In-Depth Articles: The Newest Google Real Estate

This past Tuesday Google announced that it will be adding a new "In-Depth articles" section to its search results page. These articles will appear inside a block in the middle of Google's results page, and will include longer form in-depth articles from high-quality sources. Google discovered that about ten percent of its users search on Google as a way to attain more meaningful skills and knowledge, and they need deeper, more sophisticated articles to accomplish this. This allows online businesses and SEO specialists to attain even more Google real estate than ever before, but this new section of Google results is not terribly simple to break into. There are many steps to follow, and businesses should contact their SEO specialists to make sure they are up to date with this new development. Here are some quick tips that Google laid out in its press release that will help companies take advantage of this new resource.

First, for articles to be considered, authors must utilize the Google+ Authorship markup. Authors must have a multi-layered Google+ account, a simple head shot, a byline containing their name on each page of their content, and an E-mail address on the same domain as their content. Once these steps are completed, Specialists must also utilize Schema.org "Article" markup in their content coding to ensure that Google spiders can quickly analyze and rank their text. Schema.org "Article" markup is a somewhat confusing field, so businesses would be wise to find a specialist that has experience in this style of coding. Also in the coding field, specialists must utilize rel=next and rel=prev tags for multi-page articles to help Google to view the content as a sequential passage. And finally, companies should use a proper schema.org organization markup to connect their site to with an iconic logo. This will help the company's logo to show up higher in Google rankings to ensure a stronger brand for their content.

All of these steps, on top of the creation of stellar content, must be utilized if online businesses wish to be a part of this new section of Google. By doing this, companies will have more avenues for SEO growth to add into their content marketing campaigns. In-depth articles can already be seen for searches of broad topics like music, movies, art, and history; however, Google has made it clear that this section will not be included on every single SERP (search engine results page) out there. It is clear though that this new section will allow companies to identify and engage potential customers who are willing to spend time reading and researching their field, rather than just the every day one-click passers bye.

The Google Algorithm, SEO, and Content Marketing

The Google algorithm seems like it is changing so fast that no one is able to keep up with it. Google’s swiftly pushing for Content Marketing and away from SEO.

SEO use to be the best way to get yourself on high ranks with Google. SEO use to just be the process of gaining as many links as possible to your primary website. You were able to do this through spun articles, bought links, and all types of different techniques. These techniques are now big no-no’s when it comes to SEO. Honestly, SEO is becoming a thing of the past and Content Marketing is the way of the future.

Content Marketing is generating links to your website because you are posting content that people actually want to read. Its finding topics related to your primary site and making the public interested in them to the point where they will share your business with others.

Hopefully this short summary was helpful for you,

For a fuller description, please go here! 

5 Reasons why you should choose local SEO

You have probably heard the saying “choose local” when it comes to choosing your fruit or vegetables at your grocery store. But why should you “choose local” when it comes to an SEO?

Organic Rankings- The fact is that most people will add their geographical location of the service they are trying to find.

Local Maps- If your business comes up on a Google maps search with good reviews and a great website; chances are you will be the business chose.

Local Market- The local market is booming for SEO. Local searches for businesses are at the top of the charts.

Exposure- With local SEO you will be able to reach the exact customers you are trying to reach. You won’t have to worry about someone coming across your business and not be able to retrieve your service because they are not in your local area.

Community- When you are showing with a high page rank on the Organic Searches, you will get more business. This will give you better rankings in your community, resulting with backlinks from other local companies and people.

The 10 Commandments of SEO and Content Marketing

  1.       Thou shalt not have any search engines before Google.

There are literally dozens of search engines out there, but which one does everyone know of? Google.  Don’t focus on trying to rank on other search engines. If you rank on Google, you’ll rank everywhere else too.

        2.       Thou shalt not take the name of Google in vain.

This is to say, don’t slander Google or begrudging dismiss Google as too difficult to rank on and therefore you give up.  As long as you’re actually writing and distributing quality content then Google will reward you eventually!  They just have to filter through all the spam first.

