Sat 26 Jul 2008

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1. Hi Shaun

   I am a fellow SEO’er from New Zealand, spreading the gospel of SEO much like you. Some public SEO training seminars, teaching other web developers how to SEO their own clients websites properly, SEO’ing web developers CMS’s while SEO’ing their clients websites, creating websites in our own JoJoCMS… the whole 9 yards.

   It has been interesting reading your brain dump series about how to SEO. You seem very laid back in your approach. I try and find “rules” like exactly how many characters go in a title before Google adds ” …” = 70, and how many characters before Google does the same for the meta description = 155. Now our blog metas need to be that much shorter if we want to not have the ” ….” given how Google is now adding the date.

   Your definition of title = “Probably 8-12 words, but ideally under 65 characters” - ie not exact, and definitely a laid back approach.

   But then I definitely have your same laid back approach once I acknowledge the “rules”. On many occasions for my own blog, I don’t bother with a meta description and just let Google pick from the text or let my cms autocreator do the job.

   In general I find that when I don’t follow the rules, that there is generally something that comes back to bite me. Take for instance the www/non www rule. As part of that htaccess, I also have the stipulation that its only one domain. So many clients have multiple domains coming into a website. So just by following that “rule” I kill a number of birds with one stone.

   I often find that the people I teach initially go overboard and forget the human element. I love the emphasis you place on the human element. So important.

   I certainly get alot of business through my website, and have some fun experimenting with SEO using it.

   My latest experiment is interesting - I have SEO/Search Engine Optimisation words in my title, and I want to start ranking for totally different words - “Internet Marketing”. On Google.co.nz its a competitive enough phrase that I can’t just be top 10 when I create a blog post about it. Nor can I get top 10 with my home page after giving it a number of “Internet Marketing” links. So I am seeing how long it takes to get a specific page well ranked for the phrase.

   I am ranked when I select NZ Sites only on Google.co.nz… but thats not good enough.

   Its an interesting question. For a competitive phrase, when you are ranking top for your main phrases, when should you have another page?

   So what am I saying? It would be good to see some blog posts about some advanced things you are learning, relating to clients sites.

   Advanced linking strategy for ultra competitive search phrases. How you have overdone links, or properly done links for a client. Its all very well for us when we are have the ability to get links from clients sites… but for clients themselves what is the method to safely get links. I am tending towards the following:

   http://www.searchmasters.co.nz/articles/153/three-way-linking-strategies/.

   Keep up the good work. I always enjoy reading the latest rss feed from you.

   Regards
   Michael

   Shout Out by Michael Brandon-SearchMasters — July 25, 2008 @ 11:42 pm

2. Hey Thanks for the considered response Michael.

   First - the whole idea of the tutorial was to lay it down all a novice needed to know to get results. I’m moving onto website navigation this week. After that I may talk about my linkbuilding theories and activities. I bet for a lot of readers on this blog it was basic advice but if someone followed it they would get decent results - probably.

   More advanced seo? Didn’t you here there is no such thing? Most companies don’t need advanced seo because the competition isn’t using it. Those sites above us probably rank on one thing - link power and the buying and selling of it. In ultra competitive markets it’s the same thing and black hat too.

   For me it’s finding a niche to dominate and get the most of that. I think my seo is more and more focused on the intent of a searcher. I don’t mind writing articles to target that.

   I used to obsess about granular onsite seo (what I would call modifying titles and alt tags). Now I just don’t see the need. I never found anything noteworthy and I obsesed a long time about it. People can believe me or not - I’m always hoping to discuss how I see seo. I’m happy to test and refine, and learn from the last job I did, and learn from others.

   Why waste time wondering if a title tag is performing better with one less character when you can spend that time getting a link or tinkering with your site structure for a much greater roi?

   For me a page and site needs to be well crafted, minimal seo and keyword targetted content - it should scream I am not spam. After that it’s about content and making use of the domain’s authority and trust by publishing very focused articles to drive traffic to the site.

