Thursday, May 19, 2011

SEO and Marketing: Basic Tips and Definitions

Please welcome Karen Cioffi, an awesome lady with a wonderful group of writers in her inspired and fabulous group, VBT Writer's on the Move.

SEO and Marketing: Basic Tips and Definitions

By Karen Cioffi

In its simplest form, promotion is a tool or strategy under the marketing umbrella. The marketing umbrella covers the creation or manufacturing of a product or service, R&D, distribution, and any other elements needed to get a product from creation to the consumer. Promotion creates visibility.

Utilizing online promotion means you will be using the internet, search engines, and SEO. SEO is the process of getting the search engines to find and rank your content. You obviously want a high ranking so when a searcher (potential customer) types in a search term (keyword) your site may be one of those on that first SERP.

Marketing and especially SEO can be confusing and seem like a daunting task to undertake, but once you understand the basics it becomes less intimidating.

SEO and Marketing Definitions

1. SEO – search engine optimization: “the process of creating and adjusting website content with the goal of improving search engine rankings.” (according to Compendium.com)

2. SERP – search engine results page – the page results from a search query.

3. Keyword – “any word or phrase a searcher might use to describe or identify a desired resource on the Internet.” When using keyword in your title, it’s important to use the keyword in the beginning of the title. Rather than use “How-to-Guide for SEO,” opt for “SEO: A How-to-Guide.” (according to Compendium.com)

4. Organic Traffic or Marketing – free strategies, such as Twitter, blogging, article marketing, etc.

5. Paid Traffic or Marketing – utilizing paid/sponsored ads, such as Google adwords, etc.

6. Ranking – your position (how high up) on the SERP: the higher the better. In other words, you want to be on the first SERP, or at least within the first few pages.

7. Anchor text – linking to other websites and/or pages directly from text within your content. This strategy should be used to bring the reader to your products, to other related articles you’ve written, to another site that has useful information pertinent to your post, and/or to link to a site you’re mentioning.

Providing readily accessible information and links through anchor text will give your readers more “bang-for-the-buck.” It will give the reader a broader reading experience, and she will definitely appreciate it – this builds a relationship . . . and trust.

Karen Cioffi is an author, ghostwriter (for authors, bloggers, and businesses), freelance writer, reviewer,
and on the team
of DKV Writing 4 U (http://www.dkvwriting4u.com). She is also the founder and manager
of VBT Writers on the Move, and
co-moderator of a children's writing critique group.

For writing and marketing information visit KarenCioffi.com and sign up for her FREE newsletter,
A Writer’s World. You’ll get TWO free e-books on writing and marketing in the process.

Other sites:
Karen Cioffi Writing for Children & More
http://karenandrobyn.blogspot.com
Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained
http://nothingventurednothinggained.org

You can follow Karen at: http://twitter.com/KarenCV/

13 comments:

Jennifer Gladen said...

Thanks for clearing up some of those terms. It's easy to get lost in the promotional world.

Nancy Famolari said...

Very important article for authors. In the present climate of the internet, we have to know how to take advantage of search engines. Very informative

Magdalena Ball said...

Thanks for the neat list of acronyms - some of which, like SERP, were new to me. The tip for using a keyword at the beginning of the title is a particularly good one and easy to remember.

Unknown said...

Great article, Karen. Authors and bloggers need to understand the tools of the marketing trade.

PS. Love your new photo.

Karen Cioffi said...

Jen, thank you so much for featuring me yesterday. I'm sorry I couldn't stop by yesterday, I wasn't able to get online.

Thanks All for stopping by. I actually wrote this article because there is a real need for writers and authors to know a couple of basics of SEO. I'm so glad you found it informative!

Karen Cioffi said...

LOL, Kathy, the old photo was my driver's license and the pict is 8-10 years old. I figured it's about time to change it!

Heidiwriter said...

Excellent post. I've always felt muddled about SEO and some of those terms, also how to use them.

Karen Cioffi said...

Heidi, I think most of us have the same problem. Marketing terms can be confusing. Thanks for stopping by!

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

It's a good thing that these terms were cleared for the benefit of others. SEO and marketing techniques work hand-in-hand. If used properly, they can provide significant product visibility. However, misuse of these information can also pull you down. Executing the right info at the right place and the right time, is the best thing to do.

Lawrence Spring

Unknown said...

Your article is much more informatics for all of the visitor. I am very happy to read it. This is really very nice. Thank you for it.

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Kevin Beamer said...

It's important to learn all the basics before moving on to more advanced SEO tricks. SEO is a very flexible industry, and even though companies have been using it, the nature of the internet makes discoveries and new techniques still possible.

- Kevin Beamer

Abell said...

I can see that you are an expert at your field! I am launching a website soon, and your information will be very useful for me.. Thanks for all your help and wishing you all the success in your business. business names ideas