It is vital that a business that is looking to boost its online presence work with a professional SEO company.

The SEO firm that a business chooses to work with is one of the most important decisions a business can make and that decision must be made very carefully. There are many varied Internet marketing services available and the quality of these services can vary dramatically, which is why businesses must take their time and conduct research before making a choice.

Hiring an ethical, respectable and competent SEO company is vital to achieving SEO success. When exploring a business’s options, there are certain things that an SEO company may offer that sound good, but in reality should throw up a red flag.

First, never hire a company that says that they can get your website to the top of Google’s search results within just a few days. Although high rankings play a significant role in search engine optimization, no company can follow through on such promises.

Guarantees of this kind should not be given at all and if they are, the company is likely untrustworthy. An SEO campaign can improve your rankings, but cannot assure you a top spot and a respectable SEO company will explain this up front.

Secondly, any company that says that certain black hat SEO methods can benefit a business should also be avoided. Search engines are cracking down on unethical SEO methods, and using them will result in penalties from the search engines and a damaged reputation.

These are just a couple of ways that businesses can separate a quality SEO firm from one that will ultimately be a waste of time and money.

Copyright 2010 dzine it, inc. Expert Website Marketing All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

A blog can help a business gain exposure; develop brand interest and direct relevant traffic to the
business’s website.

For a business blog to work effectively, it has to attract readers. There are a number of proven ways in
which this can be achieved.

If a blog is updated with new content on a regular basis, the content will likely rank higher in search
engine results.

Major search engines, such as Google, strive to provide their users with the most up-to-date information
available. If a business’s blog content is fresh, the search engines will respond by directing a large amount
of traffic its way.

Another great way to drive traffic to a business blog is through the use of articles as part of an SEO
campaign.

If a business regularly creates relevant and well-written articles and distributes them appropriately online,
it will attract interest from potential new clients. If the content is valuable and relevant, that interest may
convert into sales of products or services.

Social networking websites are another great tool for driving traffic to a business blog.

Like social networking, participation in online forums is also a good way to drive traffic. If a business
regularly researches forums relevant to its industry and offers advice and opinions when appropriate, it is
possible to establish the business as an authority.

Copyright 2010 dzine it, inc. Website Marketing All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Regardless of the size of a company or the products and services they offer, the integration of social media and search means that social media marketing should be an essential part of every business marketing plan.

Real-time social media search results pull information from Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, blogs and more to give web surfers instant access to what others are saying about any given topic.

When a business strategically feeds social networking sites with relevant key words, they have the opportunity to increase traffic through live Twitter feeds and Google’s real-time search results. This can have a profound positive effect on a business.

A recent study of corporate social media goals found that many businesses and marketers themselves are unaware of the close tie between social media and search. As a result, they rarely consider the benefits of the integration of the two.

In order for success, companies who operate social media campaigns must have clearly defined objectives. Like search engine optimization and any other business marketing effort, social media initiatives should have a strategy and an execution plan.

A business may use social media for various reasons including branding, promotion and visibility. When putting together a social media strategy, there are a number of variables that must be defined including the company’s goals, target audience, key messages, social media management decisions and social media monitoring plans.

Calling in professional help to develop and execute a social media game plan is the best course of action for businesses, both large and small. This will ensure a chance at real-time search success.

Copyright 2010 dzine it, inc. Website Marketing Company All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Manhattan SEO and website marketing company, offering SEO training classes, shares its keyword research tips.

According to Peter Crisafi, Vice President of dzine it, Inc., (www.dzineit.net), a leading New York search engine optimization (SEO) and Internet marketing firm that offers press release writing classes through its popular ExpressoSEO (www.expressoseo.com) program, keyword research is an essential component of any SEO campaign and it can make or break a company’s web marketing strategy.

“Without conducting proper keyword research before embarking on an Internet marketing campaign, a business is simple flying blind,” says Crisafi. “Businesses that don’t do their keyword homework ahead of time may as well not embark on a search engine optimization campaign at all.”

According to Crisafi, there are a number of steps necessary for effective keyword research, with the most important step being the value of a particular keyword.

