How to Invite Facebook Friends to Your Facebook Business Page

When you first create a Facebook page for your business, you're missing the key ingredient to building a good community right off the bat -- people! Luckily, you probably have some some friends and family who take an interest in what you do and would be happy to show their support as you build up your base of users. Using a built-in invite feature in Facebook, you can invite your current friends in a few steps.

1) Sign in to Facebook and click on your page's name under the "Pages" section on the left side of the screen.

2) Click the "Build Audience" menu option at the top of the screen. This will open a drop-down menu. From there, click "Invite Friends."

3) Show all of your friends by clicking the "Recent Interactions" button near the top of the box, and then clicking "Search All Friends."

4) Click the check box next to the friends you'd like to invite to your new Facebook page.

5) Click the "Submit" button when finished. The friends you selected will be invited to like your page.

WebDrafter.com, a PA Web design company, helps companies create better looking websites, improve search engine placements, and build up online communities on networks like Facebook and Twitter. Interested in learning more about how we can help your business? Get in touch today at (866) 421-3723.

Internet Marketing: What to Avoid Doing in Your Campaign

Getting your website to the top of the search engines is a great feeling. However, watching your online presence languish below the top results is frustrating, and can be almost enough to swear you off using the Internet to market your business.

It's understandable, but the rewards of Internet marketing are so great, that you can't avoid them. So, if your efforts are not getting you where you want, your campaign might include strategies that should be stayed away from. Here are 10 mistakes many make when going forward with an online marketing campaign:

1. You decide to go it alone
   Internet marketing might seem easy enough. Do a few things here and there, and instant success, right? Not exactly. There are things you can do yourself, but Internet marketing companies exist because they know proper techniques. Deciding to throw caution to the wind and not obtain some form of professional help can lead you to implement techniques which will hurt you in the long run, and can take a while to fix.
2. You have a website, and that's it
   Yes, the most essential step of Internet marketing is to have a website that looks great and serves readers well. But, if that's all you have, then you're likely to not see the search engines – and potential customers – respond. With so many websites out there, you need to give yourself a competitive advantage and begin marketing online.
3. Your website has no clear call to actions
   You want people to come to your website. But, once they're on it, what should they do? Not directing people to certain pages (notably those where they can request contact from you or buy products) is a mistake that will leave you without an ROI. Your website should contain clear call to actions so your visitors know what to do.
4. You don't know what your competitors are up to
   You need to be aware of your competition, and keep an eye on them. If you're not, you could be losing business without even knowing it. Checking on your competitors to see what they're doing and whether it's working can provide you with ideas for strategies, especially if they're forgetting to promote a popular product or service.
5. You're copying content from other websites
   One of the worst thing any website can have is duplicate content. The three major search engines (especially Google) heavily frown upon plagiarism. If you're swiping text and pictures from other websites, it's time to get in touch with a professional Internet marketing company to begin putting together original content.
6. Your website contains false information
   The Internet loves nothing more than to expose liars and phonies. Your website needs to have true information. If you're promoting products and services with inaccurate information, you're just asking for trouble, and need to rectify this immediately.
7. You don't have a presence on social media
   It's not enough to just promote your services and wares, but you have to engage persons in a conversation about them. Social media engagement has become a big factor in proper Internet marketing and SEO, so if you're not using social media to get your message out there, you're missing out a big customer base.
8. You're not aligning your efforts
   The efforts you make for your online marketing campaign should all align with each other. You have big news on your website? Put it in a blog, then put information out on social media and social bookmarking websites. To obtain optimum results, everything needs to work in coordination.
9. You're not paying attention to search engine trends
   What worked in Internet marketing a year ago, or even a month ago, might not work now. Paying attention to search engine marketing trends for changes to algorithms and techniques can help you to maximize your efforts, and not waste time on practices that no longer generate the same bang.
10. You gave up too quickly
    It's all about patience. While there are things you can do to obtain immediate results, the vast majority of Internet marketing should be centered on establishing your website in a position that will generate good, long-term value, and not just a one-time increase.

Agree? Disagree? Let us know on our Facebook page, on Twitter (@WebDrafter) or by adding us to your circles on Google+.

Online Marketing: Where to Start?

