The Maine SEO Blog

I work with a lot of small businesses. As such, small businesses owners typically don’t have a) the budget or b) the time to deal with A/B (or split) testing. Google Analytics Site Overlay of course can’t do what a comprehensive A/B test could, but it can convince a client to place links or call-to-actions above the fold, change keywords or link language, and more.

Using Site Overlay you can see where people click and, more importantly for this little experiment, where they don’t.

The fact of the matter is Site Overlay is extremely helpful when it comes to usability…and that’s half the battle! How do you balance SEO and usability?

Design

• Is your design graphically enticing, while not too overpowering?
• Does your site architecture make sense to search bots and humans?
• Do you have more than 8 elements in your navigation? [We recommend 7-8, max.]

Content

• Do you have enough copy? Are you saying everything that needs to be said?
• Are you going overboard with copy and blabbing on and on?
• Is your copy set up to promote reading? (Is it in one black and white blob without spaces, bold and italicized words, bullets, or headers?)
• Are there links sprinkled throughout the copy? Are they helpful? Do they make sense?

Call-to-action

• Is your call-to-action hiding below the fold where few will see it?
• Is there a big, bold graphic that attracts attention?
• How about some enticing copy to get readers to sign up/buy/etc.?

These are just a few of many recognized usability guidelines; many of which GA site overlay can help with. I think the best tip is: think of yourself as the potential customer. What would you be looking for in the website? What would you expect?

Nicki Hicks
SEO for Usability

A few months ago, I hinted that Twitter snobs won’t follow you for certain reasons – and can you really blame them, what with all of the spammers out there these days. So here are some tips and tricks for getting those industry leaders, Twitter gods and goddesses, and self-proclaimed snobs to follow you. (And, for the record, a lot of them have a strict “no following” policy.)

The Basics (or getting someone to at least consider following you)

The hard part: Keeping followers

What about you?…what drives you crazy enough to get in touch with your Twitter snob within?

Nicki Hicks
Follow me on Twitter

Since January, Maine has been celebrating tweetups like no other state. Originally started by @therichbrooks and @ccmaine, folks in the Portland region have been putting aside their iPhones and BlackBerrys (for the most part) in order to enjoy each others’ company in a physical capacity.

What’s so great about a Maine Tweetup? Well, one of the criticisms of social media is by using it, you lose the personal connection: with a voice or a face. This way, we’re getting the best of both worlds: the massive power of social media with face-to-face interaction (and perhaps a cocktail or two ).

Furthermore, it’s great to get out in Portland and enjoy the company of so many great people.

Live in Maine? On Twitter? Well, join us!

• Where’s the Tweetup at?
• ME Tweetup on Facebook
• ME Tweetup on LinkedIn

Nicki Hicks
Follow me on Twitter (or come to a #metweetup and meet me in person)

A few months ago, one of the folks I follow on Twitter posted a link to Wordtracker’s Keyword Questions, a great little tool that gives you insight into the world of long tail search. Or, as Wordtracker puts it: “find the questions people are asking in your market”.

It uses questions people have actually searched for and – bonus! – how many times within the past year they’ve been searched for. But don’t let the low number scare you – 1. we are talking about long tail here and 2. this is the number of people who used this exact wording.

Here are the questions about keywords:

And here are some about SEO:

The questions on social media were particularly interesting:

It just goes to show you…it might be worth taking a look at the keywords before you write your next blogpost, article, and especially webpage in order to target the long tail. Interestingly enough, as I was writing this, Jill Whalen posed a question to the Twitterverse about this very topic. Here are some of the responses.

Nicki Hicks
Long Tail Searcher

1. The Twitter Bird

How can you possibly resist this adorable, eyeless creature?

OK, so #1 is a joke. Moving on…

2. Find things out. Fast.

Like super human fast. Faster than you ever thought possible.

I’ll give you some examples. First one is for every day assistance. I follow the local news and newspaper. A few months ago there was a fatal crash on the highway a coworker takes home. As she was packing up to go, I warned her about it and she ended bypassing the accident by taking a different route. Not a huge deal, but Twitter saved probably about 30 minutes – an hour of my coworker’s evening.

To that point, Twitter makes the news quick and easy to stay up-to-date on and the fact of the matter is you can find something out faster from Twitter than from CNN.

On the business front, I find out search news and great articles much faster by following industry geniuses like @mattcutts from Google, @dannysullivan from Search Engine Land, @seosmarty from SEO Smarty, @leeodden from Top Rank, @jillwhalen from High Rankings, and a ton more.

To some, this tactic might smell of laziness, but the fact of the matter is: I read articles and news on the cutting edge – the ones that the best of the best are reading and researching. Plus, at its core, this is what social networking is about: sharing, networking, communicating.

3. Boost the buzz.

Tweeting for business? It continues to amaze me how powerful Twitter is at creating buzz – buzz for promotions, links, news, articles, what have you. If you ever question this collassal power, simply check out the trending topics.

Here are some examples of businesses using Twitter in the right way.

4. Err…Network?

That is, afterall, the point. Meet people in your industry, in your area, who have similar interests – whatever it may be! The power of networking is all mighty because, unfortunately these days, often it’s not what you know but who.

5. Everyone’s doing it.

This is the one and only time I would ever suggest something that “everybody else is doing.”