“There are several ways to evaluate a keyword and understand how valuable it might be when it comes to search engine rank and the traffic that rank produces,” explains Crisafi. “For instance, keywords that return both pay-per-click ads along with organic search results are considered highly valuable. Keywords that are a match to Google AdWords campaigns are also valuable.”

Crisafi says that businesses can test keywords through a sample Google AdWords campaign by selecting the “exact match” option and measuring the traffic to their website, as well as conversion rates. The Google AdWords Keyword Tool, he explains, gives comprehensive information for competition within a particular industry, the estimated cost per click (CPC) for each keyword and historical data on the number of searches for particular keywords over the past few months.

“The next order of business is to target a business’s audience,” explains Crisafi. “When it comes to web marketing efforts that lack the element of personal contact, it is very important for a business to know its audience and convey the right message The best way to do that is to use the keywords that people are most likely to enter into the search engines when looking for products or services relevant to the business.”

Finally, Crisafi says that businesses should not be afraid to use other keyword research tools, in addition to Google, and also suggests that business owners use their own insight and knowledge to brainstorm keywords.

ExpressoSEO, a division of dzine it, Inc, New York’s leading website development and search engine optimization (SEO) firm, offers organic web marketing classes that teach professional website optimization techniques. ExpressoSEO teaches on-site optimization techniques including the proper use of meta tags, copy writing and editing skills, keyword placement, proper navigation structure, site map creation, headline and content placement, and more. ExpressoSEO also trains students in off-site optimization including proper linking, Google webmaster tools, MSN webmaster tools, how to submit site maps, press release distribution, video marketing, and more. For more information, call 212.989.0813 or visit www.expressoseo.com.

How your site is organized, designed, and built will affect its search-engine ranking, according to Andy Robson, managing director of the website marketing firm dzine it. Organize content into themed categories, what Clay calls silos. "By lining up your content by the way people search, you define to the search engine what you're about," Clay says. You can either group similar pages together into separate directories of folders and subfolders, or you can create "virtual silos" by using links that guide a user from one page to the next.

Other strategies are more technical, so you may need to rely on a Web developer for assistance. The site must be hosted on a fast server. The page code should be free of bugs and fully comply with the standards for website structure set by the World Wide Web Consortium. (You can test this at validator.w3.org.) Include in the site's code a special protocol known as Sitemap, which makes it easier for visiting search engines to scan the site. Sitemaps can be submitted directly to the search engines.

Press releases can be very beneficial for businesses that are looking to gain online exposure and direct relevant traffic to their website. Most businesses use press releases as part of their search engine optimization and Internet marketing campaigns and, when written properly, those press releases result in increased traffic and better returns.

Any business interested in using online press releases as part of their marketing campaign should work with an SEO specialist to ensure success.

A good search engine marketer knows how to identify press release topics, offer advice on writing the press release and how to get those press releases distributed appropriately. Creating a press release campaign for SEO purposes is not as easy as most people think, but they are highly effective.

One of the major mistakes that businesses make when writing online press release is going overboard on keywords.

If a press release is keyword heavy, the content will not read properly and will be worthless. It is easy to spot a press release based on keywords rather than genuine content.

Another mistake that businesses make is that they become too aggressive with their sales pitch. When creating an online press release, businesses should pay more attention to forming a release that communicates with its target audience and shares information about their company. It is important to do so without bombarding the reader with promotional information.

Finally, businesses must take the time to proofread a press release because simple spelling mistakes and basic grammatical errors will make a business seem unprofessional. Press releases can really boost a company’s online presence, but the only way to ensure avoiding some of these common mistakes is by working with an experienced SEO professional.

Copyright 2010 dzine it, inc. Website Marketing Company All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

There is no real secret to proper SEO regardless of what your current web developer tells you.

Sure, search engine optimization is an art and a true professional can help you boost your search engine ranking quicker than the average Joe, but for those who self publish, or even those who want to keep tabs on the web development company that is managing their site, there a few time-tested techniques that will certainly make a difference.

