How to write an effective press release
March 26, 2008 | 1 Comment
Online press releases have become an integral part of online marketing and SEO. Not only can you use this affordable and effective method to get the word out about your news item, but–if you know what you’re doing–you can allow it to play double duty and contribute to your SEO campaign.
By properly crafting your press release you’ll gain attention from industry experts, bloggers and the press all while improving your visibility. As an added–and very important–bonus, the interest that you generate can prompt people to create a “buzz” about your event with real traffic and increase inbound links to your site. Usually these links are the coveted inline links from content (mixed into content) that are so hard to get these days. Inline links are highly valuable to an SEO campaign and highly respected by Google.
What’s really cool about press releases is that you can affordably distribute your release through many easy to use online services. There are even some free distribution services available. Even for the pay services though, the cost is minimal compared to paying for traffic by the click. Press release services offer distribution for one flat fee so it’s much easier to estimate your costs and budget. Plus you get the residual SEO benefits of permanent links back to your site if you craft a well written and effective release that gains the attention of influential people.
To start off I’ll give you a quick summary about how to properly craft a press release. There are many other great resources on the web that are specificaly targeted to writing press releases so I won’t go into great detail here. Then in my next post I’ll move on to our target subject: Press Releases for SEO. Read more
8 Big Reasons Why PageRank Matters
March 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Now that I’ve taken the time to tell you about the common PageRank myths, I wanted to spin this another direction and tell you why PageRank does actually matter. I’m not trying to confuse you here if you follow my logic.
You see, there’s truth and there’s reality.
The TRUTH is that PageRank alone does not DIRECTLY influence your rankings and you shouldn’t spend all your time obsessing over it. It’s just a small part of many elements that go into the algorithms that decide who ranks for what.
The REALITY is that PageRank can indirectly influence your rankings in many ways. It can be used as a general score to be applied for the credibility of your site and–let it be said–Not everyone can get a high PageRank score overnight. This statement can’t be disputed. So, if a site does have a high PR score, it is a loose measure of it’s quality and respect on the web. Read more
PageRank myths and tips
March 20, 2008 | Leave a Comment
For those who don’t know what Google PR is (and I’m not talking public relations here) let me help you out. PageRank is Google’s way of assigning a rating to your site based on the amount of incoming links that you have to a particular page. High quality incoming links are like gold when talkin’ bout SEO. Therefore, you’d think that we should all be checkin’ our PageRank score on the hour right? Not so fast. Let’s quickly summarize what PageRank is and what it does and then we’ll talk a bit about why you shouldn’t take it quite so seriously. Let me summarize the process: Read more
Japanese Search Engine Goo (Funny)
March 13, 2008 | Leave a Comment
I thought this was kinda funny and another light-hearted break in the action here while I prepare my next post.
I’m not quite sure I understand the message though. Are they saying that the search engine “Goo” works harder and gives you more personal, hands on results? Or are they saying that they’re technology is so backward and non-technical that every time you hit the search button to get some results that you have to wait for an army of people to research your inquiry?
I’m just being a smarty, but this is funny regardless. Enjoy.
Don’t play with fire… or a blog.
March 6, 2008 | Leave a Comment
So, yesterday I was feeling pretty good about myself. I had just closed a potentially sizable deal with a company that wants to–get this–refer business to me and essentially ask for nothing in return.
I could get used to this.
I had a phone call, I met with a representative of the company, I called to confirm the deal was closed the next day, and then I set fourth to announce (and brag) to the world that I was one lucky mofo. I was going to be partnering with a company that plans to have up to 20 people on the street hocking my wares and all I have to do is show up, do what I do best and get paid. Leave it to me to find a way to screw it up. Read more
SEO copywriting 3.0
March 5, 2008 | 2 Comments
“Pretend… that a single visitor could make the difference between success and failure for your business. She has no time to waste poking around your site trying to figure out what you’re all about… What do you tell her? You’d likely explain by giving her the essential information about how you can help, and why you perfectly meet her needs, right? And I’m betting you’d want to explain it in the most compelling fashion you could, given what’s riding on the deal. In a nutshell, that’s what Google wants you to do with the content on your site.”
Brian Clark – Copyblogger.com
Copywriting for SEO is evolving into a highly skilled talent that goes way beyond just blindly stuffing your pages full of keywords. Readers are expecting more, it’s becoming harder to attract readers and the search engines are getting smarter; they know when they spider pages if it’s properly written and if it “reads” appropriately. Most importantly, search engines like links. Without highly useful, compelling, relevant content, you simply won’t get links; you simply won’t rank in the search engines. Because of this we need to know how to effectively write for SEO. Today I would almost suggest that the business of SEO is copywriting. Without a talent for writing your site will simply die. Period. Read more
Google and Privacy (Funny)
March 3, 2008 | 1 Comment
This is a good time to take a fun break from the serious issues of SEO and competing online and just take a few minutes to laugh. On that note I offer you a humerous video skit about Google and privacy.
Some people are really scared by Google. They complain that Google knows too much about us and their increasing power is dangerous and monopolistic.
I’m not one of those people but man did I find this video on YouTube hilarious. I originally found this on Jon Myers blog so I thought he deserved a shout out.
Do you think that Google is too powerful? Personally I don’t fault people for doing a great job, growing big and making a ton of money. That’s what Google has done and I don’t feel that they have any “Dr. Evil” ambitions. They simply want to provide the best services possible and dominate. So do you. So do I. What’s wrong with that?
They better stay out of my kitchen though. 
Check out Google street view btw. Pretty darn cool.
My only question is “Why Detroit and Pittsburg and not Cleveland?“
