Search engine marketing should be an important aspect of your entire marketing campaign. Online marketing and offline marketing should not be separate issues. In the same respect, the technical aspects of search engine optimization are not autonomous from the other aspects of a search engine marketing campaign. Search engine optimization is the collaboration of technical aspects of a Web site as well as content, links, traffic, social media, etc. Search engine marketing truly is a complete package.

One part of that search marketing package is your Social Media involvement. Social media is changing the way marketing is done. The days of push marketing are coming to an end. Marketing both offline and online are taking a new approach. Relationships are the key to success. Building relationships with your target audience in turn markets your product / service.

The social aspect of the Internet is becoming more and more obvious. Recently, Google has unveiled the Social Search feature, which allows users to find pertinent content from their social circles. Google finds relevant content from a user's friends and displays it under the other search results. The Internet is becoming more and more personalized. Does your current marketing plan account for these changes?

It's not all about simply putting a page on Facebook or tweeting once in awhile. You need to allocate the resources to successfully build a following on the various social media channels. Communicate with and provide the information your market is looking for. Market without Marketing. Provide the information your market wants and let them spread the word for you! By participating in social media correctly, your online visibility and search results will grow as well.

Times are changing, and search engine marketing is proving to be an important piece of the large marketing puzzle. Discuss your entire marketing vision with your search engine marketing firm, and make sure that your online marketing efforts reflect your entire marketing campaign. Look at the big picture, and your marketing efforts will be rewarded.

Labels: Organic SEO, Social Marketing

Talking with as many decision-makers as I do, I know it is hard to select a Search Engine Optimization agency. Few business people know what to ask or what to look for.

Google can guide your decision with useful information on how to select an SEO agency. Click on this link for Google's advice for Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

I could not agree more with Google advice. Here are excerpts:

Many SEOs and other agencies and consultants provide useful services for website owners, including:
• Review of your site content or structure
• Technical advice on website development: for example, hosting, redirects, error pages, use of JavaScript
• Content development
• Management of online business development campaigns
• Keyword research
• SEO training
• Expertise in specific markets and geographies

If you're thinking about hiring an SEO, the earlier the better. A great time to hire is when you're considering a site redesign, or planning to launch a new site. That way, you and your SEO can ensure that your site is designed to be search engine-friendly from the bottom up. However, a good SEO can also help improve an existing site.

Some useful questions to ask an SEO include:
• Can you show me examples of your previous work and share some success stories?
• Do you follow the Google Webmaster Guidelines?
• Do you offer any online marketing services or advice to complement your organic search business?
• What kind of results do you expect to see, and in what timeframe? How do you measure your success?
• What's your experience in my industry?
• What's your experience in my country/city?
• What's your experience developing international sites?
• What are your most important SEO techniques?
• How long have you been in business?
• How can I expect to communicate with you? Will you share with me all the changes you make to my site, and provide detailed information about your recommendations and the reasoning behind them?

While SEOs can provide clients with valuable services, some unethical SEOs have given the industry a black eye through their overly aggressive marketing efforts and their attempts to manipulate search engine results in unfair ways. Practices that violate our guidelines may result in a negative adjustment of your site's presence in Google, or even the removal of your site from our index. Here are some things to consider:

• Be wary of SEO firms and web consultants or agencies that send you email out of the blue.

• No one can guarantee a #1 ranking on Google.
Beware of SEOs that claim to guarantee rankings, allege a "special relationship" with Google, or advertise a "priority submit" to Google. There is no priority submit for Google.

• Be careful if a company is secretive or won't clearly explain what they intend to do.

• You should never have to link to an SEO.

• Be sure to understand where the money goes.
While Google never sells better ranking in our search results, several other search engines combine pay-per-click or pay-for-inclusion results with their regular web search results. Some SEOs will promise to rank you highly in search engines, but place you in the advertising section rather than in the search results. A few SEOs will even change their bid prices in real time to create the illusion that they "control" other search engines and can place themselves in the slot of their choice. This scam doesn't work with Google because our advertising is clearly labeled and separated from our search results, but be sure to ask any SEO you're considering which fees go toward permanent inclusion and which apply toward temporary advertising.

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I hope this sound advice from Google helps you select an effective Search Engine Optimization agency for your business.

Labels: Organic SEO, SEM Back to Basics

Google Analytics is a valuable tool that helps you better understand your Web site and the behavior of the people who visit it. Learn more about how Google Analytics can help you on our What Can Google Analytics do for me page. Understanding how your users interact with your Web site and how your Web site is performing is crucial to your online success. After all, how can you improve your Web site without knowing what is and isn't working for you? Google Analytics allows you to analyze your visitors' behavior and your Web site so that you can determine how to improve your online presence. Google Analytics helps you make better decisions regarding your Web site, and it gives you the tools to improve your site for increased success.

"The Basics of Google Analytics" White Paper was written to give new users an idea of how to install and use Google Analytics in a basic and easy to follow format. The paper details installation procedures beginning with account set up. "The Basics of Google Analytics" White Paper from E-Power Marketing should teach you all you need to know about getting a basic Google Analytics program up and running. The White Paper also explains how to work with the Google Analytics interface and how to gain a better understanding of the data that you gather from Google Analytics. Check out the White Paper now and learn how to get your Google Analytics program up and running!

Let E-Power Marketing provide you with Google Analytics Implementation and Support to install and start utilizing Google Analytics to improve your Web site performance.

Labels: Google Analytics