SILKFAIR Blog – August 2011

SEO is one of those posts that just opens itself up to even more questions as store owners work to really “wrap their mind” around what all is entailed.  Our hope, here at Silkfair, is to help you be better and more profitable with your online Silkfair store. Enjoy!

1. What is SEO?

SEO or search engine optimization involves finding out the best keywords for a certain website and by the use of optimizing a site along with off page work, making the site attain a higher rank in search engine result pages for those selected words. SEO is an aspect of online marketing. It can be simply explained as a means of making a site more visible and more significant for search engines like Yahoo, Google and Bing.

2. How does PageRank work?

A crucial method in which search engines are granting significance to web pages is based on the number of sites that are linking to it. PageRank is a kind of system implemented by Google that measures a certain web page’s importance based on the links and its link related factors. Each web page is giving votes to the links on that page and the power of the vote is usually determined by the number of links pointing to the page that gives out the vote. The votes are then divided among the links on the page. The lesser number of links, the more share of vote is given to every link. Internal links are given higher shares than the external.

3. How long will it take for my site to get listed on Google’s organic listings?

Getting listed and getting a good rank in search engine results pages (SERPs) are two different things. Getting listed is easy but getting a good positioning can take anywhere from a month to several years. Some of the determining factors for a good rank include:

• Is your site optimized for your relevant keywords?
• Do you have relevant and high PageRank links that point to your site?
• Is your site SEO and web crawler friendly?
• How much competition do you have in the industry? Newer sites in highly competitive categories will definitely have an uphill battle. There are no quick solutions if you want to settle for the long haul.
• Are you using ‘white hat’ SEO strategies?
• Have you submitted press releases for syndication, established social media accounts and set up a YouTube channel?
• Are you keeping your content updated through blogs and articles regularly? Search engines do love fresh and original content.
• Have you created an XML site map and submitted it correctly to Google?

4. Should I get into pay per click (PPC) or sponsor links at MSN, Yahoo & Bing or focus on organic SEO strategies?

Organic SEO optimization alone is not a "marketing plan." An appropriate online marketing plan includes sponsor link setup & management. There are times when you can disable Sponsor links but if your rank drops in the listing because of algorithmic changes, you still have a backup plan that can be easily enabled to drive traffic to your website.

5. How much do Sponsor link programs (PPC) cost?

Google Ad Words and Yahoo Sponsor Search provide sponsor results to many search engine and directories. The total cost of these PPC plans will depend on the following factors:
• Number of keyword phrases you want to promote
• Cost of every click for those keyword phrases
• The position you want to maintain for the phrase
• Frequency of clicks

6. Google is the only search engine my customers always use. Why should I submit to other sites?

While Google is the top search engine these days, you cannot afford to discount the traffic that you will be generating from Ask, Bing and Yahoo. Yahoo is perhaps the Webs top portal and Bing is owned by Microsoft. Searching with IE using the address bar will automatically default to Bing. If you aren’t in these search engines, then you are probably losing market share.

7. Do I need to submit to all the directories mentioned previously?

Yes. Directory inclusion is as important as optimization itself. It builds inbound links that will enhance your credibility with Google.

8. Why should I still pay for an organic plan once I get a good rank?

A good organic placement is a moving target. Organic rank is never guaranteed and always subject to change. As soon as you have stopped concerning yourself about your awesome organic placement, your competitors are still out there working to overtake your throne. SEO is an ongoing process if you want to always stay on top.

9. Can I optimize my page for 20 keyword phrases?

Definitely, no. A single page cannot be optimized appropriately for 20 keyword phrases or something that many. As a general rule of thumb, most experts recommend that you use one or two keyword phrases for every page. You may have to utilize sub pages or create new ones for related keywords.

10. Will I participate in reciprocal linking?

About 95% of these reciprocal linking requests are spam. The pages that will link to your website are buried deep within the linking site and will not offer you any advantage. Exchanging links with an industry-relative site is legitimate. Always remember that link exchanges should be equal. If their link is only a click off on the front page, then yours should be as well, and not four pages deep in the site directory.

Business performed through the internet is vital to online stores. Your success relies on the ability for you to readily reach the public eye. Google is the window to almost all internet users and can provide any online store the most optimal source for advertising their name. For a store owner, this can prove to be vital for their success, so using all of Google’s resources is necessary to keep up with the fast pace of the internet.

Google+ recently removed all non-public profiles from its network, forcing many users to resort to other devices or databases for their needs. The Google+ is a user device similar to a social network allowing users to meet new people and search the internet. Unfortunately for companies, the SEO removed any companies from its database, keeping the system primarily for personal users. Google does offer a powerful source for online store owners, so finding a way to use their applications and still obey the rules can prove to be quite advantageous.

Real Name- or Other Name?

By using your personal profile on Google+, you can still let others know about your company. By editing your “Other Names” or “Nicknames” option to refer to your business, you allow people searching for your company to locate your business without violating Google’s rules. Ensure that your names are marked as public so that it will index it along with the rest of your information with Google. This should help you avoid any discrepancies with Google while still enabling you to utilize their available tools. By doing this, you create a window through Google+ to your site. Your business is not actually listed on the Google+ database, but will still be available to searchers.  

Violating Rules and Regulations

No it doesn’t violate the rules set by Google. It is merely a way around the ruling. Google is not currently allowing any businesses or companies to have a profile on Google+ yet. This doesn’t mean that they won’t change their rulings at a later time to make room for companies though. Perhaps with a little time, Google may make room for businesses on their Google+ network.  

Optimal SEO

There are many windows into the internet, but utilizing Google is one of the most optimum ways for an online shop owner to get renowned. The search engine reaches the majority of the world, and offers many versatile applications for its users. A mechanic does not use a single tool for every job they do, there are many tools in a toolbox to make the job easier. Taking advantage of not only one, but all of their applications can offer you and your online store a window to the public eye.
Using your profile on Google+ as a window to your business can help direct traffic to your site. By utilizing all the abilities of search engines, you can help your business spread through the internet more effectively. The more people that see you, especially in different places across the internet, the more likely they will be inclined to click on you. Make yourself available to the public as much as you can and help your business flourish online.