In this highly digital age, it's important each business have an effective, well thought-out online marketing campaign to ensure the maximum possible success from your website.

But, where should your business start when it comes to getting found by consumers? There is a number of great, reputable Internet marketing companies (like WebDrafter.com) out there that can greatly assist your efforts. So, when looking around, here are a few things to think about when considering your Internet marketing campaign:

Blogging

As discussed last week, the benefits of blogging for your business are vast. It's great for SEO, great for sharing materials on social media channels and great for promotional purposes.

Customer Testimonials

Prospective customers/clients want to know what kind and the quality of work you've done for other clients/customers. Gathering testimonials will greatly assist in your online marketing efforts, and getting creative (filming a testimonial vs text) is even better.

Fresh content

Keeping your website frequently updated is another great way to get your business out. Fresh content supremely helps your website get found on the major search engine.

Benefits of Having a Company/Business Blog

Your company has a website, possibly a Facebook page and maybe even a Twitter account. With all these resources, should your company or business be blogging?

The short answer? Yes.

But, with every other resource your company is using, why should you add blogging to your marketing repertoire? There are several great reasons, but here are three of the best:

Blogging is Great for SEO

When it comes to SEO, few things are as important as well-written, fresh content. If your company is having problems coming up with website updates, a blog can fill this void in a great, timely manner.

Blogging is Great for Sharing

We've all been there: trying to figure out what to share on Facebook, Twitter and other social networks. If sharing material is becoming tedious because you find yourself running out of things to say, then a blog is a great way to come up with content to share with your audience.

Blogging is Great for Promotion

If you want your company or business to expand, then a blog is a great way to promote products and services.

Does your company blog? Why or why not? Let us know on the WebDrafter.com Facebook page, @WebDrafter, on Google+ or with a comment. 

Organic Search Engine Marketing vs. Pay Per Click: Which Is Better for You?

There are two types of search engine marketing campaigns: organic and pay-per-click. Organic (or natural results) is the result of search engine optimization and "traditional" SEM campaigns, while pay-per-click results are advertisements: you place a bid and depending on certain metrics (competition, cost, etc.), your ad will show up and you'll pay every time someone clicks on the listing.

While it's often best to do both together, you might want to opt for one or the other. And while many choose to go with organic SEM, some choose to go exclusively with pay-per-click advertising through outlets like Google AdWords, Microsoft Advertising, Facebook ads, etc. Here are the pros and cons of using just PPC:

Pro: You are only charged for the clicks you get

You won't pay a fee each time your ad shows up (also called "impressions"). You'll only spend when your ad is clicked on.

Con: You can burn through your budget quickly

Depending on the competitiveness of your keyword phrases, you could spend quite a bit to get your ad to show up.

Pro: Location targeting

PPC marketing is the easiest way to target your advertising to certain localities. All it takes is the click of a button.

Con: Fraudulent clicks

Fraudulent clicking is an unethical practice done by competitors and unscrupulous PPC agencies. Since you pay for every click, some may try to kill your budget with repeated clicks in order to get your ad(s) delisted.

Pro: Quick results

Organic SEM efforts can take months to materialize, while PPC efforts are immediate. You'll begin to see traffic almost instantaneously.  

Con: Can be fleeting

Once your budget is spent, your ads will no longer appear. And when that happens, traffic to your site can drop off quickly. 

"When Will I Be on Google?"

If you're looking at SEO or search engine marketing, then you no doubt have one ultimate goal: ranking at the top of Google, Bing and Yahoo. Having the No. 1 ranking for highly competitive keywords and phrases places your website far above your competitors, and when your website earns a No. 1 placement, you're almost certain to get the most traffic – and business – instead of your competition.

But, it's difficult to say when this will happen. If you're wondering, "When will I be on Google?" or when your website will rank at the top for a certain phrase, don't expect it to be an overnight thing. Companies who promise top rankings in a certain period are most likely looking at you as low-hanging fruit ripe for the picking. So, why can't predictions be made about search engine placements? There are several reasons:

Algorithms are always changing

Search engine algorithms are always changing to make for a better user experience. These are trade secrets, and techniques and strategies that may have worked six months ago might not today. And when a change happens (especially in Google's case), rankings can be affected.

