Can Link Directories Improve Rankings?

I recently got a question from a blog reader about link directories.  Do they work? Which directories are best?  Link and web directories have been around for a really long time.  Although Google has changed the way they view directories, they still have some value in the overall quest for top search engine rankings.

The key to directory submissions is to use them sparringly.  For example, I never spend more that $20 - $30 for directory submissions and I only submit to those directories wih a PR 5 or higher.  Essentially you're paying for high PR and express inclusion.  Choose a budget and start with the highest ranked sites first and then down the line.

Don't be afraid to use the recriprocal option to get your site listed more quickly.  If reciprocating, use an internal page somewhere on your site, not your home page.  The free option may be an alternative as well.  Just don't expect your site to get listed any time soon.

Directories are a nice add to your search engine optimization program.  Begin with the highest PR sites, a reasonable budget, and a plan to submit using a variety of methods.  Whatever you do, don't use automated submissions.  This will negatively impact your rankings and unfortunately set you back quite a bit.  Best of luck with your directory submissions.

P.S. Search Google for directory listings.  Many have sites listed with highest Google PR to lowest.

Improve Rankings With Directory Submissions

Did you know that it's possible to get higher rankings with the help of directories?  A lot of of people are down on directories.  This is largely because of Google's announcement a couple of years ago about paid links. They professed that they are discounting the value of paid links.

How Does Google Even Know?

Google is able to identify sites and directories that force individuals to pay for a listing.  This is pretty easy to do as you might imagine.  That said there are many more websites charging for links behind the scenes.  They may be approached by potential advertisers and offer a paid link program.  This works for both advertiser and web site because the link value is not discounted by the presence of pay for options.

Paid links may still be valuable with directories however.  I believe that Google is still placing a value on some directories.  In fact, you'll find some of the top ranked web sites in most major directories.  

What Should You Do?

My recommendation is that you don't spend a ton of time submitting to directories but make sure they are part of your search engine optimization program.  A steady building of links from directories can certainly work in your favor.  The key is to carefully choose the directories and only pay for experss inclusion.. not for a featured listing of some sort.

Directory submissions are essential for an optimal SEO campaign.  Begin with a listing of top directories and manually submit.  Do not use automated services.  Careful selection and manual submission is the way to go.  Happy directory submitting!

Achieve Top Search Rankings In About 30 Days

Can you really achieve top search engine rankings with a new site?  I recently attempted first page rankings for an affiliate web site that I created. The challenge was to select a product, research keywords, and buy a domain.  The product I chose was a popular weight loss product.

After doing some keyword research, I decided to optimize around the key phrase of get rid of abdominal fat.  In just 24 hours after purchasing the URL, I had a site up and running.  The key however was that I was using original content and didn't include any of my affiliate links... at least not yet.

I applied some basic SEO techniques including on page optimization and off page optimization.  It took a solid week to ten days to get the site indexed by the major search engines.  Once it was, I started to see a slow and steady move towards the first page of Google.  Oddly enough, a lot of what I did to promote the site was bring ranked higher than the site itself.

Within 30 days, I got the site ranked number one on Yahoo.  Less than a week later I was on the first page of Google for the search term I wanted.  Very soon, I'll be releasing a video course showing the exact techniques I used to achieve top rankings in about 30 days.  If you do your research right and structure your site appropriately (plus mix in some off page optimization), you'll be able to dramatically improve your search engine rankings.

Learning To Improve Rankings With PPC

The more time I spend using PPC marketing, the more I find similarities between pay per click advertising and search engine optimization. PPC can be one of the most powerful tools for improving the effectiveness of your search engine optimization campaigns.  Here's how...

If you're already running your own pay-per-click campaigns, then you have already collected valuable data than can have a significant influence on the success of your SEO. The most important thing to know is which information is can be used to inform other campaigns and how it can enhance the overall results you're looking for.

Qualified visitors are those that have a higher degree of interest in your products or services and a greater likelihood of purchasing your products. I've often seen websites that have reduced their traffic while significantly improving conversion rates. The result is lower costs related to traffic acquisition and higher revenue. With more revenue and less expense, margins reach a new level of success.

