Google is at it again.

The search-engine goliath is constantly enacting changes, whether it is modifying algorithms, enhancing sitelinks, or merely altering the Google Doodle atop the page.  Sometime last week, however, Google made an extremely notable change to Google Analytics that has digital strategists around the world abuzz…and angry.

The keyword report is perhaps the most significant element of Google Analytics, especially for those of us in the SEO world.  Only a week ago, this report told you precisely what keywords searchers were using in order to find your site.  With this latest modification, Analytics no longer gives you specific keywords for searchers who are logged into Google.  Instead, any organic visitors that are logged in (whether it be via Gmail, Adwords, Analytics, etc.) are grouped together under the label “(not provided),” no matter what search term they use to find the site. (more…)

Sitelinks have been a staple within Google search results for years, and until this week, they have remained relatively unchanged.  However, Google recently launched a new form of sitelinks that give visitors a more detailed description of pages within a particular site.

With that formal introduction, I present to you, “The Bridgeline Sitelink 5 W Guide.”

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Social media has become a fixture in everyday life all across the globe.  Google is not only the most recognizable and visited site on the web, but it is also one of the most valuable companies in the world today ( 2^nd only to Apple).  On paper, Google punching its way into the social media world seems like a match made in heaven.

Enter Google +.

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Web writers are sometimes faced with the difficult task of writing content for a site or business that they know virtually nothing about.  Sure, researching the topic will always give you a better grip on a particular subject, but this will only give you a general overview.  Most websites are designed for a specific audience, so it is imperative that the content speaks to the intended user.

This is where the content interview comes into play.

No matter what website you are creating content for, there will undoubtedly be someone you can speak with to learn more about the organization, company, or individual.   This could be the manager of a business, and spokesperson for a non-profit organization, or even the person the website is about (for example, an artist who is building his or her own site).  Once you find the right person to speak with, it is important that yo u ask the right questions in order to get the most out of the interview and thus develop the best content possible.

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Content writing often makes web designers and internet marketers blue in the face.  Web-content must not only be authored for a global audience, but it also must contain certain keywords in certain densities so that search engine bots can rank the page accordingly.

How often should I use my opportunity keywords on each page?

Is there a specific way I should embed these keywords into the content?

Do I ignore proper grammar in favor of SEO techniques?

These are all questions dozens of writers ask themselves every day as they sit down and begin writing content for the Internet.  Fortunately, your friends at Bridgeline Digital have developed 3 cardinal rules to follow when deciding how often your keywords should appear in each individual page’s content:

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The world of search engine optimization (SEO) is often considered a convoluted jigsaw puzzle. Search engine spiders take into account a countless number of factors when ranking websites, making it difficult for internet marketers to zone in on specific elements when optimizing a site. As the cliché goes, if you ask 10 different SEO experts the same question, you’ll get 10 different answers.

However, one thing that all SEO experts will unquestionably agree on is the importance of well-written content to a website. Content is the backbone to organic SEO, and sites that have interesting, optimized content will surely have an edge over their competitors.

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