Rankings are the results of effort

You've created a great website, and you're ready to roll. You let it go, waiting for things to happen. Three months later, they haven't, and you're getting frustrated. Understandable, but rankings don't happen just by creating a website. A great SEO campaign can get your site the rankings and traffic you desire. If you want your website to rank No. 1 for an extremely competitive term, know it will only happen after a great deal of effort.

New competition everyday

While you're waiting for your website to get to the top, so are your competitors. And the battle for rankings can be fierce, and if you don't have an Internet marketing tank on your side, then your website might be a forgotten casualty.

Have questions or a comment? Share your thoughts on the WebDrafter Facebook page or tweet us @webdrafter.

Questions to Ask Your SEO Company

Searching for an SEO company can be hard if you're not familiar with what search engine optimization and search engine marketing entail. So, it's important to make sure you're not losing business even before work begins underway.

Here are three questions you should ask SEO companies before you make your final choice:

"Do you have references and/or case studies?"

Any SEO company that exalts its abilities should be able to prove they can walk the walk and not just talk the talk. If you ask for references and case studies so you can see whether they know their stuff or are just blowing hot air, and you get nothing, then they are probably hiding something you'll want to give more consideration to the other contenders.

"How will it take until I see my site at the top of Google?"

We'll touch on this in more detail next week, but no one can or should guarantee you "No. 1 rankings." When you ask this question, you shouldn't receive a definite answer, and if you do, then it's highly advisable you look elsewhere.  

"Will I receive a report?"

If the company will also be administering search engine marketing campaigns, then you should receive from them a report of what was done on a monthly basis. They should be more than willing to answer affirmatively when you ask this question, and if they don't, then they're probably not as ethical as they're making themselves out to be.  

Is your SEO company reputable?

For every good SEO and Internet marketing company, there is another that seeks to do little more than take your money while not giving you the results and ROI you deserve. Sure, you might rank No. 1 for a keyphrase, but if no one is searching for it and therefore isn't generating traffic, are you really at the top or is your bottom line getting skimmed?

So, how do you know if your SEO provider is ripping you off? Here are three key signs you're not getting your money's worth:

You never hear from them

At WebDrafter.com, we touch base with our marketing clients on a monthly basis, so we can find out what's happening on their end, and vice versa. This way, we can learn about specials and products they wish to promote and feature, while getting news and tips about their respective industry.

Sadly, some companies never hear from their provider. And when this happens, their probably not seeing results either, which leads into the second sign …

You don't know what they're doing

If you're not receiving a report outlining what your SEO firm is doing to help your site's rankings and traffic, then your investment most likely isn't providing you with a return. Or, if you do receive a report, but don't understand what it all means, and get the runaround when you ask questions, you're probably getting ripped off. As a site owner, you need to know what is being done, as some tactics can hurt. Don't be afraid to call them up and demand answers. And if you can't get them, then it may be time to find another company.

You're guaranteed "No. 1 rankings on Google"

"We'll express submit your website to Google, Yahoo! and Bing!" You've probably seen a self-proclaimed SEO expert guarantee you this, while telling you they will be able to get your site ranked No. 1 on Google and "all other major search engines OVERNIGHT." There's just two problems:

1. There's no such thing as "express submission" when it comes to Google, Yahoo! and Bing.
2. No one can guarantee any sort of rankings.

If you've heard this from your SEO provider, you'll more than likely want to begin looking somewhere else.

Further reading from WebDrafter.com:

-          Avoiding Search Engine Fraud

-          Are You "Low Hanging Fruit" for SEO Fraud?

-          Search Engine Optimization Fraudsters

-          SEO Companies Are Stalking You

SEO: When to Listen To or Question Your SEO/SEM Provider

How do you know the SEO you paid for will help people find your website? Is your SEM company doing what needs to be done to get your website great search engine placements?

If you don't know the answers to these questions, you're not alone.

