Optimizing Meta Titles and Descriptions

Guest Post: By Jeffrey Smith

Despite our best predictions with SEO, you can never pin-point with accuracy which keywords from a title tag, meta description or combined occurrence of a keyword on a page search engines will use to return a relevant query.

This is why it is imperative to promote as many relevant shingles as possible for returning a page as a relevant hit for a “specific” or “broad match” search queries through using succinct titles, naming conventions or meta descriptions.

We can create all of the multiple layers in advance, but each metric will be scrutinized for trust, depth and popularity and authority, and depending on how it fares from these algorithmic litmus tests determines what degree of visibility the page receives.

Typically one of two things occurs (1) it flies to the top 10 unchallenged, feels its way out and is assessed by metric such as click-throughs and relevance (sort of like a test to see if it belongs there) or (2) the ranking crawls its way up over time and in a few months finds its home in the top 10 if combined with other pages via internal linking or get a few deep links from other pages.

What I can tell you is that the signals gleaned from (a) the volume of content in your site about each of the topics / keywords in the title and (b) how well they are linked together or have an influx of deep links do affect the buoyancy of any related page.

Both phases (the initial spike) and the buoyant balloon effect should be predicted and anticipated.

Depending on the barrier to entry (how much competition is saturating the keywords in question) will determine just how much traction a new page gets out of the gate.

Much like a wave form, there is often a burst of SERP (search engine result page) positioning that occurs as the new page/content acts like a beacon to release the pressure of relevance that percolates under the surface.

It is like a concentrated topical fulcrum that serves to propel the newly released content into a favorable trajectory and then based on search volume, click-appeal and what other pages are challenging that page for relevant supremacy determine the extent of its exposure.

The more competitive the root or key phrase, the longer it typically takes to reach the top of a more competitive keyword combination.

Although a page can rank for multiple variations (depending on the authority of the root domain), it is better to assign a pecking order to the page to emphasize which keywords you would like it to be found for or settling into as the primary path for relevant traffic.

For example, if I create a new page and use a relevant title and meta description such as:

SEO Business Consulting Services

Business consulting services by “company x”, provides SEO [keyword 1], service [keyword 2], and summary [plural usage of alternative keywords combined]…

This page could rank for any portion of any of  the relevant keywords contained/presented in this crucial / summary.

This is your first line of coherence for each page, structure this well and you can ensure that search engines take heed and will often use this as the default snippet/description to promote click-throughs from interested parties.

The description tag should always support the title, ( a slight bit of redundancy/relevance) doesn’t hurt, but it should also contain your secondary keyword or a few alternatives as well to promote “cross pollination” of keywords which occurs naturally when a page gains age, support from other pages (via internal or external links).

A degree of transference is anticipated, so, the meta description allows you to steer that process into a conversion objective by sculpting the aggregate ranking factors and giving them stability as a heading for search engines to adhere.

Going back to the example above and filling in the blanks for the sake of continuity:

SEO Business Consulting Services

Business consulting services by “marketing solutions”, provides SEO, landing page optimization, internal link optimization and link building services for search engine optimization.

If you then had headings on the page for the topics mentioned:

SEO, Landing Page Optimization, Internal Link Optimization and Link Building Services then this page would be a self fulfilling prophecy and rank across any keyword combination over time.

For example, search engine queries such as:

Landing Page Consulting
Search Engine Optimization Consulting
Business Optimization Services
Landing Page Optimization
Internal Link Optimization
Business Consulting Services

Would all be “a relevant hit” as part of the root phrases/shingles implied by the title and meta descriptions.

If you add enough internal links from any of the keyword combinations above from other pages (that already have relevance for those keywords) and you will create a dynamo of keyword stemming that can pass along ranking factor to the new target page.

For example 10 links internally from the keyword “Search Engine Optimization Consulting” from a page that ranks already for some shingle in the keyword combined with 15 deep links (links from other sites) would provide enough transference to put this page on the map for that keyword.

If it appears in the top 100 from not in the top 1000, then you know you have crossed the tipping point for some of the most crucial metrics.

From there, you need to (1) reinforce it over time with additional internal or external links and (2) give it enough time to stem and settle into its purpose as a designated landing page and gain on page authority.

