5 Ways to Make Use of Google AdWords #ThursdayTips

AdWords is the main advertising service that Google has been offering to the world. This means that through an online advertising platform, any business is given the opportunity to be seen around search engine results pages (SERPs). This is through paid advertisements. The main goal is be seen on the first page and be listed in the top ten results.

Considering that Google is dominating online search engines, AdWords would be a good way to invest on your own business. You could set up campaign budgets to boost rankings. You only pay when your ads get clicked on.

For a few but relevant advice, read on.

5 Ways to Use AdWords

There are various ways to use AdWords. However, those will depend on individual business needs.

Keywords play a big part in the whole system. Determine what words related to your business are usually searched for in Google. If they are similar, like “blog tips” and “blogging tips”, choose the keyword people more often type in the query box. Of course, you must work on your good content, not just depend on keywords. Keyword-dependency is how much of SEO got a bad reputation. Use SEO properly.

Below are several ways to keep in mind if you are considering using AdWords.

1. Use keywords for your site’s Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Keywords are used in SEO, which is what you do to rank well in search engines. Through AdWord’s Keyword Planner tool, you will be able to check which of your keywords are working for you and what other ones might attract more visitors. Always make sure they are closely related to what you offer.

The Planner will tell you if certain keywords get high volume search rates. It will also tell you how competitive they are. That means if hundreds of sites use the same words or phrases, do not use them. Pick high-volume, less competitive keywords. Once you have identified them, start incorporating those keywords in your site. Get an idea as well on how much each keyword will cost for a campaign.

There are other features to help you zoom in more on the relevant words while targeting locations, languages, and others.

2. Target users through Search Network

The Search Network is focused on pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, mainly known as paid search. Under the Search Network, advertisers bid against one another for keywords they can use in their ads. When a user searches for the keyword, the bid winner’s ad may show on Google. Payment to AdWords is based on the number of clicks the ad gets.

3. Target users through Display Network

Advertisers have the option to not only create text ads. They may exhibit banner-style ads as well. The Display Network is very powerful as its audience reach across the globe is practically 90%.  People are more easily drawn to images.

4. Utilize negative keywords

AdWords have what they call “broad”, “exact” and “phrase” match keywords. Take time to understand how to use them to your advantage.

There are also “negative” keywords that are quite useful. Creating your negative keywords list will help keep your ad from showing up where they shouldn’t. For instance, when users search for “clothes” but your specific products are jackets, your ads will not be shown. This will prevent anyone who is not looking for jackets from clicking on your ads. That saves you money.

5. Do AppsStore Optimization

Google has many partnerships such as with AppsStore. Still, there are currently only a few mobile app promotions in Google Play Store.

Each of these has its advantages that you can benefit from: universal app campaigns, mobile app installs campaigns, mobile app engagement campaigns. People have increasingly become mobile-dependent, so optimize for these.

 

There is more to Google AdWords that would be very useful when you start to advertise and market your site. AdWords sounds easy, but it is not. The success of your business does not depend on AdWords alone. Rather, it’s in how you make your decisions and do your best for each campaign.

Working with SEO #TuesdayTips

Search Engine Optimization or SEO. For the still uninitiated, SEO affects how, or where, a link to your website or webpage is seen listed on a search engine results page (SERP). Whenever one searches for specific words related to your business or to your site/page’s focus of interest, good SEO improves your chances of getting found by potential clients.

Good SEO makes use of relevant keywords. They are words and phrases that are a part of your web contents. While it sounds easy enough, it takes more than assigning keywords to your pages – you first need to identify the best and most possible ones that can get you to the first page of search engines like Google. The main goal is to get to the Top Ten results and there is very good reason for it: studies have shown that users tend to click on the first links on SERPs alone.

Getting to the Top

The popular mindset is there is no need to waste time and energy when users can already find what they need from the first clicks. This is further believed with the advent of Google Panda in recent years, even of Penguin and other Google algorithms. The nearer your site to the top, the more you are considered as an authority site. Authority begets trust, trust begets great business standing. Ergo, you need to work on your rankings to get to such standing.

So, if your site is not anywhere near the first page at all, how good are your chances of getting found?

Optimizing your sites and pages are your best weapons against getting buried among hundreds or even thousands of other business sites. It helps drive traffic to your site and, ultimately, your business. More important, it can result to conversions, that is, getting visitors to not only take a peek at your site, but to stay longer and eventually purchase a product or get any of your services. Convert online users to actual customers.

The Silent SEO

Optimizing through keywords is the most basic of working on your SEO. You have to have an idea of which words work for you, which people tend to search for first (ex. “tv mounting” vs. “tv installation”), which are more relevant to your target audience. By relevance, it means you must have a clear understanding of how users search for certain products, services and information that you offer. This should help you create and maintain a great search marketing campaign.