Search Engine Watch recently posted a great blog on when to listen to or question whoever is providing your SEO. Author Kristi Hines had a number of great points including:

"QUESTION When They Say They Can Guarantee You Results Within a Specific Timeframe.
 The only thing that can be guaranteed as far as placement within a search engine is an advertisement via Google AdWords or similar program.
 The goal of any search optimization efforts is to put a favorable influence on search engines to rank your website. If someone says they can guarantee you No. 1 ranking within 30 days, then they are either going to spam you to the top with short lived results or take your money and run."

A proper SEM campaign takes time. It's not something that happens overnight. As one commenter noted, it could take weeks, months or, in some cases, even years.

"LISTEN When They Say They Can’t Guarantee You Results
 It's probably not something anyone wants to hear when they sign a contract, but be sure to listen to those who are honest when they say they can’t guarantee you results. The world's top SEO may not be able to help you, especially if they have suggested you add link-worthy content or properly optimize your website and you’ve chosen to ignore them."

This is important because there are many companies out there who guarantee you will receive X amount of clicks in a certain timeframe. You'll receive the clicks, but it won't result in visitors using your products or services. At WebDrafter.com, you can trust we won't make you guarantees or promise you things we know aren't likely to happen.

As a small business owner or someone needing SEO and/or SEM for their website, the blog is worth taking a few minutes to read. Check it out by clicking here.

Make SEO, SEM and SMM Easier to Understand

Talking about my job isn't always easy sometimes.

“So, what do you do?” I was asked the other day. “Oh, I do Internet marketing,” I responded. The conversation then went something like this:

“Oh, cool. Do you do SEO?”

“Yeah! You know about SEO?”

“It's where you get people to go to your website, right?”

“Well, kinda.”

The Internet marketing alphabet soup – SEO, SEM and the new SMM – can be understandably difficult to understand. Each piece interacts with the others, and the process doesn't work unless all three pieces run smoothly together. Without a properly optimized (SEO) website, you can't get search engines (SEM) to find it and without that, people won't discuss (SMM) it on Facebook or Twitter.

Here's how I tend to think about the three:

SEO = Smashing Every Obstacle

The basic premise behind search engine optimization is to get your site prepared to be found on search engines. Sounds easy enough, right? Depending on the product or service, you could be facing some hefty competition (obstacles) to people finding you. How do you break through these obstacles? Have your website optimized with great content and the right keywords. Your SEO is sure to be an optimization masterpiece and an obstacle smasher.

SEM = Sending Everyone to Me

SEO is merely the first step. The second part is to get the word out with some search engine marketing. This should be all about getting your message out there, telling your audience about the products and services you have to offer. In doing this, it's all about getting traffic to your website, as more traffic leads usually to more sales. And you do this with great SEM that is all about sending everyone to you.

SMM = Social Means More

I've had many tell me, “I have a Facebook/Twitter account, but I have nothing interesting to say, so I don't use it.” They're missing on the monetary rewards associated with great social media marketing. Having an account is only one part: using it reaps the rewards. Your fans and followers might be discussing you, so why not jump in? The more engaging you are, the better the chance you'll have at turning those fans into repeat buyers.

The Ins and Outs of QR Codes

You’ve probably seen them on business cards, flyers and other promotional materials. They are often referred to as “bar codes,” and many folks have no idea how to use them, while others whip out their smartphone whenever they see one. As QR Codes become more popular, however, you’re sure to see more people getting out the smartphone to scan them.

Quick Response

QR is an acronym for “Quick Response.” The quick response comes from the code being scanned and the object – a link, picture, information, etc. – being given to the scanner in short time.

Quick Access

Many companies who WebDrafter.com has worked with have used the codes on business cards, advertisements, flyers and other printed materials to give quick access to their websites. As smartphones are becoming more prevalent, many business owners have recognized the popularity and marketing possibilities associated with them. The QR Code is just one of these.

Quick Usage

In order to scan a QR Code, you need a smartphone with a camera and a QR Reader. There are different applications available for the various kinds of smartphones available. Some of the more popular free ones include (click the app name to go to a page to download it):

• iPhone: QR Reader, NeoReader and Semacode
• Android: QR Droid, BeeTagg and EggMon
• BlackBerry: QR Code Scanner, Code Muncher and QRem
• Windows Phone: i-nigma and UpCode

Upon downloading it, install the application onto your phone. Many have a button that can be clicked to scan the code. Give it a try on the QR Code at left, and get scanning!

