Effective Blog Commenting

If you’ve read anything about SEO, you’ve probably learned that link building is a way to help your website’s search rankings. One tactic of link building that is frequently used is blog commenting.

Blog commenting, in terms of link building, means posting a comment on a blog post, while at the same time including a link back to your site. It is, in fact, a quick and easy way to generate links. But where do you find quality blogs to comment on? And what do you say when you do find them?

First, let’s find some quality blog commenting opportunities with this simple 5 step process…

Step 1) Download either the Firefox or Google Chrome web browser if you haven’t already done so.

Step 2) Visit SeoQuake.com and download and install their free plugin extension.

Step 3) In your browser, go to http://www.google.com/blogsearch

Step 4) Enter +”keyword” +comments in the search box, where “keyword” is the name of one of the keywords you would like to rank for. For example, if you wanted your site to rank for the term “dog food”, you would enter +”dog food” +comments in the search box…

Step 5) Using the SEOQuake plugin you installed, your search result should look something like this…

Of course, it may not look exactly like this, but the point is the SEOQuake plugin now shows the PageRank (PR), among other things, of each page in the search result.

It takes a minute or so to load all of the details for each page, but once it does, what we want to do now is sort by PageRank…

Once you’ve done this, you’ve now found a list of some great blog commenting opportunities!

The reason this works is because PageRank is one of Google’s quality indicators for a page. And by doing a search using a keyword you would like to rank for, you’ve found highly relevant blogs, too.

Quality + Relevancy is the magic formula when doing blog commenting, and with this process you’ve just compliled a nice, clean list of blogs that are highly targeted for the keyword(s) you want to rank for!

Now, the second question is… I’ve found some blogs, what should I say?

Here are a few DOs and DON’Ts in regards to blog commenting that you may find useful.

DO…

1) Add to the conversation. One of the great motto’s with SEO is keep it real. Read the article and read what other’s have commented already. Then, add a blog comment that is both informative and useful, while at the same time naturally linking back to your site.

2) Vary your anchor text (the text the link is composed of). If you’re building links for the term “dog food” don’t make the text link say “dog food” on every comment you make. Use your company or a product name occasionally in order to have a nice diversity of anchor text.

3) Link to your most relevant page. In our example, link to your “dog food” page instead of just your homepage.

4) Try to build a relationship with the blog owner. This could lead to an interview or other link building opportunity down the road.

DON’T…

1) SPAM! Posting “Nice blog, check out my site here” will have a negative impact on you and your site in a multitude of ways. Simply don’t do it.

2) Use your keyword in the name field. Sure, the name field is often automatically made into a link. However, this reeks of spam and is not recommended. Instead, naturally link to your site from within the comment itself.

3) Post something without reading the article and/or the comments. You can’t provide value unless you read word-for-word what the author is trying to say.

Bottom line on blog commenting, have a goal of providing as much value as possible. By doing so, not only will this improve the quality of links/traffic coming to your site, but it may lead to new link building opportunities from fellow commenters and/or blog authors.

Is DMOZ Still Worth Submitting To?

DMOZ.org is widely considered one of the most valuable directories on the Web. It gained high value from Google because of the highly selective process it takes for a website to get into the directory.

However, as the Internet evolves, some things can and do change. This is what has happened with DMOZ. While Google used to have a version of DMOZ called the Google Directory, they found that this directory was used very little. Over time, Google started relying on it less and less, and relying more and more on Web search. With that said, there are a couple important things you should know about DMOZ.

First, it’s still sometimes used by Google in their search results to display a snippet of what a site is about. If you block a page with a robots.txt, Google is unable to crawl that page and therefore unable to find anything useful to display as a description in their search result. Google can see the anchor text of the link, but that’s really all of the information they can gather.

This is where DMOZ can come in. Google trusts DMOZ and their team of editors, so if DMOZ says a website is about a certain topic, Google trusts that and can use that as a description snippet in their search engine.

Second, regarding the value of a DMOZ link, there aren’t any special bonus points with Google because it’s from DMOZ; it’s treated as any other link. However, DMOZ pages tend to have a higher PageRank than other websites. In that respect it’s a highly valuable link if you are successful at getting listed.

