Learn SEO | Search Engine Optimization Tips and Techniques

I suppose the title of this blog post says it all.  It is a little long I will agree.  I certainly have not learned all there is to know about SEO, but I realize there are many changes going on at this time and I want to discover and learn more about off site techniques including social networking to drive traffic to my websites.  I guess the question I am asking myself is which is more valuable and produces the best results; off site social networking to drive traffic or onsite SEO for the search engines and subsuquent discovery by visitors.

I am curious as to what your opinion is?

SEO is not the “end all” solution for getting traffic to your website.  While an effective search engine optimization campaign is required to achieve good search return rankings, there are many things you can do offline to increase your traffic.

Here are a few tips I have used to increase traffic to my websites:

• Everything that goes in the mail has a website url on it someplace. Your mail is handled by a lot of people before it reaches its final destination.

• Business cards with website address and basic info about the site. This is not your “business” business card but a promotional card. Think of it as a pocket sized billboard.

• Speaking of billboards – Digital billboards are popping up everywhere and that means an opportunity for your website to be on display in a big way in front of thousands of people each day. Digital billboards make the price much more affordable as multiple advertisers share the same billboard.

• Bumper stickers – how often do you find yourself at a stoplight and you are reading the bumper sticker in front of you.  You would be surprised at the number of people that are willing to put your bumper sticker on their car for a small price, perhaps one of the items you sell on your website.

• Magnetic side panel signs for your car. Realtors are famous for this. A 24” by 18” magnetic sign on each of the front doors of your car with your website address and graphic can be very effective at getting the word out locally about your site.

• Become a walking billboard – Get some t-shirts for friends and family with your web address and pass them out.  You don’t have to wear them all the time but it is a good way to get your url noticed.

I am sure many of these seem simple and basic but they work. Getting the word out offline about your website is just as important as an effective SEO campaign and in reality can bring a great deal of traffic to your site much quicker than waiting to climb to the top of the search engines.

What are your ideas for offline website traffic generation?

With talk of the impending death of SEO as we know it by Google and rumors of Behavior Based Search, Intent Based Search and Universal Search, one has to wonder how they will ensure the success of their website. The only way any business, whether online of offline succeeds is by providing a top notch service or product and then having news of that service travel via word of mouth.

If your website truly provides a “solution” to a need or problem then it will be successfule no matter where it ranks on Google.  I dare say that a quality website that gives the visitor what they want on a consistant basis will do well even if they are at number 900 in a Google search return. Word of mouth is a powerful advertising medium. Good search return rankings will be a natural result of the success of a website as others link to it (at least for now).  We must learn to anticipate what visitors will want and to put ourselves in the visitors shoes. If I know someone has come to my site based on a referal then I need to make sure I solve their problem and then give an incentive to comeback.

Have content of the quality that will make them want to sign up for emails or subscribe to RSS feeds or at least bookmark your site. The new game in town is no longer going to be SEO but PQS (Provide Quality Solutions).

My main job is C.T.O. of a digital signage company called DSN3G.com In a nustshell we set up private advertising and information networks utilizing 42″ high definition monitors controlled via a cellular signal. Digital signs we use can range from 13 inches to large outdoor 20 foot wide digital billboards.

Digital billboards are springing up everywhere and can be a great way to promote your website business. Most digital billboards offer a time share type of deal where the owner runs several displays in rotation for a much cheaper price than if you were to lease a traditional billboard and have your own full size wrap.  I have seen some digital billboard leases go for as little as $1200 a month which when you think about it is a great deal, especially if that billboard is in a high traffic area.  Imagine your website url in 9 foot tall letters illuminated so that it can be seen both day and night. Not only is your url up for everyone to see but a graphic that displays your business focus as well.

The next time you are out and about keep your eye open for one of these new digital billboards and ask yourself if this might be a new and effective way to market your website. When you consider how much a banner can cost on a leading MMO blog or website, this price really isn’t too far out there. Besides, it is all tax deductible as an advertising expense.

Have you ever used a digital sign or billboard to market your business?