Google Places SEO Citation Goes Away
January 29, 2012
Welcome to the Google Places SEO Citations blog at Tucson SEO Solutions.
This blog covers local SEO which is dominated by Google, Google Places and the need for citations. The blog also covers just about any thing related to Google search results and related topics. I hope that you might glean some useful resources while you are here.
An Old Friend Goes Away
Well, maybe old is the wrong expression here. You see the relationship that I am talking about is about my DIY SEO Training site, Google Places SEO Citations. After only a few months in existence it had to go away as it did not meet my needs. I actually started building links back in January 2011 for a site that I called Google Places SEO .us. I would later change that name and re-brand all of the links that I had already built to focus on the Google Places SEO Citations
Over the past year I poured my heart and soul into this site. I created about 110 videos and loaded them onto the site. It was only then that I discovered a major problem. I was using the Ning social media platform to build out the site. The problem is the software creates pages for these videos that could not be excluded from the public unless the whole site was made private. Well, as an SEO guy I needed my site to rank well to show that I was good at what I do.
Other problems pop-up with how their pay-wall works. I also could not set up an affiliate marketing program. Since this was going to be a huge part of the marketing process I had to find other options. The new site we be called the Local SEO Services Group.
This will require that I also remove all 110 videos and 15 or so pages of content. This is due to another problem with Ning. If you leave any content on a Ning website when closed they will offer it to all of your members first. I had this happen before and someone took over my site and content and I was not compensated.
It was the removing of this content that made me have a death and dying experience. I had spent 100 of hours building out this site and creating video content. It had become a friend to me. It also represented a sense of accomplishment. I had managed to take this site to number 1 in Google for several keyword phrases. But now it had to go. And this was a way more sad experience than I had expected.
I became so sad, as if a friend or family member had died. Yes, this site had become a central part of my life and now it was going away. Yes, my friend I had become attached to my website, my work had become a large art of my existence. It also kinda like getting that pink slip from a long time job. It becomes a huge part of our existence and its passing produces grief. I am ok with this now, but that night, the night that site went away was a long sad night indeed.
Google Places SEO Citations Blog Local SEO Services Google Places SEO Google Places Citations
Do you own a local small business in Tucson, Arizona or elsewhere and you need Google Places SEO or Places Citations services? Then please call Tucson SEO at 520-505-6024 or email me Now!
Tucson SEO… Solutions that create probabilities out of possibilities.
Tucson SEO Solution 814 N. Belvedere Ave. Tucson, AZ 85711 520-505-6024
LinkedIn Finally Paying Off
January 17, 2012
Welcome to the Google Places SEO Citations blog at Tucson SEO Solutions.
This blog covers local SEO which is dominated by Google, Google Places and the need for citations. The blog also covers just about any thing related to Google search results and related topics. I hope that you might glean some useful resources while you are here.
LinkedIn Finally Paying Off
I have been using LinkedIn for several years now with limited success until recently. Then I attended The S.M.A.R.T. group meeting conducted by Christopher Porter. The focus of this training session was LinkedIn. I had recently sat down and had a long conversation with Chris and a small group of the entrepreneurs. He explained how he used LinkedIn for one of his clients. I walked away very impressed and very excited to hear is presentation.
I had put a lot of energy into LinkedIn and had joined about 2 dozen groups. I even started a group but I just didn’t get it. In his presentation he talked about building relationships with like minded people or those in your markets. I spoke up and mentioned that I had done this by phone when I was a national sales rep. But making this approach work online seemed odd to me.
But since what I was doing didn’t work I determined to give it a try. I started using LinkedIn in earnest of Monday, just two days ago. I have already begun to strike up multiple conversation. I simply began to go through the membership lists of groups that I belong too. I chose to take 2 different approaches to this process. I would split my time between local business marketing owners in Tucson and those involved in SEO, Social Media, or Internet marketing outside of Tucson.
I made sure to personalize each connection request by addressing each person by name. For those in Tucson I would mention that we had certain things in common such as we are both in the same city and group. And then I would ask for a connection. For those outside of Tucson I would note that we are in the same group and in similar business fields just as Chris had suggested. The response rate has been surprisingly good!