With that said though, if you get a link from a respected authority site, that link can carry the same (if not more) value to your website than a DMOZ link.

Bottom line: treat DMOZ as a great linking opportunity that you can and should submit your website to. However, it’s not the end of the world if your website isn’t included in DMOZ, as there are plenty of other great linking opportunities on the Web.

Linkbuilding for SEO

Here at Webbed Marketing we get a lot of questions about link building, how it helps with search engine optimization and how a site can build links. Here is a new piece developed by our own Tommy Redmond and Ryan Whiteside that covers the basics.

Linking is a key ingredient to search engine ranking. In fact, it is possibly the key ingredient. While the exact algorithms and formulas for the most popular search engines like Google and Bing remain a mystery, the basic components are understood. The quality of inbound links a website has is directly proportional to its search engine ranking.

 So what are inbound links? Inbound links are any instance where a website on a different domain links to one of your webpages. Does your business or organization have a listing on Wikipedia or Yelp? If so, then there is probably a link from that listing to your website (probably to your homepage). This is an inbound link.

 Quantity of Links –

 The more inbound links a website has, the more important the search engines deem it to be. This is because, in the search engine’s point of view, links mean popularity. And popular websites are what the search engine assumes that people want to visit when performing a search. The more important or popular the search engine deems a website to be, the more likely the search engine will serve that website up as a result for related searches. The websites deemed most important will earn the highest page one search results.

 Quality of Links –

 Of course, quantity is not everything with link building. Just as important as the number of inbound links your website has is the quality of these links. For example, earning a link from a large, well respected website like Wikipedia might have as big an impact on your search engine ranking as earning 100 links from small, relatively unknown blogs.

 Earning links from these large websites is not particularly easy, which is why a diversified link building strategy is a key component to any search engine optimization efforts. Targeting a large number of smaller linking opportunities and a few “heavy hitters” will typically produce the best results.

 Whether targeting a large, well known website or a niche industry blog, relevance is always important with link building. Having a link from a large, national retailer is great for a business selling products carried in that retailer’s stores, but it’s probably not a great fit for a company in the B2B information technology industry.

 METHOD:

 The term “link building” refers to the process of increasing the number of inbound links to a particular domain or website.

 There are literally hundreds of different methods that can be used to increase the number of inbound links to a website. Some of these methods produce results relatively quickly while others can take months to develop. Additionally, some methods for link building are considered unethical and can lead to a search engine blacklisting a website.

 Below are some of the link building methods that Webbed Marketing will use to optimize a client’s search engine rankings. These are well established, ethical methods to earn inbound links that have been proven to have a dramatic effect on search engine rankings. Because every business and organization is different, the best link building strategy will always depend on a number of different circumstances. The methods listed below are just a sample of some of the more common link building methods.

 Blog Submissions –

 Blog submissions are one of the fastest and easiest ways to earn inbound links. There are millions of blogs on the Internet, most of which cater to a particular industry or topic. This is significant because earning relevant links is so important. This is particularly a good strategy for new or young websites.

 Social Bookmarking –

Social bookmarking is the process by which people can bookmark, share and even vote on Internet content. Websites such as Digg and StumbleUpon allow users to browse countless press releases, news stories, blog posts and other pieces of content. Visitors to these social bookmarking sites can show their interest in a particular piece of content by voting on it. The most popular content is displayed on the front page of these social bookmarking sites, which can generate substantial web traffic. However, every piece of content that is “bookmarked” receives a link – regardless of popularity.

 Directory Submissions: General and Niche –

 General Directories

Directories are large websites which catalogue and organize other webpages. For example, Yahoo! got its start as a general directory. Today, DMOZ is the most significant and respected general directory.

 Niche Directories

These directories are much more specific than general directories, catering to a particular industry or topic. There are niche directories for almost any business or organization, from wholesale foodstuffs to non-profit healthcare.

Although directories have fallen slightly in popularity as more Internet users rely on search for content, th search engines themselves view these directories as valuable and important. Thus, a link from a directory is given a good deal of credibility by search engines.