Optimization is not just words on visible pages, either. It takes more than being able to find them in posts and articles. Rather, SEO keywords are also incorporated where the users do not normally see or notice them. They are in the web address, in the links you share, in the images you use, in what are called meta tags,…Basically, while they may not necessarily break you, your SEO keywords may be the ones to “make” you. Well, make your site and your business.

Keep to the Right

How best to have a great search marketing campaign running really depends on what practices you do and how. Like black and white, there is good (white hat) SEO and there is bad (black hat) SEO and you can very well guess which would be the better one to follow.

For instance, too many redundant keywords is not a case of eagerness on your part; it’s what’s called as spammy and, possibly, duplicate content that can be done without. Too many links can lessen the quality and credibility of the site. Use of certain keywords may also be used to mislead visitors; of course, that won’t sit well with them.

In this day and age, SEO is a necessary part of running a successful business. SEO is not just keywords, either, but a whole lot of other things. You’ll do well knowing and making use of the best practices around in handling it. What good is getting lots of traffic when users leave disappointed, dissatisfied or, worst, distrustful of you?

Yes, even in this day and age, trust is still very much valued. So keep to the right and start learning good SEO today.

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It’s a shortie I never got to submit so I thought why not post here? Of course, there is more to SEO than just keywords, but I just covered the most basic of SEO as an introduction to it for those who do not know it yet. Aaaand…it’s still Tuesday! Ha-ha!!!! 😉

For some more tips on stuff, feel free to visit these pages: Wordsmithereens Niche, Tips Jar .

How to Improve Site Performance? Audit, for Business’ Sake!

Nothing but quality products, 24/7 customer support, a lovely website, excellent service overall. Discriminating customers demand for the best, and that’s what your business is all about. So now you wonder, after doing everything right, how come business is not picking up? Frustrating, I know.

Basically, what you need is to reach out to more people than the usual. Make your online presence solid and felt. That said, have you checked your site lately? Start checking!

“A lovely website” needs to show brains and brawn, too, otherwise, you lose prospective customers. Perhaps, it’s time to hire a web content writer to help you.

Basic Auditing How-to

I got this image from the well-known Search Engine Watch that incidentally has written a more extensive article on this topic as well

Site checking or auditing is essential. For a website to be an effective tool in your business, keeping it should involve critical analyses, content strategy and the right people to make it work. If you already have a writer in your stable, then good. Make sure she knows or learns how to audit sites as well.

Writers mainly take care of the articles, but the misconception is that’s the only skill expected of them. A skilled one helps take care of things beyond the articles. In the web business, content means a lot of things aside from textual information.

For a start, in auditing, you need to know how your site is faring in the online world. What is its domain authority and page authority? How many backlinks and by whom? On what pages do search engines list it when a search is done, if it gets listed at all? And so on.

Next, find out its existing page status problems and technical issues. Those maybe getting in the way of good user experience, therefore, visitors leave.

Then there’s the matter of whether keywords, optimizations, web designs and layout work or not. An SEO content writer with ample knowledge of web development and design would be a prize to find.

All of the factors mentioned, your auditor needs in order to identify and analyze problem areas and consequently fix them.

To be able to do this, she has to have enough know-how, especially in using helpful software and platforms like Google Analytics, OpenSiteExplorer, SEMrush, WhiteSpark, and ScreamingFrog. She has to be able to interpret what the results mean.

But the more critical part is the analyzing, the precursor to crafting solutions.

Questions to Consider for Review

Of course, you or your current employees can do this, provided you have the time and necessary skills. You can start reviewing the contents, design and layout of your site based on some of the questions I have gathered.

Contents

1. Are the business names and logo/brand visible and clear? Where are they?

2. Is there a header image?

3. Where are the Name-Address-Phone (NAP) details in the site? Do they include emails and toll-free numbers?

4. Is there a Google map at the Contact Us page? How about at the footer?

5. Is there a working contact form in all the pages?

6. Is there a navigation menu at the top? Does the top menu have dropdowns? Is there a navigation menu at the bottom?

7. Are there pages specifically for Home, About Us / Firm Overview, Blog (if any), News, Resources, and FAQs at the navigation menu?