Long-Term SEO/SEM Gains

You’ve seen the banner ads: “We will get you to the top of Google quickly!” ”Guaranteed High Rankings Fast with Our Services!” “We’ll make you No. 1 in no time!” Self-proclaimed SEO and SEM (search engine marketing) experts touting their expertise, proclaiming themselves to be the Pied Piper of Search Engine Results: they blow their flute and the high rankings simply follow.

Oh, if it were only so simple.

Yes, these companies might be able to quickly get you to No. 1 on Google, Yahoo and Bing. You’ll see success: with more traffic comes more business.

However, it won’t last long.

Companies that boast how they have the “magic formula” or the “secret recipe” to search engine marketing success are blowing hot air. And businesses swayed by these braggers often end up to be Internet marketing victims.

How?

Say you own a restaurant in the Finger Lakes, NY region. Your specialty is Italian food. But, you find your business losing customers to the diner down the street, thanks to their aggressive marketing tactics. You decide to call XYZ Internet Marketing, which gloats about its amazing Internet successes. “We’ll get you to No. 1 on Google for ‘restaurant finger lakes,’” they tell you. They’re so convincing, how could you not believe them? A month later, your site is the top result for that query. Business picks up.

Then, business falls sharply. You find out your site is nowhere to be found on Google. You panic, wondering how this could happen. Then, you hear the term “Black Hat SEO” and wonder if that’s the reason why.

“Black Hat SEO” is everything that is wrong and unethical with SEO/SEM. Companies that specialize in these practices focus more on short-term gains, winning you over early, and once the bottom drops out, they’ll say, “Well, we just need to do this and everything will be fine!” Of course, it’s going to cost you more money, and the results will be nil.

True SEM professionals look at your industry’s market down the road, and will be straightforward with you:

• SEM/SEO is not an overnight process
• SEM/SEO is not a magic bullet
• SEM/SEO is a great effort
• SEM/SEO can and will take a while for results
• SEM/SEO patience can reap great rewards

Do the terms “honest” and “forthright” describe your SEO company? Or are they focusing more on the short term rather than the long term?

Fine Archtops Webdesign by WebDrafter.com

Steve Wagner wanted an online home for all lovers of archtop guitars, so he got the idea for www.FineArchtops.com. Wanting to ensure the website got the proper exposure it deserved, he hired WebDrafter.com to handle the website design, SEO and SEM portions. The design is clean and simple, invoking the aesthetics of a classic archtop guitar.

If you’re looking to keep clean and simple, or even a little more complex, get in touch with WebDrafter.com by visiting www.WebDrafter.com.

Google+: A Plus to Social Media?

It was a day all interested in social media and search engine marketing were waiting for: Google’s answer to Facebook.

What would it look like? Would it change the face of social media, and make Facebook the new MySpace? Would the Google Buzz disaster repeat itself?

Then it rolled out …

The Google+ Project. “Real-life sharing rethought for the web.” The service currently isn’t open to the public, but two WebDrafter.com (@WebDrafter) staff members, lead developer Kevin Crider (@WDKevin) and Internet marketing head Thom Casey (@WDThom), managed to get their hands on invitations.

Despite the service not being open to the public at large, Google+ has gotten a lot of buzz (no pun intended). Is it the “Facebook killer”? Will people leave the nation of Zuckerberg to align themselves with the republic of Page and Brin? Kevin and Thom decided to tackle this question, as well as give an overall review of the search engine king’s newest offering.

Comparisons with Google Buzz

Thom: “Google Buzz came and went without much fuss, except the privacy issues. I never used Buzz that much, and it’s now being replaced by Google+ and the +1 button. I don’t think it’s fair to compare Plus and Buzz, except they’re both used to share content. Hopefully, Google worked out all the privacy kinks and Google+ won’t suffer the fate of its older, less liked brother.”

Kevin: “I disabled Google Buzz the day it went live. I never used it, never had the desire.”

Design

Thom: “Google is the perfect example of a ‘Keep It Simple Stupid’ company. The default profile theme is atypical Google: black text on a white background. Google themes allow users to make it look anyway they want – yes, including giving it a Facebook look – so if one of your gripes with Facebook was the look, then Google’s newest addition might better whet your Internet palette.”

