Klik Blog

The days of black hat SEO are gone. And while SEO strategy certainly isn’t dead, the release of Google Panda, the Google algorithm that crowned quality as king, ensures that meta stuffing isn’t the best way to climb to the top of the SERPs. It appears that Google is moving steadily in this direction of rewarding high-quality sites with real content, rather than sites with keyword-heavy articles and tags. As SEO experts try to think of more and more ways to get any old site in the #1 spot, Google is creating more and more ways to make its crawler more intuitive so as not to be ‘tricked’ by those tactics.

How does Google define the quality of a webpage? 

 Who better to advise us on this subject than Google itself? The search engine’s staff has been making noise for some time now about websites that create a poor “user experience.” Those sites are usually advertisement-laden and provide little useful information to the visitor based on the key words they were searching for. And Google has tweaked its algorithm to penalize them. Characteristics of a strong webpage in Google’s eyes include: non-recycled content with relevant information, recently posted content and fewer advertisements located on the top half of a page.

Where does Content Marketing Fit in With SEO?

If you only update your site once a month, people don’t have any reason to visit it more often than that… Innovative content has the power to tell relatable stories and the fluidity to travel easily throughout the internet. It will naturally earn you link juice, keep visitors on your site for longer periods of time and help you brand your site, which will earn you higher rankings in the SERPs. Creating content with these characteristics will require a good deal of creativity.  

Here are some strategy tips for creating your content marketing plan:

• Figure out where you will promote your content – website, Facebook, Twitter, guest post on another blog?
• Research your competitors. Where are they posting, what keywords are they targeting, what type of content are they producing?
• Decide what type of content you will be creating. Try to use a mix of content that appeals to different types of viewers. An article can be enhanced with an informational video or chart/graphic explaining some concept in the content. Perhaps an editorial cartoon?

Strategies for Developing Content Ideas

The key here is creating something that people will want to share. That means posting lots of new content that your visitors will find intriguing. Here are some ideas to help you get your creative juices flowing:

• Create a how-to video for your product or service
• Film videos of your expert staff answering questions submitted by site visitors
• Analyze several recent pieces by well-known bloggers or experts and give your own commentary
• Create a poll on your site and then use the results as a hook for an article or blog
• Get an interview with an expert or popular blogger and post the it on your site Q & A style
• Attend a conference or webinar, summarize what you’ve learned and give your own opinions about the programming
• Download Feedreader (a search feed aggregator) and set up Google Alerts for pertinent keywords in your field to try to spark ideas

For small businesses, it is important to first do research to learn about the people you are marketing to in your community. Ask your customers about their interests and try to keep them satisfied by frequently posting new content to answer questions you think they might have or give analysis on topics they care about.     

Once you’ve created original content, consider it a prime SEO real estate and do your best to optimize it without interfering with the quality of the user’s experience.  Then you’ll have a powerful package of great content and SEO.

The Klik Blog is written by Klik Marketing founder and president Eric Fransen. Eric has been involved with the Internet Marketing industry since the late 1990’s.

The Page Layout Algorithm and Other 2012 Google Updates  

It’s only February, but Google is already hard at work making changes to its algorithm. By the end of 2012, Google is expected to make over 500 changes to the way its Googlebot crawls sites.

 The Page Layout Algorithm Update, announced in January, penalizes sites that place excessive amounts of advertisements on the top half of the web page. Google had received user complaints about content being buried under advertisement blocks. When users click a hyperlink they want to see relevant content, not a collage of ads that make it hard for them to find any content at all.

• If you have been affected by this Google algorithm change, you should minimize the percentage of your “above-the-fold” real estate roped off for advertisements. If you are using a WordPress template for your page layout, try switching to a layout that allows you to format advertisements in a side bar rather than a top bar. Note: After making changes, it could take several weeks or longer for you to see your site rise back up in the rankings. Your site’s size and architecture will affect how long it takes for Google to re-crawl the updated site.   

• If your site wasn’t top heavy in the first place, you probably saw no to little change in your rankings. In fact, Google said that only 1 in 100 searches would be affected.

With the introduction of a November 2011 algorithm, Google vowed to knock low-quality sites down the rankings ladder, while pushing high quality sites straight to the top. Dubbed Google Panda after Google engineer Naveneet Panda, the algorithm sent a strong message to web developers that sites must be first and foremost user-friendly.

So it should come as no surprise that Google would update its algorithm in a way that forces web site owners to scrub the top half of their viewers’ screens of unsightly and distracting advertisements. The algorithm rewards sites with most of the space above the fold dedicated to relevant content that includes the keywords for which the user is looking.

Several other 2012 tweaks to Google’s algorithm confirm the search engine’s focus on assuring its users are able to quickly locate the most recent, quality information.     

• The Freshness Algorithm released in November 2011 has also been updated since the start of the New Year. Google called the updates “minor” and said they are intended to turn the “freshest, most relevant results.” Google also said that it has improved the way it detects and determines the date of a document in hopes of producing, “more timely results, particularly for pages discussing recurring events.”
• Blending News and Search Results Google changed its algorithm to identify specific queries which should show news results and how to blend those news results with other search results so that they appear only when relevant.
• Rolling Panda Updates In January, Google said that it “improved how Panda interacts with our indexing and ranking systems, making it more integrated into our pipelines.”

Google’s New Year Resolution for 2012 is to “…focus on creating a beautifully simple, intuitive user experience across Google…” My advice to any small business owner is to create a website in which every single component is designed with the user in mind. Instead of trying to predict Google’s every algorithm shift, a more holistic approach is to make sure that your SEO doesn’t create a poor user experience.

The Klik Blog is written by Klik Marketing founder and president Eric Fransen. Eric has been involved with the Internet Marketing industry since the late 1990’s.

