How to Find True {Link} Love

1. How to Find True {Link} Love Presented by Arnie Kuenn Today’s Hashtag = #AZIMALUV @ArnieK @VerticalMeasure @JoinAZIMA

2. Optimizing for Search is Critical • When someone types a keyword into the search box, there are only two possible outcomes: • They will find you. • They will find your competitor. Twitter: @ArnieK @JoinAZIMA #AZIMALUV

3. Search Marketing Reality • Organic search traffic can be so valuable, it can sustain an entire business. • Organic search rankings are something you can work to influence, but ultimately you do not control them. The search engine algorithms make that call. Twitter: @ArnieK @JoinAZIMA #AZIMALUV

4. Why Invest In Search? • The #1 position will get clicked 43% of the time! • Natural search results receive many more clicks than paid search • Natural search converts 30% better than paid search • Clicks are Free Source: Did-it, Enquiro, and Eyetools. Twitter: @ArnieK @JoinAZIMA #AZIMALUV

5. How Does it Work Today? Bot or Spider Twitter: @ArnieK @JoinAZIMA #AZIMALUV

6. What Does It Look For? Title tag H1 tag Content Bold Meta Description Award winning SEO Link Building Services. Vertical Measures is a reputable, USA Internet marketing company helping businesses get more website traffic thru higher search engine rankings, link building, social media, local search, and search engine optimization. Twitter: @ArnieK @JoinAZIMA #AZIMALUV

7. Search Engine Results Indented Listing Local Listing Twitter: @ArnieK @JoinAZIMA #AZIMALUV

8. Proper On-Page Optimization(in order of importance for 2010) • Links - internal & external • Freshness of content & keyword usage • Title tag (viewed in results) • Image Alt text • H1 tag • Description meta tag (viewed in results) • URL structure • Page load times (Google Caffeine) Twitter: @ArnieK @JoinAZIMA #AZIMALUV

9. Biggest Factor is Still Inbound Links • The best links: • Are from trusted sites • Have proper anchor text • Have varied anchor text • Are from many different domains (new 2010) • Determined editorially Twitter: @ArnieK @JoinAZIMA #AZIMALUV

10. Links: Friends with Benefits • Internal links (from content) • Friends & family • Associations (donations) • Social Profiles • Twitter, LinkedIn, Naymz, Google, • 123People, Businessweek, etc. • Clients & Suppliers • Directories (but not thousands of free ones) • Blogs (guest posts or your own blog) Twitter: @ArnieK @JoinAZIMA #AZIMALUV

11. Links: True Love • Competitive Link Research + Requests • Link Recovery or Reclamation • Article Placement • Purchase or Rent Links • Widgets or Badges (next slide) • Licensing of Content or Tools (next slide) • Link Worthy Content Development & Promo Twitter: @ArnieK @JoinAZIMA #AZIMALUV

12. Some Samples…. • Widgets & Badges • Licensing of Content or Tools • Research results • White papers • Free tools (software, mortgage calculators, flu-shot locator, maps, etc.) Twitter: @ArnieK @JoinAZIMA #AZIMALUV

13. What are Bad Links? • Multiple links to same site on same page • Non-relevant or spammy footer links • From same pages that have PPC – porn, pills and casino links • Link farms • Links pages Twitter: @ArnieK @JoinAZIMA #AZIMALUV

14. How Does Social Influence Links? • Real-time links (Twitter & Facebook) • Social news links (Digg, Reddit, Delicious) • Can influence the actual rankings for your website • Provide Backlinks (but short term value) • Mentions & Signals Twitter: @ArnieK @JoinAZIMA #AZIMALUV

15. The Best of Both – Social & Search • Build Great Content & Promote it • Good for Social Media? • Is it “Link Worthy”? • Can you promote it? • Examples: • Lists • Case Studies • Comparisons • Satire & Parody • Interviews • Polls & Surveys • Videos • Contests (detailed example, next) • Promote it using social media!!! Twitter: @ArnieK @JoinAZIMA #AZIMALUV

16. Example: Run Contests! • Bridal Contest • Answer 3 questions: • Your engagement story • Your wedding day theme plan • What is special about your wedding that you shall win this free sponsorship? • Facebook Ad • Increased followers on Twitter through regular tweets Twitter: @ArnieK @JoinAZIMA #AZIMALUV

17. Big Companies Too! • Major hotel chain has us working many different promotions • Attend a Motor Sports event, get a discount • Visit Disney, get a discount • Attend LPGA event, get a discount • Go to a Little League Baseball game, get a discount • Multi-night stay, get Double Rewards • Multi-night stay, get $50 Gift Card Twitter: @ArnieK @JoinAZIMA #AZIMALUV

18. Even Internet Marketing Companies! • Boost Your Juice • $5,000 Grand Prize and $1,000 for 2nd Place • Submit essay telling us why they should win • Chose finalists and had the public vote on it • Promoted via Twitter, FB, PR & Blogger Outreach • Own first 14 results on Google for “boost your juice” (branding) • Over 2,000 visitors to just the contest page • Links from more than 50 different sites • Current “Ode to SEO” through Feb 19th. Twitter: @ArnieK @JoinAZIMA #AZIMALUV

19. Other Examples of Using Content • Video Interview Series (#4 “Internet Experts”) • Watch Jeramie McPeek for some great ideas • Videos on SEO Tips (#5 “SEO Videos”) • Post on 50 Blog Topics (#3 “Corporate Blog Topics”) • Image Posts (car crashes, tattoo, parrot flower) Twitter: @ArnieK @JoinAZIMA #AZIMALUV

20. Link-Worthy Content Process Source: SEOMoz Twitter: @ArnieK @JoinAZIMA #AZIMALUV

21. Have a Corporate Blog • 24% of our page views come from our blog posts (~4,000 per month) • We make 2 new posts per week • Gives us a vehicle to post new link worthy content • Keeps the search engines coming back • Internal linking Twitter: @ArnieK @JoinAZIMA #AZIMALUV

22. And Remember…. Twitter: @ArnieK @JoinAZIMA #AZIMALUV

23. Q & A Contact Patty Adams pattya@verticalmeasures.com 602-314-3467 (direct) www.VerticalMeasures.com