   I want a natural site and natural looking internal link profile. Let it age and fire a couple of decent links at it and it seems to get results.

   I guess it’s getting your house in order as simple as possible and fast as possible so you can start getting links as soon as possible.

   Thanks again Michael! Let me know if you are looking for a job swap week - Scotland is beautiful this time of year

   Shout Out by Shaun — July 26, 2008 @ 12:34 am

3. I’m and avid reader Shaun, I do enjoy the style and content that Michael alludes to. Your style of writing is easy to read and understand and usually backed up with evidence and personal experience.

   The current series of seo tips I’ve found very useful, not only confirming what I believe to be the case but also making me rationalize and so think more about the why and wherefore. Some I’ve yet to get to grips with e.g. Don’t optimise your Alt tags for Google! but I think I know what you’re saying.
   Suffice to say when I visit and there aren’t any new posts …

   As for what you should be writing about - all those in the list and keep doing what you are doing. One thought is what to do when it all goes wrong. A sudden drop in serps and where to start looking seems to confuse and confound the hell out of most designers including me!

   Enough flattery, keep up the good work Shaun, if my blog ever gets “link love” I’ll send some to you.

   Shout Out by iMaker Bristol — July 26, 2008 @ 10:13 am

4. Writing from Washington, DC. Really enjoy reading the blog, lots of useful ideas. I don’t do SEO for a living, just have a hobby website that I’d love to turn into more than a hobby. Hopefully the ideas taken from your blog can help. Keep up the good work.

   Shout Out by Jeremy — July 26, 2008 @ 5:58 pm

5. Hey,

   My name is Anthony Woods and im from Greenock, Scotland and I am a 20 year old web developer graduate from James Watt College (currently attending Caledonian University this year to study my bachlors of science degree in Internet Software Development).

   Sorry my comment isn’t as large as the above but I just want to let you’s guys know im a good follower of the blog, I’ve learned alot from it and continue to do so with the quality of blogs you post and im looking forward to anything you will be posting in the future.

   Keep up the good work,

   Anthony

   Shout Out by Anthony Woods — July 26, 2008 @ 7:24 pm

6. Well, I’ll put my hand up to being a rank amatuer to SEO, who came to HOBO via your 7 Joomla SEO Tips, The Idiots Guide; also enjoyed your article on sh404sef.

   I jumped in at the deep end with a Joomla website, and the whole experience has been a series of eureka moments - my latest being the discovery that Google sees page titles with capitals and without capitals as separate pages, which has made for all kinds of duplicate content mess on my site…I assume everyone knew this except me!

   Anyway, in answer to your original question, really enjoying the Blog and Site, and any Joomla advice is more than welcome.

   So many thanks - and I’ll go back to lurking and learning again now….

   Regards from NZ (we’re a chatty lot),
   Bronwyn

   Shout Out by Bronwyn — July 26, 2008 @ 9:51 pm

7. I’m a know-it-all web dev with a heart for usability, and I was pretty convinced that SEO and SEOs were all magic smoke and fraud. I can’t remember how I stumbled on Hobo, but it’s really made me realize that there exists a sliver of SEO where the people are intelligent and balance logical SEO optimizations against steadily improving content for people. I can’t emphasize enough how refreshing it is to be able to read useful, logical tips about SEO that aren’t 99% “Google updated and they lowered my PageRank and Google is wrong…”

   Your month of tips was amazing, but I’m curious as to where it goes from there. Once we implement the best, most logical tips, would not our best payoff come from improving site content? Does your SEO blog then shift heavily towards writing for web users and general usability improvements (while still monitoring changes implemented by Google)?

   Shout Out by Dave — July 28, 2008 @ 3:49 pm

8. @ iMaker - Thanks very much. Good idea - ‘what happens when SEO goes wrong’….. although I have only been involved in one site where it seems to have gone a bit tong with the main keyword.

   I’m only a consultant in the project and not involved with linkbuilding, but I might have a post about the project if I can determine what the issue is.