Are you a self-starter, an entrepreneur, do you get things done? Do you like a flexible work schedule? Are you willing to go the extra mile for a big reward? If so Klik Marketing might be for you!

Klik Marketing, an internet marketing firm with offices in Charlotte, NC and Duluth, MN is seeking a Account/Sales Manager for our Charlotte office that is charged with attracting new clients for our Search Engine Optimization and Website Development solutions. 

Klik Marketing’s proprietary SEO processes, along with our industry knowledge allows us to maximize online marketing campaign results and ROI for our clients’ online campaigns.

JOB OBJECTIVE:

The Account/Sales Manager position is directly responsible for acquiring new clients and then managing the client account throughout the life of the engagement. This individual will be an experienced salesperson ideally with a background in Internet Marketing / Website Design sales. We are looking for an energetic self-starter who is pro-active in driving revenue, increasing client base and selling marketing solutions for Klik Marketing. You must be results-driven and committed to creating new business opportunities. Travel throughout the Carolinas should be expected about 25% of the time, as well as building high-level relationships with all possible clients in your defined territory.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Acquire new clients for Klik Marketing’s SEO Services and Website Design team through prospecting, presentations and proposal development.

2. Develop, with Executive team, ongoing improvements to the process of prospecting, qualifying and closing key accounts.

3. Work with SEO Specialists and designers to effectively manage accounts, delivering superior customer service while maintaining and growing account services.

4. Consistently meet or exceed sales goals, demonstrating focused sales efforts, leadership, understanding of the Klik Marketing business model, and a solid understanding of Internet Marketing with a focus on Search Engine Optimization.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

1. Should ideally have a solid knowledge of Internet Marketing / SEO or a Proven sales track record.

2. Strong knowledge of advertising sales, search and internet preferred.

3. Business contacts/existing client base a plus.

4. Excellent English oral and written communication skills

1. Experience monitoring client budgets and billing processes for accuracy and timeliness.
2. A professional, organizational skills and attention to detail. The ability to work independently, solve problems, and see projects through to completion.

KlikMarketing.com offers a growth-oriented, entrepreneurial work environment with lucrative commissions, a base salary and a flexible work schedule. 

Please send your Resume and cover letter in the body of your e-mail to our company President, Eric Fransen. His email is eric@klikmarketing.com.

Are you a self-starter, an entrepreneur, do you get things done? Do you like a flexible work schedule? Are you willing to go the extra mile for a big reward? If so Klik Marketing might be for you!

Klik Marketing, an internet marketing firm with offices in Charlotte, NC and Duluth, MN is seeking a Account/Sales Manager for our Duluth office that is charged with attracting new clients for our Search Engine Optimization and Website Development solutions. 

Klik Marketing’s proprietary SEO processes, along with our industry knowledge allows us to maximize online marketing campaign results and ROI for our clients’ online campaigns.

JOB OBJECTIVE:

The Account/Sales Manager position is directly responsible for acquiring new clients and then managing the client account throughout the life of the engagement. This individual will be an experienced salesperson ideally with a background in Internet Marketing / Website Design sales. We are looking for an energetic self-starter who is pro-active in driving revenue, increasing client base and selling marketing solutions for Klik Marketing. You must be results-driven and committed to creating new business opportunities. Travel throughout Minnesota should be expected about 25% of the time, as well as building high-level relationships with all possible clients in your defined territory.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Acquire new clients for Klik Marketing’s SEO Services and Website Design team through prospecting, presentations and proposal development.

2. Develop, with Executive team, ongoing improvements to the process of prospecting, qualifying and closing key accounts.

3. Work with SEO Specialists and designers to effectively manage accounts, delivering superior customer service while maintaining and growing account services.

4. Consistently meet or exceed sales goals, demonstrating focused sales efforts, leadership, understanding of the Klik Marketing business model, and a solid understanding of Internet Marketing with a focus on Search Engine Optimization.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

1. Should ideally have a solid knowledge of Internet Marketing / SEO or a Proven sales track record.

2. Strong knowledge of advertising sales, search and internet preferred.

3. Business contacts/existing client base a plus.

4. Excellent English oral and written communication skills

1. Experience monitoring client budgets and billing processes for accuracy and timeliness.
2. A professional, organizational skills and attention to detail. The ability to work independently, solve problems, and see projects through to completion.

KlikMarketing.com offers a growth-oriented, entrepreneurial work environment with lucrative commissions, a base salary and a flexible work schedule. 

Please send your Resume and cover letter in the body of your e-mail to our company President, Eric Fransen. His email is eric@klikmarketing.com.

BRAND LESSONS: Grammy Awards 2011: Creating Events Like You Would A Wedding by James Andrews

A successful integrated event has a story arc and build up similar to a wedding. How do you combine blogging partners, influencer networks, social media and analytics to create a winning program? This workshop uncovers the 2011 Grammy Awards and how Social People developed a “Crescendo” like approach using social media and influencer to propel this year’s award show in the most successful in last 10 years.

How to use an event to create an awesome social media experience. 

Need to find “niche” bloggers. Each blogger would cover the event based on their point of view. The bloggers should have their own followers. Bloggers area treated as professionals and have open access. 

The key is the events before the event. Need to create conversations before the event around certain themes. 

Take your event live

• Live Video can drive social conversations around your event.
• The online community can integrate with the offline community.
• Not all live video is interesting so think about “producing” content.
• Does your live event need an event curator?
• Plan your tech needs in advance.
• Live content requires promotion (pre/during)

Sharing the Data Post-Event

• Get the information socialized in a timely fashion.
• Find which analytics are important to the organization.
• Create a “teachable” moment via data findings. 
• Is there a PR story around the analytics?