optimizing your practice for online visibility

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An overview of search, SEO and social media for getting found - how to optimize and engage for online visibility. Presentation was delivered to SAC-CAMFT, an organization of marriage and family therapists.

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Optimize Your Practice for Online VisibilitySAC-CAMFT

Dana Lookadoo . @YoYoSEO . YoYoSEO.com

November 19, 2010

Introduction Online visibility means people can find you

online when they search. People use various forms of “search” to look for

marriage & family therapy help. You’ll learn basics about optimizing your website

and social profiles to be “visible” and be found. Poll:

Who has a website? Social profiles?

Google Profile? LinkedIn? Twitter? Facebook?

Outcomes Understand people go to “search” to find

information that meets their needs and questions.

Understand search as a business process that may redefine your marketing efforts (and possibly your “messaging”).

Engage online, when possible, given confidentiality and licensing requirements.

Know the basics of website optimization. Know how and where to set up social profiles

& list your business in directory listings.

Agenda Defining Search How To Get Found In

Search Social Media Overview Defining Online Visibility Social Profiles Marketing Channels Exercises

Website Content Worksheet Online Visibility Worksheet Review: Social Profile

Information

Defining Search

What is Search?

Local Results & Google Places

Google, Bing & Yahoo! Search Results

What is Search? Search Engines

Google Yahoo! Bing

Links Other Websites Directory Listings Social Profiles

Word-of-Mouth Marketing In-person, Email, Phone Referrals Reviews, LinkedIn Recommendations,

Facebook “Likes”

What is Search? Search Engines

Google Yahoo! Bing

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Directories

Search is anywhere there are search bars

where people can look for information.

Search Bars Facebook Search

http://www.facebook.com/srch.php/

Search Bars Search Social Conversations

http://search.twitter.com/

http://socialmention.com/

http://topysy.com/

Search Bars LinkedIn Search http://www.linkedin.com/

Why show up in search on LinkedIn? LinkedIn Profiles

& Eventsalso show up in Search Resultssuch as Google.

Facebook Search – Marriage Family Therapy

Twitter Search – Marriage Family Therapy

Twitter Search – Marriage Family Counseling

Twitter Search – Marriage Family Therapist

LinkedIn Search – Marriage Family Therapist

Citysearch – Marriage Family Therapist

Best of the Web – Marriage Family Therapist

Yahoo! Search – Marriage Family Therapist

Reviews Rank

Bing Search – Marriage Family Therapist

Local results above organic, 1st below paid

Search Results

Pages of “results” displayed by search engines, when a person searches, are called…

SERPS:Search Engine Results Pages

Search Results Snippets

Each listing in the search results is called a…

3 non-paid (organic) snippets:

Snippet

SERPs – Universal Results

SERPs, especially in Google, are a mixture of snippets from website pages that rank in addition to Local, News, Video, Images, and more. “Mixed SERPs” are known as:

Universal Resultsor

Blended Results

Google SERPSs – Marriage Family Therapist

PaidOrganicNewsPlaces

ISP Location

Google Suggest – Marriage…

# of results for “marriage”

Google “suggests” phrases based off how people search.

Google Suggest– Marriage F…

# of results for “marriage f*”

Google Suggest – Marriage Family C…

How To Get Found In Search

SEO, Search Snippets & Website Optimization

Defining Keywords to Get Found

Type & Number of Results

Local Directories

Keyword Research

How to Get Found – Organic & Social Search Put target keyword phrases into your content,

conversations, and digital assets: Website (body copy, page titles, file names, meta

tags) Social Profiles Directory Listings Images (file names, ALT tags, captions) Video (titles, description, file names, etc.)

Get reviews in search and directory listings Social signals can rank above well-optimized

websites. Use keyword phrased in textual links within your

website & incoming links to site.

SEO Defined SEO is an acronym for Search Engine

Optimization. The “art and science” of SEO involves:

Understanding your target audience (searcher persona); Researching terms your audience “speak” - keywords they

search for and use in conversation; Researching your market and your competition; Knowing the search results space - number and type

(organic, local, news, video); Planning website structure, design, code, and copy that’s

“attractive” to people and “accessible” to search spiders; Creating content that captures attention, meets audience

needs - content people want to talk about, share and link to;

Optimizing titles, tags, text and links.

