Surely you have heard someone say that they wish they could clone themselves in order to do all that they need to do. In the 21st century, you really do need to be in more than one place at a time and accomplishing this is possible in the virtual world, although it is not possible in the physical world (at least not yet).

Perhaps you have already set down your goals for next year and these goals include ramping up your marketing efforts. Even as you wrote them down, you probably knew in the back of your mind that your goals were lofty. You probably wondered how you were going to get some of this done with all of the other things you have to do. Did you include “get more help” or “delegate certain tasks” as one of your goals? If not, it is not too late to include that in your plans.

The great thing about hiring a firm such as Increase Visibility to assist you with SEO and your efforts to improve organic search placement is that you really can be in several places at once. The real you can take care of the day-to-day tasks that are a part of running your business, while the virtual you can be active in various online communities and showing up in the places where you need to be to reach your current and potential customers.

You can work on your own behalf, even while you are sleeping, taking a well-deserved vacation or chatting with a client by participating in:

-Facebook
-Twitter
-Digg
-StumbleUpon
-LinkedIn
-MySpace
-YouTube

In addition to this, you can also create promotional videos that you can put on your website and promote in the avenues mentioned above.

Although you may want to choose a certain aspect of your online marketing campaign that you want to maintain personally, Increase Visibility is there to help with the rest. We are also here to offer advice on just how to shape your online presence.

Professional search engine placement will help you gain more national and international exposure, generate “hot” leads, and ensure that your marketing campaign is effective and brings the return on investment that you seek.

On Monday we talked about how SEO and organic search placement can be compared to two different decision-making processes: one where a person makes a quick decision using instincts and one where someone takes their time to talk over the advantages and disadvantages of the choices at hand. When it comes to deciding how a website ranks in search results, search engines use a more than a few criteria (in fact Google looks at more than 150!).

Well, although Google uses a sizable number of criteria, it does not take forever to come to its conclusions. This is why you need the assistance of a firm like Increase Visibility, so that your website marketing program has all the correct components in place when Google stops by to check you out. You definitely want to be prepared. Search engines do check often…at first. But if it seems like your site has little new material to offer, they will space out their visits more and more until your website becomes an afterthought and you do not want this to happen.

Many of your customers may also make rather instantaneous decisions. Whether they see you in search engine rankings or see your company name in a list of press releases, they probably will not spend all day deciding which link to click to continue their online journey.

Again, you need to be primed and ready. You need to make certain that the prose they see is crisp and clean. You also need to have already worked on name recognition through your online marketing efforts. We all go for what is familiar–even when we do not realize that it is familiar. Returning customers know you already. However, the newer customers whose attention you want to grab may not be acquainted with you just yet, but if your name has been floating around the web on blogs, directories and social networking sites, they will click on a link leading to you because your name is familiar.

Let Increase Visibility help you make sure that your name is front and center in people’s minds when they think about your industry. One of our SEO marketing plans can put you at the top. With our Level III Platinum Plan, we will help you broaden your customer base with blog commenting, article marketing, video marketing, podcast marketing and social bookmarking—just to name a few of the services that we provide.

When you make a decision to choose one thing over another–be it a burger over a chicken sandwich or a blue sweater over a green, you are probably unaware of just how complex this transaction really is. Well, if you take a while to make decisions and spend time talking it out and going over the pros and cons for each option, then you might be aware of some of the complexities.

However, if you are the type of person who just picks something quickly based on instinct, then you may not really be aware of all that goes into choosing one item over another.

Ok, so how does all of this apply to organic search placement and search engine optimization, you ask? Which scenario–the instant decision or the talking-it-out decision–be compared to SEO?

 Well, the answer is that both scenarios can be applied to SEO. And here is how:

A Large Number of Factors Go Into Search Engine Placement

Did you know that Google uses more than 150 different criteria as they try to figure out where your website should  fall in search results? This means that like the person who talks over every aspect of a decision, Google has a lot on its mind when it is selecting which websites will rise to the top and which will sink to the bottom. And of course Google is not forthcoming about sharing exactly what these criteria are or how they may change. They are not going to reveal their recipe and have everyone else cooking up a monster search engine.

