Separating SEO Fact From Fiction
In today’s difficult economy, it goes without saying that making money is harder than ever. Small businesses are forced to think outside the box in terms of advertising and marketing techniques just to generate enough revenue to keep their company afloat. The internet has become the platform for companies to flex their muscles and prove that they are the best of the best at what they do. With so many comanpanies vying for the top spot in their field, this begs the question, how can anyone stand out from the competition? With so many companies seeking out the help of SEO, it seems hard to manipulate your site so that it stands out from your competitors. People have begun to think of new ideas within the SEO genre to differentiate themselves, but it’s important to determine fact from fiction.
Myth: The more you update your website, the more hits you will get.
Fiction.Although it is beneficial to update your site consistently when you have new information, making minor textual changes will not serve any real purpose. Adding new pages onto your current site, however, has proven to be helpful in increasing visability. The reason behind this being that there are more outlets for other sites to link to.
The Bottom Line: Don’t update just to update. Make sure your changes matter.
Myth: It is easier to receive hits via video posting than it is from text alone.
Fact.The truth is that there are far fewer videos on sites than simply pictures and text, so obviously, if there is less competition, your odds of being the top dog are higher. This does not necessarily mean that once you transition into the world of video you will automatically show up first on the search results page. Before you choose video as your next big site update, there are a few things to consider. In an article for BusinessWeek Magazine, author Liz Gannes wrote, “Because video production is expensive and intensive, and watching a video takes time, which may cut down on conversion, it’s most appropriate for visual industries and branding efforts, not direct response.”
The Bottom Line: Video could be a helpful addition to your site if you have the right kind of product.
Myth: The long tail does not help in optimizing search efficiency.
Fiction. For those of you that don’t know, the long tail is defined as, “specific, niche search phrases, usually more than 2 words in length, that offer a low competition, low search volume and high searcher intent” (Lurie). You would think that these phrases do not make a difference in the grand scheme of SEO, but it turns out it could be what separates you from your competitors. The long tail allows people searching for something specific to locate your site easier without encountering the sites of more general competitors. Taking the time to think about what audience you are trying to reach is crucial to deciding what search words will work best for you.
The Bottom Line: The longtail could be the difference between you and your competitors.
The internet is a competitive marketplace and although SEO has helped to make sure that everyone gets a fair shot, being well-informed can put you a step above. Knowing how to update your site in an effective manner can not only save you time, but also earn you revenue. And isn’t that what this is all about?