Columbus-Based Internet Marketing Agency Shares SEO Guidance to Prepare for Google Caffeine

Representatives from the search engine optimization (SEO) team at Webbed Marketing, a Columbus-based Internet marketing agency, announce that its staff and tools will be able to keep clients on top of their keyword rankings in the face of Google's latest algorithm change. Google "Caffeine", the newest alteration to the Internet giant's complicated algorithm, will affect how Web sites rank in the search engine. Webbed Marketing was sharing the breaking news, as well as their expertise on the topic.

"Google Caffeine, the most recent 'algo-change,' as SEO people like to call them, is expected to provide more pages in Google's search results, in addition to being much faster," Ryan Whiteside, SEO expert at Webbed Marketing said. "This is the type of Internet marketing and SEO news that we stay on top of at Webbed; this is our passion, and we strive to continue meeting- and exceeding- our client's expectations."

With a full SEO staff, a proven record of successful SEO campaigns, and an extensive client list, Webbed Marketing is prepared for Google Caffeine. In fact, according to Webbed Marketing, if Google Caffeine's claims are true, this will be an impressive addition to Google's already fast and in-depth search engine. The question Webbed Marketing is answering for users: how will this affect your Web site's search engine rankings? Web sites that avoid "tricking" the search engines will see very little difference with Google Caffeine. The sites that try to fool search engines through manipulation, forced keywords and writing focused for search engines, not humans, will struggle with this new algorithm. 

"At Webbed Marketing, we have dozens of methods for obtaining links," Whiteside said. "Each method is aimed at providing real value to the Web sites that are linking to our clients. Not only does it keep our clients happy with higher search rankings, it makes search engines, and the sites that are linking to our clients' sites, happy by providing a way that they can offer more information and resources to their visitors."

As the Internet marketing industry continues to advance, agencies like Webbed Marketing are determined to stay up to date on these trends, and use that knowledge and expertise for their clients' success. For more information on Google Caffeine, or to discover if your Web site is prepared for Google's latest algo-change, be sure to register for Webbed Marketing's webinar, "Wake up to Google Caffeine" on September 16 at 2 p.m. or visit www.webbedmarketing.com.

About Webbed Marketing 
Webbed Marketing is a team of experts in the Internet marketing field. Their goal is to grow businesses through the application of Internet resources. The firm specializes in search engine optimization and marketing, as well as viral marketing services, word of mouth and buzz measurement and social media strategies. Visit www.webbedmarketing.com for more information.

Source: Webbed Marketing
Webbed Marketing's Webinar: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/970514938

Tags: google, google caffeine, internet marketing agency, marketing agency, search engine optimization, SEO, seo program, viral marketing

What Is Google Caffeine And How Will It Affect My Web Site?

With the SEO program at Webbed Marketing, we are constantly keeping up-to-date on trends in the SEO and Internet marketing world.

Recently, a new point of conversation that came up is Google Caffeine.

Google Caffeine is the latest "tweak" in Google's algorithm, which affects how Web sites rank at Google's search engine. This most recent "algo-change" (as SEO people like to call them) is expected to provide more pages in Google's search results, in addition to being much faster. If these claims are true, this will be a nice addition to their already fast and in-depth search engine. However, the real question is…

How will this affect your Web site's search engine rankings?

The short answer: it depends. It depends on what you have done in your SEO efforts thus far. For the most part, Web sites that provide value to their visitors and avoid "tricking" the search engines will see very little difference, maybe slightly positive ranking boosts. The area where Google Caffeine will have a much larger impact is on sites that try to "fool" the search engines through manipulative or forced efforts.

One of the first areas where we have seen this effect is in Web sites with very poor inbound links programs. If your links program relies too heavily on one certain method of obtaining links, we have noticed that the new Google Caffeine will affect your search rankings in a negative manner. The same applies to Web sites that have many links from poor, spammy Web sites such as "link farms" and other "cheap and easy" link sources.

The key (as always) is to build out a well diversified links program.

Ensure that you obtain links from a multitude of sources and high-quality Web sites.

*Note* At Webbed Marketing, we have more than 10 different methods for obtaining links. Each are aimed at providing real value to the Web sites that are linking to our clients. Not only does it keep our clients happy with higher search rankings, it makes search engines, and the sites that are linking to them, happy by providing a way that they can provide more information and resources to their visitors.

