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Empowered Marketing® Search Engine Optimization

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a controversial topic because many companies take advantage of people in the general public who have a lack of knowledge on the subject. When searching, most people choose organic listings over sponsored ones. Ironically, many search engine optimization providers emphasize pay-per-click tools (Search Engine Marketing). If you’re working with a white hat (ethical) SEO specialist, who is focused on organic search engine performance SEO is fairly easy to understand. The added benefit is that you’ll know what you’re paying for because it will be clearly defined.

Search Engine Optimization Word Cloud

Web Design and SEO

Because of aggressive marketing by SEO service providers it seems like Web Design and SEO are separate. Nothing could be further from the truth. Web Design and SEO are inextricably linked. Design affects the user. That includes hierarchy, layout, page speed. The truth about SEO is that everything about your website affects SEO.

SEO is making the website easily understood by search engines, such as Google, so that your website shows up high on the list of results for the types of information, products or services you are offering. Good SEO includes making the website easy to understand by humans too.

Onsite Search Engine Optimization

This is the absolute minimum your webmaster should provide even if you don’t have an ongoing SEO maintenance package. It is the up front work all webmasters should do. The basic elements of onsite optimization are:

  • Well written content that is intended for both people AND search engines
  • Hierarchy of your pages
  • Tags (titles, headings, and images)
  • Internal links (links to other pages on your website)

All of the above require using words very carefully and focusing on the keywords and phrases which will launch your website to the top tier of search engine rankings. Onsite optimization should also be part of any ongoing SEO program.

Off Site Search Engine Optimization

This work is done outside of your website to improve its performance. It should include as a minimum:

  • Link building (getting relevant external links to your website). This is an area that is abused constantly by those trying to aggressively compete using unethical practices.
  • Writing articles that link to your site
  • Getting Reviews on Google Maps, Yelp or other websites
  • Social media specifically supporting your business
  • Setting up interviews with media representatives
  • Creating Press Releases

If you have an existing website we can do a comprehensive analysis and take steps to substantially improve your website’s search engine ranking. Call us: 941-374-7711.

Search Engine Marketing is not SEO

Search Engine Marketing (SEM aka Search Engine Advertising) is usually lumped in with Search Engine Optimization but we believe that SEM should be kept separate from SEO. Both SEM and SEO involve “optimization” but paying for placement is much different from organic placement in search engine results. The only time we would recommend paying for sponsored listings is if it is a good fit for your business. If you have the resources an ad campaign can be effective. Ask us about Google Adwords Management.

Search Engine Optimization for Humans

It doesn’t matter if your website comes up as number one if nobody clicks on it.

Frank Gómez, Owner of Empowered Marketing

What I mean by this is that the text chosen for your title tag and your web page description has to work for both the search engine and for the humans who are deciding, based on that information, whether to click on it or not.

Does the human visiting your site do what you want them to do? Call, email you, fill out a form, donate money, buy products? The bottom line is that your search engine optimization strategy must work for both the search engines AND the humans actually reading your content.

It doesn’t matter how many people visit your website if nobody contacts you.

Frank Gómez, Owner of Empowered Marketing

Empowered Marketing includes initial search engine optimization with every website. We carefully consider search engine optimization every step of the way as your website is built.

Red Balls with the word SEO on them symbolizing that SEO is in our blood

SEO is in our Blood