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Raven Officially Launches SEO Tools

It’s been a long time coming. After our initial public beta, we decided to revert back to a private beta, thanks to the helpful feedback from our initial users. Since then, we’ve been hard at work tweaking existing tools and adding new ones.

Two of the biggest improvements came from the addition of Analytics and an Agency functionality. Analytics allows you to track all of your website’s traffic and then automatically report on link campaign data as it relates to your conversions – creating a true SEO ROI report. The Agency functionality provides a robust multi-user interface that allows you to control access to just about every part of your Raven account.

We also introduced a new Free account that lets you experience most of the features of Raven and also gives you full access to the Link Manager and the Firefox toolbar.

We’ll continue to be aggressively adding new features and tweaking existing ones based on your feedback. Give Raven SEO Tools a spin if you haven’t already. We think once you’ve used it, you’ll agree with us that it’s the most powerful suite of SEO tools available.

Yahoo! Tests New Look - Targets Social Media Users

Have you been invited to test Yahoo!’s new version of Yahoo! News? If you have you’ll notice quickly the larger text and wider footprint - all intended along with a content re-shuffle to increase the usability of the site. Something else worth mentioning is that TechCrunch are reporting that readers coming to Yahoo! News from social media sites will see shorter versions of news stories with links to similar stories more heavily featured. Search Engine Land has more on this story.

Defining SEO Information Environments Through RSS

I have literally hundreds of RSS feeds I subscribe to. NetNewsWire has changed the way I view content on the Web - I am able to scan through the titles and opening paragraphs before I click-through to the actual content on the page. Regardless of search engine algorithm changes, a full understanding of information environments is crucial for SEO and online marketing. Dave Snyder at the Search Engine Journal admits to being pretty obsessed with Information Environments of late, so without further ado we’ll let Dave delve deeper into how mastering your information environment can help out with your SEO.

Raven Recap

• SEO Daily Reading — Issue 114
• SEO Daily Reading — Issue 115
• SEO Daily Reading — Issue 116
• SEO Daily Reading — Issue 117

Family Guy Goes AdSense

In June, Google signed a deal with Family Guy creator, Seth MacFarlane. The deal would see Google syndicate a series of 50 short cartoons by MacFarlane through AdSense and the Google content network. The first in the series of cartoons is available on YouTube and are sponsored by none other than Burger King. How will this benefit you? Advertisers are given the option of choosing between pre- and post-roll ads amongst others. The much maligned video advertising never seemed to have caught on, especially with the relatively random videos showing up on websites. However, it is thought that those not keen on the idea of videos previously may reconsider video advertising if their target audience equates with the offbeat Family Guy humor.

Live Results More Relevant Than Google?

Throwing all of your SEO efforts and resources into just ranking well in Google is not advisable. If you’re relying on just the big G for your traffic your need to start branching out. Granted, Yahoo! and Live are lagging behind Google, but that doesn’t necessarily mean their results should be any less relevant. Dave Snyder at Snydey Sense puts forward some interesting claims and backs up those claims with non biased evidence — Live search seem to be producing increasingly more relevant search results.

How Does Social Media Affect Search?

Social Media and search marketing: two very defined topics with a broad spectrum of options. But in an SEO campaign, how best are they to be utilized? Lee Odden at the Online Marketing Blog defines Social media and search marketing as ‘two peas in a pod, complementary or two very distinct channels’. Social media is getting a lot of attention — people no longer use search exclusively to find what they want. The more time they spend on social media websites, the more open they are to connecting, sharing and interacting.

Raven Recap

• SEO Daily Reading — Issue 107
• SEO Daily Reading — Issue 108
• SEO Daily Reading — Issue 109
• SEO Daily Reading — Issue 110

VP of Cuil Bails Just a Month After Launch

Launched with much ballyhoo, Cuil was talked-up as being the best competitor to give Google a run for their money. Seriously, then we all woke up and realized that Cuil is not even close. The traffic peaked in early August and then faced a sharp decline as the buzz wore off and the bugs grew horns. It’s difficult to speculate as to why Louis Monier, Cuil’s VP Product, resigned last week. TechCrunch can only go so far as to state that they’ve heard Monier and CEO Tom Costello couldn’t agree on the Cuil product and roadmap. As for the rest of us, I think we were all certainly willing to give Cuil the benefit of the doubt, but it was alarmingly apparent that it clearly wasn’t fit for mass consumption.

Outdated SEO Terms Match Up Against Their Modern Alternatives

If your SEO company is still obsessing with META tags and PageRank it’s time you got yourself educated. Some of the SEO techniques that once worked are now obsolete but are still being sold as services by less reputable SEO firms. The evolution of online marketing has progressed so much that if you have a vested interest in the success of your company, you need to check out the 25 Outdated SEO Terms & Tactics vs Their Modern Alternatives.

Convertibility - The SEO Standard?

Unfortunately, I can’t take credit for the first word in the title, that goes to Chris Boggs. However, the impact the word should have on you if you work in the search industry should be instantaneous. An organic SEO campaign should not only lead to an increase in the SERPs, but also a rise in conversions. Your SEO company should be able to provide you with information on both - you should always be kept in the know.

