Q and A: Is a 3 word search phrase counted as 1, 2 or 3 keywords?

Dear Kalena...

Just read your fine feature article at Site Pro news in the Nov 28th issue. In your part 2, would it be possible to include the max character length, max# of keywords that you would recommend be used. Also I was wondering if a three word term such as "widgets in FL" would be counted as one keyword or two or three?

Ed

Kalena's Answer:

Dear Ed

Thanks so much for your feedback on my article. That article is actually half of a larger one I wrote a few weeks ago and you can expect to see the other half in SiteProNews shortly. I think Part 2 will answer your questions, but this recent piece by Danny Sullivan about the keywords tag might also help.

As for "widgets in Florida", there is no official standard in terms of how many keywords you should target on each page or in each tag, but it is generally very difficult to optimize a single page for more than 3 or 4 keywords or phrases. "Widgets in Florida" can be considered a single search term but also covers the individual keywords "widgets" and "Florida" and the phrase "widgets Florida" (search engines consider "in" to be a stop word) so I would describe that phrase as covering 3 or 4 search terms and I would probably stick with optimizing your page for that single phrase and concentrating on other search queries for your other pages.

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Where's Your Social Responsibility Google?

During the initial excitement of the so-called PageRank penalties on Google this week, I wrote a rant for SiteProNews about how I felt Google had crossed the line by penalizing sites for linking activity that could have been misconstrued as PageRank brokering.

The article which began life as a minor blog piece has finally gone live on SiteProNews: Where's Your Social Responsibility Google? It now looks as though the PR slap-down on certain sites was merely the beginning of a full PR update across the web, but I think my points are still valid.


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20 Must-Have Search Engine Marketing Tools

One month in and I'm still really enjoying my gig as a blogger and writer for SiteProNews. My latest article has gone live on their site today: 20 Must-Have Search Engine Marketing Tools.

Because I found so many useful tools for search engine marketing, I couldn't fit them all into one article so the piece will be followed up next week with Part 2: 20 MORE Must-Have Search Engine Marketing Tools. Got any favorite tools that I missed? Share your favs via comments on this post.


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How to Turn Around an Unprofitable PPC Campaign

SiteProNews published my latest article on their site today: How to Turn Around an Unprofitable PPC Campaign.

In the article, I dissect a client's Google AdWords campaign to find out why it has been unprofitable to date and uncover 14 major problems. Once these problems were addressed, the campaign turned a corner and started making a profit again.

If you're an AdWords advertiser, you should read this article and make sure you're not making the same blunders.

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I'm now a SiteProNews staff writer!

This week I was absolutely delighted to be invited by Mel Strocen of SiteProNews to become a staff writer and blogger for their site and newsletter. I'll be penning a weekly article about search engine marketing, as well as 2 or 3 blog posts a week aimed at helping small biz owners and webmasters to market their sites via search engines.

You can catch my SPN blog here and browse the SPN Archives for articles I've written. Don't worry, I'll still be blogging here daily so keep sending through those questions. I will probably end up turning some of the FAQs here into more detailed articles and case studies for SPN.

Meanwhile, if there are any topics you'd like to see covered by my columns at SiteProNews, please let me know.


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Q and A: Why isn't my blogging helping my SEO efforts?

Here's a recent exchange on LiveHelp with blog reader Jerry, who is concerned that his blog efforts aren't paying SEO dividends:

