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Google’s New How Search Works Site

Do you care about how Google’s search engine works?  If not you should because search engine optimization (SEO) is something you our your web guru must understand to get high search rankings and traffic.  Google just announced that it created a website aptly called “How Search Works” to educate us on how Google’s search engine works!  Spend some time on the site and educate yourself.

The site lets you follow the entire life of a search query, from the web, to crawling and indexing, to algorithmic ranking and serving, to fighting webspam. The site complements existing resources, the help center, user forums, Webmaster Tools, and in-depth research papers.

A few things you’ll find:

  • An interactive, graphical explanation of Google Search
  • A view into major search algorithms and features
  • A 43-page document explaining how we evaluate our results
  • A live slideshow of spam as we remove it
  • Graphs illustrating the spam problem and how we fight it
  • A list of policies that explain when we’ll remove content

How to Search is intended to illuminate the split-second journey from algorithms to answers.

By |2018-01-14T08:40:28-07:00March 17th, 2013|Google, Search Engine Optimization|0 Comments

Author Rank

Blind Five Year Old:  “The idea behind AuthorRank is that your reputation as a content creator will influence the ranking of search results. Here’s the specific language from Google’s Agent Rank patent.

The identity of individual agents responsible for content can be used to influence search ratings. Assuming that a given agent has a high reputational score, representing an established reputation for authoring valuable content, then additional content authored and signed by that agent will be promoted relative to unsigned content or content from less reputable agents in search results.

Agent? Agent is Google-speak for an author. This excerpt states that verified content by an author will be graded and it is that grade that influences the rank of content in search results. . . . AuthorRank won’t replace PageRank it’ll just make it more accurate. This is one of the more powerful applications of AuthorRank. In essence, Google identifies authors who can help curate the link graph.”

See also “How to Prepare for Author Rank and Get the Jump on Google.”

By |2018-01-14T08:40:28-07:00February 28th, 2013|Google, Marketing|0 Comments

Your Law Firm Will Benefit From Google Authorship

LawWebMarketing.com:  “Google Authorship gives you the ability to identify yourself as the writer of Web content, as well as to boost your law firm’s marketing efforts and online presence. . . . One of the many benefits of a Google+ profile is the Google Authorship capability; with Google Authorship, you can claim all the content you create – no matter where it is published. Google Authorship markup works by connecting the pages where your content is published back to your Google+ profile.”

By |2013-02-28T07:20:27-07:00February 28th, 2013|Google, Marketing|0 Comments

7 Benefits of Google+

The Rainmaker Blog:  “Google+ is one of those social media networks that many attorneys are still not sure what to do with…but with more than 500 million members now making it the fastest growing social media site ever, it’s worth your time and attention.  This infographic explains 7 benefits Google+ provides for business:”

The following video answers the all important question: Facebook or Google+

httpvh://youtu.be/hC_M6PzXS9g

By |2018-01-14T08:40:28-07:00February 6th, 2013|Google, Social Media, Video|0 Comments

Google+ Pages for Law Firms

Google+ is an important marketing tool for lawyers and law firms.  We are just at the beginning of this relatively new Google feature.  Google+ has the potential to pay off big time, but there is a steep learning curve. To learn more about it I recommend an excellent article by Gyi Tsakalakis called “Google+ Pages for Law Firms.”  There are a lot of good links in the article to other important sources of information about Google+.

By |2012-08-28T08:07:47-07:00August 28th, 2012|Google, Marketing|0 Comments

Rel=author Not for the Faint of Heart

I’ve spent six plus hours trying to get a handle on how to configure my websites and my Google profile so that my picture will appear next to Google search results that show a link to a web page that contains content I wrote.  Everybody in the know says that having your photo appear next to your Google search results increases the number of clicks to your web site or blog.  That’s my goal, but to say the process is confusing and complex is an understatement.

I think that my efforts today will ultimately give me the desired result, i.e, my picture next to Google search results when one one my pages or posts comes up.  I think I am good to go because when I run tests using Googles’ rich shippets tester I do not get any error messages.  However, based on what I have researched it can take some time, even months, before the author’s photo appears in the search results.  I’ll update this post when I see my picture in a search result, assuming it ever happens.

For those of you who want your picture to appear with search results, I recommend you read an excellent how to article called “Rel=Author Step By Step Tutorial For WordPress” and watch the author’s demo video.

httpvh://youtu.be/YyIQzHD8rBY

By |2018-01-14T08:51:54-07:00July 4th, 2012|Google, Video|0 Comments

The Ultimate Guide to the New Google Analytics Social Reports

Kissmetrics:  “Social media brings us free traffic, scales well, and requires zero up-front investment. There’s just one problem: tracking social media would make a coal miner weep.  I’ve got good news. Tracking social media just got a LOT easier. Recently, Google Analytics received a whole new batch of social reports that break down your social traffic so you know whether or not your social media marketing is working.  I’m going to walk you through each new report so you know how to use these puppies. By the end of this post, you’ll be completely comfortable using the new Google Analytics social reports.”

