Tag: google penguin update

  • What Are The Best SEO Techniques After Google Penguin Update?

    What Are The Best SEO Techniques After Google Penguin Update?

    The latest Google Penguin Update has taken the SEO world by storm. This message from Google couldn’t be any more clearer especially when Google are searching for bad SEO techniques that websites and blogs are practicing. This made many SEO experts and even SEO enthusiast like me keep wondering what are the best search engine optimization techniques one should practice.

    Of course, for those who have no idea what Google Penguin Update was and or how will (and probably could had affected) your websites, this video from Matt Cutts explained them all.

    Movie time!

    Should you change your SEO techniques?

    It doesn’t matter if you are doing white hat SEO or black hat SEO. The bottom line is that you need to make sure you are doing it correctly.

    When I say correctly, it simply means that all your SEO techniques must not be spammy. Even if you are building backlinks from Web 2.0 or Wiki’s, you must make sure you need to pay extra attention to those small and petty things such as anchor text.

    If you are interested to understand how anchor text is going to change the face of search engine optimization techniques, then you can head over to this eBook on SEO link building or this one written by the famous Rand Fishkin from Moz.

    I even received some private message on Facebook asking if it is still worth using SEO tools in terms of website optimization. Of course, I am not talking about those free SEO tools but I am talking about those famous, search engine optimization tools such as link building tool and content optimization program.

    Now let me be very honest with you on this matter. I dare to say that premium SEO tools are still worthy and important in terms of search engine optimization.

    You see, there are probably tons of SEO tools out there to choose from regardless if they are free or paid. Either way, it depends back to the end user in terms of using them! I know many bloggers who fail to use Ultimate Demon link building tool to correctly and they were slapped pretty bad with the latest Google Update.

    What are the best SEO techniques right now?

    Disclaimer: These methods does not guarantee you 100% success in your search engine optimization strategies. However, use these methods as guidelines and modify them according to your website’s need.

    1. Understand the basic of search engine optimization (eBook version)
    2. Increase interaction and engagement on various blogs and websites of the same niche
    3. Creating deep links between websites and blogs (reading)
    4. The effect of guest posting (eBook version)
    5. Improve your website SEO ranking with this free SEO analysis and report

    The first part is rather clear. All these Google updates are done because (and I highly believe) Google wanted no one to misuse the SEO for their own advantage. This was what Adam from BloggingWizard said during one of our conversations:

    SEO techniques that uses bad link building will have negative impact on website
    This is just one part of our conversation but you get the point

    As you can see now, it seems pretty obvious that there are many SEO techniques which are (sadly) misused by many. I know I am going a little off topic here but just giving my opinion.

    Assuming that’s the case, it is best that we need to understand how this search engine optimization really works and you have two choices. You can either read this eBook which would cost you like less than $10 or follow this blog closesly for more SEO tips. Of course, you can also contact me if you have any issues as well!

    The reader’s engagement rule

    Readers engagement is one of the best SEO techniques for bloggers
    Welcome your readers and thank them for visiting your website

    In this article, I want to stress the importance of the reader’s engagement when it comes to SEO best practices. Now, ask your self a few quick questions first before we go in any deeper into the topic.

    • What do you know about reader’s engagement?
    • How can you practice SEO when you communicate with your readers?

    Reader’s engagement rule is huge. It consist not only other blogs and websites but it also involves social media. The rule of engagement for this types of SEO techniques are very simple indeed.

    You want to build good search engine ranking or quality backlinks. Now, the more people talk about your article, blog or website, the chances of you getting traffic is better. Don’t forget that big daddy, Google is more than happy to give higher SEO ranking to websites who are constantly and actively in the discussion.

    Have you noticed how websites such as ProBlogger, kikolani and probloggingsuccess are doing very well in search engine ranking page results? Have you ever why they always top the chart whenever you search for any related terms?

    The answer is easy. Look at the number of comments they have. We are not talking about 5 or 10. We are talking hundreds of comments, for Christ’s sake!

    Doesn’t this prove that reader’s engagement is one of the best SEO practices of all time? Yup, you got it right!

    Of course, there is a little bonus for those using WordPress platform. If you want to drive traffic to your website, I would highly recommend you to use CommentLuv Premium. This is the best comment plugin for WordPress when it comes to link building and search engine optimization methods.

    Hint: Some websites (including this website) are offering free follow backs or DoFollow link back when the reader had contributed a certain number of comments.

    The effect of guest posting in terms of search engine optimization

    Increase SEO ranking using guest post
    Guest post can easily create a healthy backlink to your website

    Are you interested to build quality backlinks for your website? I bet you are right and that’s why you are here right now. Guest posting was deem valuable in the past and now, it is worth more than gold.

    So, how does guest posting actually helps in terms of SEO?

    Every time a guest post is made, the writer is going to link the article back to his or her own website. Good for you since you are able to get 1 point for backlink right?

    Wait! There’s more!

    Whenever you are doing a guest post, you are not only selling your article but as well as selling your website and brand. Yes, you are telling people that you are alive and kickin’.

    The websites that you are going to publish your articles should be:

    • Well recognized
    • Having good traffic
    • A good Page Rank
    • And highly related to your niche

    When it comes to SEO techniques, Google and other search engines doesn’t really matter how you generate such backlinks (until certain extend of course). Let’s imagine this:

    One guest post consist of one links to root domain (author box), two deep links pointing to specific articles on your website. There goes three superb good link building points!

    Sounds good? Oh yes, it certainly does.

