and Delicious). You can bookmark your own stuff to help market it to other people and to get a backlink to your site. An even better approach, however, is to create great content that people will automatically want to add to their own social bookmarking accounts.
There are several sites out there that enable you to create pages on a particular topic and then include a link back to your site. Such sites include Squidoo, Hubpages, and Scribd. All of these sites are regarded as high-authority by Google, so links from them to your site can really help improve your rankings.
Another great place to submit your content and get high value backlinks are niche ning networks, online forums and groups. Spend some time getting to know the members and find out what they want. When you see an opportunity to provide a useful solutions to their needs, submit your articles or videos. In this way, they will appreciate it and most likely respect your recommendations.
As you know, Facebook is the biggest Social Networks on the Planet. In 2010, studies show there are over 500 Million people using Facebook for games, marketing and connecting with friends. The opportunity here is to join groups and fan pages where your targeted niche market members are hanging out. Similar to ning networks, online forums and groups, you will want to spend some time getting to know the members and find out what they want. When you see an opportunity to provide a useful solutions to their needs, submit your articles or videos.
Here’s our list of the top 75 social bookmarking websites and networks:
http://www.microbizmarketing.com/resources/social-bookmarking-websites
Step #7 – Online Website Directory Submission
It is very important to make sure that your website is listed with local, regional & national online directories. Depending on the types of products or services that you offer, you may even want to be listed in international directories.
Submitting to directories is a critical step in announcing your website to the world. New directories are born every day which means that continuous submission is required for established sites as well. Directories drive targeted visitors and increase the popularity of your website on Search engines.
To find a list of directories related to your industry, simply search for it on Google or your favorite search engine.
Conclusion – Putting It All Together
Winning the Search Engine Game is an ongoing process of selecting winnable keywords, creating high-value content and quality backlinks. The more you do, the better you rank. The better you rank, more people visit your website. More visitors = more profit. It is just that simple!
Every week, you should submit at least 1 press release, 1 article & 1 video. Share them with your social network and bookmark them. If this seems to be a challenge for you, be sure to submit at least 1 of them each week.
In the event that you would like for someone else to do it for you, let’s us know and we will take care of the whole thing. For more information, click here to check out our Market Blaster SEO LinkBuilder Services.
Affiliate Marketing, Website Design Tips | admin | 
January 21, 2012 2:42 pm | 
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