Kevin: “It's been said before, but I absolutely love the new look and feel. Google has done 'just enough' to make it right. It's strikingly similar to Facebook, yet different enough to establish its own identity. The concept is close enough to Facebook, with a Twitter twist thrown in, that it just might succeed.”

Usability

Thom: “I’ve used Facebook since college, so I’m too used to expecting all social networks to operate the same way. I’m not quite getting Circles, which allows users to organize people into groups. However, I give the developers credit for seamlessly integrating most of Google’s offerings in here, including +1 and GTalk. The Sparks feature is interesting as it will feed you news related to your interests, almost like a hashtag or RSS. The overall navigation is very easy to use, even if some of the features are confusing.”

Kevin: "I find the interface to be strikingly similar to Facebook, but when you're taking on a conglomerate as big as the ’Book, too much change will deter the 500 million-plus users you are targeting. Google+ has done it right, so far. They have capitalized on the weak points of Facebook, while improving upon the stronger points. Circles is a way to categorize your different friends, but that's only the beginning. Google also allows content sharing based upon these Circles, as well as so much more. The main difference is the lack of a friendship request. You can add anyone you want to your circle, a lot like following them on Twitter."

Is Google+ the Facebook killer?

Thom: “As of this moment, no. Could it be? It’s possible. No one thought MySpace would lose its footing as king of social network mountain. Facebook has over half a billion users, and while Google might be the authority on search engines, it still has a long way to go when it comes to social media. Facebook’s appeal is that brings everyone together. Until Google+ comes up with a feature akin to Facebook pages (be sure to like the WebDrafter page), it will never truly compete with Zuckerberg’s monster.”

Kevin: “There will be no motivation for most people to switch with the sheer amount of children and older people using Facebook. When Facebook launched, it was targeted at college students, who make up the majority of the trendsetters in today’s eWorld. Soon after, the kids looking up to them wanted to join and the grandparents wanting to stay in touch followed suit, and that demographic created the desire for everyone to be on Facebook. If Google can continue to capitalize on Facebook's downfalls while outdoing them at what they've done right, it absolutely could be the Facebook killer. Until then, we wait.”

Thoughts on the “new” Google

Every time Google does something different, the SEO and SEM worlds feel it. Algorithm changes require different approaches in the way search engine marketing is done. After all, it’s Google, arguably the “be all, end all” of search engines.

Well, there was another earthquake this week. This one was bigger than most. First, it was the announcement of Google +, the search engine’s king answer to Facebook. One can only hope this social network won’t suffer the fate of Google Buzz. According to the Washington Post:

“Circles lets you group your contacts — e.g. friends, work, family. Like Facebook, this features lets you share information with groups of contacts instead of hitting everyone with your latest update at once. Sparks acts like an RSS reader or Facebook news feed, letting you input things you’re interested in and pushing relevant content to you. Hangouts features live group video chats, aiming to foster spontaneous meetings with up to 10 people. You can also alert certain groups of friends when you’re hanging out.”

Alas, Google + is currently invite only and, well, there are no invitations being doled out.

The one change that every Googler can see is the “new” Google. It’s still the same Google, but almost looks completely different. “Just enough” of a change, said one member of the WebDrafter team.

The first thing that caught our eye was the black bar at the top. The front page, for the most part, looks relatively the same. The differences really attract notice on the results pages.

Google Instant, or searching as you type, has gotten a little faster. The former gray search box is now blue. Much like the smartphone app, you can now search by voice, eliminating the need for fingers.

It really isn’t that much of a change, but the new Google is in many ways totally different from what Google used to be. It’s taking all facets of the Internet together and merging them. It’s in many ways a perfect mesh of the mobile and desktop versions,.

And of course, there’s A Google A Day.

You get a question, you Google to find the answer and then a story is shared. A nice, fun feature for those who really love searching the Internet. One has to wonder though: Have all these changes been rolled out because the Android OS, a Google creation, has become the number one mobile OS? Has Google finally reached its peak?

We hope not. 

