BLOG SEO ENGINE

Now that I’ve shared the link-building methods I’ve used to successfully achieve top Search Engine rankings, and build a number of online businesses, I thought I’d cover some of the do’s and do not’s you should consider when implementing any search engine optimization campaign.

For starters, let me remind you that this is a marathon not a sprint. This is something I’ve shared with all of my consulting clients who either expect instant results or don’t have a full grasp on how Search Engine Optimization works.

If you want page one listings in twenty-four hours, I can do that for you. All I would need to do is find a keyword phrase that isn’t all that competitive and shows listings for press releases, articles, or social media on page one of Google. Then I’d put a link on my high authority blog with the keyword in the title or send out a press release from a site that already displays a result on page one. But what’s the point? Once indexed, the corresponding listing will be there for three to five hours and then vanish as quickly as it arrived. SEO is not about creating a flash in the pan but rather applying search engine optimization best practices that result in top rankings that last with little or no maintenance. If you can accomplish that goal, everyone wins.

To get to the top you must pace your link-building efforts. In the next section, I’ll actually show you how to do this. Again, build links too quickly and you’ll get penalized. Build them methodically over time, and in the right way, and you’ll achieve lasting results. Always keep the long-term in mind when it comes to SEO. I can tell you from years of SEO experience that when you start an active link-building campaign you may experience what’s known as the "Google Dance." This is when you see your results shoot up one day, disappear the next, and bounce from position to position. This is actually a good sign. It means that Google is acknowledging your link-building activity and trying to award your site with an appropriate search position. Also remember that it’s common to see little movement during the first few weeks or months of link building. Stay the course though. Upward movement of search position can happen quickly and significantly. Often times you have to prime the pump before you see results. All I can say is have faith in the methodology because it works. Optimizing your web pages and building quality inbound links produces results.

The other area to consider is link diversity. More often than not, you are going to find one link-building technique that you prefer above all others. This is natural and occurs with almost everyone. Nonetheless, you have to remember that Google is not just looking for inbound links; they are also looking at link diversity. You need to focus on attracting links of all kinds, not just a specific kind. Articles, blogs, forums, etc. all matter. Always seek to build a diverse set of inbound links versus putting all your eggs in one basket. If you were to focus on a single link type and Google changed their algorithm and devalued those links, your SEO efforts would become meaningless. Spread the risk and show Google that sites of all kinds are linking to your online resources.

One area that you should always be cautious of is full SEO automation. As mentioned previously, I’ve experimented with link building automation tools, and nine out of ten times they hurt your rankings. Either the tools themselves are flawed or, if functional they can easily be misused. Don’t fall prey to the dozens of vendors who promise search engine optimization automation. I confess that I do use a few automated tools but in a very limited way—to help me manage the dozens of websites and blogs I’m optimizing for at any one time. However, none of these tools handle 100% of the task. Rather, they are semi-automated and require interaction.

Some automated tools, which are more focused on keyword research or monitoring, are safe to use. For example, the one automated tool I do use religiously is Google Alerts. Set up alerts by visiting Google.com/alerts to see which sites are picking up and posting your content. Keyword research tools are also very helpful for reducing the time it takes to select strong keywords for your optimization efforts. You can see all of the tools I approve on my secret page.

The final area of caution is trying to be a lone ranger. When I started in SEO there wasn’t much of an SEO community. Today, tens ofthousands of people either make a living with search engine optimization or at least participate in SEO-related discussions on a regular basis. I encourage you to reach out to others in the community via forums and other online resources to ask questions and join the discussion. This is why I created the Internet Marketing Forum—to help streamline and build your knowledge of Search with like-minded individuals.