Raven Recap

• SEO Daily Reading — Issue 105
• SEO Daily Reading — Issue 106
• 8 Steps to a Successful SEO Campaign: Establishing a Social Media Presence

Reasons to Rank #1 in Google

Few could have predicted the meteoric rise of Google. At one time people would click through search results to the second page and even on to the third. Today, not so much. A study by Cornell University found that the top three Google results got 79% of all clicks, a staggering amount. This corroborated an eyetracking study by Think Eyetracking which showed that compared with 2005, users search habits are predominantly impatient. Thanks to grokdotcom and Bryan Eisenberg for the heads up on the search behavior difference.

SEO and Web Accessibility Come Hand in Hand

An SEO campaign can often become too focused on linkbuilding and establishing a presence on social media websites ignoring web accessibility in the process. Making Web content more available to all users should be our goal almost from the beginning. To do this, search engine optimizers need to get on board the Web accessibility train. Ann Smarty at the Search Engine Journal gives us the lowdown on enhancing Web accessibility.

Cleaning Up a Retail Site

The amount of us that regularly do our shopping online increases every year. Unfortunately, to cater to the online masses, retailers often go over the top in an effort to persuade us to part with our cash. Duplicate content can lead to online mayhem for companies in the retail business. Consider it common practice to research e-commerce packages before populating an online store. Brian Klais at Search Engine Land offers five natural search marketing performance issues introduced by duplicate content issues.

Raven Recap

• SEO Daily Reading — Issue 102
• SEO Daily Reading — Issue 103
• SEO Daily Reading — Issue 104
• New Raven Status Blog

Google and Mozilla Agree to Extend Default Firefox Search Deal

Choice - something that Google is willing to pay for to deny others, but has no qualms about using double standards. TechCrunch are reporting that Google has extended a deal to be the default search engine in Firefox for an additional three years. However, the search giant certainly has no problems about lobbying to prevent Microsoft doing exactly the same thing with Internet Explorer.

5 Steps to Improve Conversion Rates

If you’re doing a redesign or a fresh start, you always need to keep in mind that whatever you’re trying to accomplish, converting users should be a priority. Drew Stauffer gives us five steps to follow to improve conversion rates. Amongst the five steps are determine realistic goals and examine your current situation.

Twitter, SEO, and Online Marketing: You’re Missing the Point

Twitter - whether you love it or loathe it, if you’re in the online PR or SEO industry, having a Twitter account is a great way to network, promote and share (just so long as it’s in 140 characters or less). However, we could easily say the same thing about other social media sites. As in any kind of communication, whether online or offline, it’s a two way street - constantly churning out links is not an efficient way to promote your company or the service you provide.

Raven Recap

• SEO Daily Reading — Issue 100
• SEO Daily Reading — Issue 101
• Make Google Your What?!?!

Yahoo! Announces Redesign for Site Explorer

Yahoo!’s Search Blog announced this week that they are testing a new design for their Site Explorer. The new design involves a plethora of new stats about the websites including number of pages crawled, number of inlinks, number of outlinks and number of pages known. Yahoo! have also increased the number of Dynamic URL Rewriting rules from 3 to 10.

Bill Gates Still Working at Microsoft

Forget improving the Windows Vista OS, the one thing Microsoft should focus on improving is Search (and as a Mac user and Search Engine Specialist, all I can say is “about time”). It seems like Bill Gates is not willing to throw in the Search towel to Google just yet - the potential advantages provided by Powerset are enough to keep Microsoft thinking that they can still provide a decent Search experience. However, the question begs to be asked, if Live Search was not the default Search for Internet Explorer would they simply disappear from the industry altogether?

6 Tips for Aligning Your National, Local SEM Efforts

To successfully incorporate local search campaign segments into a national SEM buy, there are main strategies for advertisers that need to be adhered to. They include developing your keyword list, accounting for variances between geographies, avoiding overlap, customization, considering additional placements, and appropriate tracking. Gregg Stewart at Search Engine Watch explains that achieving maximum benefit from the local campaign segments is a direct result of how the local search additions are executed.

Raven Recap

• SEO Daily Reading — Issue 97
• Google Changes Rules on Nofollow — Forgets to Send Memo
• SEO Daily Reading — Issue 98
• SEO Daily Reading — Issue 99

8 Metrics You Should Judge Before Asking for a Link

Link building - one of the most prominent tasks when embarking on an SEO campaign. Although a time consuming process, it is definitely worthwhile for the success of the client. However, there are two things that we need to look at before we start our campaign; deciding which sites to pursue for a link and following through. Kelvin Newman at SiteVisibility offers us 8 metrics that we should consider using, including contextual relevance, outbound link count and domain extension.

Optimizing the Right Content for the Right Audience

Following up on his article from last week which led to some interesting discussions, Lee Odden further describes that prospects and customers are not the only audiences for web content. Content optimization is what Lee sees as an initiative that needs to be taken to reach the outcome of establishing the right audience.

The Ultimate Guide to Internal Linking

Understanding and creating an internal linking structure takes patience and dedication. There are numerous ways to approach internal links so Pete Wailes at Searchlight Digital has compiled an extensive guide to internal linking. Amongst other things, Pete describes the PageRank formula, planning the structure and what not to do.

Raven Recap

• SEO Daily Reading — Issue 93
• SEO Daily Reading — Issue 94
• SEO Daily Reading — Issue 95