3 SEO Myths About Information Architecture

PageRank sculpting, siloing, link-juice flowage, SEO architecture — these are keyword phrases that often make my skin crawl. The reason? I commonly hear these words come from search engine optimization (SEO) professionals in reference to a website’s information architecture (IA). Yet, when I am among my information architecture colleagues? I rarely hear these words, if at all.

What happens when I explain to my information architecture colleagues how PageRank sculpting is supposed to work? They look at me as if I have lost my mind, because no professional information architect, that I know of, determines a website’s information architecture and corresponding navigation schemes based on a math equation from Google.

Where is the disconnect? Is the problem that information architects do not understand search engine optimization…or is the problem that SEO professionals do not understand information architecture? Or are both parties equally ignorant? Should there be bridges?


To help SEOs understand an information architect’s point of view, here are some of the common myths and misconceptions that search engine optimizers have about information architecture.

Myth #1: SEO is SEO & IA is IA

“I would say that the biggest myth is ‘SEO is SEO and IA is IA and never the twain shall meet’ – that information architecture is a high-brow, librarian-like activity carried out by serious, academic-type practitioners and high-end site builders, whereas SEO is a down and dirty marketing tactic carried out by hip guerrilla marketers,” said Alan Perkins,  Managing Director of SilverDisc Limited. “Nothing could be further from the truth.”

“Information is content; architecture is links; therefore information architecture is about content and links,” Perkins continues. “And what’s a large part of SEO? Yep, content and links. Information architecture is a very large component of SEO and, like building a house, getting your architecture wrong at the start can cost you a lot further down the line. 

I have been saying for years that SEO is optimizing a website for people who use search engines. There are two parts to that equation: searchers and search engines. I often feel that many SEO professionals ignore or discount the “searcher” part of search engine optimization. Likewise, I often feel that SEOs and web developers alike forget the “searcher” part of site architecture.

A Site Architecture (SA) for SEO is a combination of just two things: Information Architecture (IA) and Technical Architecture (TA),” said Perkins. “I like to express this as a formula: SA = IA + TA.”
Amen to that, Alan.

Myth #2: The SEO Architecture…

Whenever I hear the phrase “SEO architecture,” I immediately associate it with an information architecture that is primarily:

• Created for search engines only
• Based on data from keyword research tools, and
• Based on the mental models of SEOs, not users/searchers

This type of architecture commonly results in a website that ranks well—temporarily (if at all) but has a high abandonment rate and poor conversions.
“Organizations that design for SEO at the expense of IA are sacrificing their future for a few quick wins,” said Peter Morville, president and founder of Semantic Studios and co-author of Information Architecture for the World Wide Web. “Marketing is about the whole user experience, not just findability.”
Two goals of an effective information architecture are to make desired content: (1) easy to use and (2) easy to find via both searching and browsing. Searcher goals and business goals are not mutually exclusive.

“When you boil it all down, information architects’ work is concerned with optimizing the alignment of business goals and user needs,” said Dan Klyn, information architect at The Understanding Group and a director of the Information Architecture Institute. “Sometimes, the changes that information architects recommend are subtle; other times, the changes are unmistakable, requiring wholesale changes to directory structures, URL paths and over-arching navigation structures.

In cases where information architects find a wide mis-alignment between ideal and existing structures, consider the real-world architectural metaphor that information architecture derives from,” Klyn continues. “In the same way that owners, contractors and designers must wisely decide between adapting an existing structure or tearing everything down and starting from scratch, so too with matters of information architecture.”
Many website owners are afraid to modify ranked pages, even though the sites’ existing information architectures are confusing to searchers.
Website owners are afraid to lose qualified search engine traffic. But consider this—you are already losing users/searchers by not having a website that makes sense to your target audience. Adapting an existing structure to be crawler friendly isn’t always the best solution.
Which leads me to the next myth….

Myth #3: Web Searchers Are Not Site Users

“SEO professionals may not realize that users’ information needs change—sometimes dramatically so—once they reach a site,” said Louis Rosenfeld, co-author of Information Architecture for the World Wide Web and author of Search Analytics for your Site: Conversations with your Customers (available in May 2011 from Rosenfeld Media).

