| LED Digest 2668: Quantifying SEO Results |
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The LED Digest Moderated Discussion List "Effective Online Advertising, Since 1997" Data > Information > Knowledge > Wisdom http://www.AudetteMedia.com : the LED's Publisher Boutique Internet Marketing: SEO, SEM, Social Media http://www.SEOToolSet.com/training/ : the LED's Premier Sponsor Bruce Clay's Search Engine Optimization Training & Certification ================================================== List Moderator: Published by: Adam Audette LED Digest adam, led-digest.com http://www.led-digest.com .............................................. June 24, 2008 Issue no. 2668 .............................................. .....IN THIS DIGEST..... ====== NEW ====================== --== Quantifying SEO Results ==-- ~ Brad Spencer "...how do you quantify what you are going to give them, as well as show success?" ==== CONTINUING ================= --== Yahoo Domain Scam ==-- ~ Colin Flack "Words like outrageous, scandalous, extortionate come to mind..." ~ Robert Joy "...I agree we should all be up in arms the way Yahoo behaves." --== Comparing SEO Offerings ==-- ~ Shari Thurow "...many SEOs seem to be more concerned about software than the people who use the software." --== Purchasing International TLDs ==-- ~ Barry S Mills "I disagree with some of the answers to this already posted." ========= NEW ===================================== From: Brad Spencer Subject: Quantify SEO Results? How do most SEO's quantify their work? For example - I know that we can't promise a certain ranking for any individual terms, and the SERPS are ultimately out of our control. However, that doesn't mean that we can't have drastic effects on the SERPS, it just means that it's hard to tell exactly how those results will play out. So if you are a SEO working with a small business - for instance - how do you quantify what you are going to give them, as well as show improved metrics, and proclaim a success? It would be great to hear any suggestions from established SEOs who deal with this day-in and day-out. Thanks, Brad Spencer www.bradleyspencer.com ======== CONTINUING =============================== From: Colin Flack Subject: Yahoo registrar > The internet community should be up in arms > about this gross abuse of the system. It is > not hard to understand why Yahoo is getting > one of the worst reputations on the > internet for abusive behavior towards its > customers. - Thom Reece, LED 2667 - http://www.led-digest.com/content/view/2082/190/ I'm certainly up in arms about it and have not held back in telling Yahoo so. Words like outrageous, scandalous, extortionate come to mind and then also just plain unnecessary. What's the point of any business pulling a stunt like that - unless you really really wanted to upset your customers. Does anyone happen to know who the bright spark is at Yahoo that thought it would be a good idea? I'd bought almost 30 domains with them in the last year but have almost finished moving them out in the last week because of this. Colin Flack ============ Begin Sponsor Message =========== -------> JULY 4TH GRAND OPENING <------- AudetteMedia, the Internet Marketing Boutique, opens to great fanfare on July 4, 2008. Picnics, parades and massive fireworks celebrations are planned all across the U.S. Check out what's causing all the fuss: http://www.AudetteMedia.com ============ End Sponsor Message ============= -------- new post - same topic -------- From: Robert Joy Subject: Yahoo registrar It is not surprising I predicted that Yahoo was up to no good when they launched the service especially when I found who they were in partnership with. I refuse to join any Yahoo news groups and avoid at all costs using Yahoo, they use too many controlling cookies and do things or at least try to with your information. Yes, I agree we should all be up in arms the way Yahoo behaves. Robert Joy -------- new post - new topic -------- From: Shari Thurow Subject: Comparing SEO > That's the challenge I'm throwing down - > how do we compare one SEO to another, or > one site to another. - Barry S Mills, LED 2656 - http://www.led-digest.com/content/view/2071/190/ Hi all- This is in response to multiple posts in LED #2667. First, I agree with Nathan Holley about one SEO firm that can do it all. For many years, I have become quite irritated with the phrase "advanced SEO" because it has evolved to mean SEO professionals who have advanced programming skills. There are SEO professionals who are amazing copywriters and keyword researchers whose skills lie deeper than simply being able to use keyword research tools. I consider their skills to be quite advanced, even though they can't configure a server. That is not their skill set, but are they any less advanced? IMHO, an advanced SEO firm does have a holistic approach, seeing how all sorts of skills are needed and interconnected. But that doesn't mean that one skill set trumps the other. They are all needed for an effective Web site. BTW, as a quick aside, most people do not know what the definition of usability is. If you think it is, "Well, I can use it, " or "My users can use it; I'm making money," then you honestly do have a very limited understanding of usability. If you think usability's focus is only on the user (at the exclusion of other things), then you have a very big misunderstanding of usability. Web site usability isn't conservative, either. Its application can be conservative, but ...anyway. I will get to that in a future article or post. Web site. So much for the quick aside. I like Adam's link to the local search items to think about. But you know what? I'm not so interested in what SEO's think because all too often, their (our) opinions are not as objective as we think they are. I tell you what I am interested in - how end users perceive these items. What is important to them? And why? And how am I going to communicate to them. Funny thing about the search engines? That is how their developers think: what is important to searchers, why is it important to searchers, and how can they give it to them. Yet many SEOs seem to be more concerned about software than the people who use the software. Didn't think my post was going to go in this direction. My two cents. Sincerely, Shari Thurow, Founder and SEO Director Omni Marketing Interactive www.search-usability.com -------- new post - new topic -------- From: Barry Mills Subject: International domains Janet Picard asked several questions (issue 2664 http://www.led-digest.com/content/view/2079/190/); > Can someone in the US buy UK, AU, etc > domain extensions? If so where? You can certainly register .co.uk domain names from the US, and a lot of other international extensions are open as well. Rules are set by each territory and do vary. For example in France you can only register a .fr domain if you have a registered company in France. There are any number of web sites where you can register and manage domain names online if you understand DNS. www.123reg.co.uk is a cheap and cheerful option but reliable (no affiliation). If you need wider coverage and don't have the time or expertise you can appoint a company or agent to handle your registrations and DNS management for you, which is a little more expensive but less bothersome. > Will that place my site in better positions > in the natural search for the SEs of those > countries? Would it be wise to also host in > those countries? I disagree with some of the answers to this already posted. You won't automatically rank better, but it can certainly help as part of an overall SEO strategy to have local domain name. For Google, which in most territories outside the US is pretty much the only SE anyone uses (>95% market share in mainland Europe, c 85% in UK), local versions of the SE provide users with the option to see sites from their own territory only. By default it still searches the global index, but there is increasingly a personalisation bias towards "local" results. To get in the territory version you either have to have a local domain extension OR have the site hosted in the local territory. It almost certainly helps to do both, but it isn't essential. For a serious assault on a new country you should also consider localising the web site. Obviously this is essential if the locals speak a different language. But even if they speak English, it won't be quite the same English you speak, and what is good copy in the USA is not necessarily good copy in the UK or Australia, for example. You should also address local taxes and delivery charges so that people buying don't feel like foreigners or second class citizens. It may even be worth considering holding some stock in the territory - particularly in the EU where one country can service all member states without further duties (with a few exceptions - tobacco and alcohol in particular). The UK and Europe offer a good opportunity to a lot of US businesses right now because of the favourable exchange rate, so it's well worth a closer look. Barry S Mills, Chairman Netstep www.netstep.co.uk (c) Copyright 1995-2008 Orange Wheel, LLC. All Rights Reserved. ----------------------------------------------------------------- "Fortitude is the marshal of thought, the armor of the will, and the fort of reason." - Francis Bacon |
