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Simple Changes That Produce a Faster Website and Boost Rankings!


February 25, 2011 by Dustin

stop watch Simple Changes That Produce a Faster Website and Boost Rankings!The time that it takes for a website to load is commonly referred to as site speed. Site speed is measured from the moment a link is accessed or after a URL is entered into the browser search. Depending on the type of website or how heavy its content is, a site’s speed is typically between 2-5 seconds. At any rate below 2 seconds a website’s speed is thought to be excellent. A speed between 2-5 seconds might not be the fastest, however it is perfectly acceptable. Anything taking 5 seconds to load can annoy or turn away visitors and be less popular with search engines.

A site’s speed is only one of the many factors that search engines utilize in their website ranking algorithm. Search engines employ ranking algorithms in order to assign a page rank to a website and to ensure that a search returns with the best and most relevant results. The following are options that site owners can apply to their sites in order to reduce the time it takes for their website to load. Reducing a sites load time or increasing a sites speed will generate better customer responses as well as appeal more to search ranking algorithms.

Before attempting the following suggestions you should try out these free tools to see how your site measures up. Pingdom Load Time Test is an easy tool that allows you to assess the speed or your website. The program GTmtrix analyzes site speed, provides a grade for your website and generates a list of potential problems that they recommend that you fix. These are just two of the many free tools available to measure the performance of your website. Upon completion of these tests, if you are unsatisfied with your websites performance we recommend implementing the following changes.

Compress your Website:

Website data compression converts all of a website’s text elements that are written in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript into bundles. After the compression process is complete websites no longer have to send and recognize each individual file.… Read the rest

WordPress Plug-Ins That Can Make SEO Much Easier!


February 18, 2011 by Dustin

wordpress plugin WordPress Plug Ins That Can Make SEO Much Easier!WordPress is a web-based software that allows users to create and manage websites and blogs.  The open source structure enables people from around the world to contribute to and maintain their WordPress website whether on WordPress’ web server or installed on their own web server.  Although WordPress initially began as a blog tool it has developed into something so much more.  By utilizing plug-ins, widgets, and themes users have the opportunity to fully customize their experience. A plug-in is software that can be added to existing software, like WordPress, which adds a new specific capability to the larger software application. For a full list of WordPress product features visit WordPress Product Features.

There are over thirteen thousand plug-ins available for the WordPress software making it extremely easy to tailor it to your specific uses.  The following are some useful SEO plug-ins that the WordPress open source community has provided.

All-in-one SEO plug-ins such as WordPress SEO and SEO Scribe are designed to perform overall multiple SEO tasks that include optimizing content faster, providing great keywords, maintaining reader engagement, constructing quality links and increasing traffic! Most of the all in one SEO plug-ins operate similarly and perform similar functions.  The following are among the most utilized all-in-one SEO WordPress plug-ins:

Below is a list of related, individual plug-ins that can be helpful in improving your blog or website’s Search Engine Optimization and enhancing Social Media Marketing:

AddToAny Share/Bookmark/Email:

AddToAny creates a customizable panel that showcases social networking sites.  It makes it extremely easy and convenient for a visitor to submit to any social networking sites.  The share menu organizes the social media sites according to most visited.

SEO Friendly Images:

The SEO Friendly Images WordPress plug-in automatically adds the “ALT” and “title” attributes to any images on your

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A 30,000 Foot Look at Pay per Click Advertising


February 11, 2011 by Dustin

Advertising in any form has the goal to attract more customers and more revenue. Like advertising on television or in print ads, the world of online advertising shares the same purpose.

pay per click A 30,000 Foot Look at Pay per Click Advertising

Basically online advertising sets out to attract customers by using the Internet, with websites and search engines as their medium. The Pay per Click (PPC) advertising model is where a host is compensated each time the promoter’s advertisement is clicked. The Cost per Click (CPC) is the actual amount that is paid out by the advertiser to either the search engine or website owner for each click that occurs. Websites that utilize this type of advertising will often present an advertisement or text link, when there is a common term between the websites keyword query and the advertiser’s keyword list. In other words, when a website has related information to the advertiser, a link will be displayed either on the side or above or in line with the website’s original content depending on the website. There are a couple different variations of pay per click online advertising which include Cost per Mille (CPM ), Cost per Visitor (CPV), Cost per Lead (CPL), Cost per Click (CPC), and Cost per Action (CPA).

