Keep in mind, the search engines have an almost desperate interest in satisfying all consumer search: the fear being we consumers will stop coming back to search if we don’t like the organic [=non advertising] search results. If we stopped visiting it would destroy their pay per click advertising revenue business, which counts on approximately 1/ 10 visit ad based clicks.

Also rememember, fundamentally to achieve better SEO a site needs to be marked up to 1) cooperate with search engine spidering, to 2) produce consistent on topic content and to 3) generate a [algorithm-] measurable reaction [i.e. relevant back links, bookmarks, facebook likes, retweets, plus 1s, direct subscriptions and much more].

The Answer To: Does A Keyword Domain Translate To Better Keyword SEO?

It’s certainly possible to succeeed without a keyword based domain and our advice is *always* to think more about what is sustainable in the long run. According to Matt Cutts a keyword based domain can help and he also admits the Google algorithm places some weight [e.g. algorithm believed to use 200 + ranking signals] on your domain name when ranking competitive positioning. Cutts also makes a couple comments worth mentioning:

1. Cutts emphasizes that a domain that is brand- able, [i.e. Yahoo] rather than keyword based, may be a better strategy. What he means is great brand, which has lots of measurable online reaction, seperates itself from ‘the keyword domain driven competitive pack’. 

2. Cutts also suggests Google may lessen any weight the signal has in the near future, meaning a keyword based domain may help some now, BUT there are no guarantees in the future. The plan is to bring the sites and pages to the top based upon the merits of  activity [i.e. relevant back links, bookmarks, facebook likes, retweets, plus 1s, direct subscriptions and much more].

Our advice: if you have a good keword based domain go ahead and use it, but worry more about the long term fundamentals of building a well marked up brand/ site that consistently shares good information/ content and that sees a good reaction to that content.

Important Takeaways:

• When one searches they do not search the whole web, only what pages Google has in it’s index
• Google indexes what pages it can find, but not the whole web
• As a site owner, assuming you have used the search terms on a page, you compete for a search results position against every other page Google has indexed with those same terms [ = key words or phrases]
• When comparing your page and the others, Google’s algorithm uses 200 questions or signals
• One obvious question relates to your use of the search terms on a page, like are they in your title, your URL and/or how are they used in the content of the page
• Another question looks for search term synonyms on your page – be careful NOT to over stuff the actual search terms as the algorithm is known to see this as bad practice or spammy
• Page Rank has emphasis and it is focused on the back links your page has accumulated, but note that it’s not necessarily just volume… it’s also very much a determination of the quality of those links
• Organic results or how Google ranks pages is NEVER paid for!

Thoughts on Search Engine Optimization:

• It can take time, but consistent activity and topic focus is proven
• How long you have been there for search terms can help
• Broaden search term target focus – leverage the long tail
• Your competition has a great deal to do with where you get and how fast you get there
• Pursue back links where you can, but from good sites preferably with good page rank and in anchor text
• Your site design & technology must not only be search engine friendly, but it must be updated & advanced in order to remain search engine friendly – static sites will not sustain a competitive edge!

Related Posts:

• Confused By Search Engine Optimization? Try This ‘Laypersons Guide To Understanding SEO’
• What does the Google Crawl mean to your business and how will your Business Blog help?
• So, how important is our Page Rank?
• Google’s Matt Cutts On Organic Versus Reciprocal Links
• Beware of What Is Sold As SEO!

Google’s Universal Search, which now places emphasis on video and image content, is a dramatic shift from traditional text based search results. In effect it [slightly] reduces the chance your text-based, while raising that of all video & image- based, content will achieve 1st page search result status. After all, Google has officially announced it: they are adding video & image content where they can… and there are only so many slots available!

Forrester Video Study

A recent Forrester Research video study suggests you could be 50 times more likely to appear on the 1st page of Google’s search results with video content. In the study Forrester says Google blended non-standard content [i.e. video] into the keywords they researched [by searching] over 50% of the time. Now keep in mind, for most keywords there isn’t going to be any video! At least not yet and it’s unlikely the keywords Forrester researched are the ones that you target; however, any study suggesting a 50 times better chance should move you!

The Competition – Don’t Panic!

Now don’t be fooled, 1st page indexing is never easy!! Like with text-based content, you have to do it right to get to the top. Don’t panic if you haven’t produced any video because chances are the competition hasn’t either. And remember, as an advertorial business blogger  you’re never competing against the whole world of business… just those who share your target market. Even if they are producing video content, it certainly doesn’t mean they’re publishing it in an optimal or search optimized fashion. In fact by consideration alone, chances are you’re way ahead of the pack!