It’s when they accept the connection request that things get very interesting. Before I thank them for taking the time to accept my request I do some background research. I look over their profile and then visit their website. I am looking for something to use as a conversation starter. Sometimes I find broken links on a website or the website never loads. And I mention this in my thanks for connecting message.
Then I began to notice that most of the profiles were not taking full advantage of the 3 profile links that the site offers. You can turn these generic links into powerful anchor text links very easily. When I saw this on a profile I would respond like this.
I just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to make a connection on LinkedIn.
FYI: I provide SEO and here’s a tip to improve your profile for Google rankings. In the profiles website area you can add a keyword phase to each link like… (Here I individualize my message by adding a keyword phrase from their websites home page.)
This provides 2 solutions. It tells your profile visitors what your website is about much better than Company Website (that they were using.) It also creates a more useful anchor text link that will assist your website in ranking better in Google.
Now, I have really gotten their attention as I am providing information freely that can benefit their businesses. This approach was been warmly accepted and it gets a conversation going.
Speaking of getting a conversation going I just got off the phone with someone that I had just made a LinkedIn connection on Monday. Jennifer does seminars on internet marketing and was looking for someone to refer clients to that need SEO services. Is that cool or what?
I tell you this story as a reminder to you and myself that social media is really about building relationships. I know this but I have had a difficult time implementing it. I teach that websites needs to bring a selling presentation onto their pages. In other words what you do off line needs to be done online when it comes to selling. You must do a features and benefits presentation and then ask for the sale (call to action.)
Now, I will be teaching that you can actually bring the relationship part of sales into social media. Let’s face it, when given and opportunity people generally do business with people that they like. As for me I plan on taking what I have learned with LinkedIn and apply it on other popular sites like Facebook. I can easily see how this can be applied to people who like your pages.
Well, I just checked my email and I have a dozen people who have recently agreed to make a connection so I gotta go!
What say you?
Google Places SEO Citations Blog Local SEO Services Google Places SEO Google Places Citations
Do you own a local small business in Tucson, Arizona or elsewhere and you need Google Places SEO or Places Citations services? Then please call Tucson SEO at 520-505-6024 or email me Now!
Tucson SEO… Solutions that create probabilities out of possibilities.
Tucson SEO Solution 814 N. Belvedere Ave. Tucson, AZ 85711 520-505-6024
A December To Remember
January 15, 2012
Welcome to the Google Places SEO Citations blog at Tucson SEO Solutions.
This blog covers local SEO which is dominated by Google, Google Places and the need for citations. The blog also covers just about any thing related to Google search results and related topics. I hope that you might glean some useful resources while you are here.
A December To Remember
This is my fifth December in business as Tucson SEO Solutions, and it has been a December to remember. My first December was as well. I was featured in the local daily newspaper, back when people still read the newspaper, and more specifically the business section. I was quoted extensively in a two page spread about successful local E-commerce websites. That article changed things forever.
At that time I had trying to make this a viable business while still running a housecleaning business. That article was read by a former boss who eventually signed my first full year contract. Not only was I doing SEO for an international manufacturer I would rebuild there website. This turned out to be the only none local SEO project as well as my only website development job. But it established the business and I have not looked back much since then.
This gig also allowed me to close that cleaning business and to focus completely on SEO. That too was a December To Remember. By the time December of 2008 rolled around things were looking very bleak in the economy. The phone didn’t ring once during that month. The whole month was spent planning and preparing for the launch of a marketing program called The 109 Day Link Building Explosion. But basically it wasn’t something to write home about, that’s for sure.
When December of 2009 rolled around Geri was more in the hospital than out. She was dying off a liver disease. And again, the phone never rank nor did we have any email inquiries. I was a zombie most of the time and compared to Geri I was in excellent shape. This is the kind of month that destroys you or makes you better. We both came out the other side for the better considering the gravity of the situation. Yes, it was a month to forget, but we never will.
By the time December of 2010 rolled around Geri decided that she wasn’t ready to die and had staged an incredible come back. And business wise we had survived and were developing a local SEO training website with a partner from Tennessee. Again December was a cruel month as the phone never rang nor did I get any email inquiries. There are lots of business cycles and for this business December has always been a down cycle for us.