8. Are there pages for the Terms and Conditions and the Privacy Policy? Are there links leading to them?

9. Are there sidebars? Does your site need them?

10. Are the images and videos posted in the site relevant and clear?

11. Are there visible social media logos around the site?

12. Do all the links redirect properly and to the right pages?

13. How many fonts are used in the site?

14. Are accreditation and/or rank seals added?

15. Are there copyright details at the bottom? If yes, are they present in all the pages?

Design Principles

1. Is there precedence (guiding-the-eye)?

   – position (where something in particular is placed), color, contrast, size (does it affect perceived order of relevance), design elements (largely based on what is added to the site and how it affects visitor’s actions)

2. How effective is the spacing?

   – line spacing (affects readability), padding (putting space between text and other elements), white space (for balance, proportion, and contrast)

3. How clear, easy and user-friendly is the navigation feature?

4. Are there breadcrumbs in all the pages, sub-headings and a sitemap?

5. How are the texts (typography) looking and working?

   – font choices (do they look good and appropriate for the site, how many used), font sizes (affects readability), spacing, line length (affects readability), color (must make sure the texts can actually be read by anyone), paragraphing (left-alignment is always suggested to avoid gaps)

6. Are things aligned in an orderly and polished manner?

7. How is the design clarity? Are the pixels creating problems?

8. Does everything match (consistency)?

   – sizes, choices, coloring, styles, elements, etcetera

9. Is the site aesthetically pleasing as well as useful?

10. How relevant, clear, appropriate and useful are the pages and contents to the site?

11. Are there unnecessary elements (music, flash, autoplay, etc.) that can be done without?

12. Are the title pages/headings easily understood and logical?

13. How informative is the FAQ page?

14. Are testimonials included in the site? How many? Do they appear real or fake?

15. Is the Call to Action clear?

    – contact forms, online customer service representative, registration feature, email address for questions and feedback, indirect action items like “learn more”

16. Is the site selling something? Does it have an SSL certificate?

17. How mobile-ready is the site?

I have given you initial ideas on how to audit your site. These are culled from research (like a Psdtuts+ article I found very useful) and my own auditing experiences. There are more to find and learn but the further research, I will leave to you. Meanwhile, your auditor must be able to work with your web developers and designers to incorporate changes.

In auditing, it’s not simply knowing what to look for. It takes a lot of common sense, an analytic mind, patience and practical approach—all of which, the writer hopefully has. If your current writer is not cut out for this, find another who is. Hire a web content writer who can.

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NOTE: I’ve been saying this for a year or so already. This was originally a guest blog that got published along with my byline. Unfortunately, the site soon became inaccessible for quite a while. It went back then I found that somebody else took my place as author. I tried every way to reach them and actually sent a message telling them to fix it, to no avail. I just checked last Friday and found the site missing again. So here it is, I thought I’d share here. It’s just fair considering that it was supposed to be a reciprocal thing. No one paid anybody and if the other party is unable to hold its part of the bargain, we have the right to take back what is ours.

Putting the Black Hat On (Just for Halloween!)

First off, let me tell you, we do not really have Halloween here. Halloween was just more of a Western idea that we often saw in American movies and TV shows. I say “was” because in the past decade, more or less, Filipinos have begun adhering to the Western practice of having Halloween parties, donning costumes and letting kids go trick-or-treatin’ within their neighborhoods, sometimes even in malls (it’s become a commercial thing now, too). In some areas, they have taken to having monster parades, no matter how silly the costumes are sometimes.

Halloween is still not a widely practiced new tradition for reasons I really don’t need to mention for now, but it has become such to others. It wasn’t a tradition that most of us grew up observing. What we really observe are All Saints Day and All Souls Day on November 1st and 2nd respectively. We go back to our hometowns and provinces to flock the cemeteries and visit the dead. In some ways, it has become a sort of annual reunion for families.

I am not really going to talk about tradition, not right now. I just thought I’d give you a little background on how it really is here.

Our office did have our own li’l Halloween fun. Our branch did not really have Halloween parties before, but we did begin having contests (although most would rather participate in the Christmas celebrations instead). I won in one (in 2012, yay!!!), at least in the office, and last year was extra fun for all of us!

This year’s theme was “Techie,” or “Internet-related.” It was up to us what to do so, still in keeping with the occasion, I came up with my costume and called it…

The Black Hatter

HALLOWEEN 2014! Theme: Techie. I came as “Black Hatter” or a black hat hacker, out to steal your passwords, personal/private information (credit, bank, AdSense account), hijack emails and YouTube, cheat Google Panda and Penguin, and basically wreak havoc, unleashing viruses, worms, bugs…MALWARE MAYHEM!!!!

What is The Black Hatter? S/he is one who does what is termed as black hat SEO practices, also often a bad hacker. To know more, well, it’s very Goog-able (he he…I came up with that one first, okay?). Or you can read the image caption above for an idea, at least. Also, the caption explains the whole look.

BY THE WAY, this in NO WAY means I do black hat, alright? I don’t even have the know-how to do those! This was just for cosplaying purposes.