Jerry: Hi kalena, I'm writing like crazy but not bumping my seo juice. I was hoping for advice
kalena : how are you syndicating your articles?
Jerry : I'm not. I'm just blogging.
kalena : Ah. Have you registered your blog with as many blog directories as possible?
kalena : Do you make it super easy for readers to find your RSS feed?
Jerry : technorati and blogpulse
Jerry : yes, I use addthis
kalena : do you Digg etc your own posts?
Jerry : No, i haven't figured digg out yet. That's one I want to work on
Jerry : What about syndicating?
kalena : If you think your post is unique enough, you should Digg it yourself. Digg will tell you if there are posts on the same subject, but usually you can Digg your own
Jerry : Okay. That sounds like a good tip. I think it's very unique
kalena : yes, if you can encourage other sites and bloggers to syndicate your own blog feed, that's a good way to get traffic
kalena : It helps if you can get bloggers in the same industry to link to or comment on your posts
Jerry : How do I find them to ask them? My blog about memoirs is so unique I have not found too many like it
kalena : Do searches for popular sites and blogs on your subject matter and simply email them and ask for a link. Or send them a post that you think they'd like.
Jerry : Okay. But I get stuck in blogosphere when I search. I've been doing this for 4 months and still haven't got the hang of finding similar blogs
kalena : Try writing a few longer posts or mini articles on your blog. They are the ones that usually get traffic. Or create a useful tool for other memoir writers to use
Jerry : They are ALL articles
Jerry : I'm cranking out some of my best writing ever
kalena : Try creating a free account at helium.com. They are looking for new writers and you can link back to your blog.
Jerry : huh. That's new. Okay I'll try that
kalena : Hold on for a sec, I have a great list of article distribution sites...
Jerry : NEAT!
kalena : Ok, here is the URL: http://www.searchenginecollege.com/hub/weblinks.php?cat_id=52
kalena : Also, you can join Yahoo Groups and do a search for Article Announcement groups. These are places where you can submit your articles for free to thousands of sites who will re-publish them with your link
Jerry : That sounds perfect.
kalena : Glad to help.
Jerry : Thanks so much for your time!! This is awesome. I think I already have you on my blogroll
Jerry : If you have a moment I have a couple technical questions
kalena : Just a quickie as I am grading assignments
Jerry : Thanks! I started with the ugly default slug
Jerry : Should I go back and fix them with pretty permalinks?
Jerry : AND another question. Can I repost them, or does that get me in trouble with google for double posting.
Jerry : permalink
kalena : Re permalinks, if you have a look at the titles of my blog posts, they are permanent links.
Jerry : yes, they look great. All my first 4 months were ugly
kalena : You can add code to your Blogger template to ensure all your article/blog post headings are permanent links
kalena : Don't know about double posting, but why would you want to do that?
Jerry : Two reasons. I had SO LITTLE traffic my first few months, I don't want them to be lost
Jerry : And 2, the permalinks the first time were those ugly looking ?p=232" or whatever
kalena : I'll email you the code to create permalinks out of your blog post titles:
Jerry : Thanks Kalena. You've been awesome. Thanks for taking the time.
kalena : ok I'll shoot it through when I get time.
kalena : You're welcome. Good luck with the syndication
Jerry : Thanks
kalena : bye


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Article on SiteProNews

I was thrilled to see my article SEM Industry Training: What Are the Options? on the front page of SiteProNews today. SPN sure know how to provide traffic!

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Marketing Pilgrim SEM Scholarship Finalists Announced

Marketing Pilgrim has revealed the names of the five article authors who have made the final round of the SEM Scholarship competition. They are:

Paul Steinbrueck
CK Chung (aka Kid Disco)
Daniel Tynski
Marios Alexandrou
Jeff Horsager

Three cheers for each finalist! As a member of the panel of judges, I'm looking forward to tucking in to each article and choosing the one that best satisfies my appetite for fresh SEO/SEM reading material.

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Does Your Web Site Need a Workout?

I recently turned one of my blog rants into an article and I thought you, my dear readers, would enjoy it.

Does Your Web Site Need a Workout talks about how some companies waste hundreds of thousands of dollars on their web site without ensuring that it's working hard for them. Extract:

"I see it so often, regardless of company size. Web sites that could easily be bringing in loads of traffic and revenue simply wasting away because nobody can be bothered tracking visitor activity, analyzing trends or checking for search engine compatibility and usability.

These companies are simply keeping up appearances, investing heavily in Internet technology because their competitors are doing the same."

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Subscribe to our Search Engine Articles Feed

Unless you are a student of Search Engine College, you may not be aware of this, but did you know that we offer an extensive library of Internet and search engine related articles? It's true! Our articles cover the following subjects:

Affiliate Marketing

Article Writing

Articles by SEC Tutors

Blogs and RSS

Copywriting

E-Books

E-Learning

Home Based Business

Internet Marketing

Keyword Research

Link Building

Pay Per Click Advertising

Search Engine Marketing

Search Engine Optimization

Web Site Usability

Web Site Design

All the articles are free to download and re-publish, provided you keep the author resource box at the end of each intact.To make things easy, you can now subscribe to the Search Engine Article Library Feed to provide up to date search-related content for your own site.


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Product Review: Submit Suite - Article Submitter

Here at Search Engine College we generate and receive a high volume of quality articles each month. So you can imagine we were interested to take up Cristina Mailat's request to review Fastlink2's latest product Submit Suite – Article Submitter.

Below is a list of features the product offers:

• Can submit an article to 647 article directories in a matter of hours.
• Author information/profile page, records all submission requirements for every article directory in the database.
• A directory can be selected or deselected from the list manually.
• Google page rank of each directory listed.
• Interface neat and easy to use.