December of 2011 was developing just like the previous years. I keep myself busy preparing for a seminar presented in Tucson on the 13th. There we managed to raise about about $250.00 for the Community Food Bank which was way cool. Then I few days later I starting getting inquiries by both phone and email and all from Tucson. I was also approached by other industry professionals to collaborate on projects as a complete SEO, Social Media, and Web Design team.
This is something that I have tried to establish several times previously. The difference here was that I was not the one initiating the idea. I quickly jumped on board. We are currently working on a redesign and upgrade to this site and another site to host my training videos. The platform that I had chosen wasn’t working out. I also learned that the site needed to be better focused on Local SEO services as opposed to Google Places SEO. Lesson learned, and now I’m moving onto a platform that meets all of my needs.
This was something that I was trying to develop with another of like minded individuals. But that plan feel apart in November, only to be resurrected in My December To Remember the 2011 version. Plus I ended up acquiring more leads and new clients this month then in any other previous month. I have essentially filled up my schedule for January of 2012. And to be real honest I didn’t see this coming.
And on the personal side of things Geri health continues to improve as well as her attitude in general. On a personal growth note we as a family have grown by leaps and bounds this month. I am a very fortunate man and I know it. I am blessed, supported, and loved!
So what about you?
What say you?
Google Places SEO Citations Blog Local SEO Services Google Places SEO Google Places Citations
Do you own a local small business in Tucson, Arizona or elsewhere and you need Google Places SEO or Places Citations services? Then please call Tucson SEO at 520-505-6024 or email me Now!
Tucson SEO… Solutions that create probabilities out of possibilities.
Tucson SEO Solution 814 N. Belvedere Ave. Tucson, AZ 85711 520-505-6024
The Three Faces Of SEO
January 12, 2012
Google Places SEO Citations blog at Tucson SEO Solutions
Welcome to my blog. The blog covers all things Google, Google Places, Google Places Citations and other related marketing issues. My hope is that you will find the blog useful while you are here. I also encourage you to leave a useful comment.
The Three Faces OF Local SEO
Whenever you are considering SEO for local markets there are 3 distinct areas that you will need to address. They are the free organic results which I referred to as Local SEO. Then depending on your markets you will likely have to deal with the Google Places business listing. You will also need to address Social SEO which includes things like Facebook and the Google + 1 button and reviews.
Google changed its search results back in October of 2010 to focus on providing local search results. This new algorithm is called Places Search. Places search emphasizes its local business listing service called Google Places along with its free organic results. It is also referred to as blended search.
Google often will provide its Places listing first in the results followed by the organic results. Or it may provide a mix of organic and Places listings at the top of the results. This is driven by how competitive a market is. Google may show no Places results or up to 7. It is constantly testing to determine what works best.
It is now important to address both the organic or free results and the Places results when putting together a long term Local SEO marketing plan. Every keyword phrase is unique, and thou they may be very similar, Google may currently present the results differently based on many factors.
Depending on the keyword phrase targeted you will need to determine if you will be better served by targeting one or both forms of the search results. If Google is presenting only showing Places results first for your keyword phrase then the Places is what you will need to focus on.
Let’s be clear here about what SEO is. SEO is a competition between your website or business and other sites or businesses for your targeted keyword phrases. This is why I consider it a game. Except with this game the competition is ongoing and never ends.
It is important to develop a long term strategy for this very simple reason. Once this program is implemented your rankings will improve over time. As you rank higher in the search ranking your competition will begin to take notice. They will likely attempt to counter your success, especially when you start to take business away from them.
All SEO efforts should first focus on what changes need to be made to your website and or Places listing to optimize both. This is known as On Page or On Places SEO. It is the area that you have direct control over.
Then is the catch up portion of SEO and it represents work that is done off your site and on other websites. Is commonly known as Off Page SEO for the organic side and Off Places SEO for the Places side of things.
When discussing Off Page SEO we are basically considering the creation of backlinks. These are links on other websites that point to your website. When we are discussing Off Places SEO it is all about creating citations on other websites. A citation includes the following information the business name, location, and telephone number.
The best place to start is by locating the resources that your competitors have already used. Then it’s time to move onto the creation of backlinks or citations that your competition is not currently using.