The concept that I teach in SEO training is the most effective way to combine pay-per-click advertising with search engine optimization is to focus on conversions. What keywords have you promoted through pay per click advertising that led to conversions? If you've been running PPC for a while and you are still unsure, then consider expanding your analytic capabilities to include Google conversion tracking.

By looking at your PPC results, you can quickly find the keywords that lead to conversions. This information is golden. Not only can you use this to generate more traffic to your website, but you can also use this information to drive the right kind of traffic to your site. With the right focus, you can improve conversions and lower costs - because you're not attracted bad traffic, rather, you're only attracting the type of browsers who want your product or service.

One way to think about this is a company that's selling widgets. If they use PPC, they probably know that the term, discount widget converts the highest of any keyword term. As a result, they should be focusing their organic campaigns around optimizing that particular keyword. Once the phrase appears at the top of the search results, one can reduce the amount spent via pay per click and enjoy the benefits of targeted traffic.

After you've gotten more sophistication around converting pay per click terms and started an optimization campaign, it's time to focus on other elements that can help with conversion. One of the most important is your web site and landing page. Most people work to optimize search terms that drive individuals to a web site. If that's the case with you consider looking at your home page or web site landing page with a new perspective. Once a visitor is there, do you have a clear call to action? If not, consider revamping your landing pages to get browsers to take action.

Use what you've learning through PPC advertising to truly target your search engine optimization campaigns. By doing so, you can improve the quality of traffic you're attracting to your site and reduce your pay per click costs. Don't waste time optimizing your site for terms that no one is searching on or that never lead to conversion.

Improving Search Engine Rankings Comes at a Cost

Despite popular belief, search engine optimization isn't entirely free. In fact, some companies spend tens of thousands of dollars each year trying to get their websites ranked in the number one position organically. This is not only expensive, but can take loads of time. If you think SEO doesn't cost a cent, than think again. However, if you have the time to spend, you sure can save a lot.

Before undergoing any changes to a blog or web site, you must determine what keywords people are using to search for your programs. You want keyword terms that are frequently used but have little or no competition from other websites.

This dramatically enhances the chances of increasing web page ranking significantly. Marketing professionals can research possible keywords by talking to current students and using free online tools such as AdWords Tool which provides estimates of search volume and advertising competitiveness.

Once you've done your initial keyword research, its time to start investigating your competition for that given keyword. Do a search for the keyword or keyword phrase you've chosen and analyze the websites that appear in the first three positions. You definitely want to evaluate on page factors as well as off page factors like the number of inbound links to their website and directory listing. This research gives you a good understanding of your competition.

You can also learn more about a topped ranked website by researching it via Alexa.com for additional ranking information. Try for keyword phrases that have less than two million competing pages, less than PR 5, and less than five hundred in-bound links. If the top competing websites are too large, you should pick a different keyword phrase to focus on.

After choosing the most effective keyword phrases for your niche, design web pages to optimize readability for web site browsers and search engines. Basic areas of on-page optimization you should consider include having the appropriate headers for landing pages, a clear call to action and clean navigation. Your keyword phrase should also be used in meta tags and throughout your web page. Don't overdue it though, keyword stuffing can result in significant penalties from search engines.

Without a doubt the most important factor in Google rankings is a combination of Google page rank and the number of web sites that are linking to your own website. Referred to as inbound links, Google evaluates their authority and places a value on your site with higher listings on search results. You are always better off receiving links from web sites that are established and popular than new sites that have neither a strong web presence or inbound links. When link building be certain that link text includes your keywords.

As you focus on search engine optimization your chances of improving rankings increases twofold. Search engine optimization is ideal for anyone who doesn't want to spend a great deal of money on performance based advertising like Google Adwords. Instead of spending cash, spend time and energy on improving organic rankings. Pay attention to on page optimization factors and start researching and contacting other sites for link building. This will enhance website value and improve rankings.