Main benefits:

• Submission of article to multiple directories saves a large amount of time.
• Automatic article format to individual directory submission requirements – another huge time saver.
• Record keeping minimized as Article Submitter records which article has been posted, where and when.
• Research time minimized as database updated with new directories regularly.

Possible limitations:

• No multiple author/profile tool – limited to submitting articles by one author only. (Although Fastlink2 indicated later editions of this product will have multiple author capacity).
• Can not scheduele submissions for future posting.
• Can not submit multiple articles at same time.
• Can only submit to the directories contained in the database (Although it is possible to suggest a new article directory be included).
• Still some record keeping required by author as the software doesn’t store actual article content.

The Article Submitter is reasonably priced at USD $47.00 and would quickly pay for itself in regards to its time-saving capacity. Benefits are greatest for those who need it only for submitting their own articles. If you need to submit articles by several authors, then keep an eye out for future versions.




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Think Global, Act Global

I'm waaaay too tired to answer an FAQ tonight, so I'll just point to an article of mine published today in SiteProNews: Think Global Act Global: Writing For Your Online Market.

It's about all those sites you see that claim to target an international audience when their content only caters to a regional one. If the article has moved from SPN's front page, try this archived version.

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11 Reasons Why You Should Consider a Job in Search Engine Marketing

Are you currently seeking employment? Looking for a new profession? Considering a career change? Then a job in the field of Search Engine Marketing should be at the top of your list. Here are 10 reasons why:

1) The Search Industry is HOT

The first dot-com bubble may have burst 6 years ago, but the current bubble is getting bigger and stronger every day. One of the main reasons for the current dot-com boom is the skyrocketing growth of the search engine industry. No longer the territory of geekdom, search has exploded into the mainstream over the past few years and businesses are falling over themselves to get seen by online searchers. And they'll pay big bucks to search engines for the privilege.

Have you noticed that Google shares recently hit USD 500 EACH? It's not a coincidence. Search giants like Google, Yahoo and AOL can't fail to make money because everybody wants a bit of the search action. There's no denying, search is HOT, HOT, HOT.

2) It's Considered one of Four Jobs on the Cutting Edge

According to a recent article on MSN Careers, the position of Search Engine Optimizer is considered one of four jobs on the cutting edge right now. Who gave it this title? A representative from the world's largest specialized recruitment firm - Robert Half International Inc.

Search Engine Optimization is considered a sub-set of Search Engine Marketing. If you're unsure what a Search Engine Optimizer (SEO) does, below is a definition provided by MSN Careers:

"Search engine optimizers (SEOs) increase a firm's Web site traffic by improving its search-engine page rankings. This is an especially important task in today's Internet-driven world, where many customers first learn of an organization and its products or services through the Web. Because of a shortage of experts in this relatively new area, many top SEOs receive multiple job offers. SEOs typically supplement their knowledge of how various search engines operate and determine page rankings with strong marketing skills, as well as the ability to communicate effectively and program using HTML."

Wikipedia also defines Search Engine Optimizers here.

3) The Pay is Fantastic

A job in the search industry can be unbelievably lucrative. As noted recently by Jennifer Laycock of Search Engine Guide, "There are quite literally more jobs than there are skilled marketers and salaries can skyrocket to almost embarrassing levels."

Have you seen the type of salaries that search engine marketing and search engine optimization consultants are currently commanding in the US? Clearly, the search industry is making some people rich. Here are some typical salaries in USD:

Entry level SEO/SEM position = $30-45K

Three to five years experience / online account managers = $50-75K

Five + years / organic SEO specialists = $75-90K

Senior management level = $70-120K

SEM Director = $95-150K

VP Level = $100-315K

Additional Salary links:

http://www.clickz.com/showPage.html?page=3591061

http://forums.searchenginewatch.com/showthread.php?t=10543

4) You Don't Need a College Degree

Because the search industry is relatively young, there are only a handful of online courses and certifications offered in the field of Search Engine Marketing (Search Engine College being one training provider).

Most search engine marketing practitioners are self-taught, learning the trade by experimenting with their own sites, researching trends, attending conferences and participating in discussion forums and so employers don't generally require SEO / SEM certification or a tertiary qualification as a pre-requisite for a position in the industry.

However, candidates who hold a marketing degree or specific industry certification in Search Engine Marketing may well have an edge over their fellow applicants when it comes to interview selection.

Continue reading article...

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Q and A: Where can I find free article distribution lists?

Dear Kalena...

I just read your article titled How to Profit From Your Free Reprint Articles. My question to you is this: You spoke of free distribution lists for articles; can you point me to one or more of those services?

Thank you,

Gavin

Kalena's Answer:

Hi Gavin

Sure, try these free article distribution lists.

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