Keyword Overload

My friend Debbie from the blog, New England Lighthouse Blog, asked me some interesting questions about keywords and keyword optimization. Here’s a quote from her:

On the first page of Google results, 8 links were to companies selling a product or service and only 2 links referred to traditional Lighthouses! I have no problem with any business being online or at the top of search results but, at this time our search is focused on traditional Lighthouses not products!

Finally, after changing keywords three times, the search results are better using the keyword phrase “traditional Lighthouses” with 7 non-profit links versus 3 product links! How many of us really have the time to try numerous keyword combinations?

Basically, the word “lighthouse” happens to be one of those words found in everything from lawn services to optical companies and beyond. Real lighthouses have been beaten out of their own keywords and phrases! How can she improve and what are some alternatives for her?
Read the rest

Submitting Your Blog To Directories

In Debbie’s case (and your case too!), she should submit her blog to as many directories as possible. Most bloggers don’t do this. Her blog is really a photography blog of sorts, all of lighthouses. I cannot give her exact ideas but I can point her in the right direction.

A great resource list for directories is Add URL.nu. When submitting to directories keep in mind that choosing the best category for your site is important. Some let you enter a description also. This description should be carefully worded!

Read- Text Surrounding Link: Final Proof -This shows you how the text surrounding a link on a directory can be used in a powerful way!

Co-Citation

Co-citation analysis is a unique method
for studying the cognitive structure of science.
Combined with single-link clustering
and multidimensional scaling techniques,
co-citation analysis can literally map the
structure of specialized research areas as
well as science as a whole.

What? We are really talking about Bibliographic Co-Citation in this case.

It’s a way for search engines to determine similarities and differences in sites, posts and blogs etc. You want exactly what you are selling or writing about to be associated with the correct categories and similar content.

If 30 companies selling clothes and have “lighthouse” in their name, it can cause your real “lighthouses” to be associated with clothes, thus being no good for you!

You want your site indexed and associated with more exactness. Debbie’s site needs to be associated with photography, lighthouses, oceanside cities and the sea in general. There are lots of ways for her to play around with it. Like many of us, she would like a simple solution.

In her case, the solution may take some work to get honed, but I think she can find it.

The way you find the co-citation for your site is by looking your site up on google. At the bottom of the description you will see the familiar, “similar pages”. That’s your co-citation. Look and see what your blog or individual posts are actually associated with.

Go read-Citation – understanding how it effects your SEO. by Jim Boykin. It’s fascinating!

If you’re willing to spend a little money, list your site on the Yahoo directories.

My very smart friend Dawn from AntiBarbie Dot Net pointed out to me that you can list your site with their free standard submission! The Url for that is: submit.search.yahoo.com

Read Court Tuttle’s-Write Using Keywords-He has many great articles on keywords as well as everything else.

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