On-Page SEO Optimizing content

both on & off your website: Digital Assets:

Body content (text) & assets (images, videos, PDFs)

Internal Links: Navigation, text linked to other site pages in your site (anchor text)

Titles, Tags, URLs: (HTML code, meta tags, page names)

Structure & Accessibility:Spiders & Speech Readers

External Links (not shown):Links from other websites

Title: Primary Keyword Phrase – Key Message for Page

LOGO (916) 555-1212 . About . Contact tagline: Marriage & Family Therapy serving Sacramento Area

Sidebar

Call to Action

Download Tips for a Healthy Marriage PDF (## K)

Subscribe to Newsletter

Link to Map

Footer: Links to key pagesCity & maybe County location, (916) 555-1212

NAV Menu Licensed Therapist . Marriage & Family Resources . Location

<h1>Headline – Primary Message

Provide key message to primarytarget audience above the fold in text. Summarize using yourprimary keywords - what you want them to understand about your practice. Link to a page aboutmarriage and family therapy in Sacramento, California.

Write including at least one more instance of keyword modifiers or related words. Answer primary audience questions and needs.

This copy is critical and will be used by various properties & search engines, often as your practice description.

Image w keyword-rich –file-name.jpg

ALT tag

Caption

http://domain-name.com/marriage-therapy.html

How HTML Elements & Keywords Show in Snippets Results for “licensed marriage family therapist

sacramento”

Title of each page is MOST IMPORTANT to have keywords. Meta Description convinces searcher this is THE result they

want to “click through” because page is relevant to their search. URL: Page name or hierarchy displays. Keywords increase CTR

(click through rate).

Title TagMeta

DescriptionURL:

Domain Name +

Page Name

Website Optimization: On-Page SEOTitle Tag:

Tells search engines page is about

“Home.”

<h1> Headline

Website Optimization: On-Page SEOTitle Tag:

Tells search engines page is about

“Serviced Provided.”

URL

<h1> Headline

Body copy:1st

paragraph is most

important to have targeted

keywords.

Bold & italicize

words send signals .

3 paragraphs start out with “I” – doesn’t tell

visitor what they’ll get. “I” is not their search

term.

HTML Code Shows in Search Snippet

<html> <head>

<title>Home</title> <meta name="description" content="Introduction to Kari Lloyd-Fisher, MFT ">

<meta name="keywords" content=" Sacramento, Kari Fisher, Carrie Fisher, Carrie Lloyd-Fisher, Loyd-Fisher, Kari Lloyd-Fisher, Counseling, Therapy, MFT, Marriage and Family Therapist, Therapist, couples, individuals, family, families, adults, teens, children, kids, adolescents. ">

HOME PAGE: http://www.fishertherapy.com/index.html

<html> <head>

<title>Services Provided</title> <meta name="description" content="marriage and family therapy for couples,individuals, families, children and teens, adolescents">

<meta name="keywords" content="therapy, counseling, couples, individuals, families, family, children, kids, teens, adolescents, treatment">

SERVICES PAGE: http://www.fishertherapy.com/services.html

keywords tag

not used for

ranking –

don’t stuff

Microformats –hCard (Advanced On-Page SEO) hCard is a type of HTML markup that sends “signals” about people,

companies, and locations. Tells search engines which blocks of code represent your contact information.

Where to use? Use hCard to “mark up” your “About” and “Contact” pages.

Resources: http://microformats.org/wiki/hcard http://microformats.org/code/hcard/creator

Example: http://transitionsmft.org/contact.php <p class="vcard"><span class="fn">Sean Slevin</span> can be reached

directly at: <span class="ns_me no_print"><br/><a class="org url" href="http://transitionsmft.org">Transitions Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling</a><br/><span class="adr"><span class="street-address">250 East Market Street, Suite D</span><br/><span class="locality">Harrisonburg</span>, <span class="region">Virginia</span> <span class="postal-code">22801</span> </span><br/></span><b class="tel">(540) 908-2792</b>.<br/>Download <a href="http://transitionsmft.org/vcard-sean-slevin.vcf" title="This is a vCard file that can be imported into your address book application.">Sean's contact information</a>

gray = HTML codered = microformatorange = body text

Defining Keywords to Get Found Know the number of search results and who

ranks for target phrase. THEY are your competition! Are there a few thousand or a few million results?

