the key to search engine optimization jonathan hollingshead
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The Key to Search Engine Optimization
Jonathan Hollingshead
The Key to Search Engine Optimization
Terms used in this presentation
• Web page or page – a single document on the Internet, typically with a single topic
• Web site or site – a collection of individual web pages interconnected by hyperlinks
The Key to Search Engine Optimization
Terms used in this presentation
• Keyword – a word or phrase pertinent to a web page or site
• Organic search – unpaid search engine results
The Key to Search Engine Optimization
What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?
Search Engine Optimization is the process of influencing a search engine’s natural or organic results through design and content.
The Key to Search Engine Optimization
Ok…So what does that mean?
It’s simple…the design and content of your web site can determine where, if at all, you appear on search engine result pages.
The Key to Search Engine Optimization
Why is SEO important?
• Based on a 2014 study by Conductor.com, organic search is responsible for 64% of all web site visits.
• Business2Community reports that 60% of all organic clicks go to the top 3 results.
The Key to Search Engine Optimization
Common SEO Mistakes
• The most common SEO mistake is falling for optimization “techniques” that are simply “tricks” that exploit search engine algorithms.
• Search engines ALWAYS fix these issues and sometimes punish sites with negative rankings for using them.
The Key to Search Engine Optimization
Best Practices
1. Identify keywords to target2. Build keyword-rich content that is
unique to your site3. Build inbound links to your site4. Be mobile-friendly
The Key to Search Engine Optimization
Identifying Keywords to Target
• Keywords should be specific to who your page/site is trying to reach
• Start by determining your target audience
The Key to Search Engine Optimization
Identifying Keywords to Target
• Target audience: People looking for help (for themselves or others)
• What keywords might you target?• Keywords you might target:– Help for kids in Yourtown– Food assistance in Yourtown– Family help in Yourtown
The Key to Search Engine Optimization
Identifying Keywords to Target
• Target audience: Partners or Potential Partners
• What keywords might you target?• Keywords you might target:– Donating clothes in Yourtown–Ways to help kids in Yourtown– School partners in Yourtown
The Key to Search Engine Optimization
Identifying Keywords to Target
• Bright Futures Yourtown will come automatically, so you shouldn’t focus much on that keyword, but include it on each page at least once
The Key to Search Engine Optimization
Keyword-Rich Content
Although we covered keywords first, content is the most important part of a web site. Without good, unique content, your visitors won’t stay and search engines will have nothing to rank.
The Key to Search Engine Optimization
Keyword-Rich Content
• The average web page ranking in the top 10 on Google has more than 2,000 words.
The Key to Search Engine Optimization
Keyword-Rich Content
• A single page should have a single, focused topic.
The Key to Search Engine Optimization
Keyword-Rich Content
• How do we get good content and where does it go?
• Your core site will have content, but you can’t stop at the core site.
• Blogs are a great way to add good, keyword-rich content.
The Key to Search Engine Optimization
Keyword-Rich Content - Blogs
• Sites with blogs have an average of 434% more indexed pages
• Sites that blog more than 20x/month receive 5x more traffic than those who blog less than 4x/month
• Sites that blog have 97% more inbound links
The Key to Search Engine Optimization
Inbound Links
Why do you think inbound links important?
The Key to Search Engine Optimization
Inbound Links
• All search engines use mathematical algorithms to rank pages.
• While the make up of these algorithms are closely guarded, studies show that inbound links (or “backlinks) makeup between 55% and 65% of a total ranking.
The Key to Search Engine Optimization
Inbound Links – How to Build the Links
• As we mentioned before, web sites with blogs have 97% more backlinks, so BLOG!
• Also, a web badge program gives sites the tools to post a link to your site.
The Key to Search Engine Optimization
Web Badge Program
The Key to Search Engine Optimization
Questions?