Hartmann Well Drilling Website Design by WebDrafter.com

The goal for the new www.HartmannWellDrilling.com was to produce a web design that honored Hartmann Well Drilling’s past, but look toward its future. This is most exemplified in the Flash header, which displays past and pictures of the MN well drilling company’s equipment. The rustic look makes this site yet another of our favorites, while we’re also proud of the SEO and SEM efforts being utilized.

Want to honor online your company’s accomplishments? Get in touch with www.WebDrafter.com to get your free website design quote.

Link Building FAQ

Here are five of the most common questions the WebDrafter.com staff gets about link building:

What’s a backlink?

Backlinks (incoming links, inbound links, etc.) are incoming links to a website or page. Every time you post to Facebook or tweet a link, you are giving the site a backlink.

What’s their importance in SEO?

The generally accepted theory is that the more backlinks a site has, the better it will rank on Google, Yahoo and Bing. While a good number of backlinks is still needed to rank high on search engines, recent changes have stressed quality over quantity, and sites with original, well-written content have begun to rank higher over ones with thousands of backlinks.

Is there good backlinking vs. bad backlinking?

Yes. One of the more popular, “black hat” tactics involves commenting on blogs and forums with good Google PageRanks (PR). You’ve probably seen these comments, the one that add nothing to to the conversation, are vague or have nothing to do at all with what is being discussed. Many so-called SEO practitioners do this only for the backlink, knowing the good PR gives them a valuable inlink. However, this is nothing more than spam and may hurt rankings (we’ll get to that in a little bit).

If you’re going to post on blogs and forums for a backlink, then find ones that cater to your industry or specialty and have a high PR. Become part of the conversation and offer your input. This way is much more enjoyable as you’ll find pleasure in building links, and much less frustrating to users who comment for enjoyment.

Can backlinks harm SEO efforts?

Yes. In February, JC Penney was punished by Google and lost many of its rankings. JC Penney hired an SEO firm who got them top placements for terms like “bedding” and “area rugs,” but the problem is that these links were done through blog spam and paid links designed to fool Google’s algorithm. WordStream had a great post on this debacle.

Links need to be built naturally and over time to be beneficial to your SEO efforts. You can’t just go on a massive link spree and do thousands of backlinks in a short period. Link expert Eric Ward explained it like this in a recent Search Engine Land post:

If a site launches in response to a disaster, like GulfOilSpill.org, then 4,000 links is to be expected and is totally natural. But if you have a two year old bingo site with 121 links and you suddenly add 4000 new links in a very short period of time, chances are your bingo site will go bye-bye. It’s not likely to have been natural. 

Should I buy links?

It should be noted that paid links don’t refer to advertisements, like those on Google AdWords. They refer to those that are bought and sold only for the PR.

Paid links can quickly give you high Google rankings. However, it’s not recommended you buy links, although there are plenty of sites out there that will gladly sell you one. There are two types of links out there: follow and nofollow. Paid links with the nofollow attribute (pretty much a way to tell search engines, “Don’t follow us”) are OK in Google’s book.

Google looks at paid follow links as cheating, and developers are working constantly to develop tools and ways to find these links. From Google Webmaster Central:

Google and most other search engines use links to determine reputation. A site's ranking in Google search results is partly based on analysis of those sites that link to it. Link-based analysis is an extremely useful way of measuring a site's value, and has greatly improved the quality of web search. Both the quantity and, more importantly, the quality of links count towards this rating.

However, some SEOs and webmasters engage in the practice of buying and selling links that pass PageRank, disregarding the quality of the links, the sources, and the long-term impact it will have on their sites. Buying or selling links that pass PageRank is in violation of Google's Webmaster Guidelines and can negatively impact a site's ranking in search results. 

Not all paid links violate our guidelines. Buying and selling links is a normal part of the economy of the web when done for advertising purposes, and not for manipulation of search results. Links purchased for advertising should be designated as such.

Got link building questions? Get in touch with WebDrafter.com today about our link building services.  

Why Twitter Is a Great Search Engine

When companies talk about SEO and search engine marketing, they are talking mainly about getting your site high rankings on the Big 3: Google, Yahoo and Bing. However, as Twitter continues to grow, it will be more than just a microblogging platform, but a search engine that can compete with the current search engine kings.