What modifiers can you add to your target search terms to narrow competition and results? “marriage family therapist folsom ca” “christian marriage family therapist” “marriage counselor yolo county”

Know types of content SERPs show for your terms, i.e. News results? Local listings? Video? Images?

“Marriage Family Therapist Folsom CA”

Placesis

nowabov

eOrganic

Reviews

“Marriage Family Therapist” w/o City Modifier

PaidOrganicNewsPlaces

Google Places: Place Page Ranks w/o Website

Website Down!!

Google Place page

ranks #1because of 11 reviews.

Local Directories Google Places – puts your business in Google Maps

http://www.google.com/local/add/businessCenter Help Guide: http://www.google.com/support/places/?hl=en&rd=1

Yahoo! Local http://local.yahoo.com

Bing Local http://ssl.bing.com/listings/ListingCenter.aspx

Best of the Web (Directory) http://local.botw.org

Citysearch (Directory) http://citysearch.com

GetListed.org (Service to list across directories) http://getlisted.org

Therapist Locator (Niche Directory) www.therapistlocator.net

GetListed.org – How Is Your Business Listed?

Research Keywords People Search & Say Google Suggest results

Phrases that appear as you search in www.google.com

Google AdWords Keyword Tool https://adwords.google.com/

WordTracker Free Keyword Tool https://freekeywords.wordtracker.com/

WordStream Free Keyword Tool http://www.wordstream.com/keywords/

Listen to clients, making notes of words they use!

Google AdWords Keyword Tool

WordStream Keyword Tool

Website Content Worksheet – Exercise

Tips & best practices for applying keywords, writing copy and optimizing key aspects of your website pages. Use one

worksheet for every page of website.

Social Media Overview

Social Media Properties

Engagement Opportunities

Search & Social Web

Search & Social Footprint

Online Visibility Venn Diagram

Social Media Properties Social Media is engaging

on sites that enable discussions, sharing & voting.

• Sharing (Facebook, Twitter)

• Networking (LinkedIn)• Bookmarking (Delicious)• Video (YouTube, Vimeo)• Images (Flickr)• Reviews (Yelp)• Forums (Yahoo!

Answers)• Music (BLIP.fm)• Blogging (WordPress,

Blogger)• News (StumbleUpon,

Digg)

Social Media Engagement Opportunities Blogging (Blogger,

WordPress) Personal Journal,

Interests, Hobbies Marketing & Promotion Thought Leadership

Forums & Discussion Boards

Birds-of-a-Feather Sharing Meet others with same

interests Answer questions,

demonstrate expertise Branding

MicroBlogging Connect with other

therapists Connect with local

businesses Offer promotions Share relationship tips Become a thought leader Share local news,

becoming part of community

Provide feedback Establish your brand Visibility Friendships

The Search & Social Web Social media

“signals” are growing in importance to search engines.

Most social media profiles rank well in search engines.

Social profiles can lead visitors back to your site.

Social “presence” helps you be found!

Image credit: Garret Pierson

Search & Social Footprint Search: Your website’s search footprint

increases by developing quality content and getting incoming links to your pages.

Social Media: Your social footprint increases your exposure in the SERPs and other forms of search. Friends on Twitter Fans on Facebook Connections in LinkedIn Reviews in directory listings

Search & Social Footprint People exposed to you, your practice and your

website content will, if they like it, share it on Twitter, write a review on LinkedIn, bookmark it on Delicious, vote on it (thumbs up) in StumbleUpon.

The key to building visibility through your search and social footprint is to offer something of value:

QUALITY CONTENT Combining “search & social” means more results

about you are indexed in search. You get more incoming links, more traffic, and more social media conversations & votes - resulting in higher visibility.

Online Visibility

Social Profiles

Optimizing Your Profiles

Google Profile

Securing Profiles

Getting Started Checklist & Worksheet

Optimizing Your Profiles How do you want to be

found? Your profile name will show up in search results.