In other words, a page can rank from 1 or two words on the target page, if (a) there is enough internal links to support the transference of link weight and authority and (2) if the page is groomed as a relevant candidate from the continuity between the content, title and reputation that page has within the hierarchy of your website.

---

Jeffrey Smith is an active internet marketing optimization strategist, consultant and the founder of Seo Design Solutions Seo Company http://www.seodesignsolutions.com. He has actively been involved in internet marketing since 1995 and brings a wealth of collective experiences and fresh marketing strategies to individuals involved in online business.

Optimizing Meta Titles and Descriptions

Get More Click Throughs To Your Website: 7 Best Resource Box Lures

Guest Post: By Steve Shaw

You’ve just written an eloquent, intelligent, and enlightening article. Your title is great, your topic is timeless, and the quality is top notch.

But wait a second–you’re not done yet. You need to create a resource box that will get the reader from your article on over to your website.

Article marketing is not just about the article–having a compelling resource box is crucial to your success!

Remember, you shouldn’t be talking about your own website or business in the article body, but you can (and should!) talk about your business and website in the resource box. Along with your name, brief bio info, and your website URL, you need to give the reader a reason to hop from your article on over to your website.

When you give the reader a great reason to click the link in your resource box leading to your website, you will generate more traffic to your site, which is what you’re after, right?

Use one of these top 7 resource box lures, and you’ll maximize your click throughs:

1) A free e-book

Your free e-book should be on the topic of your website (as all your articles should be), so any reader who likes one of your articles would be interested in a book with additional info.

In your resource box, be sure to say that the e-book is free, as anything free is very attractive to readers! If the e-book is of a longer length (let’s say 50 pages or so), you might want to put that bit of info in your resource box as well, as it lets the reader know that it’s a significant amount of info (and that would be more of a lure).

Your e-book doesn’t have to be of epic length though–even a book that is only 10 pages long and jam packed with helpful information would be valuable to a reader.

2) A newsletter

If you have a newsletter, you already have a wonderful reason for readers to click through to your website from your resource box. Instead of saying “For more info, visit my website”, it would be more effective to say, “Sign up for a free newsletter offering weekly tips on this topic” and then give your website URL.

3) An e-course

An e-course is basically a series of emails that teaches the reader something. It’s different than a newsletter because usually e-courses are of limited duration and are very specific in what they teach.

They’re effective because people love to learn, especially for free!

In your resource box you could say, “Claim your free 10 part e-course on [some specific aspect of your niche]” and then give your website URL.

4) In depth content

Most articles are limited in length to about 1500 words or less, so it’s hard to get super in depth in your article content.

Since you’re an expert in the topic of your website, why not create a page on your website that offers a continuation of the information you condensed in your article?

5) A great product or service

This is an easy one–if you’ve got a unique, stellar, stand out type of service or product, you have a build in reason for folks to click through to your site. Be sure that you explain in your resource box what your product is and what the benefits are. This approach works best if what you’re selling really is unique and there aren’t a whole bunch of other folks with the same type of product or service.

6) A discount

People LOVE feeling like they’re saving money and getting a good deal (the only thing people love more is getting stuff for free!). If you have a product based site, you might want to come up with some sort of offer that will allow your readers to get a discount on a purchase.

7) A blog

To be an effective resource box lure, the blog must be well-tended, offering fresh and useful information on the topic of your website. It depends on your niche, but I think a blog offering mostly ‘how to’ posts is most attractive to readers. A blog not only gives readers a reason to click through to your website from your article, but it also gives them a reason to continue visiting your site–you’re offering a steady stream of useful content, which is quite an incentive!

Now you’ve got 7 ideas for resource box lures that will give readers a reason to hop from your article over to your website. For each resource box, you only need one “lure”, but you can switch things up and try different reasons to click through for different articles.

Experiment and see which lure works the best for you!

---

Steve Shaw – Want to drive even more traffic to your website with article marketing? You can save time and increase your exposure by using an article submission service like SubmitYOURArticle.com – distribute your articles to hundreds of targeted publishers in an instant. For more information go to=> http://www.SubmitYOURArticle.com

Get More Click Throughs To Your Website: 7 Best Resource Box Lures