01.16.03
 By
Anthony Parsons
Search engines, search engines, search engines....Who knows which one to optimize for? Why does everyone behave so silly when it comes to search engines and optimization for a particular engine or keyword even? As most know, Google is the flavour of the month. It appears that everyone is excited about it. What about the other engines? Did someone forget that they exist?
Because Google is the leading engine, this years "in engine" , word of mouth spreads, more people use it, website owners begin optimizing for it and SEO goes nuts. How easily we forget, that only a year or so ago, Yahoo was the leading search engine. Which one next I wonder?
I think it is quite humorous that people have become strung up about one particular engine and one method of advertisement because they do well for a short period. By a short period, I mean a year or two. This is short when your running a business over decades. Google changed their algorithm end 2003 and sent the world a shockwave. Someone forget to tell these many upset businesses and website do it yourselvers, that relying upon one method of advertisement is not good business practice. If that's the extent of business knowledge , then some businesses are in lots of trouble.
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Florida (Google HQ) decided to change their system. As a result, many website owners, who had paid thousands of dollars or suffered thousands of man hours building a website came unstuck. Why? Because all of their efforts were built around the characteristics of one system.
Who did they blame? SEO's, Experts, Copywriters, Link Building Companies, Google or anyone who would listen - often the media. Someone forgot to tell them that Google is a business, and if your manipulating a website within their search engine rankings, your messing with their business. Keeping this in perspective, only those negatively affected are crying to the press. Those businesses or individuals who gained rankings as a result of this change, strangely enough, don't have anything negative to say.
I think the moral of the story is, people need to stop attempting to over optimize a website and never concentrate on only one source for rankings. Website owners need to focus on reality and market their websites across as many engines as possible. It is also necessary to keep a focus on what you are trying to achieve. Essentially, a website to attract visitors and stimulate their attention for your information and products
By
Anthony Parsons
Since Google implemented PR, the link popularity consortiums have gone crazy. PR, PR, PR, that's all that anyone seems to be focused upon. Did someone forget about what makes the WWW? Freedom of information, not how big my PR is. So, what is the big secret about PR and just how do you obtain that high six and above? Its called, a great website! That's it, no more, no less. Anyone who has a great website, with information that others find useful, exciting and refreshing, will generally have a high PR. Why? Because its an informative website that people like and will happily spend their time browsing. Often, browsing leads to spending.
If people like your website, simply because the information and content appeals, users will link to your website just because they like it; not because it is made from flash or has some unbelievable design to it. That should be your focus with any website. So, what is marketing then? Stay with me for a second. Definition of marketing is; the promotion and selling of products and services! The definition of marketeer is; a person who sells goods or services in a market. Now with that in hand, your website is a MARKETPLACE. The definition of marketplace is; a competitive or commercial arena. How does that grab you? A competitive or commercial arena is why you need to have a website that stands out from the crowd.
Everyone is providing something; whether for free or with some cost involved. All are exchanging information, or selling products or services. They are all aimed to appeal to your senses, keep you browsing or finally buying, well some anyway. If your competition has a very informative website, then you need to have more information and something new that enhances the product, service or information. The free thing is well overdone on the Internet and doesn't appeal to many anymore. People are not stupid. They want quality information and value for money. That is the bottom line of any successful business focus these days, not just dollars and cents.
If you can make a website that attracts interest, then you will gain a good PR. You can reciprocate links and pay for inclusion until the cows come home, but if nobody is visiting, then all of your efforts are for nothing. You can have the best PR and still not rank well. On the other hand, you can have very little PR, and still rank like a champion within the search engines because people are staying upon your website and visiting often for more information. It must be said, that a high PR will not happen overnight. With lots of work, exposure and time it will happen. Good information and good marketing will bring many visitors, converting into sales and/or a quality website sustaining a great Page Rank.
About the Author:
Anthony Parsons has been performing search engine optimization since 1998. In late 2003 I decided to fly solo and opened my own SEO business to service the global community. With my wife being an acknowledged copywriter, anthonyparsons.com as a business will continue stepping forward breaking the boundaries of conventional SEO techniques. Making a winning husband and wife team, we make SEO affordable for all budgets.
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