   Keep an eye out for it next month

   Shout Out by Shaun — July 28, 2008 @ 6:24 pm

9. @ Jeremy - Cheers!

   Shout Out by Shaun — July 28, 2008 @ 6:25 pm

10. @ Anthony - another guy in Greenock into SEO? Perhaps we should meet

    Why don’t you drop into the office one day?

    Shout Out by Shaun — July 28, 2008 @ 6:26 pm

11. @Bronwyn

    I’ve always wanted to do a proper Idiots Guide To Joomla. Perhaps I’ll get this cranked out at some point although if I do a Wordpress one I will probably get more IBLs (Incoming Back Links).

    I now have a team who handle Joomla development, so I’ll need to talk with them and brush up on my Joomla knowledge. Perhaps Alan can write it lol.

    Thanks for the comment

    Shout Out by Shaun — July 28, 2008 @ 6:29 pm

12. @ Dave that’s exactly what I have been hoping to achieve with my postings so thanks very much.

    There’s always something to write about (but I try and refrain from going down the he-said-this-blog-and-do-nothing-but-link-to-a-well-known-blogger) but I do have a hankering to turn the blog into a link-building blog, even for one month.

    I have plenty of Google ‘thought experiments’ I aim to share too, for a laugh, and to see if others can help me surmise things. Testing Google can take a long time.

    Shout Out by Shaun — July 28, 2008 @ 6:35 pm

13. I have 6 years experiences in SEO / SEM and my general focus is on onsite optimization as well as offsite optimization. Worked with numerous internet marketing companies, i have decided to break away from them 2 years ago and set up my own team of SEO. Located in Singapore, we have been serving offshore companies too. It has been a pleasure reading your blog and sharing my experiences. There may be a lot more that has been evolving in the SEO industry which you or the readers may know and i believe i will learn / share along the way. Cheerz

    Shout Out by Singapore SEO — July 29, 2008 @ 9:50 am

14. Hello Shaun,

    I came across your site in the last few weeks during your tips season. I don’t often subscribe to feeds or newsletters as it is easy to get defocused and clog the email box up, however your regular posts seem to hit the spot.

    I like your relaxed approach, which is what SEO calls for. It is not about quick fixes and taking short cuts but testing, tweaking and above all delivering content that your readers will find interesting.

    My company is south of the border, we’re a start up and come from an agency background. We concentrate on the digital marketing side of things and SEO is a big pull for us, we try to simplify things with our clients because there is an image of dark arts and magic associated with all things SEO.

    I also liked your post about what you guys do on Fridays… I forwarded this to my boss. The culture of a company can be under estimated, however I know for certain we win deals because of how we and our team are as a group, I guess this is the same for you.

    Best wishes,

    Mike

    Shout Out by Mike@Digital Marketing Agency — July 29, 2008 @ 5:35 pm

15. @ Singapore SEO - Hope you hang around and thanks

    @ Mike cheers - and good luck

    Yes, it’s not all about smoke and mirrors at Hobo, and Fridays is the best day of the week. Helps us unwind a bit after working like Trojans all week

    Shout Out by Shaun — July 30, 2008 @ 11:29 am

16. I just spent a few hours on your blog. You definitely became one of my favorite SEO bloggers. Keep it up!

    Shout Out by James Harrison — August 27, 2008 @ 10:57 pm

17. Hi Shaun,

    I’m sure you hear this all the time but I have to say this is the best SEO blog I have ever seen. I have started my small design company recently and your site/blog helped and helps me a lot. I’m based in Harrogate so I cover the north yorkshire area but if someone needs a web/print design company in Scotland no doubt that I recommend Hobo. I don’t say “keep up the good work” because I know you will:):):)

    Best Regards

    Attila - Green Forest Design

    Shout Out by Attila -Green Forest Design — August 29, 2008 @ 8:45 am

18. Hello Shaun,
    I first came across your site while looking for an SEO company to help build an efficient SEO campaign for my employer. I was really happy that you guys as good as knocked them back, even though they had considerably deep pockets.

