Category: SEO

Free keyword research tool: https://ahrefs.com/keyword-generator Try: https://trends.google.com  ..as this shows information from Google itself....

Broken links within your website are bad news from an SEO and visitor's perspective. Here is a free broken link checker that we have used for many years: https://www.brokenlinkcheck.com...

Description Tags provide a concise description of a web page, within a Search Engine Results Page (SERP). If a Description tag is missing, the SERP result may show random wording drawn from the web page. Since 2009, Description tags have not counted as Google ranking factors. However, because they can make your search engine listing look better, they are important. To put it another way, well-written Description tags will help you to get more visitors to your website as they increase the chances of a click. When you search for something in Google, underneath the adverts (if there are any) you will see organic search engine rankings. The 'headline' of each result is generated by the Title Tag of the web page. The text underneath this is the Description Tag (if such as tag exists for that page). On this basis, the description tag text is like the body copy of an advertisement....

Body copy is a copywriting term. It denotes the main body of text within a marketing piece. For example, an advertisement has (1) a headline, (2) body copy and (3) a call to action. During my copywriting training workshops, I ask the attendees whether short or long body copy is best? Invariably, 90% of people are in favour of short text. "No one has time to read all that stuff," they tell me. However, someone at the back of the room says: "Write as much as you can." I proceed to have a debate with them. It transpires that they have tried short and long copy in various forms of promotion. They have found that long body copy gets better results. More engagement, more website visits, more enquiries, more sales. The reason is that when someone is in the market to buy something or has an interest in a topic, they want information. They are happy to 'read all about it'. If you have bought a property: did you read the surveyor's report? If you...

Blog is a contraction of ‘web log’. A blog is an online journal. It is chronological, so the most recent entry appears first. There are many reasons why you should have a blog for your enterprise. Here are seven of them: 1. Google likes to find blog within a website. If the search engines notices that something has changed within your website (i.e. that you have uploaded a new blog entry), it makes them happy. Imagine being a crawler and visiting a website that never changes. You would probably think: how boring. You can keep their interest by blogging frequently. 2. Writing makes you think. Talking about your area of expertise is fine. Writing about it is another thing entirely. In order to write something which is worth reading, you really have to think about it, don't you? 3. Your blog can feed your newsletter. I have lost count of the number of business people who have said to me: “What can I...

XML = eXtensible Markup Language An XML sitemap is a file that resides on your website server. It comprises lists of your website URLs. An XML site helps the search engines to figure out the structure of your website. It is a good idea to include a link to your XML sitemap within the footer area of each page of your website....

A 301 redirect is a permanent server redirect, i.e. a web page URL change of address. 301 redirects are typically used when relaunching a website, so that you can redirect visitors and search engines to the new pages. This can happen when you change your Content Management System (CMS). For example, if you change a website over to WordPress, the URL structure would be different to what you had previously. The 301 status code is an HTTP response. It means that a URL has moved permanently. Therefore 301 should only be used for permanent redirection....

Here is a glossary of SEO terms and jargon which includes marketing tips and advice. See also our Glossary of marketing terms and Glossary of copywriting terms. Created and researched by SEO consultant and trainer Nigel Temple. SEO is a complex subject and there is a considerable amount of terminology. This SEO glossary may help. 301 redirect: This is a permanent server redirect, i.e. a web page URL change of address. Typically used when relaunching a website, so that you can redirect visitors and search engines to the new pages. 404 or Not Found error message: The web page document could not be found, due to a broken link. (The server could be reached but it could not find the information requested). If your website visitors and the SEs encounter 404 messages they will not be impressed. Above the fold. The section of a web page that you can see without scrolling. Absolute link: A hyperlink that displays the full URL of the web page that is being linked...

SEO = Search Engine Optimisation = an ongoing strategy to make your web pages rank higher in Google, Bing and other search engines. A title tag is part of the meta data within a web page. Title tags help search engines to understand what the page is about. They are important as they are a Google Ranking Factor and they act as headlines when people read SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages, i.e. the pages delivered by Google when you search for something). Why are title tags important? Title tags are important because Google reads them. They are one of the 200 or so Google ranking factors. If you want your products or services to be found online, effective title tags will help you. Another way to see a title tag If you visit your website homepage, hover your mouse over a text area and right click with your mouse, a pop-up box should appear. One of the options should be:   View page source If you click on this option, a new browser window...

Google sees incoming links to your website as votes of confidence. They are a Google ranking factor. An inbound link = a hyperlink from another website which is pointing at your website. In general, the more inbound links you have, the better. 1. Gradually build incoming links to your website. Google doesn't like sudden 'spikes'. 2. Work manually (i.e. don't use bots / software programs / suspicious services from people you don't know). 3. Include keywords within the anchor text*, where appropriate. 4. The links should come from relevant websites. 5. The links should come from sites with high authority (i.e. credible websites). 6. Don't use paid links. 7. Don't use email spam to request links. 8. Do keep a meticulous record of your in-bound links. 9. Remember that links within your own website are important as well. 10. Do check from time to time that the links still work. See: https://www.brokenlinkcheck.com *Anchor text: The text within a hyperlink, i.e: www.nigeltemple.com or Nigel Temple marketing consultant...