The best of SEO blogs

When it comes to SEO there's certainly plenty of input and advice available online. A Google search on the term “SEO blogs” returns a whopping 22 million pages, such is the mass of writing on the subject.

Of course, some information is more helpful than other information and over the 15 or so years that people have been writing about Search Engine Optimisation certain 'thought leaders' have established themselves as the 'turn to' experts on matters SEO and Web Marketing related. People like journalist Danny Sullivan who founded and has been running Search Engine Land for the past 13 years, Matt Cutts of Google, Rand Fishkin of SEOmoz, Aaron Wall of SEO Book and Bruce Clay are all internationally famous and revered participants in the field of SEO. They are sometimes referred to as “SEO ninjas”. These sites have evolved over the years into huge online resources packed with SEO articles, videos, podcasts interviews, analysis and opinion all dedicated to Search Engine Optimisation.

A new and interesting development over the last couple of years has been the introduction of copy and content blogs, and now social media marketing sites into the SEO area, Mashable or econsultancy for example. People read and follow content and social media marketing experts such as Brian Clark of Copyblogger, for example. Chris Brogan and Seth Godin now offer advice and insight on SMM in much the same way as more traditional SEO experts such as Danny Sullivan. It's noticeable too how the flavour of some of the established and respected SEO sites is gaining more of an SMM feel as SMM and SEO begin to overlap.

The best advice is simply to get stuck in. Visit a couple of the big hitters and just follow your nose. Don't delve too deeply to start with - just take a light leisurely look around, get a feel for the SEO blog landscape before focusing on the aspects of SEO that particularly interest you.

SEO Tips - Off Page SEO

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) professionals apply a range of both On Page and Off Page SEO optimisation techniques to get websites to the top of the search engines.

The importance of Off Page SEO

Though the majority of the hard work is seen to happens On Page – the copy content providing a range of keywords and keyword phrases against which the page might return, and the structure (headers, meta tags etc) also contributing to the relevance of the page, a great deal of important SEO is also happening 'Off Page'

In fact, many SEO experts are now of the opinion that what happens 'Off Page' is actually more important for the search engine profile of your web site than what happens on it.

Over the years many 'On Page' SEO (search engine optimisation) factors were exploited, meta tags were abused, pages were stuffed with keywords and so on. The search engines were tricked into giving top positions to sites that really didn't deserve it. In their ongoing efforts to try and reveal true relevance and provide the best possible returns to queries, the search engines have changed their focus to 'Off Page' factors – most notably inbound links.

How inbound links help SEO

The search engines regard inbound links as votes of confidence. The more inbound links you inspire, the better you will rank. Particularly important are links from authoritative sites, and sites with high PageRank. The more influential a web site is, the more 'link juice' will be passed on to you and the higher you will return on search queries.

How to win links and influence people

Off Page SEO involves sharing the value of your content across the Internet. Social media, syndicated articles, press releases and link exchange all present powerful opportunities for people to link in and help you build your own authority.

Talk to your SEO company for more detailed advice on how you achieve better search engine rankings with expertly applied 'Off Page' SEO.