By |2018-01-14T08:40:44-07:00June 20th, 2012|Google|0 Comments

Google+ Is No Longer Optional For Law Firm Marketing

Law Web Marketing:  “Google has once again changed the rules for law firm marketers. What does that mean for your Web strategy? Google+ and Google profiles are a must for collecting positive reviews that show up in Google’s local listings.  In the latest change from the online search engine giant, Google accounts and reviews from clients are now firmly linked. Anyone who wants to leave a review for your law firm must have a Google+ account.”

By |2018-01-14T08:51:54-07:00June 20th, 2012|Google|0 Comments

How to Promote Your Blog With Social Media

Marc Pittman on Social  Media Examiner:  “Are you looking to use social media to promote your blog?  Sharing your blog posts on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and even Tumblr can help your content gain significant exposure.  But each social media platform is distinct with different benefits and abilities. You need a simple process to tailor your social sharing to generate as much engagement as you can on each of these platforms.  Here’s a process you can use to ensure your posts get maximum mileage. Consider these steps and adapt them to the social platforms where you find your customers.”

Marc’s article explains how to take advantage of:

  1. Tumblr
  2. Facebook / Twitter / LinkedIn
  3. Google +
By |2018-01-14T08:40:44-07:00June 19th, 2012|Facebook, Google, Marketing, Social Media, Twitter|0 Comments

25 Awesome Free Google Tools for Marketers

Kissmetrics:  “Whether you love Google or love to hate Google, you have to admit one thing. Google offers a lot of free tools to use with the convenience of being able to access them with one login.  Marketers in particular should take advantage of these tools to get more out of their search engine and social media marketing experience. The following are some of the top Google tools marketers should embrace from A to (almost) Z!”

By |2018-01-14T08:40:45-07:00June 6th, 2012|Google, Marketing|0 Comments

Google’s Webmaster Academy

We all want the content in our websites and blogs to have high Google search engine rankings.  To achieve that goal there is a learning curve that requires an investment of your time.  Do yourself a favor and take the courses Google offers in its free Webmaster Academy.  Google says that the goal of the academy is “to help you create great sites that perform well in Google search results.”   To graduate you must complete 19 tasks.  Here are the major topics:

  1. Learn how Google works
  2. Make sure Google knows about your site
  3. Influence your site’s listing in search
  4. Create great content
  5. Images and video
  6. Connect with Google+
  7. Extra resources

By |2018-01-14T08:40:46-07:00May 25th, 2012|Google, Search Engine Optimization|0 Comments

A Video Explanation of Google+ Circles

If you have a Google+ profile (you should) this short video explains the concept of the “circle” and how it can organize your Google+ to give you a better Google+ experience.  I do recommend that attorneys who want to create content on their website or blog create a Google profile and configure Google + and create “rich snippets” using Google’s rel=author.  For more on this topic read ” “Google Plus & Google’s Rich Snippet.”

httpvh://youtu.be/ocPeAdpe_A8

By |2018-01-14T08:40:46-07:00May 24th, 2012|Google, Video|0 Comments

Google Guy’s Video Explains How to Get Your Picture Next to Google Search Results that Show Your Content

I figured out how to configure my website/blog content with Google so that when Google displays search results that show a link to any of my pages or posts my picture will appear to the left of the link.  People say that having your picture next to your Google search result will substantially increase the number of clicks the link will receive.  I’m ready to implement this new feature Google calls “rel=author,” but I am going to up date my bio picture first.  Some people also call this feature “rich snippets.”

The process is confusing, but not difficult.  This video is by Google employee and SEO expert Matt Cutts.  He and Othar Hansson discuss how to rel=author works.  I recommend watching this video first so you will have an understanding of the big picture.

For more about this topic read “Google Plus & Google’s Rich Snippet.”

httpvh://youtu.be/FgFb6Y-UJUI

By |2018-01-14T08:40:46-07:00May 23rd, 2012|Google, Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Video|0 Comments

Tips for Making the Perfect Google Profile Picture

In the process of configuring my Google profile I came across an interesting and useful article that has nine tips for taking a picture to upload to your Google profile.