        3.       Remember to keep religiously Blog posting day.

One of the keys to effective content marketing through blog posting is being consistent with your posting.  Have a set time either once or twice a week that you post a piece of content every time.  Not only does Google recognize the consistency, but users will appreciate it as well when they can expect and look forward to your next post.

        4.       Honor Google and online users.

Don’t post cheap or spammy content!  Don’t add to the garbage that black hat SEO companies spill all over the internet.  This makes more work for Google and users as they must sift through page after page of useless gibberish to find the quality content they are looking for.

        5.       Thou shalt not use Negative SEO against a URL.

Using the negative SEO tactic against another site is very inefficient and could backfire.  For example, if you target a competing website to overtake them in the ranks, you may succeed in dragging them down, but you and all of your other competitors will all move up to fill the gap.  You could have used that time to promote your own authority and overtake all of your competitors.

        6.       Thou shalt not backlink to other websites.

Of course there are times where linking to another website is required and the ethical thing to do.  Try to create as much original content as you can so that you have other sites linking to you instead.  Also, linking to a bunch of other sites does in theory lower your authority since you’re giving authority to others by linking to them.

        7.       Thou shalt not steal/plagiarize content.

Yes, if you quote someone else or copy their content without your own perspective changing the content, then you are stealing and plagiarizing their work.  Treat others well and most of the time they will return the favor.

        8.       Thou shalt not bear false content.

If you don’t know about something you’re writing about, there is this great tool that is quite amazing that is essentially a free database of the sum of human knowledge called “the internet.”  Educate yourself on what you’re writing about instead of making low quality content that is for the most part wrong and any fact checker could call you out on.

        9.       Thou shalt not covet they neighbor’s website.

A colorful and shiny website, maybe made using flash, does look great, but it is a very poor platform for SEO purposes.  Having a great looking and optimized SEO website is possible with the right digital marketing agency.  Find a good company that can give you the best of both worlds!

        10.   Thou shalt not covet they neighbor’s backlinks.

With the current state of the Google algorithm, backlinks have become not as important as they were in the past.  Focus on creating good content that you can be proud to have your name attached and that will carry more weight with Google then a bunch of random and spammy backlinks.

Using Social Media to get your Marketing Message Out There

The average modern consumer is bombarded every day with marketing and advertising campaigns that try to catch their attention.  Yet, as we have all experience, all of these advances have inclined consumers to simply block out the noise.  The traditional ways to communicate your message such as TV, Radio, and Direct Mail have become less and less effective at catching the attention of your potential customers.  You may ask yourself, is there any other way?  The answer is working Social Media into your strategy.  Not just starting and ending with your Facebook, or Twitter, or your blog, but bring Social Media as a whole to you strategy.  The idea is not to use these platforms as ads, which would defeat the purpose, but to use them to offer relevant content to your friends and contacts which will entice them to land on the home page of your tailored website.  This one-two punch approach aims to drive visitors to your website which is your sales tool that will tell a customer in one glance whether you are a company they would like to do business with.

Read more: http://fringewebpro.com/2013/using-web-and-media-to-communicate-your-marketing-message/

"Smart" QR Codes Developed at Fringe Provide Unlimited Possibilities for Businesses

QR (Quick Response) codes have been used since 2005. Originally developed by the Japanese auto industry, QR codes are now used by everyday businessmen to direct internet traffic. Since their invention QR codes have directed the consumer via smart phone to the businesses mobile website. Unfortunately, if any changes were made to the website URL it would render the QR codes useless.  But that wasn't good enough for us here at Fringe. We have developed a  “Smart” QR code system that allows businesses to change the location of their QR codes web, providing unlimited possibilities for businesses nationwide. 

Read more: http://fringewebpro.com/2013/solving-the-qr-code-problem/