When performing a search at a search engine you may have noticed that the results return with sponsored links. The sponsored links appear at the top or sides and the advertisers pay to be in these sponsored links sections. Each time a visitor accesses the site through this link, money is paid to the search engine through a prepaid account with that search engine. In order to achieve a sponsored link location websites, advertisers place bids for the amount of money they are prepared to pay per click. Since there are multiple link positions available, the highest bid is placed at the top, the next highest is placed second and so on. In addition to the websites being able to determine how much they pay per click they can also specify how much they… Read the rest

3 Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Tactics to Avoid


February 4, 2011 by Dustin

no black hat 3 Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Tactics to Avoid With SEO some primary goals include creating good content, increasing viewer usability, and promoting a website’s popularity, however there are certain practices out there that we avoid. These avoided practices are orchestrated to quickly or prematurely inflate rankings and take advantage of the factors that search engines utilize when ranking sites. These techniques are often referred to as Black Hat Techniques.

While folks assume there are benefits of using such techniques, there are also major downsides. After using Black Hat techniques a website may temporarily hold a high rank, it will most likely not last very long. Some of the other immediate negative consequences include a site being banned, having penalties against it, and could result in web pages being wiped of their search rank value.

Although search engines devote resources and effort to putting a stop to these methods some still exist. Search engines have worked consistently to ensure that white hat methods remain dominant and discourage the use of black hat tactics.

There are quite a few SEO methods out there that can inadvertently land a website in the search engine dog house. Whether a site is flagged, given the penalties, banned, or you just want to know what to avoid here is a brief list of some of the Black Hat SEO methods to avoid as they could cause issues for a web site.

  • Cloaking

Cloaking is used to deceive the search engines, what a user sees is different compared to what a search engine robot (bot) would find. Although a site that is utilizing a cloaking technique is open to a penalty, or could be banned there are a few acceptable cloaking techniques called White Hat Cloaking.

  • Manipulative Linking

Manipulative linking occurs in various forms and exploits search engine link popularity. A common method is using link farms, which is where a group of sites hyperlink to all other sites in the group and the process is generally automated. Some other examples of manipulative linking… Read the rest

Increasing Your WebSite’s Popularity with Quality Link Building


January 28, 2011 by Dustin

How to Measure the Value of A Link!
If you are familiar with the links Increasing Your WebSite’s Popularity with Quality Link Buildinginner workings of a Search Engine then you probably know that search engines calculate the standing of your website using a number of different factors.  Link value analysis is among these factors, which is derived from the quantity and reputation of the other web pages that link to your website.  In addition to examining the popularity of connected pages, search engines analyze a website’s primary characteristics such as trustworthiness, spam level (is your website useful), and perceptible authority (legitimacy).

In order to grow the popularity of your website, generate awareness, and increase traffic from search engines it is important to perform link building and analysis.  So how do you know the value of a link? Although search engines keep the majority of their ranking factors private, some of the clearer and more notable factors include the following.

  1. Global Reach: If you want to have a link from a website to your website (a backlink), does that website have quality backlinks to other quality websites, in other words does that website have importance, reach, and scope.  Nothing is more impressive than having a well know and hard hitting website in your corner!
  2. Community Merit: Equally important to websites with global reach are topic specific links that hold merit and commonality to the website on a topic level.  Web sites that are in the same business or cover similar topics and industries can provide a stable ranking foundation.
  3. Anchor Text: Using anchor text is both important on inbound links to your website and navigational links within your website. A well built website can rank higher by using keywords in their anchor text. This anchor text should both describe the link and be a representation of the general content on the target page. It is additionally helpful to use keywords in the anchor text of links guiding traffic to your website.  The more onsite and offsite links to your

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4 Daily Online Activities to Gain More Clients


January 21, 2011 by Dustin

In our private lives, we all have our daily online routines. We check and send email, visit our favorite sites, read a few articles, and countless others.