“They may move from seeking to validate that an answer to their query exists—and on which website—to a mode of localized finding and more intensive learning about the topic of interest. Or web searchers may be seeking information about an organization, while site searchers may seek information about that organization’s services and offerings.”

In the table below, former Michigan State University technologist Rich Wiggins compared the top keywords that brought users to the MSU site with what they searched once they reached the site (on the site’s search engine):

 
“The differences quickly emerge,” Rosenfeld explains. “Names of the institution are obviously quite common in web search, but not for site search. Both types of searches include navigational information (e.g., ‘campus map’), but site search queries often deal with activities local to the campus (e.g., ‘football’), systems that students and staff use (e.g., ‘spartantrak’), and particular departments like chemistry.”
I think that it is really important for SEO professionals to perform a combination navigational:informational and navigational:transactional advanced queries to verify that they are communicating aboutness to both site visitors and search engines. Here are some examples (using the National Cancer Institute site):

• lung cancer site:www.cancer.gov
• allintitle: lung cancer site:www.cancer.gov
• contact NCI site:www.cancer.gov

This web SEO will also help site SEO.
“While organic web search and site search demonstrate different searcher behaviors and information needs, there is an interesting relationship between them that may provide search engine advertisers with some great opportunities,” Rosenfeld said.
“Because site search produces more specific queries than organic web search, these queries may suggest more narrowly focused keywords that will in turn see fewer bids. So site search analytics, an information architect’s tool, might save SEO and search engine advertisers a lot of money.”

Key Takeaways

• It might be difficult for technical teams to take direction and guidance from non-technical information architects. Don’t let anyone from your tech team intimidate you into believing something cannot be changed.
• Site Architecture = Technical Architecture + Information Architecture. Both TA and IA are critical for a long-term success.
• Adapting an existing information architecture to be crawler friendly isn’t always the best solution. If the site’s information architecture is the problem? Then fix the problem. Don’t put a band-aid on it and expect miracles.
• Web searchers are site users.
• Site search analytics can save SEO/SEM professionals time and money.

References

• Ambient Findability – informal bibliography
• Information Architecture Research from Semantic Studios
• Morville, P. (2005). Ambient Findability. Sebastpol, CA: O’Reilly Media.
• Morville, P. and Rosenfeld, L. (2007). Information Architecture for the World Wide Web, 3rd edition. Sebastpol, CA: O’Reilly Media.
• Search Patterns library

Opinions expressed in the article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Search Engine Land.

Related Entries

• Information Architects Are From Venus, SEOs Are From Mars
• Information Behavior & Mental Models
• Key Information Architecture Concepts Every SEO Should Know
• SEO & Searcher Mental Models
• Site Navigation & Information Architecture Fundamentals For SEOs

Calling all experienced search marketers! Registration is open for Search Engine Land's SMX Advanced Seattle, June 7-8.Register today for lowest rates & secure your spot!

Source http://searchengineland.com/

Search Engine Optimization Company, SEOValley Ranks No. 2 for Web Design Services

SEOValley Solutions Private Limited, a leading search engine marketing company, has been ranked at No. 2 for web design services in India for the month of March, 2011 by topseos.in, an independent authority on search vendors.

Online PR News – 18-March-2011 –Bhopal, India SEOValley Solutions Private Limited, a leading search engine marketing company, has been ranked at No. 2 for web design services in India for the month of March, 2011 by topseos.in, an independent authority on search vendors.

Recently, SEOValley Solutions Private Limited, a leading search engine marketing company has been ranked at No. 2 for web design services in India by Topseos.in. Topseos.in, founded in 2003, has been identified as an independent authority on search vendors. They regularly review 3000+ firms from over 130 countries to evaluate and identify the best companies that provide services and products in the internet marketing industry. Their mission is to provide inclusive and independent advice to help buyers in making purchasing decisions from internet marketing vendors.

We have a team of web designers that has wide experience in designing various projects for the online business. They will help you present your business efficiently online, to acquire new leads and increase the conversions” says M Shabir, the President of SEOValley.