    If you want to venture into guest posting or simply making guest posting one of your SEO techniques, these are what you need to prepare:

    1. Quality articles of about 600 to 1,500 words (depending on websites and requirements)
    2. Do some bloody research. I mean…do some serious research before hand
    3. Write once but recheck it more than twice
    4. Find the best link building website to publish the article (okay I am joking about the link building website as any good page rank websites would do)

    Back to you

    What do you think of this article? With the latest Google Penguin update, are you going to change your SEO techniques? Do you have any other search engine optimization methods to share aloud? I am sure you have some under your sleeves and therefore, feel free to reply using the comment form below.

    Oh yes! Before I forget, I sincerely hope you will signup for my free SEO newsletter. If you have not, you could signup below and it would take less than 10 seconds of your time. I promise!

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  • How Website Optimization Can Save You From The Google Penguin Update?

    How Website Optimization Can Save You From The Google Penguin Update?

    Are you doing any website optimization? If you have not, you better do as the next Google Penguin Update is on it’s way.

    Don’t freak out as this article will explain in detail how you can prepare for the next Google Update (and probably rank better with the correct search engine optimization techniques).

    As we all know, the latest Google Penguin update was rolled out recently (22nd May 2013 to be exact). Many websites were affected from the update including some of mine.

    I was lucky that I managed to run several test websites prior to the Google update and let me share with you how website optimization can save your website from all the negative things Google Penguin can throw at you.

    Before that, here are my Google Analytics results with two different websites:

    Website A

    • Tons of backlinks (without considering quality)
    • Lots of external links in posts
    • Lack of SEO focus and website optimization
    Website optimization is very important in terms of search engine optimization
    Without quality content, websites are very prone to receive penalties from Google

    Website B

    • Backlinks are done carefully (no backlinks from penalized websites)
    • External links in posts are regularly check to ensure no broken links
    • SEO is highly focused with very specific website optimization techniques
    Optimizing website in terms of content and keywords are very important to prepare for Google update
    Quality content, search engine optimization and keywords all play a huge factor in terms of increasing website traffic

    Google Penguin Update happened on 22nd May 2013 and I marked it right on both the charts. Website A was hit badly with an average of 25% traffic reduction right after the Google update. On the other hand, website B (with good SEO and content optimization techniques) was not only able to escape the traffic reduction but slowly but surely, increasing in traffic on a daily basis.

    Now, what did I learn from the latest Google Penguin Update?

    1. Google doesn’t care on cheap or low quality backlinks anymore.
    2. Google algorithm is ‘adapting’ to human behavior; readers love to read quality articles and thus, good posts will benefit from this update.
    3. Search engine optimization (especially website optimization) techniques are very important to increase website traffic.
    4. It doesn’t matter on the number of posts the website has or the domain age. It is all about quality.
    5. Content is still king and SEO had just became more important.

    p/s: Website A is having a domain age of 3 years while website B is just 6 months old

    How to perform website optimization for your websites?

    I am pretty sure I got your attention with the result images above (well, please lie to me if they didn’t attract you that much). Now, take a 5 minute break and jot down what you have in your mind when it comes to website optimization. Yes, I will wait for you right here.

    Now, let’s say you have five ideas which you believe are the best for website optimization. Let’s compare with mine, shall we?

    What are SEO best practices to boost website ranking?
    What are the tooltips when it comes to optimizing websites?

    Website optimization technique #1 – Reduce your website loading time

    Serious mate. If you want Google to love your website, then start boosting your website loading speed. We all hate slow loading websites right? For me, if the website takes more than 5 seconds to load, I am going to close it. Sorry!

    Still not convinced? See what major search engines say about website loading speed below:

    • 500 milliseconds of extra load time caused 20% fewer searches – Google
    • 400 milliseconds of extra load time caused a 5-9% increase in the number of people who clicked ‘back’ before the page even loaded – Yahoo
    • 100 milliseconds of extra load time resulted in a 1% drop in sales – Amazon

    Website optimization technique #2 – Keywords are as important as content

    Search engines such as Google loves to index blogs and websites which are loaded with good quality articles. And yes, you got it right! One of the basics of writing good quality articles is by using the right keywords.

    There are many SEO tools bloggers and webmasters can use when it comes to choosing the right keywords. All it would probably take is a few hours of your precious time and Google (and other search engines) will really appreciate your hard work by giving you more ‘ranking points’ for your websites.

    For starters, Google Keyword Tool is one of the best free SEO tools available for bloggers. If you are running a SEO agency or would want to perform SEO for a small scale business, I would highly recommend you to try this premium SEO tool for free!

    Website optimization technique #3 – Forget about short posts

    I remember writing a SEO guide on HubPages, stating that each article we published should be at least 300 words long in order to get ranked well on search engines. It was true at that time though but for now, the tide had changed.

    This is one of the ‘error-free’ website optimization techniques I always use. When you are writing an article, try to keep it above 700 words. I know! It used to be like 300 to 500 words but with the latest Google update, I believe it is time we need to increase the mark.

    Depending on topics you are writing, sometime it is very challenging to write quality articles with the said word count but at least, try your best to achieve it. Always remember that a little hard work goes a long way.

    Website optimization technique #4 – Update your (old) posts regularly

    Google loves updated stuffs and so do I. Do you have any articles that had been collecting dusts and have not been updated, say 6 months or more? You can (and should) easily optimize your website and your articles simply by updating the content.

    Now, you don’t need to do a full rewrite. Instead, try to perform small updates such as adding a few lines of new information or even a new image.

    The sky is your limit and creativity is always welcome!

    Do this before you leave… 

    I hope you enjoyed this article as much as I do. Have you sign up for the free SEO newsletter? Moving forward, do you want to add any additional information on website optimization techniques? Feel free to comment below 🙂

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