Another area where Google Caffeine has had an effect is in "keyword stuffing." This means trying to "force" a keyword over and over again in the content, in hopes that it will help improve your search ranking for that keyword. This will not be nearly as effective with Google Caffeine.

Your content should be written for humans first, and search engines second. And the Web sites that have it backwards in order to "attempt" to have higher search engine rankings will be affected. The key (again) is keeping it real and having content that is truly valuable to your visitors. At Webbed Marketing, we aim to write content for our clients that appeals heavily to humans and search engines alike.

In summary, if your SEO program "keeps things real" with a well diversified links program and writes content for humans, Google Caffeine should have little affect on your search rankings. However, if you fear that you or your SEO company may be using "black hat" or even "gray hat" methods, you may see drastic decreases in your search rankings.

If that happens, be sure to call Webbed Marketing today and find out how we can help your company obtain better search engine rankings in a way that pleases both you and search engines, such as Google.

Tags: google, google caffeine, linking, search engine optimization, SEO

3 Steps To Promoting Your Website Through Article Syndication

Article Syndication continues to be one of the greatest ways to promote your website and receive quality inbound links. After all, search engines like it because you are adding fresh content to the web. Content that hopefully provides useful information and provides solutions to visitor's problems.

Too many SEO managers and website owners don't use article syndication effectively. They often use automation software to submit their articles to hundreds of unrelated directories, hoping that search engines give them credit for all of these inbound links.

Unfortunately, using this method of approach oftentimes does more harm than good. After all, search engines are not a fan of duplicate content. Especially when the content appears on a business directory, a muscle building directory, a gardening directory, and everything in between!

What you need to do is follow strategies that have been proven to be effective. Strategies that are friendly with the search engines and also provide great exposure for your website.

With all of that being said, here are 3 steps to effectively using article syndication to its full benefit…

1. Write Quality Articles

Write articles that are of good enough quality that you would be more than happy to place on your own website. Absolutely avoid any "automated article creation" software.

Visitors hate it. Search engines hate it. And it will provide a lot of negative buzz for your company if you use it too much.

Take the time to write 5-10 quality articles that provides good information. Don't worry about self-promoting your website in the article. That is what step 2 is for…

2. Use An SEO Friendly Resource Box

The resource box is the most important part of the article for you. It's your chance to promote yourself and also add links back to your site.

The resource box is also the most inefficiently used part of article syndication. Many website owners craft a resource box that provides almost no benefit to their company. They either provide too many links that don't meet article directory guidelines or their links do not have smart anchor text that will help their search engine rankings.

Most article directories only allow 2-3 links back to your site. So write a brief paragraph describing your company and weave in links that target your most important keywords.

As an example, if John Smith's company was Widget LLC and he wanted to rank highly for the keywords "red widgets" and "blue widgets", he would have a resource box like the following:

"John Smith is the CEO of Widget LLC. Widget LLC is dedicated to providing the best red widgets and blue widgets in the world. They also provide a money back guarantee on all of their widgets at their website."

Please note, "red widgets" and "blue widgets" in the resource box example above would link to the respective pages on John's site. This would help Widget LLC receive higher rankings for those particular terms. Be sure to write a different resource box for all of your articles! Target many different keywords so the search engines will understand everything that your website is about.

Using a simply resource box like this will certainly meet all article directory guidelines and provide maximum benefit to your site. Once you have your resource box written for all of your articles, it's time for the last step…

3. Only Submit To Quality Directories

This is the step that almost every SEO manager gets wrong. Understanding this puts you way ahead of your competitors. It's simply not a good idea to submit your articles to hundreds of directories. In fact, it's worse.

A better strategy is to only submit your articles to the 5-10 best quality directories. This provides a nice balance between receiving maximum exposure, without spamming the entire Internet with your article!

Don't feel bad for a second about only submitting your article to a few directories. In this case, less is certainly more.

Take the time to hand submit your articles so you can choose the most appropriate category. Here at Webbed Marketing, we submit all of our articles personally. We also constantly research the best article directories and strategies when we submit articles for our clients.

Use these three steps, and you will start building an article syndication campaign that works!

by Ryan Whiteside

Tags: article submissions, article syndication, submit articles