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Category: Search Engine Optimisation

Karma is a Metric – Build Likes for Links

Karma for Links - Gareth Simpson - 17.05.13

If you didn’t already know, links to a website are often considered one of the most important aspects of SEO. Historically this was a strong indicator of a website’s credibility, that was until the spammers learned to manipulate these factors in order to increase rankings. Google had no choice but to penalise these low quality sites with the Penguin algorithm update.

The search engine has made it clear that it does not like these low quality techniques. In fact, they have been saying the same thing in their Google Webmaster Guidelines since around 2002.

So what does Google want to see? It wants to see brands earning recognition for the good work that they do. It wants links to be a representation of a real world relationship or affiliation. They want quality and meaningful search. Here are a few ideas for sustainable methods of “like building”. Continue Reading

English Disco Lovers Unite: Using SEO to Promote Good Causes

Sunshine - Colm Hebblethwaite - 18.02.13

By Colm Hebblethwaite

The economic storm that has raged for the last couple of years has left most industries cowering under shelter, as social unrest and tension continues to bubble up around the world. In the midst of all this, the SEO industry seems to stride through the chaos unharmed; growing healthily year on year.

During 2012 there were 9.1 million searches for terms related to SEO services, companies and tools. There were 13 million published blog posts with “SEO” in their titles all over the web and the mighty Amazon was stocking well over 2,696 books on the topic.

What this all means is profit, both for the marketeers and their clients when they see increased revenue from more traffic and more conversions.  But is that it? SEO is, after all, not fundamentally about profit but is about increasing exposure and spreading messages (brand or otherwise), which can  lead to future profits.

So, is it possible to harness the power of SEO for promoting good causes without profit as a motive? Continue Reading

iOS 6 Causes Analytics Dilemma And Google Look At Augmented Imagery

Cold Blue Bean - Dave Langdale - 16.01.13

So it’s 2013 and I imagine many of us are fruitlessly trying to cling onto our New Year’s resolutions like an alcoholic’s resolve in the aftershave aisle. Mine was to stop dressing up recently thawed fish and seating them around the dinner table for Sunday lunch. Needless to say I failed miserably.

It seems that the resolution of the SEO world is to roll out predictions for Google’s antics over the coming year and sit with their fingers crossed hoping they come true. And, if they’re anything like me, they’ll be doing it sat fully clothed in the bath, listening to Classic FM and writing Relocation Relocation fan fiction where every episode ends with “and that’s how Kirstie died”.

But we’re not concerned with the future in this newsletter. So read on for stuff about iOS 6 analytics issues, Google patents and some sad news. Continue Reading

AuthorRank and SEO – A Prediction For 2013

AuthrorRank SEO Prediction - Dave Langdale 14.01.12

AuthorRank isn’t exactly revolutionary news for 2013. Speculation about its implementation has been growing furiously ever since this Google patent was released in 2011:

“The digital signatures can be used to influence the ranking of web search results by indicating the agent responsible for a particular content piece. In one implementation, the reputation for an agent is expressed as a numerical score. A high reputational score indicates that the agent has an established positive reputation.” – Google Patent (11 May, 2011)

Because of this, and the multitude of useful articles out there about it already, making a prediction about the timing of the update or the possible factors involved in measuring the ranking would be fruitless to the point of lunacy.

So instead, I’ll be prophesying what impact it will have on SEO. Continue Reading

Using Real World Events to Create Great Link Bait

Cold Walk - Holly Hayman - 12.12.12

We’re all pretty sharp when it comes to commercialism. Think Coca-Cola’s Santa Claus, Cadbury Easter eggs and those interesting mascots for the 2012 London Olympic Games. They all have one thing in common – they aren’t anything to do with the original event, but they have become an integral part. This is where SEO link bait comes in: finding a niche in a popular event that you can monopolise and turn into your own recognisable, multi-national conglomerate. Continue Reading

Choosing The Right Domain Names

Bath Abbey from the Central Square

Whether you’re an existing company, a brand new start-up or a couple of university students looking to start a blog about mushrooms, you need a website. Why? Because the UK internet economy is currently worth around £100 billion and is growing all the time. If you don’t have one, you’ll be left behind fast.

So you know you need one. But where do you start? Is it by choosing your CMS or the colour of your homepage?

The answer has to be your domain name. It’s the single most important thing you’ll ever choose. And because changing it is a world of hassle – think business cards, letterheads, t-shirts, van prints – you want to make sure it’s right first time.

Here’s how. Continue Reading

Going on a Google Holiday

Chinatown in San Francisco

When you search, you’re not just looking for a webpage. You’re looking to get answers, understand or explore.Google

This statement from Google is clear. Its mission is changing. Search is developing in a way that means it is no longer about being pointed in the right direction for an answer, but more about providing that answer as soon as the question is asked.

The addition of the knowledge graph is the perfect example of this, with Google offering up key stats and information on specific searches enabling users to find the information they require without the energy sapping click of a mouse through to the ever-reliable Wikipedia. Continue Reading

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