Ok, so you’ve painstakingly crafted the ultimate press release for your website.  Now what?  have you considered Search Engine Optimization for your snazzy press release?  Chances are, SEO was left off your list but don’t fear… there’s help to be had in this arena.

Check out the video below on a handy Press Release SEO Grader.

SEO Link Building 101- SEOBOOK video on building quality backlinks -

This brief video give a really good overview on link building and ways that linking can increase your potential for better placement in search engines and brand credibility. Very often, not enough thought goes into a website owner’s linking strategy. This is unfortunate. A good back linking strategy for your website can make a world of difference!

Google Local Business Center is the talk of the town lately, so how do you add your website? Well, it just so happens I’ve added a quick and dirty Youtube.com video which breaks it down for you step by step (provided by smbwebguru)

Google also offers its own video located on the Local Business Center website, if you prefer to hear it from the horse’s mouth.

I’ll add, unlike BING’s current local Business Directory process, Google’s version allows for instant phone verification of your listing. Very nice.

I recently read an article from SEOMoz on the new deal between Yahoo and Microsoft’s BING. In the very near future there will be, in essence, a merger of search technologies between the two major search engines. While Google Search still holds fast in the dominance of search on the internet, these two combined forces are sure to add some interesting changes in the Search Engine Optimization landscape. Those of you out there who have held off on putting much effort into learning how BING ranks, now is the time to play catch-up!

Article from SEOMoz: Top 10 Things the Microsoft/Yahoo! Deal Changes for SEO – July 29, 2009

~ How much website traffic do you feel you need to meet your goals?

~ How many conversions will you need to meet these monthly goals?

…Better yet, what are your goals?

Many people think they need millions of visitors to achieve their company or website’s goals. Not true.

If your monthly analytics continues to grow and your actual conversion rate keeps you in the “green”, you very well may not need those millions of visitors. *smirk*

Over the past month or so there has been a good amount of buzz on one of Twitter’s new features, Twitter Lists.  Amy Porterfield breaks the system down for you in the video shown below…

Now that you know… who’ll be on your next Twitter List?

@swytch

This is a great little tool provided FREE from the fine people @ SEOBOOK.com. Its a fast and easy to use SEO tool which I highly recommend everyone take a moment and try. I’ve included a brief “how to” video below which takes you through the various features included with this free tool.

Did you find some new features in your analytics account recently? Learn more about Analytics Intelligence & Custom Alerts…

I’ll outline some additional new features in future posts.. stay tuned!

Well, many of you out there had already suspected this and any designer “worth their salt” knows to watch for this, page load speed matters!

Taken from sitepronews.com:

“Last week’s post about load speeds on Google’s Official Webmaster Central Blog finally confirmed the rumors which have abounded across the SEO sector for months – that Google now factors a site’s load-speed when assessing its search ranking.

And while this announcement, which comes as no surprise to those with their finger on the Google pulse, has drawn a few favorable responses from blog commenters, the overwhelming majority of readers have expressed concerns and doubts about the soundness of Google’s approach. At the forefront of these were questions primarily regarding the exact magnitude of any negative ranking impact carried by slow page loading speeds. ”

Now, there is still a bit of controversy of this suggested “Google factor”..but lets just say that if it was a “Google ranking factor”, it is but one of the various factors they use. In talking usability standard procedures… let’s make site’s timely people.

What are your thoughts on Page load Speed and Google Ranking?

Many times clients and “the generally curious” ask me what THE best way to get more followers and/or visitors to their sites.  My short answer is this:  “better content”.  Quite frankly, there is nothing that beats great content.  How does one get this type of visitor stimulating substance?

• Find something stimulating within your niche to write about.
• Search Twitter Trends
• Search Google Trends
• Test out Google Search Box terms, check out what people search for most frequently ( Good list to start with: http://searchenginewatch.com/2156041). This is really thinking outside the box and a nice trick to test out.
• Be passionate about what you are writing about. Show your style and add something that the reader can take with them (could be a tip, trick or whitepaper)
• Take note of what is “hot” in your niche or industry. Find a subject and write about it in your own words – inject your personality.
• Write about a professional colleague and their site/work.
• Most importantly, write frequently. Make your voice dynamic, not static.

That should get you started… so what are you waiting for?