Increase Visibility Can Help

This should not scare you, however. It simply means that trying to get into the mysterious mind of Google is not a job you should tackle on your own.  Increase Visibility specializes in search engine optimization, but cannot promise to have all of the answers,  Be very wary of anyone who tells you that they have cracked the code and that they know all the secrets of the various search engines.

 Here at Increase Visibility we do not claim that we know every, single aspect of just how a search engine makes its selections, but our staff does have  long and solid relationships with many search properties  and we will put this to will put to work on your behalf. The search engine industry is constantly changing and with our continual vigilance in studying the latest trends, we can provide you with a competitive advantage.

Call us today at 877 SEO ADVICE, 877 736 2384 or email us at info@IncreaseVisibility.com with questions.

And check back on Wednesday for more on this topic.

On Monday, we talked about how entering the world of Twitter without a little guidance can be like jumping into the pool without your water wings. Twitter does not have to become overwhelming and over time you may find that it is actually very helpful.

Twitter poses the question “What are you doing?” and then limits you to 140 characters in which to provide the answer.

 Business works on connections and if you are genuine, people will be drawn to you. Ask to follow people and give them permission to follow you, if you think it will be beneficial. Aim to post often enough, but not too often. It will take a little time before you find your comfort level. Obviously, a post every 5 minutes is too much, yet posting once a month means you won’t gain a lot of momentum.

 But be warned: If you are using Twitter for business, it is not a confessional. You probably would not always tell a client exactly what you are doing over the phone or in an e-mail. Keep that in mind while you are using Twitter.

Last week I went to a networking event where a woman noted that some people seem rather whiny in their Twitter posts. Think about the sum total of your posts and put your best foot forward. You can be human and admit a bit of frustration, but if you use Twitter to vent constantly, people will be turned off.

 Instead, use your Twitter account as a way to publicize your new and existing products. Let people know about the new, exciting things you are doing. You can also use it to link your company to current events.

 While it is true that all of your customers may not flock to Twitter, know that the ones who do are people who like to stay on top of things. These are people who are likely to help spread word of mouth quickly to their contacts when they learn of something new. You want to harness the power of these connections to get the word about your products and services and grow your business.

 Since you may not reach all of your customers through Twitter, you still want to keep the other components of your web marketing plan going at full speed too, Increase Visibility can help you do this. We specialize in Search Engine Optimization, but we have a full menu of services to make sure you and your business get noticed.

You may have heard people tell you should use Twitter, but actually taking the plunge can be rather intimidating. Since I just got off of the phone after trying to explain the difference between MySpace and Facebook to my mother, I know that hearing the phrases “Twitter” and “tweet” make some people’s heads spin.

I am going to be brutally honest here: I’ve only recently embraced Twitter myself. I quickly jumped in to the world of blogging, but I had to be coaxed into taking the plunge into micro-blogging. And that is all Twitter is–a blogging application that is shrunk down so that each entry has a limit of 140 characters.
They are small but you better believe that this tiny microblogs pack a powerful impact and they can go a long way towards boosting your business. Just be sure that you do not jump into those waters before you’be had a few swimming lessons.

Like all social networks, Twitter has its own etiquette, and you do not want to be the one at the party who is unaware of the rules. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind:

Conduct Business as Usual

If you want to use Twitter for business, set up an account specifically for that purpose. You can use a separate account to keep family and friend updated on your latest personal news.

Be Polite

Just as you would not interrupt a private conversation, be aware that when you see @[insert name here], then that is a Twitter post that is directed at a specific Twitter user and you shouldn’t interrupt.
(Now some of you will say that if a person really wanted to say something privately, they should not post it on Twitter. You have a point, but I do not make the rules; I am just passing on the tip.)

It’s Okay to Pull Someone Aside

That being said, it is possible to send someone a personal message via Twitter. The Twitter control panel will allow you to do this and then the message is like an IM (instant message) and it will not be visible to the public.

Of course Twitter is just one aspect of social media. If you want to implement an entire social media marketing strategy, turn to Increase Visibility. We can go over your business and help formulate a comprehensive SEO marketing plan to optimize you web presence. Then we will assist you in creating buzz by using  article marketing, social bookmarking and blogging. Social media marketing will help your search engine ranking by improving link popularity while at the same time building direct traffic to your site.