Basic Video Optimization Techniques

One thing you should know is, YouTube is the juggernaut of video and that makes it highly relevant here. Another is, the creation of video content from static images including music and/ or narration is very possible with software or hired help. In fact we do it for clients quite regularly, so you don’t necessarily have to go to the trouble or to incur the cost of creating, editing & formatting video footage. And then Forrester suggests under 20% of the marketers they surveyed optimize their video, so the good news is most of what already exists in the Youtube and/ or the Google index isn’t prepared for search competition.

Here are the top optimization techniques to increase your chances for success with online video:

1. Add targeted keywords to your video file names… change abc.jpeg to Red_Bank_NJ_Chiropracter.jpeg
2. Add targeted keywords in video titles & tags
3. Add targeted keywords in video captions & descriptions… *blog posts* go a long way here!
4. Create a video library on your advertorial business blog site
5. And because the Google algorithm counts & compares total video viewings,
 a. Create a video library in YouTube… this is where video search and consumption is happening folks!
 b. Embed those same YouTube Videos into relevant Blog Posts… this will increase Google’s understanding of the content [assuming you describe it] and potential viewings!

Reated Posts

• Tagging Your Images
• Advertising in YouTube
• Image Based Video Creation For YouTube

Need any help, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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  • Que: What happens when a business can publish unlimited, useful information to the web?
    Ans: A business that Blogs can market almost anything affordably, particularly the merits of its’ business, to anyone and everyone that needs that expertise, those products & those services [= online brand development]! 
  • Que: What happens when consumers can search and find any information they want whenever they want it …for free?
  • Ans: A business that Blogs can be discovered directly, often, for many things, without any constraint and by the most qualified prospects [= search marketing/advertising]!
  • Que: What happens when business prospects can easily subscribe to any publishing source of information they want or need?
    Ans: A business that Blogs can open an unlimited number of trusted, ongoing RSS & Email connections[= direct marketing]!

The web gives the consumer the power to find useful information [i.e. Real Estate Investment] on their own terms… and to make informed decisions. Most consumers are searching and they want they expect the immediate gratification of answers! Unlike traditional marketing / advertising messages, which are challenged to grab the consumers’ attention in limited space & time, a business that Blogs’ has the ability to generate visibility, trust, brand and then direct [RSS & RSS to email] connections affordably and without limit!

 I. Visibility & Discoverability: by consistently Blogging new information on a particular subject (i.e. Granite Bay, CA Real Estate or Orlando FL area Real Estate Investment) a business is able to push knowledge- base to the web where anyone can consume it. Regardless of  which channel a consumer chooses, including via social network, RSS or search, information is free to go wherever it is needed. With search, virtually one quarter of the queries made are completely unique so it’s important to be indexed for as many variations (i.e. Granite Bay, CA  Lake Front Homes or Florida Real Estate Trends) on a targeted subject as possible. While a business  may generate less search discovery per individual search variation of ‘Granite Bay CA Real Estate’, the collective impact can be much greater for those variations. The proven theory being, if a business Blogs well to cover all the things going on in a target marketplace they can be indexed for many keyword & key phrase searches; therefore, they can be prepared for many, many searcher queries and discoveries. Blogs make this simple & cost- effective!

 II. Local Brand Recognition: let’s face it; we all search because we can. As consumers we all have an instant ability to research and to gather information. If all consumers have this power, businesses must commit themselves to meet this modern day challenge. By consistently & transparently sharing what they know, do, see and have to offer a business can be prepared. By presenting themselves as enthusiastic, valuable, knowledgeable & trustworthy providers of products and services they will develop a local online brand. Blogs make this simple & cost-  effective!

 III. Direct Marketing Connections: these days content can be formatted for syndication. In the past, a business depended on mass mailing and/or media to distribute an advertising message. Now, with Search, Social Networks & RSS that same businesses’ information is free to be discovered, to be directly subscribed to and to go where it is needed. When a consumer finds a valued source of information, they can subscribe via RSS or’ RSS convert to email’ making the direct & continuous connection to an unlimited number of people possible. Blogs make this simple & cost- effective! 

One tool, three levels of value proposition and yes, in 2008 we believe that Advertorial Business Blogging will help a business control it’s  own destiny!