Search Engine Optimization
Based in the Ottawa area, we help our clients with their computer and Internet needs. Our specialty is modifying our client's website content to ensure that search engines such as Google, Yahoo! and Bing give it a high ranking. In addition, we offer assistance in the design of web stores to simplify the shopping experience and enhance revenue.
While search engine optimization (SEO) is our specialty our clients often have other computer related needs. Our expertise allows us to help our clients in a variety of ways. We also offer webmaster services, computer network services, data recovery and other computer services.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Happy New Year!
2010 is not far off! I just want to wish everyone a Happy New Year.
On the SEO side of things your domains are likely all one year older which gives them a little more credibility with Google...
(Seriously...)
On the SEO side of things your domains are likely all one year older which gives them a little more credibility with Google...
(Seriously...)
Labels: SEO
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Different Google results on different computers
One of my clients called me about his ranking in Google. More specifically, he wanted to know why a competitor was placing at the #1 position in Google for keywords that we had worked very hard to target. While Google does not share their search engine algorithm they did shed some light on this issue here. This link is also very helpful because it provides instructions on how to disable this customization.
To summarize, Google tracks your computer's use of their search engine and will customize your results based upon your previous search behaviour. Additionally, the amount of customization increases if you are signed into your Google account.
Since I happen to have access to my client's Google account I signed into it and tried to duplicate his search results but that did not work. Presumably Google uses a cookie or similar file on the client's computer to store search history.
To summarize, Google tracks your computer's use of their search engine and will customize your results based upon your previous search behaviour. Additionally, the amount of customization increases if you are signed into your Google account.
Since I happen to have access to my client's Google account I signed into it and tried to duplicate his search results but that did not work. Presumably Google uses a cookie or similar file on the client's computer to store search history.
Labels: Google Services
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Blogs and SEO
Some of my clients have expressed interest in adding a blog to their site but are uncertain about how to do it. Generally, my experience is that most businesses look at a website as distraction to their business. Any business which pays good money for a website should make the effort to use that investment and enjoy the benefits.
Here are a few pointers for any business considering starting a blog:
1. Blogging is cheap. Blogger and Wordpress along with other blogging services will allow you to set up a blog on their servers at no charge.
2. Blogging is easy. The software packages allow integration of pictures and video content too. It is no more complicated that then sending email with an attachment. If you do not care about adding pictures and video then it is easy as sending plain old text emails.
3. When done correctly, a blog can drive traffic to your site. When done poorly, it will not.
Currently search engines are very sensitive to links meaning that sites that link to your site add to your relevance for given content. Thus, if you have a blog on a Wordpress server and you point to it from your site that link association boosts the credibility of the wordpress server as far as the search engines are concerned. Linking back to your website from the blog will mitigate this.
A better way to run a blog is to have the blog integrated into your site. This site uses Blogger. I've customized the look so that it matches the rest of the site. I've also produced an example blog which uses Wordpress. When the blog is integrated into your site any links to your blog are now links to your site.
Integrating a blog into an existing website can be a fair amount of work. Here is an example of a blog that I customized for a client of mine. Here is there existing site (which I did not produce).
Here are a few pointers for any business considering starting a blog:
1. Blogging is cheap. Blogger and Wordpress along with other blogging services will allow you to set up a blog on their servers at no charge.
2. Blogging is easy. The software packages allow integration of pictures and video content too. It is no more complicated that then sending email with an attachment. If you do not care about adding pictures and video then it is easy as sending plain old text emails.
3. When done correctly, a blog can drive traffic to your site. When done poorly, it will not.
Currently search engines are very sensitive to links meaning that sites that link to your site add to your relevance for given content. Thus, if you have a blog on a Wordpress server and you point to it from your site that link association boosts the credibility of the wordpress server as far as the search engines are concerned. Linking back to your website from the blog will mitigate this.
A better way to run a blog is to have the blog integrated into your site. This site uses Blogger. I've customized the look so that it matches the rest of the site. I've also produced an example blog which uses Wordpress. When the blog is integrated into your site any links to your blog are now links to your site.
Integrating a blog into an existing website can be a fair amount of work. Here is an example of a blog that I customized for a client of mine. Here is there existing site (which I did not produce).
Labels: Blogging Software