Their various other interactive marketing services and solutions are search engine optimization, search engine marketing/ pay-per-click management, social media optimization, off-page optimization/ strategic link building, local optimization, website development, website designing, application development, website testing, etc.

Serving clients across the globe, SEOValley has been able to provide one of the best web designing services to its clientele and they have always been a strong factor in increasing the business. With positive feedbacks and satisfied clients globally, they have been able to tap the potential market for web designing with their committed efforts and exceptional services.

About SEOValley Solutions Private Limited:

SEOValley Solutions Private Limited, started in 1999, is a Search Engine Optimization & Web Development company with its corporate office in Bhopal, India. SEO India is still at a very nascent stage. The result is high charges for shoddy and doubtful output from a deluge of amateurs claiming to be professionals in search engine marketing. This is one of the main reasons which forced SEOValley to open an Indian arm, which will provide international expertise in web marketing and search engine promotion in India at an affordable price.

Contact Information:
SEOValley Solutions Private Limited
2nd Floor, MIG-3, E-6,
Arera Colony, Bhopal – 462016
Phone: +91-755-4203649
Email: info@seovalley.com
Website: www.seovalley.com

 Source http://www.onlineprnews.com/

Long-term online advertising goals? Try SEO Services offered in London.

 Once you’ve maximized the potential of Google AdWords Pay Per Click (PPC) offering, it’s time to move on to bigger and greener pastures. While PPC is short, sweet and simple, using SEO or Search Engine Optimization is important since it is the next step for that bolder, wider advertising campaign. In London, SEO services are guaranteed to be full-proof and successful in promoting your cause. London digital agencies are in fact pros when it comes to building a product’s image and exposure to the large and competitive space of the internet.

First of all, it’s important to clarify SEO services and how it is different from PPC, just in case you might think your PPC ad campaign is enough to hold you by. As its name implies, SEO optimizes search results to your advantage. It is a means of maximizing exposure (higher on the results lists) through direct searches on search engines. SEO analyzes what people search for and primarily edits a certain website’s content to match popular keywords. It also makes use of various links as well as keyword feeding. Hiring SEO services in London, you won’t have to lift a finger making your campaign. London digital agencies will do the work for you—from research to actual implementation.

SEO services in London PPC has more immediate results but if you’re looking for a long-term plan, SEO is the way to go. It’s difficult to pinpoint how long its implementation will last as well as its cost; all that depends on the product’s market and its competition. But if you have a wise London digital agency handling your marketing, you can be sure that you will soon see effects such as more traffic and visitors on your website. By offering enough visibility, it can effectively set your place in the industry.

London digital agencies assure proper implementation and maximum profit on your SEO campaign. SEO services in London much more affordable, practical and functional. It maximizes your budget by putting you on top. It may seem to be simple but SEO requires much creativity and astuteness in its management. London digital agencies undergo extensive research in order to formulate proper SEO strategies that would compliment your needs, product, website, budget and cause. They could even compare how you would have fared had you used traditional forms of advertising.

SEO services are lifesavers when met with budget restraints. And, in this generation of online users, it could even be more effective. There aren’t many requirements to SEO services in London or anywhere else, it’s actually very reachable and reasonable. London digital agencies assure that you get your money’s worth and so much more. So, picking a good digital agency to handle your SEO is very crucial to the success of your marketing. Your London digital agency should have one priority—you and expanding your business to the outside word by means of advertising. Through efficient AdWords and SEO management, you should have no problem launching your product and/or website off the internet.

Resource Box: Searching for http://www.myclicks.us/about.php   digital agency London   that specialize in http://myclicks.us/seo_services_london.php  SEO services London? Check some out here.
Source http://www.newsbycompany.com/

SEO Held Liable, Fined In Counterfeiting Case

A website builder and SEO firm has been held liable in federal court in a case in which it was accused of enabling the sale of counterfeit goods. Bright Builders faces a $770,000 fine for damages in the judgment, handed down in U.S. District Court in South Carolina last week, while its client was only fined $28,000.


