rise to the top: seo basics for landscape design professionals
DESCRIPTION
This presentation was originally presented as a LIVE webinar to members of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) in 2011. The presentations focus is on the basics of search engine optimization.TRANSCRIPT
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Rise to the TopSEO Basics for Landscape Design
Professionals
Chris Heilerlandscape industry writer, speaker & social media consultant
www.LandscapeLeadership.com
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There has been more innovation the last 3 years than in the previous 30
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We also have more roles to play in our businesses
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How do we know what is most important?
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How much SEO expertise do you really need to have?
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We’re going to focus on what’s practical and actionable
1. An overview of search engine optimization basics
2. The top 7 SEO tasks and practices to focus on
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The (very) basics of SEO
Website Design
Link BuildingContent
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The top 7 SEO tasks and practices to focus on
1. Updating your website regularly2. Updating your domain name registration3. Determining your most important geo-specific keyword
phrases4. Claiming your business listing in the most important online
directories5. Optimizing your website for speed6. Link building within your website7. Social networking and content creation
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Task 1: Updating your website regularly
KEY POINTS:
Update your website at least once each month.
The best way to keep your website fresh is by blogging on a regular basis.
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Task 1: Updating your website regularly
What you can do right now:
Create a calendar listing the various updates you can make to your website on an annual basis.
Check out Posterous.com—the easiest way to start blogging—then write 5 blog posts in 5 days.
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Task 2: Updating your domain name registration
KEY POINT:
The search engines see websites as being more credible the longer the domain name is registered for.
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Task 2: Updating your domain name registration
What you can do right now:
Renew your domain registration for at least two years into the future. Use GoDaddy.com “WHOIS Domain Check” to find details regarding your domain registration.
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Task 3: Determining your most important geo-specific keyword phrases
KEY POINTS:
Include the phrases people are actually using to search for your services.
Use geo-specific keyword phrases.
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Task 3: Determining your most important geo-specific keyword phrases
What you can do right now:
Use my keyword phrase spreadsheet as a general guideline.
Use Google’s free keyword tool to analyze geo-specific keywords that may work best for you.(Google, “Google keyword tool” to find it)
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Task 4: Claiming your business listing in the most important online directories
KEY POINTS:
Take control of your business listing on directories like Google Places.
Make sure company information is accurate and filled out completely.
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Task 4: Claiming your business listing in the most important online directories
What you can do right now:
Visit Google.com/Places to claim your listing on Google Places.
Complete your profile on APLD’s website.
Get your business listed on LandscapingNetwork.com
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Task 5: Optimizing your website for speed
KEY POINTS:
Search engines don’t want to send someone to a website that takes forever to load—it makes them look bad.
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Task 5: Optimizing your website for speed
What you can do right now:
Visit http://fpt.pingdom.com/ to test the load time of your website.
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Task 6: Link building within your website
KEY POINTS:
You need to let the search engines easily crawl your website—the deeper the better.
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Task 6: Link building within your website
What you can do right now:
Find and fix any broken links on your website (Wordpress plug-in “Broken Link Checker” or http://validator.w3.org/checklink.
For Wordpress users, install the plug-in “Google XML Sitemaps” and another plug-in that will display “related posts” after each blog post.
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Task 7: Become active in the social networks
KEY POINTS:
When you are active on a social network like Facebook, the search engines see you as an invested, engaged participant in a hugely popular online community. This gives you credibility and relevancy beyond just your website.
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Task 7: Become active in the social networks
What you can do right now:
Install social share plug-ins on your blog
Install Facebook and/or Twitter widget on your website
Add social buttons to your website
Share content across the social networks
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How much SEO expertise do you really need to have?
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How I can help you:
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Get in touch with me…
(616) 953-0774 (voice or text)
Twitter.com/chris_heiler
Facebook.com/cjheiler