Why should our Online Business Activity be any different?
Online Activities to Gain More Clients 4 Daily Online Activities to Gain More Clients
If you own a business there are certain basic recommendations for daily online activity that could help generate more clients.  The Internet is a powerful resource for any business and neglecting to utilize all that it offers is silly.  Every business can be conducting some kind of daily activity online.  Not sure how to fully utilize the Internet for your business? The following are minimal suggestions for your company’s daily Internet practices.

  1. Visit Some Social Networking Websites:
  2. Submit some postings to multiple sites and gain a following in the online community.  Use this online activity to share some knowledge and build a reputation for your business.  By improving the brand of your business on Facebook, you’re able to market your company and have the opportunity to acquire profitable insights from others. It’s free, except for your time, so take advantage of the free advertising that websites like Facebook and Twitter offer.  In addition using these social networking sites gives you another medium to allow you to be more accessible to your customers and gain valuable feedback. See more information about how Twitter Can Benefit Your Business.

  3. Write a Blog:
  4. Establishing a blog for your business is a great way to branch out and grow your web presence.  A blog is another way to obtain customer interaction as well as communicating important messages to your clients.  Additionally, mention your blog articles on Social Media websites like Twitter and Facebook and have more potential clients visit your website. For more on how blogs can help a business check out Having a Blog Helps!

  5. Check The Analytics Of Your Website:
  6. It is important to understand how visitors use your website.  Before you can successfully solve any problems and market your site. You should have a good understanding of what’s

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A Brief Look at How Search Engines Operate


January 14, 2011 by Dustin

Search Engine Optimization Fundamentals

Search Engine Optimization at its root is the process of increasing exposure to a website by enhancing the sites relevance and importance in the eyes of search engines. In order to gain this exposure or reach more customers the process of SEO sets out to make a website more rank worthy.  The higher that a website is ranked on a search engine the more likely people are to access it.

A search engine has four main purposes thatsearch engine search A Brief Look at How Search Engines Operate include Crawling, Indexing, Ranking, and Providing Results.  The World Wide Web is a massive network where everything is connected through linking.  A search engine navigates or crawls through the network locating web pages, images, or video files using mechanized devices called crawlers or spiders.  These devices are launched, scouring the Internet, reading pieces of code from websites.  The pieces of information copied by a crawler allow the searched location to be indexed or saved on one of their massive databases.  Search Engine companies have data centers that hold the databases located all around the world in order to quickly recall the information upon request of the user.

In those first two tasks the search engine sought out and returned only the relevant pages.  After searching and indexing, the next duty of the search engine is to calculate the indexed webpage’s relevance and determine its ranking.  From here it assigns an importance which usually comes from the quantity and quality of the information as well as the webpage’s popularity. In addition there are many other ranking factors and various search engines value each factor differently. Once a rank is designated the page is then ready to be displayed for a user to access. Although all that is visible to us when performing a search are our search terms going in and the search results coming out, while behind-the-scenes there is a tremendous amount of action and effort going on to provide us with the information that we request.

According to Google these are some tips to get a better webpage ranking with them.

  1. Good webpage Content!

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8 Ways Having A Blog Can Benefit Your Business!


January 5, 2011 by Dustin

For those of us who are new to blogging, this article will simply describe how having a blog will promote you and your business.   It will also serve up some useful tips for managing your blog properly.

Blogging has been around for sometime now but it was only recently that people had noticed the level of importance and beneficial properties that it offers.   blog 8 Ways Having A Blog Can Benefit Your Business! Blogs are basically online interactive journals that span any number of topics.   Some blogs are personal, detailing the actions of an individual and some are organization blogs which usually cover topics and events associated with that organization.   Disregarding whether it is used as a personal or professional outlet, a blog is a handy instrument that can be used to gain momentum and popularity over the Internet.   So a Blog can be a channel for you to express your ideas as well as drive up the success of your business!

So what are the Benefits Of Having A Blog?