The lawsuit was filed by the Roger Cleveland Golf Company, which makes golf clubs and related products, accusing Christopher Prince, the owner of the copycatclubs.com web site, of selling counterfeit Cleveland clubs. It also contended that Bright Builders helped Prince, and his company, Prince Distribution, to build a web site. This included helping with search engine optimization (SEO) — so that the site would come up on searches for Cleveland’s trademarked terms. Bright Builders denied the charges in a written motion, and hadn’t responded to a request for comment by publication time.


According to the plaintiffs, Bright — like many site hosting companies — provided SEO services, including review of the sites for search engine visibility, a “quick start” for marketing, keyword research, a “tune up” including a “keyword rich title and description,” along with submission of the site to more than 2,500 search engines and directories. The word “Cleveland” was embedded within the site metadata, the plaintiffs say, and the online store featured marketing copy advertising that, “we are your one stop shop for the best COPIED and ORIGINAL golf equipment on the internet.”


Additionally, the plaintiffs said that Bright Builders helped Prince find drop-shippers to provide products to the business. Because of its activities, Cleveland contended that Bright Builders should have known about the counterfeiting activities, and therefore contributed to the liability.


“For Internet Intermediaries like SEOs and web hosts, this should be a cautionary warning,” wrote Christopher Finnerty, a partner at Nelson Mullins Law Firm in Boston who represented Cleveland Golf and its parent company, Srixon. “The jury found that web hosts and SEO’s cannot rely solely on third parties to police their web sites and provide actual notice of counterfeit sales from the brand owners. Even prior to notification from a third party, Internet intermediaries must be proactive to stop infringing sales when they knew or should have known that these illegal sales were occurring through one of the web sites they host.”


Though Bright Builders, along with Prince, have been found liable in a jury trial, it’s unclear exactly what implications this case has for other SEOs or website hosts, in part because of the seeming lack of a vigorous defense. The attorney for Bright Builders submitted a very vague motion arguing that it be dropped as a defendant from the case, denying everything but failing to cite legal principles or provide supporting evidence.


“We don’t have a good sense of how likely it is that other web designers or SEOs/hosts will be sucked into the same liability trap,” writes intellectual property attorney Eric Goldman on his Technology & Marketing blog. “I do think we have some good reason to believe that courts are allergic to the entire ‘copycat’/'replica’ business. Those code-words aren’t fooling anyone.”

Calling all experienced search marketers! Registration is open for Search Engine Land's SMX Advanced Seattle, June 7-8.Register today for lowest rates & secure your spot!

 Source http://searchengineland.com/

SEO Services India - Best SEO Services by SEO Company in India

The online business success depends on website popularity or visibility in search engines so new ways are looked always for the successful online business. It helps to catch the maximum number of targeted visitors to the website because ultimately it increases the online business sales. To increase the number of visitors from all over world there is need of well designed and developed website which could appeal to visitors about the business which is being targeted. Along with designed website there is need of optimization of website targeting the major search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN / Bing.


The process of increasing the website popularity or visibility is called "SEO - Search Engine Optimization". Complete SEO is based on process of website changes at different places and to make then popular through internet presence so called OnPage SEO and Off Page SEO . Onpage SEO is done for website pages on Page Title, Meta Description, Content, Content Heading, Images, Links, Page Names, etc. OffPage SEO is done through content distribution by articles and blogs along with social media optimization called SMO.


The complete SEO Services is very much effective as website is ranked high in the major search engines such as Google, Yahoo and MSN / Bing. Higher position of website ensures the increase of potential visitors to the website searching the services or products through internet. Once the business owners decide to get the SEO Services for their website, the next major work is to choose the right SEO Company which could provide the best SEO services along with affordable price for long term.


Choosing the right SEO Company is not the easy task because every SEO company claims for the best SEO services and make their efforts to prove that their SEO Services is best from other SEO services providers. In this situation, the business owners looking SEO services find themselves in illusion like situation regarding SEO services and their pricing. Looking the SEO services at affordable pricing is also major deciding factor, where lower pricing always dominants with same services.