I offer the following advice:

Proper Search Engine Optimization is the Key to Successful Web Development

While many web development firms will try and convince you that pay-per-click advertising and banner campaigns are the way to go when it comes to increasing your online presence among popular search engines. Although these methods help, proper search engine optimization for your website, from the very early stages of your web development project, is the key to success.

A Good Website Design Should Be More than Just a Pretty Picture

As I noted above, proper professional SEO work begins during the initial phases of web development which is why it is imperative that you know the keywords and phrases that you wish to target before your site gets off the ground. In doing so, you or your website developer can develop your website around your key phrases.

Many business owners are making large investments in SEO services without first learning the basic housecleaning rules of SEO.

There are many simple techniques that can be used to get a business website ready for proper search engine optimization and help garner better natural search results at no cost and in just a short amount of time.

One of the first ways to ensure that a website is ready for the major search engines is to create an XML site map.

An XML site map is not the same as the site map that helps humans navigate a website. Instead, an XML site map is one that does the same job for search engines, helping them to better find their way around a site.

Similarly, a good optimized website should include instructions for robots, usually called a robots.txt file.

This simple text file gives search engine robots simple rules to follow on a website. Robots from the major search engines are coded to follow such files and the instructions can even tell robots not to index certain content.

Other SEO techniques include image tagging and descriptions, as well as descriptive internal links.

Before embarking on an SEO campaign, it is important to make sure that your original website is not a mess. An internal cleanup, coupled with these housecleaning tips, will yield better search results in the long run.

Copyright 2010 dzine it, inc. Website Marketing Company All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Leading Manhattan website design and development expert says that businesses should regularly check their website code for errors

According to Peter Crisafi, Vice President of dzine it, Inc., a leading New York web development and website design firm with clients throughout the United States, errors in a website’s code can get in the way of good search engine placement.

“Efficient website coding is essential for good search engine optimization,” says Crisafi. “If a website cannot communicate effectively with the search engines, it cannot gain a strong online presence.”

According to Crisafi, code errors happen all the time and, although website developers and search engine optimization experts check their work for errors once a project is completed, most of the errors occur later.

“A website’s code will change whenever fresh content is added,” says Crisafi. “It is a good idea for businesses to get into the habit of running their code through a code checker, or involving a web developer on a regular basis.”

Crisafi compares regular code checks to having a car serviced regularly.

“When an automobile is not serviced regularly, small errors can develop into serious problems down the line,” explains Crisafi. “These problems can cause a car to break down and fixing it can cost a lot of money. Websites are no different.”

The effect of code errors can be subtle or drastic. If a website’s code contains errors, the search engines’ view of a website is obscured. Code errors can even affect how site users view a website when their browser is unable to display the page exactly as it was designed, he says.

“A simple code check doesn’t take very long, although correcting those errors may,” says Crisafi. “In the end, it is well worth spending a little bit of time looking under the hood of a website.”

Established in 2003, dzine it, inc. is a leader in Custom web development, programming and design solutions for small and large business, agencies. The company offers a wide range of business-centered visual communication solutions, including web-based content management, web design, graphic design, custom web software applications, ethical white hat search engine optimization (Organic SEO), Video Encoding, and print media solutions. For more information, call 718.336.2660 or visit www.dzineit.net.

Copyright 2010 dzine it, inc. Website Marketing New York All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

In today’s competitive market, businesses need the Internet in order to drive sales. Since Keywords are the defining element of SEO, it is imperative that the keywords a business chooses are geared toward serving both clients and search engines.

Keywords lead a business’s target audience to the product or service that it offers, which is why business websites must be properly optimized.

The best way to make use of a business’s keywords is to add a blog as part of that business’s marketing campaign. A blog allows a business to use its keywords time and again, bringing highly targeted traffic back to the business website.

A blog is one of the most efficient and simplest ways to have a website rank high with the search engines, regardless of how often the search engines change their algorithms.

Another great way to use keywords properly is to optimize a website’s images. Keyword-optimized images allow a website to be picked up by the search engines resulting in higher web traffic.

Businesses should used optimized images as part of a business blog as well.