Within the next few years we’ll see a shift – a shift to pin those who aren’t on social media site vs. those who are – and it’s already happening. Not only that, but social media is an integral piece of the puzzle as far as increasing online visibility for your business.

The fact of the matter is, soon, if you’re not on Twitter (and other social media sites), you’re going to be lost behind the pack of businesses (and networking gurus) who are.

6. Get your questions answered – you guessed it – at lightening speed.

Can’t think of that song by what’s-his-face when he played in the band for a little while in 1972? Throw it out to your followers. Guaranteed you’ll find such scintillating answers and fun facts quicker through Twitter than taking precious moments to Google it yourself.

In a more serious way, I used Twitter quite literally to write this post yesterday. I’ll tweet such things every so often – not necessarily for a blogpost, but simply to engage others or for a quick survey.

By the way, if I just convinced you to join the wonderful world of Twitter, this might be helpful!

Nicki Hicks
Fail Whale is cute too – just in a misunderstood, face-only-a-mother-could-love way

I admit it, I’ve been positively ignorant of the fact that there’s another search engine out there willing to trifle with the power of Google; you’ll have to excuse my hesitation, it’s just that we’ve seen it before.

I put it out to the people, and here’s what I got:

What people like

• “I love the Travel Search feature Bing has.  It has a cool Price Predictor which tells you whether to buy now or wait for a better price. Imports prices from all over ” – @ccmaine
• “Love how Bing lists its videos.” – @sarah_wallace
• “I’ve had really good luck with it when search for something in the form of a question or multiple word descriptions.” – @MeRAbiz

What people don’t like

• “Nothing special (I’m kind of partial to Google though)” – @musicsGF
• “Like Chrome, adequate, but no compelling reason to switch” – @JMunk
• “I don’t think the search itself offers much new; some of the media type searches (images, for example) are good alternatives” – @justinrussell
• “Like the Cashback and Live ID integration…not a huge fan of the results or auto-suggestions really” – Justin Cox
• “To be honest I haven’t even compared it’s functionality to ever awesome Google, I’m too distracted by the pretty background pictures!” – @kwallace2

There you have it, folks. There are of course the negative reviews and (somewhat) positive ones. But what it really comes down to is…what do you like the best? It looks like that Google is still king.

Nicki Hicks
I guess I can’t complain I rank #1 on bing

Last week, we launched a website for Energy Services Group. ESG provides billing and transaction management, scheduling, and forecasting for energy companies of all sizes. Essentially, they provide all of the behind-the-scenes infrastructure necessary for energy providers to do what they do best.

While Energy Services Group participates in one of the most complex business models I’ve encountered, that simply makes them better at what they do. In other words, they’re the experts. What’s more is they are willing to share their expertise.

Like so many companies embracing Web 2.0, ESG is helping the energy industry with their new blog. I’ve talked a lot about the SEO power of blogging before, but here’s proof as to how much it can really help. If you Google “Is there growth in retail energy markets?” you’ll see a blogpost ESG did on the topic not too long ago, which is ranked #6 on the SERP. (Granted, I cheated a little by Googling the name of the post; but you’ll notice they are in such company with the likes of the Wall Street Journal and Newswire!)

If you (or someone you know) needs help with the transaction management for their energy company, head over to Energy Services Group. If you need help with your blog, head over to flyte.

Nicki Hicks
Maine SEO

Summer vacation season is upon us; and while it may not be sunny here in Maine, we’re all still taking advantage of vacation. You can plan projects and meetings around your treasured days off as best as possible, but not matter what it always seems like that first Monday back is treacherous.

While I didn’t encounter this after my week staycation (spent entirely of stripping wallpaper, painting, and laying tile at my new house) with projects and the like; I did feel like I was completely out of touch with search news.

In retrospect and subconciously, I did some things that I think helped (somewhat) seamlessly get my working head back on straight. So, here are some thoughts about how to best prepare (before and after) your vacation:

1. Get things done and schedule accordingly.

This may be an obvious step to all those who also suffer from delight in OCD compulsions. But here’s one thing perhaps not everyone has thought of. Finish those projects you’d rather leave until after you relax right now. The problem is, not all of us can leave our work at work. You’ll have a much better chance of relaxing if you’re not stressing about things that have to be done when you return.

2. Let everyone know.

Let customers/clients/coworkers know you’ll be gone; then set your voicemail and email responder to let those trying to contact you that you’ll be gone and for how long. Shout it from the rooftops!

3. Choose whether you still want to be accessible.

If you’re like me and crave the ability to constantly be electronically accessible, make sure you bring your computer home or are able to access your email via your home computer or phone.

Then again, there’s something to be said for having the self control to turn everything off and enjoy yourself. Either way…know yourself well enough to choose.

4. Spend the time to catch up.

You’ve just spent an extended period out of the office and (hopefully) in the sunshine. That Vitamin D has gone to your head, spend the time catching up…most likely in your inbox.

5. Know where to look for news in your industry.

Bright and early Monday morning, I spent a solid hour catching up on the latest search news. Where at? Why Search Engine Roundtable, of course. There is a similar site for every industry – articles that give you a quick glimpse of your world..on a need-to-know basis.

Well, there you have it folks. I hope this helps you relax a little bit more on your well deserved time out of the office. Happy summer!

Nicki Hicks
Back from Staycation and slightly off topic

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