India is the most suitable place to outsource the SEO projects for best result at affordable pricing. There are lots of SEO company in India itself providing the SEO Services India claiming the best SEO services. Web AllWays is the SEO Company in India located in New Delhi, provides SEO Services India and has the best options to them who really are in search of best SEO services at affordable pricing.


So, it's high time to make only single click at Web AllWays website and get the best SEO services at affordable pricing which will really help to grow your online business.
 Source http://www.benzinga.com/

Global SEO Programs Decentralize to Regional Governance Model

"Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's" was the mantra of the old Roman Empire. It meant that the central government, in the form of the Emperor, would get paid for its work, and all else remained with the states.

Search engine optimization (SEO) in large companies, for years now, has been driving relentlessly toward a Caesar model -- highly centralized for global companies -- and for good reason.

Roll the clock back to 2008 and SEO programs in most large companies were disorganized. The Great Recession forced a renewed discipline on SEO (and all corporate functions) as budgets tightened and control and efficiency became the key organizing principals.

There's no better way to drive standardization, budget control, and efficiency than centralization. And this is now the prevailing model in large companies.

Several factors, however, are making this model non-ideal in the coming 2-3 years. Our expectation is that there will be a wave of decentralization in media and marketing management functions, and SEO is no exception. 

Integration and Adaptiveness

What's changing? Two things: the need for integration and the need for adaptiveness.

·                          The single biggest theme we hear from enterprise clients is "integration." SEO needs to be integrated into content development. SEO needs to be integrated into social media. SEO needs to be integrated into mobile advertising. And, paid and organic search need to be integrated. (Crazy talk!)

·                          As for adaptiveness -- advertisers, sold on the benefits of SEO, are looking for the process to become more adaptive to local needs, as well as for more rapid global expansion.

Localizing SEO Efforts

Larger advertisers are reorganizing their SEO activities, and rethinking their overall governance model.

1.      Key functions are being regionalized in order to drive more integration and flexibility. Localization has always been decentralized by geo, but now more aspects of the best practices design for content development and Web development are being decentralized to the agencies that are doing the localized Web projects. Content-related SEO efforts are being financed locally and are therefore being staffed, trained, and driven locally.

2.      Social media programs and their integration with SEO are being driven and financed locally -- at the country level (not even the regional) level. The reason is that the content necessary to drive viral social media programs, along with the identification and marketing to influencers, requires knowledge of the localized market dynamics. So this too is being financed and run at the country level.

As such, it's becoming more common for us to see SEO strategy run out of regional centers for Americas, EMEA, and APAC than we have for the past three years.

What remains centralized in most companies is metrics development, global strategy development, reporting, technology acquisition, and agency selection processes.

Link Building

Interestingly enough, we see link building continuing to be centralized as well. The organized link building strategies of most advertisers continue to be haphazard and sporadic -- with inconsistent financing parameters. This is an amazing statement given the importance SEO experts rightfully attribute to linking.

However, it remains relatively common for link building to be done through a central group, or by the agency(s) contracted to the advertiser. Advertisers should redeploy this activity regionally or sub-regionally.

Linking, like social media, requires local marketing and local investment for success. It should be built into the content development process -- as part of the creative exercise. Good link building principals dictate that product marketers build relevant content for the target influencers, and the SEO team can help in the identification and syndication of those key influencers.

The identification of links can be centralized using global technologies. But the execution requires localized resource.

Summary

There will be a change in the governance models of large companies SEO activities -- away from centralization to regionalization. This is an obvious next step in the maturity of programs, which allows not only for global efficiency, but also improved agility and adaptiveness as well as integration with the other key pillars of earned media -- social media and content development.

Join us for SES New York 2011, the Leading Search & Social Marketing Event, taking place March 21-25. SES New York will be packed with 70+ sessions, multiple keynotes, 100+ exhibitors, networking events, and parties. Learn about PPC management, keyword research, search engine optimization (SEO), social media, local, mobile, link building, duplicate content, multiple site issues, video optimization, site optimization, usability, and more.