Let me just say I poured my heart and soul in creating this look (the mention of heart and soul makes it more Halloween-y, don’t you think? he he). The cost was very minimal because I only bought two inexpensive materials — the rest were already available. I did spend many hours in the evenings drawing and painting and basically coming up with appropriate props.

What’s a hacker without a computer? In this case, it’s a tablet keypad to serve as laptop

So those were supposed to be a virus and a worm. Had to keep the gummy worms in the fridge for days before I attached them to the jacket and hoped the ants wouldn’t get to them first — they didn’t. HA!

 

I suddenly got inspired and made two of this bug

Your GMail, compromised

Death to Yahoo!

DisLIKE-ing Facebook

 

 

 

 

 

As additional and important props, I carried a stick from which hung representations of those that a black hatter hits and/or ruins — browsers, search engines, Emails and social media (above are just some of them). It was not only to show the extent of what a black hatter can do, but also to emphasize how hackers like to brag about their conquests.

Oh, and for sure you noticed that red (supposedly a shade of orange) thingy on the front of my jacket. I specifically searched for the icon for malware and found it. It did kind of remind me of something but I dismissed the idea until one said, “I know you’re supposed to be Black Hat but why do you have Naruto‘s mangekyou sharingan there?”

Various sharingan “designs,”from the popular manga “Naruto“

Uh…oh. Alarm bells went off in my head and I thought, I KNEW it was a sharingan! But why did Google give it? Thankfully, two peeps said it was the icon for “biohazard.” Well, after careful research, I have concluded that no, it’s not a sharingan, and it’s not 100% exactly the same as the biohazard icon, although we know where the inspiration for it came from.

After all the thinking and effort, I didn’t win, HA HA HAAAA!!!!!!!!!!! Anyway, I enjoyed it. Below are more pics from our itty-bitty party 🙂

Instagram Sadako. Great idea by Jane C.

Real-life sweethearts, Count Yahoo! Messenger and the Dancing SnapChat (maybe she’ll let us see her little dance)…Cutie-much!

Android E. has lost his screws!

Basketball-ing kitty? Nope. Just Mr. Firefox hugging the world

Doro the Internet Explorer: The new creepy

Speaking of creepy…..!!!!

Well, Safari got lost (broken compass, maybe), but here are your browsers: Doro the IE  who is perennially behind, Chrome Mama (THE WINNER because everybody just wanted to wear the costume, he he), Mr. Firefox, and Opera Diva

Hashtag Lady says she doesn’t have a costume every year, then she whips out one #indenial

Being a very flexible icon, the hashtag is paired everywhere. Here, a smiling Sadako is forced–er–asked to be the Hashtag model #tree. The list continues with #van, #trashcan, #bike, #person, #yougettheidea

Costume failed but this one joins the party anyway

He’s getting made up impromptu #nocostume

How bitter is this mini-Chrome when he comes in to find a giant Chrome? LOL!!!

No costume, too, but don’t you just like his art?

Preparing for the Annual Walk. It’s not the same without the Annual Walk

Group shot! Too bad Mr. Firefox left early. 😉 Oh, and introducing Ms. C-Prompt sitting at far right

Wacky Techies!

 

Photos courtesy of the office peeps so please do not distribute…Just feel free to link back to here, if ever.

 

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Do you have any pics or stories to share from last Halloween? Share to us! We’d like to see what you’ve been up to 😉

Why Your Business Needs a Writer

“To be found by potential clients, you must want your business to be found—meaning, be visible by having a website, joining social media and, perhaps, advertising online—and make sure to be on top of your game.

The wanting to be found is easy enough. It’s the being on top of the game that takes a whole lot more…”

Why hire a web content writer to write for you? Because content is king! A way to the king is what you need. But how? The Starting Affiliate Business blog has lent me space for a chance to elaborate on why hiring a web content writer could be good for business…

HIRE A WEB CONTENT WRITER: THE WAY TO THE KING

How to have your business and be on top of your game

 

Feel free to LIKE, Tweet, Pin it, share…Just link to it or to the published article itself. If you have other stuff or ideas that we can include in the list, let us know! Leave a comment below 🙂

 

SEO Checklist for 2013

Very nice and informative infographic on SEO!!! Thanks, Chris Jones, for the post. Thanks, Ben Norman, for the great, detailed infographic. Thanks, Cosmotown.com for leading me there  =>

Chris Jones

We all know that the SEO landscape has changed a lot over the last year or two and with Penguin 2.0 on the horizon it may change again.

Many things that we as SEO consultants carried out as recently as last year no longer work and for the inexperienced it can be very confusing as you can be told or read on blogs conflicting stories about what you should be doing to be ranking well and gaining good levels of targeted traffic for your website.

To help make things clearer I came across this excellent infographic from Ben Norman entitled “SEO Checklist for 2013” and here it is:

By Chris Jones

Google

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