This phase is easy but time consuming to implement. The downside is that little is hidden from your competitors when it comes to SEO. Just as I can locate where your competitions backlinks and citations are located your competition can just as easily find yours. This is why it is extremely difficult to out rank a competitor who is motivated and paying attention.
This is why the smart SEO says “SEO is never a one and done proposition.” You must be continuously adding backlinks, citations, or both to maintain your rankings. Reviews and + 1 votes can make or break a business in the Google search results.
You will also need to have a social presence on the internet by using sites like Facebook or Linked into address Social SEO. It is extremely difficult to judge the impact that Social SEO has on rankings. The general opinion is that its role is expected to increase overtime. This is especially true when you add the Google + 1 button onto the mix. It is extremely important that you learn how what you do offline can impact your online rankings. And this is where Social SEO becomes extremely important.
Also you need to be spending time on social sites that your customers are using. An example of this is LinkedIn. It is a great place to make B2B connections, but not so good for B2C connections. B2C works much better on Facebook.
What say you?
Google Places SEO Citations Blog Local SEO Services Google Places SEO Google Places Citations
Do you own a local small business in Tucson, Arizona or elsewhere and you need Google Places SEO or Places Citations services? Then please call Tucson SEO at 520-505-6024 or email me Now!
Tucson SEO… Solutions that create probabilities out of possibilities.
Tucson SEO Solution 814 N. Belvedere Ave. Tucson, AZ 85711 520-505-6024
Pizza And Beer SEO
January 1, 2012
Google Places SEO Citations blog at Tucson SEO Solutions
Welcome to my blog. The blog covers all things Google, Google Places, Google Places Citations and other related marketing issues. My hope is that you will find the blog useful while you are here. I also encourage you to leave a useful comment.
Pizza And Beer SEO
Yep, one of our standard recommendations to our clients is that they practice Pizza and Beer SEO. This is how it works. When you’re building a website keyword list you should gather a diverse group of friends, family, and business associates for pizza and beer at a local hot spot. A group of twenty or so should work just fine.
Once you have the group together ask them all to make a list of words that they might enter as a search query to find your business on the web. Then sit back and enjoy your time together over pizza but hold off on the beer for now! Then after an hour or so repeat this process and record the results.
Now, allow your party to get started with the consumption of beer for the following hour. Now repeat the same process asking what keywords the group would use and record these results as well.
Now, your website keyword research kicks into high gear. You will need create a database and record all of the information that you have gathered. You can now comb through your data to see what the common trends are and glean the gems that you might have easily overlooked.
The food and alcohol will affect each person differently and these changes will be observable in a different set of keywords that are developed. Another factor that comes into play is simply the passage of time. The longer that each person has to think about it the more likely that they will choose words that they hadn’t the first time.
It’s actually like having three different groups for market research for the price of one! Not only is Pizza and Beer SEO an effective keyword development strategy, you also save on the cost of surveying three separate groups.
You, as a website owner, have no way of knowing what a persons state of mind is when they are searching for your products or services, in most cases. If the searcher is hungry or well feed will affect how they think. If someone is highly stressed or under the influence these factors will play a significant role in determining what queries that they will use to find something
It is your job to figure this out and implement what you discover both on and off your website. Pizza and Beers SEO provides real insights that will likely never be gleaned from an automated search tool.
Update: 11/14/2008 I just presented a seminar on keyword development here in Tucson where we included Pizza and Beer SEO. The program and presentation were very well received.
Update 12/03/2011: I should point out that we no longer develop websites, but we are heavily involved in developing keyword phrases, especially those of the longtail variety. Also, I recently shared this at a social media training group and it was very well received. The toughest part of SEO is often thinking like your potential customer or client. Think like your customer or client and you will do well.
What say you?
Google Places SEO Citations Blog Local SEO Services Google Places SEO Google Places Citations
Do you own a local small business in Tucson, Arizona or elsewhere and you need Google Places SEO or Places Citations services? Then please call Tucson SEO at 520-505-6024 or email me Now!
Tucson SEO… Solutions that create probabilities out of possibilities.
Tucson SEO Solution 814 N. Belvedere Ave. Tucson, AZ 85711 520-505-6024