Source http://searchenginewatch.com/

The Best Search Engine Optimization Companies in Singapore Ranked By topseos.sg for March 2011 The Best Search Engine Optimization Companies in Singapore Ranked By topseos.sg for March 2011

The Top 10 Search Engine Optimization Companies in Singapore for March 2011 has been ranked by topseos.sg, the independent authority on search vendors.

Online PR News – 17-March-2011 –topseos.sg, an independent authority on search vendors has named the Best Search Engine Optimization Firms in Singapore for the month of March 2011. Companies are already becoming serious about boosting the quality of traffic being directed to their site and have established an organic optimization campaign in place. Search engines are such an integral part of how visitors and potential clients find information on the internet, thus it becomes essential that websites are aligned with what the search engine is looking for. All the SEO marketing services next to hundreds of other SEO firms have gone through an evaluation system facilitated by a qualified and experienced team of researchers.
“Though there are many firms who engage in Search Engine Marketing activities, the process is by no means easy. Getting a link to the top of a search engine’s results page requires a great amount of strategizing and only a company who understand the intricacies of organic optimization will be able to accomplish that,” said Jeev Trika, Managing Partner of topseos.sg (http://www.topseos.sg).
The Top 10 SEO Companies in Singapore for March 2011 are:
1.) MediaCo Marketing Pte Ltd.
2.) Singapore SEO Consultant
3.) dgmSearchLab
4.) Top3 Media Pte Ltd.
5.) iSearch Media Pte Ltd.
6.) Brand Rich LLP
7.) Xirlynx Innovations
8.) Locus - T Online Pte Ltd.
9.) Seo Advantage
10.) PurpleClick Media Pte Ltd.
Topseos.sg has designed an evaluation process that specifically identifies SEO Companies in Singapore that excel in their performance and output. An in-depth assessment looks at how the firm works and is able to achieve its objectives. Part of the assessment process includes gathering feedback from at least three of the firm’s clients to understand their performance better.
As part of their assessment, questions include both general and project specific queries such as, “What type of needs analysis was conducted before work initiated?”, “What type of a ROI were you anticipating, what was achieved and in what time frame?”, “What would be 3 things you would change about your experience?”, “What was your total investment?”, “Rate your overall experience (1-10; 10 being the highest).”, “What are the most competitive keywords you have been able to rank on the major search engines and how long did it take you to achieve those rankings?”, “Did the agency modify the way they achieved higher rankings for you based on the
Universal Search model introduced by Google? How?”, “How comprehensive, specific, and useful are the reports that are offered to the client? What metrics do they cover?”, “Do the reports inform you what the next set of steps ought to be to achieve higher rankings and when you can expect to achieve the next set of goals by?” or “How many of your top industry keywords rank in the top 10? Which ones?”
ABOUT topseos.sg
topseos.sg, the independent authority on search vendors, is a branch of the United States-based site that was established in 2009 to identify and rank the best internet marketing service providers in Singapore. An assigned research team scrutinizes the numerous applicants each month seeking to be ranked as a top internet marketing service provider by the independent authority. In addition to the rankings, visitors to the site can find a full directory listing, the knowledge zone, news and much more.
Search Engine Optimization Companies that are interested to apply for ranking can visit:
http://www.topseos.com/rankings/search-engine-marketing-agencies/apply-for-ranking
Learn more about the Best Search Engine Optimization Companies in Singapore for March 2011 at:
http://www.topseos.sg/best-seo-companies-in-singapore
Source http://www.onlineprnews.com/