    Anyway I’m an avid reader of your blog and love the work ethics of Hobo. I would really love to read your thoughts on affiliate linking and making a blog profitable.

    Oh and if your interested in taking on an apprentice, I’m based in Cardonald (Renfrewshire) and would love to learn from the masters.

    Thanks

    Richard

    Shout Out by Richard — September 8, 2008 @ 8:42 pm

19. Hey, I’ve been following your blog for a while now (through rss). Today, I visited your site for the first time since I’ve installed my SEO/nofollow plugin into my firefox browser. I noticed your blog link on your homepage is nofollowed. How come? Did you cover this in one of your post before? The closest related post I could find was your post on nofollowing (most sitewide) links to your homepage. Does it have something to do with that?

    Anyway, love your blog & nice site.

    Shout Out by James — September 10, 2008 @ 4:30 pm

20. Howdy James

    Hey, have you been snooping about my site

    Yes, in a Pagerank sculpting test I nofollowed my blog link, so I was pushing all my PR from my home page to the important pages on my site and THEN on to my blog. It worked from a PR sculpt point of view. I.m not afraid to experiment on the site.

    Its in line with my post on Google heat theory bunkum
    Works for me.

    Shout Out by Shaun — September 10, 2008 @ 7:14 pm

21. hello shaun,

    when i searched for ‘free link building’ in google search, your’s was the first site to be displayed. I landed here and now i find your site to be really good and i am following your blog now, cause its the best.

    good luck , hope you get a PR of 10 one day…

    Shout Out by Shashikant Yadav — October 1, 2008 @ 3:22 am

22. Hi Shaun great blog.

    Nice to hear where the opposition are at.

    Shall be retiring soon.Had enough of this SEO malarky and 30 years staring at a keyboard.

    Shout Out by Sir Earl — October 13, 2008 @ 8:42 pm

23. Hi Hobo-Web

    SEO is without doubt a valuable advertising/marketing tool. I have seen significant money being transfered from traditional advertising/marketing budgets and being redistributed to online promotion.

    However many advertisers still don’t seem to realise that SEO is just another part of the overall advertising/marketing mix.

    Traditional advertising budgets should not be ignored but should work in conjunction with an advitisers SEO campaign.

    Fully integrtaed advertising/marketing campaigns are more effective when all mediums are working towards one aim

    Shout Out by wigwam advertising — October 16, 2008 @ 2:33 pm

24. @ Sir Earl - Cheers - I thought UK Biz Forums would have killed you yonks ago.

    @ Wigwam - Totally agree. SEO is not a magic bullet to business success. It’s just part of the marketing mix.

    @ Shashikant - If I got a PR 10 one day I’m sure I would be removed from Google the next

    Shout Out by Shaun — October 19, 2008 @ 10:59 pm

25. Hi,

    I have to admit I read a lot of seo blogs around the net. I find I keep coming back to this one though. It’s by far the most original and informative. So many people recycle the same old stuff. I’ll be a regular visitor now, I don’t need to go anywhere else. thanks for a providing a great source if infomation.

    Keep it coming.

    Shout Out by Steve — October 25, 2008 @ 5:42 pm

26. Yo Shaun,

    Any idea on why Google sometimes uses DMOZ descriptions in its results rather than the description that’s in the meta tag?

    Hi, I’m Jamessy by the way!

    Shout Out by Jamessyboy — November 6, 2008 @ 11:50 am

27. This blog Is very informative. It helped me with ocean of knowledge. Good job web master .

    Shout Out by JeffPaul — November 11, 2008 @ 6:58 am

28. Hi Shaun

    I’m from a traditional advertising and marketing background and need to get up to speed on online marketing techniques. This site is an invaluable resource tool for me.

    The articles are informative and easy to understand even for a ‘numpty’ like me.

    Shout Out by wigwam — November 16, 2008 @ 12:33 pm

We close old posts on the Hobo blog, but you can link to the article from your own blog, and get a trackback link to your website from the post.