Twitter is a great search engine for Internet users because you will find only the most pertinent issues of the day. Apple apparently agrees, as it recently made Twitter the official social media service for iOS5, the latest version of the software that runs the iPhone, iPad and its other portable devices. The two will be integrated to the point that many results will come from Twitter, skipping over traditional search engine results.

For example, here's a screen shot of the Twitter search results for "cars":

We get a healthy mix of information, news and promotion, as well as a Dane Cook joke. It might not seem like that much of a change from Google or Bing SERPs, but this is what real people are talking about in real time. Twitter is essentially searching human interaction.

Here is what appears when you query "cars" in Google:

What appears is whatever the search engine robots have deemed most important, taking out the human element.

That's not to say Google, Yahoo and Bing aren't important for great search engine optimization efforts. You can't not focus on them. But, services like Facebook and Twitter are becoming more important for businesses to use to find out what potential customers are talking about, so they too can get in on the action. As more people sign up for Facebook or start Tweeting, you will need to have your business follow suit, lest you fall behind.

Richard S Werner MD Website Design by WebDrafter.com

The one thing Dr. Richard S Werner wanted to showcase on www.RichardSWernerMD.com was his artistic touch when it came to Minnesota plastic surgery. The staff at WebDrafter.com convened and came up with a website design that did just this. We also provided SEO and SEM initiatives.

If you’re looking to highlight online your artistic touch, get in touch with WebDrafter.com today by visiting www.WebDrafter.com.

Backlinks: What Are They & How Do They Work?

You've probably heard the term thrown about.

"Backlinks."

But, you might not understand what they are, what they do and why they're so important. Backlinks are essentially perceived to be the lifeblood in determining PageRank, Google's "grade" of any website. The notion is that the more backlinks you have, the higher your PageRank and your position on search engine results pages.

However, "the more, the better" theory isn't always true. Having more backlinks, in fact, can sometimes get you kicked off the search engine's index.

What are backlinks?
Backlinks, incoming links, inbound links, etc. are all the same. If Page X links to Page Y's website, Page X is giving Page Y a backlink, and a little free advertising. Backlinks are different than deep links. A backlink points directly at the website's main/home page, while a deep links points to a specific page or image on the website.

Why are they so important?
As noted previously, the more backlinks you have, the higher your Internet standing. There are, however, exceptions to this rule. If your link is on a highly recognized industry website, then that will help boost your site's rank and therefore your rankings. However, if your link is on a website that has nothing but hundreds of links on one page, then that's not going to do your rankings any good.

The types of backlinks you want to aim for are:
- Links within the body's content. Essentially having your website associated with a keyword phrase within text.
- Links that stand alone. You don't want to get lost in the pile. That's why it's important to make sure your link stands out. Getting listed on a page with thousands of other links isn't going to do much for your PR or SERPs listings. You want your link to be the one found not only by the search engines, but by potential clients.
- Links from relevant websites. Your business specializes in gardening equipment. You want your Internet presence to reflect your vast gardening knowledge. Getting a link on a site not related to gardening, or not known or well received in the industry will do you little to no good. You want your links to come from reputable websites, sites that are well known by your peers and colleagues.

So, how do you get quality backlinks?
- Provide something people will link to. If you're a company that sells cupcakes, offer recipes for types of cupcakes that you don't offer for sale. Or write a frequently asked questions (FAQs) about cupcakes. Anything informative and interesting is almost certain to get a backlink. This will not only bring in traffic, but increase your PR and SERPs standings.
- Use microblogging and social media marketing. Twitter and Facebook users love to share links. It's part of the reason these sites were created. Increasing your social media marketing efforts will increase the amount of backlinks you receive.
- Submit to free, reputable directories. Directory submissions are great backlinks, if you submit to the right ones. The Open Directory Project (www.dmoz.org) is the best known, but there is a submissions waiting list, and it could take months before you're listed.
- Guest post on other blogs. Is there a great blog read by most of your peers, and maybe your competition? Author a guest post, and use your content to generate backlinks. Other similar methods include blog comments and forum posts.

These are only a few methods you can use to generate backlinks. If you need help with your backlinking strategy, or other search engine marketing methods, contact WebDrafter.com today.