Come back on Wednesday to learn more about how Twitter can be great for business.

One important thing to remember about increasing your visibility is that you have to meet people where they are. While it may seem logical for web users to use certain phrases to find you, they may not follow “logic.”
Even when the customer is wrong, they are still right. Your potential customers may not have found you yet because, to them, you are inaccessible. Now, you may have done all the “right” things, and yet you remain invisible to them.  How can that be?

 
Here is one example of this: It is quite possible that your website can get high rankings for a certain keyword or set of keywords…but if the consumers you seek do not use that keyword to find you, then what good is it? You may be getting all sorts of people to come to your website, but if they are not your target audience, then you  will have a great search engine ranking…but you still will not be connected to the people who really want to reach. Increase Visibility has been recognized for its work in organic optimization and reputation management.

 
There are SEO firms that will promise you great rankings, and they may help you improve your ranking for a while, but will you see results and growth in your customer base? Plastering keywords everywhere is not a strategy for long-term growth.  As we mentioned above, if you are getting lots and lots of hits from people who do not purchase your product and spend only a few seconds on your site, you may not have gained very much. Even the exposure to your site may not really pay off if they are not interested or spend so little time there that they don’t glean enough information to remember your company.

 
This is one reason to hire experts, like the team at Increase Visibility to analyze your website. Yes, you can get information on search engine rankings and page views on your own, but are you certain that you know how to interpret them. Do you have the time to really sit down and analyze your website stats AND take care of your day-to-day operations?

 
Increase Visibility has the expertise you need to figure out not only how many people visit your site, but how they use your site. Gaining information on user behavior is critical to understanding how to make you website “sticky.”

 
If you don’t know, when people in the web world refer to a site as “sticky,” this indicated that the site has pages that hold web users’ interest. When a website is “sticky,” web users are not quick to leave and they stick around to view other pages, getting to know the website and the organization behind it.

When you hear another company talking about how much traffic their website gets or going on about just how much business they do on their website, you could dismiss it as bragging…or you could decide that you might want to do the same for yourself. Just because someone else inflates their numbers does not mean that you cannot achieve the same and more.

 
Sometimes other people can make things seem easy and we don’t see all the work that goes on behind the scenes. Anyone who claims to be a “natural” at Organic Search Engine Placement probably has some help. And there is nothing wrong with getting some assistance.

 
You need to run your business and you probably do not have time to continuously monitor your website’s traffic and statistics. At the same time, you know you need to improve your web traffic to bring in more of the business that you spend so much time managing.

 
This is where Increase Visibility can help. We offer comprehensive SEO plans. Not only do we provide services to help you get more business; we take the time to monitor your existing web traffic to get information on your customers’ viewing habits.

 
Some SEO firms promise yo get you lots of visitors and tell you that they will promote your site in the right places without taking the time to get to know something about you, your business and your customers.
When you let Increase Visibility analyze your  online marketing, we can help you target your efforts effectively. We look at:

 
-Page views (by hour, day, week, month, quarter, and year)
-Unique visitors (In other words, are your page views coming from the same people or from many different people? Who are your repeat customers?)
-The pages that get the most hits
-How internet users find you (Which search engine leads the most people to your site? Are people visiting you after seeing your company mentioned on someone else’s website?)
-What time of day brings the most hits?

 
Answering questions like these can make the difference between a successful and a so-so internet marketing campaign. When you know something about who is visiting, why they are visiting and when they are visiting your site, you can craft a plan to keep existing visitors coming back and find ways to bring even more people to your website. Request a free website analysis from Increase Visibility to get started.

Many people choose to keep their business and personal lives separate, but that does not mean that you cannot apply advice from one sphere to get things going in another. Some of the techniques that work in your professional life can be beneficial for your personal life and vice versa, if you tailor the advice correctly. 

Be honest and upfront
Good relationships, whether it is a friendship, a romance or a customer-business interaction rely on honesty. So use your homepage to tell your customers who you are. 

