seo, or search engine optimization, is, in my humble opinion, about creating a marketing plan for your website.  just as with any effort a business makes to reach their target audience, the first step is knowing your target audience.  in the world of organic seo, this means knowing how your audience searches for you.  it cannot be said enough times or enough ways, it all starts here.  even before you begin designing the layout and look of your website.

the phrases your audience uses should dictate the navigation and content direction your website takes.  many of my clients, i would guess to say, 90% of them, end up totally reorganizing their website to accommodate this requirement.  this involves spending good money after bad, simply because if you build your site up without this consideration, you must tear it down and rebuild.

here are some great examples if common mistakes web designers, developers and business owners make simply because they just don’t understand this core concept:

• navigation links are pictures to get your favorite font, big mistake
• navigation is cute instead of practical, big mistake
• content is missing or lacking keyword phrases, big mistake

these are just a few of the common mistakes, there are many more; let’s get back to the target audience…

here is a great, free, google tool to investigate how your audience is searching for your services.  just type in a word or two and google will tell you how searchers use those words to look for your services.  once you understand how people look for what you do, then you can build a website that meets those demands.

the old adage, “if you build it, they will come” does not work on the internet; i would say it goes more like, “if you listen to your audience and build for them, then and only then, will they come”…

it might be the latest in going green but really it’s all about being #1 on google and there is nothing new about it.

and no it’s not the sponsored links area, that’s advertising, and for those who are green (pun intended) about getting to the top of google (you’d be surprised how many people still don’t understand the difference) advertising is and always will be advertising.  i am not saying it doesn’t work, i’m  just saying it is what it is.  most savvy searchers avoid the sponsored links area, like the plague.  this is simply because generation x and y are generally brand resistant and immune to use of advertising in their life.  they do respond to ads, but only for those things they already have a buzz for.

so if you want to reach this ad resistant audience and beyond… then you need to be in the natural, organic seo rankings; and you need to be at the top, or near the top.  google is the expert on this and strives to present every search query with the most relevant, current information related to that topic.  searchers tend to trust these results and when they don’t find the answer they were looking for, they try a different search.  maybe they add words to drill down to the answer they seek, or they change the query altogether.

either way the searcher is in control and google is the engine they prefer to rev.  so if you want to know more about how to be found in this natural, organic ranking and more specifically how to be at the top of the pile, follow my postings.  i will give daily tips on how to get there.

seo is not brain surgery, however it takes savvy marketing skills and creatively following the rules to get there.  many business owners i talk to daily are big whiners when it comes to following the rules.

so my first piece of advice for those who want to be #1 in the natural, organic seo rankings on google; you must follow the rules.  there is no breaking them, google knows and if they don’t know now they will soon enough.  so if you don’t want to follow the rules, get off the playing field and go throw your money at advertising (sponsored, pay-per-click advertising), after all this is how google makes a living in the first place…

So you got a problem do ya? What would you like me to do?….Give me a minute and I’ll go get my Hello Kitty band-aids.

Alright, I know we’ve all heard this before from someone in your personal life or in the workplace. For the sake of this blog post lets assume you’re in the workplace and Johnny, a Project Manager, thinks he knows it all and is busy working on many projects. Cindy, a well respected and liked Department Manager approaches Johnny and begins to talk.

Cindy: Hey Johnny, how’s it going this morning?

Johnny: Oh you know the usual problems. Nothing I can’t handle though.

Cindy: What kind of problems?

Johnny: I’ve got until 5PM, and then my client is expecting me to send him a full package of SEO, concepts and additional documents. If I don’t get this stuff to him today he told me he’s gonna find someone else. So, you can see how big of a problem this is right now.

Cindy: I wouldn’t call it a problem.

Johnny gives her a screwed up look and replies.

Johnny: What do you mean you wouldn’t call it a problem?

Cindy sits down in a chair across the room from Johnny.

Cindy: Well look, Project Managers don’t have it easy. I think you and I can agree on that, but that’s not the point. When you’re working with clients I follow a way of thinking where the term “problem” doesn’t exist. Instead, the term “problems” is replaced by “challenges” or “complications”. Problem, is a word that most people cringe at because we don’t like hearing about all the bad stuff….but you gotta take the good with the bad you know what I mean?

Johnny: I see the point you’re trying to make, but….

Cindy: Hear me out first before you say anything. Problems should be seen as opportunities and therefore they are challenges or tasks in which you can grab the thing by the horns and go above and beyond your own limits. It’s about pushing yourself to be positive when times get tough. So when your back is against the wall, don’t panic. Think about how great of an opportunity it is.

The room goes silent for a moment before Johnny comments back.

Johnny: I don’t know, it sounds a bit cheesy to me.

Cindy: Well I don’t argue with you there, but it makes sense doesn’t it?

Johnny: I suppose it does.

END

The point of all this is to understand that no matter how difficult it might be to manage a project or workload you should stay positive and take everything as an opportunity to grow as an effective Project Manager. If you’re having a difficult time handling multiple tasks think about what you can do to alleviate the pressures of the job position. It begins with organization. If you’re organized, your less likely to sink your own ship.

Remember, you’re in control of your own habits, your habits don’t control you.