Finally, adding video to a business website is also a great way to drive traffic. The most important part of adding online videos is to remember to have keywords embedded into the title of the video.

Adding a transcript to help search engines recognize the keywords in the media content will also direct traffic to the website.

Videos are also a great conversion tool that can personalize a business and its message, ultimately converting viewers into clients.

Copyright 2010 dzine it, inc. web design company All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The e-commerce platform a company chooses, the architecture of its website, its product marketing copy and meta data, all affect that company’s organic listings in search engines from day one.

As a business continues managing its website, it is constantly changing its search engine visibility. In order to get a grasp on the state of a business’s SEO campaign, it takes a combination of several quantitative measurements.

Quantitative factors include keyword ranking, natural search traffic and keyword exposure.

A business should measure the success of its SEO campaign by following the rank changes of the keywords it uses. If, for example, a business’s search engine listing has moved up as a result of a certain keyword, the use of that keyword or term was a success. Another way to measure success is to use an analytics tool to follow natural search traffic into the website. By comparing traffic trends to key campaign dates, a business can follow the success or failure of a particular aspect of its SEO campaign.

Another quantitative factor to consider is the total volume of unique natural search phrases driving traffic to a website, which is commonly known as keyword exposure.

The higher the volume, the better the campaign is capturing long-tail phrases and exposing the brand to a varied audience.

Measuring SEO results is more difficult than building a single graph. By taking a quantitative look at every aspect of an SEO campaign on an ongoing basis, a business can get a clear picture of its natural search health.

Copyright 2010 dzine it, inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

New York SEO and Internet marketing firm, offering SEO training classes, says that it is important for businesses to know if their SEO campaign is on the right track.

Although Google currently dominates the Internet landscape and search engine optimization as a whole; that may soon change, according to a recent report from digital marketing firm Razorfish. The company’s report states that 45 percent of its clients' media budget was invested in search properties and, although Google currently leads the search category, spending trends show that Bing and Yahoo are set to dethrone the Internet giant.

In addition to the threat posed by Microsoft Bing and Yahoo, the Razorfish report also predicted trends for emerging media.

While social and mobile marketing are expected to continue increasing in importance, Razorfish predicts that four other emerging platforms will have an impact on marketing in 2010. These platforms include ad verification systems, local online advertising, in-game advertising, and digital out-of-home marketing.

If Razorfish’s predictions actually come true, it would shake up not only Google, but the Internet as a whole.

Although Bing has been steadily gaining influence in the search engine optimization industry, it really isn’t having an effect on Google’s market share. According to a separate report, Bing is actually stealing users from Yahoo. Currently, Google accounts for 64 percent of the American search engine market.

Copyright 2010 dzine it, inc. Web Design Company All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

When it comes to search engine optimization (SEO) a business should always ensure that its website contains unique content on every page of that site.

When a website is developed, if any of its content is duplicated on another page it may be penalized by search engines like Google, Yahoo! and Bing. Even if content is duplicated erroneously, major search engines will still penalize the website.

Duplicate content may not always be the fault of the business or its website developer, because not everyone plays fair on the web. Many developers like to take the easy route of stealing content without permission and using it on their website.

This is one of the most common ways that duplicate content appears on the web. Unfortunately, it negatively affects the good guys by no fault of their own.

One of the easiest ways for a business to discover whether someone has duplicated its website content is to copy a snippet of text from the business website and paste it into Google’s search field.

If the website you are checking is listed first, then there isn’t much of an issue, but if the page is outranked by another website, then that website has the most authority for your content.

For business owners that have had their website content stolen, ask the webmaster of the website in question to remove the stolen content. In some cases, however, the only way to address the situation is for business owners to change their own content in response.

Similarly, if there is duplicate content among pages of a business’s website, they should be made unique. This will avoid the site being penalized by the search engines.

Copyright 2010 dzine it, inc. Web Design Company All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Google’s new design for its search results has been met with both criticism and praise from those in the SEO industry.

Some aspects of Google’s new layout seem to have had an adverse effect on SEO, while other aspects are being hailed as a new opportunity for businesses.