Web Presence!

  1. A blog is an excellent way to reach out to your existing clients and gain more along the way.
  2. A quick way to supply news, promotions, ideas, or other information to your audience!
  3. Offers an effective way to provide customer service and support to your customers!
  4. A blog helps establish you as a professional.
  5. Help you build a following and gain respect within your industry and blogging community!
  6. Efficiently increases traffic to your site!   Search engines like, actually love blogs and the keywords found in your blog entries attract more customers to your site looking for information about those keywords.
  7. Allows for you to obtain rapid feedback from blog participants.
  8. Writing a blog also makes your company more approachable! People will have an easier time communicating with you because you are on a more personal level.

Are you convinced that you should… Read the rest

Mobile SEO, the Top 9 SEO Smartphone Apps!


December 31, 2010 by Dustin

smartphone app Mobile SEO, the Top 9 SEO Smartphone Apps! Hello there! Welcome to the Internet Beacon’s awesome weblog. If you’re here for SEO tips for small businesses, you’ve come to the right place.

For many people, remaining connected is very important and allows them to maximize their potential. The technology of Smartphone’s enables this connection to reach the next level.  Now virtually everything an individual can do from their home or office can be accomplished with a mobile device.

The technology that connects us is ever changing but the reason for this connection remains the same.   To learn, experience, share, grow and of course simplify our lives. A Smartphone is a perfect example of making our lives easier. Sure Internet, Email, Texting and Video Chatting in the palm of our hands are all great features but the real highlight is the development of Mobile Applications.   There are masses of Apps out there for everything and I mean everything.   If you need to learn a language, calculate a tip, make an appointment, find a restaurant, use a flashlight, or navigate directions a Smartphone application has you covered. Small gadgets like these are awesome but what are even more impressive are the Apps that make your work routine easier or more convenient when not in your office.

This is why I put together a list of the top ten mobile Apps for SEO professionals.   The Apps detailed below are useful tools that simplify daily tasks for Search Engine Optimization and provide individuals with up-to-date information on their accounts.   Apps such as these conveniently allow for the management of their clients, their websites, and crucial statistics.   You never know when you may need the data available regardless of if it’s to convey it to a client or only to double check a figure. Mobile Apps like these prevent this issue by keeping a detailed record available to you anywhere and at anytime. Each of the links below provides a description of the application.   The Apps range in price from… Read the rest

New to Social Networking? Twitter Can Benefit Your Business


December 24, 2010 by Dustin

woman twitter New to Social Networking? Twitter Can Benefit Your BusinessHello there! Welcome to the Internet Beacon’s awesome weblog. If you’re here for SEO tips for small businesses, you’ve come to the right place.

What better way is there for a company to get simple, convenient, and immediate messages to their customers than micro blogging?  That’s exactly what Twitter does by offering an effective and useful tool for companies to employ with limitless possibilities.  The rise of Social networking has provided both individuals and businesses with a new and exciting outlet.

Each and everyday millions of users access these social media in order to generate, express and learn concepts from one another.  Why wouldn’t your business want to take full advantage of a great resource like Twitter? Still not sure what Twitter is and how to use it check here! Twitter Explained

Twitter will not only let your organization branch out but also show that you’re keeping up with the times.  Businesses that are not current with new technologies or are not using tools such as Twitter will always come in second to those embracing the change in technology and social media.  Twitter Helps! Express your thoughts, locate resources, build relationships, gain knowledge and generate interest.  Can your company afford not to utilize it or an instrument like it?

If you are still weary there is no better reason to advance to the next stage of communication than it simply helps you stay connected.  Staying connected to your customers and retaining their future business is a key element for any company, and Twitter offers that. The Twitter communications platform not only connects a business with their customers it also allows real time market research regarding customer feedback.  By offering quick insights to the customer’s likes and dislikes Twitter enables companies to see what they are doing right, what they are doing wrong or what they could potentially improve on.

Reliability is a major positive attribute to any company, people need reliability and companies utilizing Twitter communication can offer them an enhanced level of it.  Being… Read the rest


 
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