As we discussed, search engine optimization (SEO) and pay per click (PPC) are methods to increase web site traffic. They are approached in different ways – PPC is paid placement on the search engines and SEO is a process by which web sites come up naturally in a search engine’s results. But ultimately the goal is the same – to attract an audience and increase web traffic.

Keywords are the core of both of these campaigns – chosen to mirror what it is thought that potential visitors would use to seek out the products and services in which they are interested. These keywords are ultimately the most crucial piece in a web site not only generating traffic but increasing their profit. Choosing general keywords meant to spark visitation may realize some increased “hits” for a web site; this will obviously increase web traffic but may not ultimately increase profit.

But the more specifically and carefully chosen keywords are more likely to not only increase web traffic but targeted web site traffic – visitors who are more likely to have a real interest in what your site offers. Work only with search engine optimization companies that understand the crucial link between keywords and profits and will set your marketing course accordingly.

The best search engine optimization companies – those professional vendors that expertly guide their clients through the world of online marketing of their web site – understand the ultimate goal of their clients; to increase their profits.

This may sound like this is information that would be a given for any company charged with marketing a web site, but the fact of the matter is that often profit is overlooked in many ways. Search engine optimization is a process by which a web site uses specifically chosen keywords and phrases, as well as other methods, to attract the attention of the search engines and elevate their page rankings in the search results. The goal? To attract more web site traffic. But what many people fail to understand is that these keywords – if not chosen correctly – may serve to increase web traffic but only the kind of traffic that logs on, checks out the site, and moves on; not the targeted web site traffic that is more likely to be interested in the site’s product and services and is therefore more likely to become a customer. More in Part II.

With regard to making the most headway in marketing online, a combination of a SEO and PPC campaign is often the most effective. SEO – or search engine optimization – refers to the generating of organic listings on the search engines. This is most successfully accomplished by search engine optimization companies that understand the work that must be done to achieve long term results, not just short term ranking. A SEO campaign often involves generating content that contains specifically chosen keywords and keyword phrases, along with a strategic linking campaign that will align the site with other highly ranked and relevant sites. This work – done consistently day to day – is mean to propel the site higher and higher in the search engine organic listings and subsequently increase web site traffic.

PPC refers to pay per click whereby web sites bid on particular keywords or keyword phrases; the winning bidders appear in the top most location of the page but all sponsored links (spots purchased through pay per click) appear along the top and right hand side of the page. Because position is so important and because payment is made to the search engines every time a user clicks on the link, it is best that PPC bidding, as well as the subsequent campaign be managed aggressively – something that a web marketing firm can also provide.

There is much talk about sponsored links versus organic listings and how this all translates to a web site’s ability to market itself most successfully. In order to understand it you must understand the role of the search engines in terms of matching potential visitors to the sites they seek. When a search engine users enters a keyword or keyword phrase into the search engines it delivers results based upon that criteria. On Google – the most widely used and popular search engine - the organic results are those that are listed in the body of the page and they are ranked according to relevance. The sponsored links are to the right and on top of the page. They are essentially paid advertising space occupied by web sites. Both organic listings and sponsored links are effective, although research has shown that search engine users are more apt to respond to organic results. But all in all, a marketing campaign that makes use of both organic listings and sponsored links will do the most to generate web traffic. More to come…

Professional guidance is also crucial in his pursuit. Businesses undertake their marketing efforts with marketing professionals by their side; and the same holds true for web sites that need guidance in helping to attract and sustain new customers. The way that web sites go about such marketing is often through a combination of search engine optimization and pay per click advertising; marketing processes that help to increase web traffic and – if done correctly – attract people to the site who are actually interested in what is offered there.

To this end, a reputable SEO specialist can be priceless during this economy when web sites – like all businesses – are struggling to stay afloat. Turn to search engine optimization companies in the New Year to grow business, increase web site traffic, raise the site’s visibility in the online market, and raise page rankings on the search engines.

Web sites are among those businesses that are struggling to know what to do at the present time. But their situation may be even more dire. A traditional company can choose not to put an ad on a billboard but people generally still know the business is there. Web sites don’t have that luxury. If they are not marketing their business they run the risk of falling into the online abyss. With so many web sites competing for attention, those that are not on the radar of the search engines may find themselves in big trouble in terms of web site traffic.

Search engine optimization is still important even in these times; especially in these times to be more accurate. By working with a SEO specialist, a web site can ensure they are doing all they can to achieve their goals and stay viable in the online market.

Those who are in charge of marketing a web site may find themselves at a crossroads in terms of search engine optimization and may, in fact, be considering hiring a SEO specialist to help them realize their objectives in the coming year. Some of the things that web sites may consider when making the decision whether or not to hire search engine optimization companies include:

• Did web site traffic stay somewhat consistent this year or was there a marked reduction in visitors to the site?

• Did the site enjoy a high page ranking with the search engines or was it necessary to look pages and pages in to find the site’s address?

• Was there a high conversion of visitors to customers to did visitors stumble upon the site and leave?

A SEO specialist can offer professional guidance in terms of SEO and help a web site achieve what it has been missing – web traffic, search engine rankings, and a growth in business.

Web sites are no exception to this otherwise typical business process. Come the beginning of the New Year it is important for web sites to consider their options moving forward and examine what has worked for them in the previous year – as well as those choices that did not pan out as expected.

Search engine optimization may be something that web sites are keen to consider in the New Year, especially if they had been seeing a drop off in their web site traffic or were experiencing a plateau in attracting visitors to the site, as well as attracting the attention of the search engines. In reality, these two things go hand in hand; there is no consistent web site traffic without the help of the search engines; so it stands to reason that without comprehensive search engine optimization plans in place for the New Year, web sites can expect only limited progress in building their visitor and customer base. More in the next post…

In terms of search engine optimization, there is a way to make sure that you increase web site traffic with those visitors that are more apt to become customers; and it comes down to keyword content. Choosing appropriate keywords is a large part of SEO for any web site; unfortunately, however, many sites choose keywords that are too vague, or while they may gain them traction on the search engines they do little in terms of delivering them with targeted web site traffic.

By choosing specific keywords that relate to a site’s very particular products and services you are also likely to target those search engine users that are in fact looking for those very particular products and services – gaining ground in terms of search engine optimization while also growing your customer base.

Just like with any business, marketing a web site is about thinking big. Highlight weekly products with keywords that will likely appeal to engine users that could be your customers, use video and content to give life to your site, and never forget who are speaking to at all times.

Online marketing falls under the same umbrella in terms of reaching an audience. Web sites that do not do enough to reach targeted web site traffic are missing the boat in terms of delivering their message, plain and simple. Without the audience in place to receive the transmission it is essentially lost in space.

So it’s important to always keep your audience in mind when it comes to everything you do online in terms of marketing. Don’t forget that marketing pertains to everything that has to do with your site – the content that you post, the functionality of the site, the way that it looks, the video you embed on there, and the search engine optimization effort that you pursue to increase web site traffic.

Forget your audience in any one of these components and you are likely to fall flat in your efforts. You design your site with your audience in mind – in terms of the aesthetics and how it will appeal to them; you make sure the site works and is effective – as a slow loading site with broken links will damage SEO and likely cause visitors to leave; you fill your site with the information and content that will appeal to your audience; and you consider your audience when making plans for SEO services as we’ll discuss in the next post.