One of the negative effects of Google’s new layout and Caffeine algorithm change is the damage it has done to “long tail” phrases. “Long tail” refers to more specific searches rather than shorter generalized search phrases.

There are reports surfacing that the new Google actually hurts big sites with many long tail phrases. Sites that rely on thousands of searchers looking for complex search queries are discovering that long tail traffic is down by about 2/3.

On the positive side, those using social media as a way to promote their business like the new Google.

There is actually new opportunity in the social media realm looming in the new structure of Google search results, especially as some previously hidden aspects now show up as menu items. The addition of real time results, the more prominent position of blog results and the new discussions menu item for results from forums are all proving very useful to SEO experts.

Copyright 2010 dzine it, inc. web design company All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

When a business considers hiring a search engine optimization, there are a lot of things to consider. The key to hiring the right SEO expert lies in asking the right questions and knowing the right answers.

A reputable search engine optimization firm or expert will be able to answer a few basic questions properly, without any hesitation or false promises. A company should first ask a potential SEO provider how long it will take to see results from an SEO campaign.

When an SEO campaign starts you can see results within a few days, but this is rare. Depending on the competitive nature of the target industry, the current standing of the website and the keywords themselves, good results usually surface within a few months. Anyone who tells you otherwise isn’t being honest.

Next, website owners should have a clear understanding of exactly what it is that their SEO professional will be doing to their website. Although the question is reasonable, he explains that many SEO professionals will not reveal exactly what it is they plan to do as a way to optimize your website. What website owners should expect, he explains, is an SEO company to give general indications of what they’ll do for a client and how it will impact search engine rank.

Another important question to ask is whether or not an SEO company’s methods are considered ‘black hat’ and, therefore, shunned by Google. Many companies employ some black hat techniques, which means that while a business website may get rankings, they could eventually be penalized or even banned.

Lastly, business website owners should ask SEO companies what sort of guaranteed results can be expected.

One would think that an SEO company that guarantees results should be a first choice, but that would be wrong. Unlike almost any other industry, an SEO guarantee is something to be wary of.

Copyright 2010 dzine it, inc. web design company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Links to a business website help search engines and potential customers find that business’s online presence. Only high-quality website links are beneficial to a search engine optimization campaign and this type of link-building can be a challenge.

There are a few simple ways to build quality links to a business website. These techniques can be used by anyone, regardless of their particular experience with search engine optimization.

Social networking websites can be useful in a comprehensive SEO campaign particularly because of the links a social networking profile can provide. If a business has a profile on the most popular and successful social media websites, it offers the ability to regularly create useful links to that business’s website.

Blogging is another important aspect of SEO because it not only offers links back to the business’s website, but can also give a business authority within its industry. Business representatives are advised to consider ‘guest blogging’ on industry websites as another way to build quality links.

When a business considers offering a piece to an industry blog, it should research that blog thoroughly before making a contribution. Many bloggers are looking for informative and relevant posts which they can add to their blog. If they accept the piece, it can include a link to the business website and help drive traffic.

These are just a couple of ways that a business can practice effective link building. Our popular SEO classes make it easy for just about anyone to drive traffic through link building.

Copyright 2010 dzine it, inc. web design All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Regardless of a business’s specific niche, search engine competition is often fierce and business website owners spend a fair amount of money to ensure that their business appears at the top of major search engines. Unfortunately, many of the top-ranking small business websites are designed and developed poorly, which will ultimately mean a loss in sales and leads.

Regardless of how well a website is optimized, it needs to be designed and developed properly if it is going to interest its target audience and generate leads.

In our business, we have seen it happen countless times. Websites that rank near the top of Google are often poorly designed and laid out. Many businesses spend an awful lot of time and effort on getting to the top of Google, but they don’t bother to spend the same time and resources on the website’s design.

If a business website does not look professional, it will not inspire enough confidence in its visitors to win their business.

There is no doubt that search engine optimization is important for business websites. We recognize that a website must rank well in Google for phrases relating to its industry, particularly geographical phrases where potential clients will be searching for that business, but it’s not the be all and end all. If a business website is hard to navigate, looks unprofessional or doesn’t convey the quality of service offered, there is little point ranking for any keywords and phrases in the first place.