Leave a trail…but don’t be too mysterious
One time-honored piece of advice for romantic relationships is to keep ‘em guessing and preserve the mystery. Well, you do not want your customers to have to wonder where they can find information on your products and services. What you do want to do is leave a trail so that they can get to you. You can do this by using meaningful keywords that will lead them to your website when they type these words into searches on search engines. 

Maintain their interest
Sometime relationships get stale when it seems like there is nothing new going on. When customers think they know all there is to know, they may lose interest. Keep things fresh by sending out periodic press releases about the great things that are going on with your business. And update your website with current information about new products, awards, and industry happenings. 

 Just as you’d do with a significant other in romantic relationship, you can remind your customers of what a great thing it is to be in business with you. Use anchor text to link to pages in your website that may not get a lot of attention.  

Seek expert advice
We thumb through magazines, read books and turn to television shows to get advice for how to relate to friends, relatives and significant others. We can do the same for our business dealings. If you want to know how to make your company and your website more visible and increase traffic, turn to Increase Visibility. With a staff of 11 different optimization teams at our disposal no job is ever turned down, no matter how big or how small. Call us today at 877 SEO ADVICE (877-736-2384).

On Monday, we discussed how the word “blog” was derived from nautical terminology. Blog came from “web log” which in turn came from log, a record that a ship’s captain kept about the ship’s dealings at sea.

Another term with nautical roots that has great significance for organic search placement is anchor text. When it comes to making your website more and more visible, you need to make sure that your website is making good use of anchor text. Good content can do a lot for you, but not if no one can find you.

Words, phrases, and even sentences that appear underlined and often highlighted in a different color on a website are anchor text. Just as an anchor was very necessary to keep a ship from drifting, anchor text is a key element in keeping search engines from drifting past your website in favor of the competition. When you connect certain words to the URLs for pages in your website, you are anchoring those words. A search engine will notice that your website has been pinned down to these words and will inform internet users that your website has some connection to the words you chose.

With that in mind, it is very important to choose anchor text wisely. There was a time when websites all over the internet, simply connected a hyperlink to the words “Click here.” After all, we have been told to use verbs and suggest action to customer, right?

Well, the days of using “click here” as effective anchor words are over. This tells search engines that your business is related to “click” and “here.” Unless those two words represent your key products and services, you do not want to use them. An internet user is very unlikely to type in those two words to find your business.

What you want to do is choose anchor text that highlights the kinds of words and phrases that your customers will use when they are looking for your business online. Increase Visibility can help you determine proper keyword terms to promote for organic listings. You may think that you know how potential customers are looking for you, but it is entirely possible that they are using search terms that you never even considered. Our SEO plans include expert keyword analysis. Once, Increased Visibility zeroes  in on the search terms that people use to find you, we can help you optimize your website to that these keywords are being used effectively on your website.

Sometimes when we have invested a lot of time, money and effort into something, we really want to see it through. And that strategy works, in some cases. However, there are times when you have to cut your losses.

Starting all over again does not have to be all that difficult, especially if you start with the right firm. And Increase Visibility is just the firm to help if you have been frustrated with your past efforts to get your website noticed the way you want.

If you have put a lot into your business, and want it to succeed, then you need to make sure that you are doing all you can to promote and market your products and services. This means that if you have already invested in someone who said that they could get you top search engine placement and they have not, then it is time to look elsewhere. You are only throwing more and more of your hard-earned money away if you continue to use the services of a firm that cannot deliver. And it is quite possible that someone who had promised you “pie in the sky” results only did so to lure you in and now you find it hard to walk away because you think you have put too much in to start all over again.

Successful Search Engine Placement Takes Time
Increased Visibility takes the time to understand your business, your goals and your customer base. A company that promises to get you SEO by using an approach where they try to blanket search engines and directories with your website is playing a numbers game and these games often do not work. We take the time to submit your web pages manually and that makes all the difference. Search engines know spam when they see it.

Do you know the question?
What you need is a natural approach to search engine optimization. We start by learning about what your key clients are looking for an analyzing how they search the web when they want to find an organization such as yours. We know you want to be the answer that your target audience seeks, but you have to find out what questions they are asking. Then we can help you craft your web pages as answers to the search terms they pose.