Since 1998, I have spent the first few months of each year looking for the best search engine optimization (SEO) tips from the end of the previous year. This year I have come across the best SEO tips so far.
SEO Tip #1: Make Google Alerts Your Personal Online Spy
Google Alerts is a great way to let the world’s largest search engine be your personal online spy. This takes the search engine optimization insider to a whole new level. Here’s an excerpt straight from Google….
“Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic.
Some useful uses of Google Alerts include:
* follow up on a developing story
* stay up to date on a competitor or industry
* get the latest in a celebrity gold event
* stay on top of your favorite sports teams”
As you’ve probably guessed, it’s the second most important to us, “staying up to date on a competitor or industry.”
Here’s how it works… Every time Google finds a reference to the query or topic you’re asking for, an email will be sent to you with the details. This is like having an online spy to make sure competitors aren’t using your protected keywords (trademark names, company names, etc.). It’s also an instant identifier for when your site or product is mentioned in a news story or even a topic. It’s hot so you can take advantage of the situation. It’s the world’s easiest way to stop competitors’ dirty tricks and identify trends you can instantly capitalize on.
It’s fast, free, and works every minute of every day. Let Google Alerts (http://www.google.com/alerts) do the most time-consuming legwork while you reap the rewards.
SEO Tip #2: Optimize your 404 page and always be found
“Error 404: Page not found” is a boon that most webmasters curse. Why? Getting a visitor to any page on your site is fantastic! Do not lose this chance. Not only can you make your “404” page a valuable sales tool, but you can also use the following search engine optimization techniques to attract customers in droves.
A.) Use your primary keyword in your title, add a “pipe” (usually above the Enter key), and then use your secondary keyword. Here is an example for an SEO site “SEO – Search Engine Optimization Tips”
B.) Add keyword rich content using one or two keywords for the page. If you have less than 250 words on the page, only use one keyword and use it no more than three times in total. In bold the first use and in italics the second or third use. Keep in mind that this is an “inactive” page, so just tell the visitor what your site is about and whet their appetite with a good description. Something like this works fine… “Thanks for visiting SEO (bold) Group, Inc. We’re sorry you’ve landed on a missing page, but don’t worry, if you’re looking for the best search engine optimization tips (bold) , you’re in the right place…” This will go on for a couple of paragraphs or as long as you like and then end with something like “Click here (link) to visit our site map or click any link on the left” .
C.) Add your site’s standard navigation system (bar, column, etc.) as mentioned above.
D.) Make the look of the custom 404 page match your main site as closely as possible with a template, combo palette, cascading style sheets, etc.
E.) Create a link to the sitemap page, if available, and make the link easy to find. You want your visitor to get off the 404 page and into your main content as quickly as possible.
Setting up a custom 404 page link usually takes less than five minutes at most major web hosting companies like Godaddy.com. But whatever it takes, it’s worth the effort.
SEO Tip #3: Take Linking (Even More) Seriously
I saved the most important for last. If you want to get good results on any search engine, especially Google, linking is the MOST important thing you can do. It’s that easy.
Here are the five things you MUST do to get your site #1 on Google:
A.) Find the highest page rank sites with links to your site AND your competitors’ sites.
B.) Run monthly link campaigns and get the best from the websites identified above.
C.) Do regular checks of the pages that continue to link to your site. Also make sure you haven’t been moved from a high page rank page to a lower one (don’t be fooled!)
D.) Remove any penalized sites you link to; As soon as possible!
E.) Check your search engine ranking AND your competitor’s for each of your keywords each week. Do this, at a minimum, for Google, Yahoo, MSN, and Alta Vista.