how social media builds inbound links and higher search rankings
DESCRIPTION
This presentation discusses the benefits of using social media, including building inbound links and producing higher search engine rankings.TRANSCRIPT
How Social Media Builds Inbound Links and Higher Search Rankings
Presented by:Arnie Kuenn, PresidentVertical Measures
My Background Internet marketer for about 12 years Formed Vertical Measures about 4 years ago Primarily an internet marketing company, however
everything is geared around link building & SEO We have 75+ clients About 25% of our business is outsourcing from
SEO & Web Development Agencies
Search Marketing Is Critical
When someone types a keyword into the search box, there are only two possible outcomes:They will find you.They will find your competitor.
Two Search Marketing “Truths”
Organic search traffic can be so valuable, it can sustain an entire business.
Organic search rankings are something you can work to influence, but ultimately you do not control them. The search engine algorithms make that call.
What is SEO in 2009?
Search Engines are getting better & better every year at eliminating spam techniques.
They update the algorithms almost every week.
Google: Made 160 changes in Q1 of 2009 Quality backlinks became much more important
this year, weak backlinks became almost worthless
Social Media “signals” are now a real factor
Why Invest In Higher Rankings?- 60% of listings in
the #1 position will get a click!
- Natural search results receive 250% more clicks than paid search
- Natural search converts 30% better than paid search
- Clicks are Free!!!
How Does it Work?
Magic 3 step formula:1. Create Good, Unique Content
2. Optimization each page you want to rank
3. Get Quality Inbound Links
Bot or Spider
Search Engine Results Page (SERP)
Indented Listing
Local Listing
The Biggest Factor is Inbound Links
The best links:From trusted sitesHave proper anchor textHave varied anchor textAre from many different domains
I am not too worried about:ReciprocalPageRank
Use Social Media to Get Links (and Rankings)
Blogs! (create content you can promote, RSS feed, links to others)
Facebook (your profile & fan page)
Twitter (your profile, tweets & retweets)
Linked In (your profile & business page)
Flickr (links from photo descriptions)
Other Social Profiles: MySpace,Naymz, FastPitch, Google, Spoke, Plaxo, etc.
Other Social Media Sites: StumbleUpon, Redditt, Digg, Propeller, etc.
Facebook Page
• Not a lot of direct link benefit, but great from a “signals” standpoint.
• Build fans and communicate with them. The links will come.
Twitter Profile
• Direct link (no follow). Great from a “signals” standpoint.
• Build followers and communicate with them. The links will come.
LinkedIn Profile
• Direct text links (Do follow!). Change the text.
• Build connections and update your profile. The links will come.
Flickr Pages
• Direct links (no follow). Great from a “signals” standpoint.
• Others might grab your photos and…. the links will come.
Others key sites… StumbleUpon Digg Redditt Propeller Yahoo Buzz Delicious Niche sites (ex. Sphinn) Signals & Secondary Links!!
Why Social Media?
12% of our visitors come from social sites (~500 per month and growing)
More than double what we get from PPC
Helps with organic rankings & branding
Keeps the search engines coming back
Why a Corporate Blog?
The original social media
24% of our page views come from our blog posts (~2,000 per month)
We make 2 new posts per week
Gives us a vehicle to post new link worthy content
Keeps the search engines coming back
It Starts With Good Content! Build pages around your keywords Add real value to the web visitor
Unique InformativeEntertaining
Good for Social Media? Is it “Link Worthy”?Can you promote it?
Create Content & Promote It Some ideas:
Lists Videos Case Studies Comparisons Satire & Parody Interviews Polls & Surveys Contests (detailed example, next) Promote it using social media!!!
Small Companies Can Run Contests! Bridal Contest Answer 3 questions:
Your engagement story Your wedding day theme plan What is special about your wedding
that you shall win this free sponsorship?
Facebook Ad Increased followers on Twitter
through regular tweets
Big Companies Too! Major hotel chain has us working 6
different promotions Attend a Motor Sports event, get a
discount Visit Disney, get a discount Attend LPGA event, get a discount Go to a Little League Baseball game, get
a discount Multi-night stay, get Double Rewards Multi-night stay, get $50 Gift Card
Even Link Building Companies!
Vertical Measures’ contest Boost Your Juice
$5,000 Grand Prize and $1,000 for 2nd Place Submit video or essay 2 week duration Recruited a panel of judges (who helped
promote it) Offered “socialize prizes” (Rebecca Lieb)
Our Contest Results Over 700 references on Google for “boost
your juice” AND “vertical measures” Own all 10 results on the 1st page of
Google for “boost your juice” (branding) Over 600 visitors to just the contest page Contest page became a PR3 in 30 days Links from more than 30 different sites Dozens of new leads for link building
services
Thank You!
My Contact Info:
Arnie Kuenn
twitter.com/arniek
www.linkedin.com/in/arniekuenn
www.facebook.com/verticalmeasures
www.VerticalMeasures.com