The Maine SEO Blog

Google loves well-aged sites.  Yahoo loves meta-keywords. Live loves fresh content.  And who really cares what Ask likes.  (Just kidding…but seriously, who cares.)

With so many differences between the major engines, subtle though they may be, is it really possible to optimize for every one of them?  To push matters further, is it even worth trying to optimize for them all?  With Google taking the cake on search engine market share, is it worth worrying about the under dogs?

Take a look at the (major) differences…

Only Major Issues of Optimizing for Everything

1. Generally, Google does not like meta-keywords; Yahoo does.  There’s always been speculation as to whether Google finds meta-keywords spammy; perhaps a healthy balance could work here – something to test out!
2. Using robots.txt vs. robots-nocontent, depending on who you want to optimize for.

Is it even worth optimizing for anything other than Google?

For the most part, I tend to focus entirely on Google. I check for indexed pages for a new site there first.  I check PageRank before WebRank.  I use nofollows and robots.txt, not robots-nocontent.

Maybe I’m just partial to Google; then again, isn’t everyone?

Nicki Hicks
Equal Opportunity SEO

Photo Credit: Associated Content

Let’s say I have a small business in downtown New Orleans, where I sell everything you could possibly want or need to celebrate Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday.  How will I ever optimize my site with all the competition?!

(Note: This guide is assuming all other things are equal on my site: including clean and readable code, as well as proper keywords optimized for)

1. I would first optimize my website for my location, including:
   - Keywords in title tags, meta-descriptions, and content.
   - Address on all pages (most likely in footer).
   - Phone number (with location specific area code) in meta-descriptions and on all pages.
   - Blog: posts incorporating location and local events.
   
2. Verify my local listings using GetListed, as well as any niche listing sites in my industry.
   - Add as many images as I could to these local sites (including images of my storefront and products).
   - Add videos to listings (of anything and everything: from a scan of the store, to a scene from downtown New Orleans on Mardi Gras, to “What do you need to celebrate Mardi Gras 2009?”)
3. Create (and optimize) a YouTube channel, and upload all of my videos.
   - Optimize channel using geo-specific keywords.
4. Acquire backlinks from local bloggers and businesses, preferably (for local purposes, anyway) in New Orleans or surrounding Louisiana towns.
5. Set up an AdWords campaign geared specifically toward New Orleans and the surrounding towns.
6. Submit to all of the general and niche directories; as well as location specific ones – like the local Chamber of Commerce.

Nicki Hicks
Happy Mardi Gras

More and more, we’re using WordPress here at flyte as our CMS of choice.  Not only is it an easy platform for our clients to learn to use and update themselves, but it’s also incredibly search engine friendly.

As always, there are way to increase search visibility even further.  With WordPress, that way is by adding SEO Plugins.  WordPress has an extensive collection of such plugins, but I thought I’d take a look at two: one for the WP beginner, and another for the more advanced WP user.

For WordPress Beginners: All In One SEO Pack

• Quickly and easily change title, meta-description, and keywords for your homepage, specific pages, or posts
• Edit your title formats on your homepage, specific pages, posts, archive pages, category pages, etc. (Making them “Page Title – Blog Title” vs. “Page Title”)

For the Advanced WP User: HeadSpace

• Everything from the All in One SEO Pack, including the option to import and support All in One SEO (as well as other related plugins), PLUS….
• Ability to more easily add (without getting messy with HTML) Google Analytics and Webmaster Tools
• Add cool tools and tracking devices, like CrazyEgg

Nicki Hicks
Plugins with something for everyone

Video is just one more way to connect with viewers/visitors/customers.  Generally speaking, video is even more powerful than text – it can be more interactive and personal.  Not to mention:

1. You can start your own YouTube channel, and upload all of your videos. (Hey, even the President is doing it…)
2. Your videos can come up in Google’s Universal Search Results.
3. You can integrate your videos in your Local Search listings.
4. You can link from your video back to your site/blog.  (It is, unfortunately, nofollowed; but Google does still look at them!)
5. You can link and/or embed the video on your on website or blog. (Views of the video on your site count toward the total viewings, which help your YouTube rankings.)
6. You can optimize your videos to rank well – in both Google and YouTube searches.

The best part? You can make a video about almost anything. I could, for example, make a video catching the major points of going through keyword research on my favorite sites.  Or, I could showcase my favorite measurements from Google Analytics (like Rich just did).  And YouTube is just the place to upload it.

Nicki Hicks
Show Me The Movie

Last week we finished up another SEO project, this time for another property in the True North Hospitality Partners family: Migis Lodge.  The Lodge is a resort right on Sebago Lake up in South Casco, Maine.

Like many businesses in the hotel and resort industry, local search visibility will be key for Migis.  They already have an ideal location: right on Maine’s second biggest lake – Sebago.

One of the more interesting things that happened with this project was, being in a somewhat remote location, we found that Google Maps had Migis’ location wrong.  (Google got something wrong. Pause for reaction.) Admittedly, they have the correct street, but the location of the Lodge is actually on the water, which isn’t being shown accurately.  This is the current picture shown:

Using Google Local Business Center, we were able to use what I think is one of the coolest tools, relocating the resort to its proper location:

Checking, verifying, and submitting your local listings is quick and easy – so always be sure you take the time to do it!

For a stay on Sebago Lake at the gorgeous Migis Lodge, be sure to make a reservation.  Also, keep up with what’s going on at Migis by checking out their blog!

Nicki Hicks
Maine SEO