Josh McCoy to Speak at Search Engine Strategies Conference in NYC

Josh McCoy, SEO Analyst with Vizion Interactive, a search engine optimization firm, will be a featured speaker at this year’s Search Engine Strategies Conference in New York City.
Josh will be speaking on the Search: Where to Next? Panel, on day one of the conference, where Industry experts will try and predict what search marketing may look like in the years to come. Josh is a leader on the Vizion Interactive search engine optimization team, as well as a contributor to Search Engine Watch , writing on organic search engine optimization.
“It’s an honor to have been asked to speak at the Search Engine Strategies Conference,” says Mr. McCoy. “Search Engine Strategies obviously has a great reputation for delivering great content for those involved in the internet marketing industry, and to be a part of that is truly a privilege. I’m looking forward to some interesting discussion on what others on the panel believe the future of search marketing will look like, and sharing my own thoughts”.
Other participants on the Search: Where to Next panel include Rob Garner, Vice President Strategy with iCrossing, Eli Goodman, Search Evangelist with comScore and Duane Forrester, Senior Program Manager SEO with Microsoft.
Search Engine Strategies is a leading conference for the search engine marketing industry, with events hosted all over the World. Topics range from introductory sessions on search marketing and analytics, to “Key Points to Launching a Global Website”.
“We are very pleased to see that Josh is being recognized in this way,” says Mark Jackson, Vizion Interactive’s President and CEO. “We’ve known for some time how much Josh offers our team, and our clients, and now he has an opportunity to share his wealth of knowledge with those who attend the SES conference.”
Mark Jackson will also be attending the SES conference and moderating the “Meaningful SEO Metrics” panel, on day two. Joining Mark on the panel will be Matt Bailey of Site Logic Marketing, Ulli Muenker of Bloomberg/BusinessWeek and Jim Yu of BrightEdge.
About Vizion Interactive
Vizion Interactive, Inc. is a search engine optimization, search engine marketing, website design, Interactive marketing, and social media marketing agency dedicated to empowering clients to make informed decisions that deliver measurable results. Vizion Interactive’s headquarters are in Dallas, Texas with regional offices in Overland Park, Kansas and Clearwater Beach, Florida. Join Vizion Interactive at Search Engine Strategies in NYC, as Josh McCoy and Mark Jackson will be featured speakers.
About Search Engine Strategies
Since 1999, SES has been the leading international conference series for webmasters, digital agencies, online marketers and corporate decision makers. Over the years SES has guided search marketers of all skill levels through the fast changing and complex world of search — the single fastest growing marketing sector. The SES series operates under a variety of formats around the world, from large-scale multi-tracked conferences and exhibitions to more intimate forum style events and in-depth training courses drilling into the detail on specific topics — but each event shares one thing in common:
An absolute commitment to deliver the very finest speakers, the latest market intelligence and clear, actionable tips and tactics which attendees can apply the moment they get back to the office. By attending an SES event, you give yourself a competitive advantage over your fellow marketers that can transform both your business and your career
Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/03/prweb5171494.htm
Source http://www.digitaljournal.com/

How to Claim Your Google Places Page - Local SEO

Google has created 50,000,000 pages for local businesses. Claiming you Places Page is the first step every business should take on the road to local search engine optimization. Follow these 10 simple steps and you will be on the way to increased local traffic
1. Go to http://www.google.com/local/add/businessCenter and log in with proper Google Account. (alternately, you can start by going to maps.google.com and clicking “claim my listing” on your already listed Google Local page.)
2. Select “add a new business >>”
3. Follow the steps to add business information. Be careful to enter your information correctly. Cut and paste when possible
4. Please note that when adding your phone number, Google will verify your business by calling that number and providing a PIN number for verification. It is advisable not to use a cell phone or a number that rings to a switchboard.
5. To fully optimize your listing, add descriptive keywords to the “Description” field and select appropriate categories where your business will be listed. If applicable, also list your operating hours and method of payment. This will make your listing appear complete and give customers the information they are looking for.
6. Adding Photos. Add photos of business location. Upload the logo as the profile picture last.
7. Adding Videos. If you have company videos on YouTube, you can attach them to your business profile. Be careful that the YouTube account contains only company videos.
8. Additional Details. Include these if possible. This will include more powerful keywords that will be associated with your page.
9. Verify your business listing. You can verify your listing by phone or by postcard. Phone is optimal as the postcard is often lost in the mail and takes a long time. Google will call the phone number on the listing and provide a PIN number to enter for verification purposes. The process should take less than 5 minutes.
10. That’s it, you’re done! First step to Local SEO is under your belt.

If you need more help with getting your places page on the first page of Google Searches for your keywords, contact contact Local Mobile Marketing Network or another Local SEO expert.
Source http://www.newswire.net/