Business Website Advice

Cache Date has gained a whole new meaning for me.  

You can use Cache Date to determine page authority. Previously for ‘authority’ or importance, I had focused mainly on the page’s Google ranking:  top 6 of page one the page carries the big stick of authority, at the end of page 5 means oblivion and is like spitting in the wind.

I admit to previously using Cached date only to see when the search engine bots might be back to notice SEO work I’ve done.  Most people including owners ignore the little blue link on a results list. 

Here’s another way to look at it.  Thanks to  Paul Teitelman of Search Engine People in the post 71 Technical Factors for Backlink Analysis Part 2

“In general, I prefer to see a fairly decent pagerank (1-3 depending on how far down the page is in the site architecture) with a good amount of both external and internal links (can’t stress this point enough). Obviously relevancy is a must, but a more telling signs of a pages’ authority is its cache date; within one week is great, 1-2 weeks is average, 2-3 weeks is just OK, and anything 3+ weeks isn’t very powerful.” -Paul Teitelman, of Search Engine People

Everyone wants a Cache Date of less than 1 week.  Go ahead, check out yours.

Where to find the Cache Date?  Google one of your ‘keyword search phrases’ or file name or other identifier and see what the ranking entry says.  Below I googled ‘free website advice’ as that is one of my ‘keyword search phrases’ I’ve optimised my blog around.  I opened the cache date to find 8 days.  Whew.  Some pages better, some worse but no main phrases were 3 weekers. Whew again.

 If 3+ weeks, get busy implementing my SEO advice in Guideliness. Download for free.  Do not overlook the importance of internal links.  Google rewards your helpfulness in sharing information.  Internal links means easy navigation.   

The backstory.  During Link Week I’ve been reading heaps on all sorts technical and obscure (to most) tidbits about website/blog links - external, internal and the coveted inbound links.   Talk about contradictory philosophies and political positioning by competing SEO firms in the northern hemisphere bigger ponds.  It’s been stimulating and entertaining - of course I have my own take on the topic suiting our NZ pond.

Alt Tags are an easy part of good SEO.  Better search engine visibility is on everyone’s mind. We know we have to be in the top 10, even better above the fold in the top 5. This is the terrain of SEO, search engine optimisation. 

Part of my SEO guidelines (free download) says pay attention to Alt tags.  They are nothing new.  Alt tags are as old as websites. Trouble is they are too often ignored or under utilised.

Still, some of the websites I get asked to evaluate don’t have any alt tags at all or the alt tags written don’t take advantage of the SEO opportunity. 

If you have 3 minutes, watch this oldie but goodie short video of Matt Cutts, the Google guru, talking Alt Tags.

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Better late than never. Get increased exposure and a choice backlink to your website. I’ve just joined Hotfrog, New Zealand Business Directory which started in June 2008.  You should too. Read the rest of this entry »

Local search has changed big time. Your business can now appear on Google’s first page for local searches whether you have a website or not. 

Searchers can enter just one-word - just one generic keyword query - and get offered back the new Google 10 Pack (sometimes 3, even 2, funny that) with a map, for their local area.  All that without querying for location.  Previously you had to enter the location (geo-modifier), no longer for local. 

It worked for every generic keyword I tried: barristers, web design, gifts, yacht. Go ahead, test it for you generic keyword.

It means you can compete locally against the big national websites. As with most things, local search with the Google 10 Pack has its pros and cons.  For instance…

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“You’re now on page 7 for x-product, I can get you on page 1 and increase sales in 24 hours.” If an SEO salesman rings or emails with anything like that, run. Yes, run the other way.  Page 1,time, and sales should not be promised.  In this story the tables got turned on the jerk. He left red-faced, eating humble pie. Read the rest of this entry »

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My clients often wonder how popular a keyword search phrase is across regions. Do Mainlanders search for the same phrases Northlands do?  The Google tool Insights for Search will tell all. Read the rest of this entry »

Like it or not, the number five most popular Google search in New Zealand related to accommodation is cheap accommodation. Number four is holiday accommodation.  

Here’s an easy to use tool to research keyword popularity by search terms, locations and time ranges.   Enter accommodation and see how Northland leads the pack of favoured regional destinations (a bit surprising) and peaks each January over the last five years (not surprising). Read the rest of this entry »

Surely there’s something here for you.  Knol is a Google project being developed to help you share what you know.  It’s full of units of knowledge that can fill your head…and time. Read the rest of this entry »

Use your geographical identifier - your town or region - as part of your keyword search phrase to help you rank for local searches. Read the rest of this entry »