Aim for a consistent user name across networks. Decide alternate user name if primary is not available.

Use a photo as your avatar, a cropped headshot is best. A graphic can work for business.

Create large & small versions, 300x300 & 80x80 pixels. Most sites will scaled down larger file, but some require smaller image. Avatar must be square!

Personal User Name

PersonalAvatar Photo

lookadoobut I also use…danalookadoopixelbella

BusinessUser Name

BusinessAvatar

Graphic

YoYoSEO

Optimizing Your Profiles – Twitter Your bio & website

URL help friends and followers know something about you. Bio text influences how you get listed in search engines. Create a bio, approx.

160 characters in length. Use keyword-rich descriptions to summarize your strengths, career, interests.

Link to your site, blog or your LinkedIn profile.

Personal Bio

Business Bio

Google Profile http://www.google.com/profiles/lookadoo#

Google Profile Your Google profile allows you to be found on Google while

increasing visibility for your name & your practice. www.google.com/profiles

Details you can add to your profile: A short bio Links to your practice website, LinkedIn profile, Twitter profile Places you've lived Where you've worked Where you grew up Schools you've attended Photos from Flickr & Picasa

TIPS: The more information you add, the easier it will be for people to

find you. (And the more Google will know about you…) Set your full name to show publicly.

Edit Google Profile

Secure Social Profiles - options Go to each social

media website to see if your user name is available.

Only secure a few sites and leave others up to chance.

Use KnowEm to check availability of your user name or vanity URL on 400 Social Media websites. Secure all for profiles for$99 or $249.http://knowem.com

Getting Started Checklist First Name & Last Name – Most sites require both. User Name – 6-15 characters. Consider alternate User Name? Avatar – Square headshot photo or logo preferred over picture of

pet. Bio – Use words (keywords) for how you want to be found and show

up in search results. Put most important phrases at front of bio.

Website URL – Link to site/blog. Format: http://websitename.com Website Name – Some sites will ask for name - linked anchor text. Password – 6-10 characters, secure, memorable with at least 2 #s. Birthday, Gender – Many ask for info. Are companies male/female? Address – Some ask for mailing address. Do not display publicly. Twitter Backgrounds - http://www.tweetbacks.com/ &

http://twitterbackgroundsgallery.com/ Vanity URL – Customize your profile URL on LinkedIn & Facebook.

Online Visibility Worksheet – Exercise

Social Profile Information Create and

optimize bio. Keyword-

rich <= 160

char

Online Visibility Worksheet – ChecklistSocial Profiles & Directories Checklist Review select

social networks, email services & directories.

Determine priority for your practice.

Google profile is essential to claim business listing in Google Places.

Marketing Channels

Overview of Marketing Channels for Online Visibility

Integrated Marketing

Marketing Channels for Getting Found Website development and optimization (on-

site SEO) Sharing and building links to your website

and/or online profiles (off-site SEO) Local SEO (NEW: Google Places) Pay-Per-Click Advertising Social Media Engagement Video Marketing Niche Directory Listings Ask for Reviews (when appropriate)

Integrated Marketing Business Cards, Post Card Mailers, Phone Book

Ads Include your online profiles on all materials:

Website address, your domain URL Twitter profile LinkedIn personal or company page Facebook URL

Summary Search is more than Google. Know your audience and your target search

terms. Optimize your website code and content. Claim your business listing in Google Places. List your practice in local and niche directories. Social media signals are growing stronger. Increase your search & social footprint.

(Presence builds presence!) Optimize your website content. Optimize your social profiles. Get listed in directories. Engage in online conversations.

It’s Word-of-Mouth SEO!

Formula for Being Found in Search

SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

Links, Listings & Reviews

+ Social MediaOnline Visibility

Dana Lookadoo Dana Lookadoo, SEO Consultant

Yo! Yo! SEOWord-of-Mouth SEO . Optimize your online conversationdana@yoyoseo.com . 831.901.5225http://yoyoseo.com . http://twitter.com/YoYoSEO

Personal Profiles & Blog http://twitter.com/lookadoo

http://www.linkedin.com/in/lookadoo

http://www.danalookadoo.com

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