In other words, if a business’s website is garbage, he explains, any money that it spends on SEO will be wasted.

Search engine rankings are not everything; they are a means to an end. Without successful conversions from a website, there is no point in optimizing the site at all.

Copyright 2010 dzine it, inc. web design All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Social networking can be hugely advantageous for businesses if social media sites are used appropriately and effectively.

A profile on a popular social networking website can help to get a business noticed, respected, trusted and can generate traffic too. Social networking now has a firm and definite place in search engine optimization, but many businesses are failing to produce positive results through their social networking campaign.

Using social networking websites as part of a search engine optimization (SEO) campaign is not easy and there are common mistakes made by business owners inexperienced in social networking for SEO.

The content that a business provides within its social networking profile is of great importance. If topics are not interesting or useful, it will not garner the followers necessary for success. This is why those in charge of a business’s social networking campaign must continuously carry out research so that they are aware of the topics relevant to the business or industry.

Writing relevant and useful content will help a business generate attention and interest.

Another common problem is that some businesses advertise their companies too aggressively when using social networking websites. Often, this move will backfire on a business.

A social networking profile provides website owners the opportunity to communicate with others and to build relationships. If users think that the business is only interested in making a sale, they will not find the content valuable and will not be interested in the profile.

The other common mistake that businesses make with their social networking campaign is that they do not update their social networking profiles on a regular basis.

When running an SEO campaign, the continuous creation of relevant content is vital in many areas and this includes the social networking portion of the campaign. For businesses struggling with their social networking campaigns, a professional SEO consultant can often help.

Copyright 2010 dzine it, inc. Web Design New York. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Social networking has increasingly become an important part of most business search engine optimization (SEO) campaigns.

Facebook is one of the most successful social networking websites and many business owners are learning the countless benefits of having a Facebook profile. If used appropriately, a Facebook profile can build awareness for a business and help it to gain attention, respect and help direct targeted traffic to its website.

In order for a Facebook profile to be successful, its content must be appropriate, useful and relevant, and the business’s target audience must be considered.

One way to garner the attention of those visiting a Facebook profile and make their visit worthwhile is to post information about special discounts, offers and sales. Research has found that a number of social networking website users will follow business profiles for this reason alone.

Next, news about the company should be posted on a Facebook profile. Whether it is news of a new employee, a new achievement or an award, he explains that such posts will offer further insight about the business to Facebook fans.

Discussing general industry-related topics can also be advantageous. If users are interested in a particular business, they will likely have an interest in the business’s industry.

Finally, providing Facebook visitors with useful and valuable information is an excellent way of getting them to return to the page in the future and to get them to respect the business as well.

If a business gives visitors valuable information which can help them, they will notice the business without openly advertising it. They will realize that the business’s representatives are experts within the industry and will be more likely to remember the business in the future.

Copyright 2010 dzine it, inc. web design company All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Keywords gain the attention of search engines and visitors, encourage users to visit a website and offer valuable information about the business a website represents. This is why the process of finding the most suitable keywords for a business website must be carried out using appropriate research techniques and regular follow-up is essential to long-term success.

Keyword research is conducted in the early stages of website development so that its pages are optimized efficiently from the onset. Once a collection of effective keywords has been gathered they can be worked into the site to promote the business and target the appropriate audience.

Where business owners and their website developers go wrong, however, is when they fail to recognize that just because certain keywords were suitable for an SEO campaign in the early stages of development, those keywords may not still be relevant as the campaign develops. There are a number of factors that can affect the usefulness of keywords, which is why an SEO campaign must be continuously monitored.

Changes within the business’s particular industry, developments in search engine technology and the keywords being used by the business’s competitors are just a few of the factors that can affect the productivity of website’s keywords and an SEO campaign.

If a business does not recognize the importance of regular keyword research it will not be using the best keywords possible and will not achieve the best results possible either.

Copyright 2010 dzine it, inc. web design company All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.