  1. Happy Profile Picture = Happy Life
  2. The open-mouth glamor shot: body language for your face
  3. Fake IDs: babies, cartoons and pets
  4. No logos, but still a bit of brand
  5. Bright Background
  6. Keep it consistent, across sites and over time
  7. Look at the camera, or look to your left
  8. Worst Profile Pic Ever? The QR Code
  9. Use a Pro Photographer

I’m going to take some advice from the article and create a new picture for my Google profile picture.

By |2018-01-14T08:40:46-07:00May 19th, 2012|Google, Ramblings|0 Comments

What is Google +1 & How to Use It

The Google +1 button is a shorthand for “this is pretty cool” or “you should check this out.” Click +1 to publicly give something your stamp of approval. Your +1’s can help friends, contacts and others find the best stuff when they search.  Watch this short Google video to learn more about how to use Google +1.

httpvh://youtu.be/OAyUNI3_V2c

By |2018-01-14T08:40:47-07:00May 2nd, 2012|Google, Video|0 Comments

Beginners Guide to Google Plus

Do you know what Google + is?  If you want to get more traffic to your website or blog and you do not know about and use Google + you need to learn about and implement it now.  The below video will give you an introduction into this relatively new Google product.

httpvh://youtu.be/5TDMObxEtEY

By |2018-01-14T08:40:48-07:00April 25th, 2012|Google, Video|0 Comments

Google Plus & Google’s Rich Snippet

Do you know what a Google “rich snippet” is?  Should you?  If you want more visitors to your blog or website you need to know what a rich snippet is and how to create them.  There are three types of bloggers and webmasters:

  1. those that are clueless about Google +,
  2. those that have heard about Google + and who are vaguely aware it might be a good thing to understand and use, and 
  3. those who understand and use Google + and related Google features to get more traffic to their blogs/websites.  

Until yesterday I was in category 2.  Now, after reading the two excellent articles listed below I have the knowledge I need to create a Google business page for my law firm, KEYTLaw and implement the suggestions contained in the two articles.  I’m now at stage 2.5.  I just need to implement my new knowledge.

To date Google + does not have the reach of Facebook and Twitter, but we all know Google’s power and innovation track record so it is safe to bet that Google + could be as important blog/website referral source as Facebook.  By the way I have heard many people, including a keynote speaker at the 2012 Infusionsoft convention, say that Facebook doesn’t send much (or any) traffic to their blog/website.  The primary reasons for the lack of Facebook referrals are:

  1. the business does not have a Facebook page (hint:  a page is different from a Facebook account)
  2. the business has a Facebook page, but little happens on it, i.e., not much content.
  3. the person or people in the business responsible for its Facebook page don’t understand how to use the Facebook page to generate referrals to the firm’s website.

My websites get a lot of referrals from my firm’s Facebook page.  Earlier this month I did a blog post on a new law passed by the Arizona legislature entitled “Arizona Legislature Passes Broad Internet Censorship Bill.”  I also put the entire text of the bill on the KEYTLaw blog.  The day that blog post went live it got over 800 visitors, including over 400 who were referred from Facebook!

Here are the two articles on Google’s rich snippets and Google + I recommend:

The second article listed states “according to one study on the impact of rich snippets on traffic, the number of clicks increased by 150% once the rich snippet was added. This is one of those opportunities to give yourself an almost unfair advantage in Google.”

Read also “Google+: Should Lawyers Care?” which states:

“Last week, Google announced that Google+ (aka, “Google Plus” or “G+”) has reached 170 million users.  By any measure, that is a truckload of users; but it is staggering when you consider that G+ is less than a year old.  That makes the infant G+ roughly the size of Twitter (200mm registered users) and larger than LinkedIn (150mm registered users).  And, while G+ is still only 20% of the size of Facebook, it has clearly arrived, requiring lawyers to strongly consider it as part of their online branding and business development strategies.”

By |2018-01-14T08:51:51-07:00April 25th, 2012|Blogs, Google, Ramblings|0 Comments

Google’s Advice on How to Create High Quality Websites

The following is the beginning of an article on Google’s Webmaster Central Blog called “More guidance on building high-quality sites“

“In recent months we’ve been especially focused on helping people find high-quality sites in Google’s search results. The “Panda” algorithm change has improved rankings for a large number of high-quality websites, so most of you reading have nothing to be concerned about. However, for the sites that may have been affected by Panda we wanted to provide additional guidance on how Google searches for high-quality sites.

Our advice for publishers continues to be to focus on delivering the best possible user experience on your websites and not to focus too much on what they think are Google’s current ranking algorithms or signals.”

The article mentions 23 things you can do to improve the quality of your website.

By |2018-01-14T08:40:48-07:00April 24th, 2012|Blogs, Google|0 Comments
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