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duminică, 15 mai 2011

SEOmoz Daily SEO Blog

Competitive Analysis in Under 60 Seconds Using Google Docs

Posted: 15 May 2011 06:07 AM PDT

This post was originally in YOUmoz, and was promoted to the main blog because it provides great value and interest to our community. The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of SEOmoz, Inc.

Faced with a new client, and having established a list of keywords they need to target, you want to evaluate the competition to find out what sites are dominating the SERPs for these keywords. However... being an SEO you're a busy guy (or gal), and you need it done right now. I've built a Google Docs tool to automagically do exactly that and this post will walk you through it.

The basis for this tool comes from a report in this linkbuilding post on YOUmoz which contained a neat little 'SERP Saturation' report. I don't know how Stephen made his snazzy looking report (he's now shared a few details in this comment), but in response to a few people asking about his I thought I'd put together a tool. Here is Stephen's report:

SERP Saturation Report

Cool, eh? We are going to produce something very similar, albeit not as pretty. We will automatically pull ranking data and tie into the Linkscape API to pull in some helpful metrics.

1. What does the report show?

So, what's the report all about? It is a pretty standard report, and most SEOs will have put together similar reports in their time. It shows which domains are dominating the results pages for the specified list of keywords. It is an excellent way to quickly see who the main players are, and see a few metrics for them.

Ours will be sorted by the cumulative number of times a subdomain has appeared in the top 10 of the search results over all the keywords we specify, and will display the mozRank, Domain Authority and Linking Root Domains for each. We'll show just the top 10 competitors in our report.

You can just duplicate the Google Docs spreadsheet I provide below, and change almost any of this to add, modify or take away as per your needs.

2. How do you configure it?

You must configure it the first time you use it:

1) If you've not yet done so, get a SEOmoz API key. Its free!

2) Open the Google Docs spreadsheet. In File menu select 'Make a copy' so you have a version you can edit (call it "Report Template" or such).

3) Go to the 'Config' sheet at the bottom, and enter your SEOmoz API details.

4) If you'd like to change the template for which Google URL to do (it defaults to UK for me), you can do that here too.

3. How do you use it?

Open your report template spreadsheet you just made.

1) On the config tab, paste up to 50 keywords, one per row, starting at cell B7 (its indicated).

2) Open the 'Report' sheet.

3) Now select 'Make a copy' and give it a name ("Client X Report" or whatever). This step is *essential* or the fields will not update properly (I'm working on making this not necessary - any clues?).

4. What should you see?

You should see a snazzy little report:

SERP Competitive Report

It shows everything I promised, and more even:

SERP Competitive Report Graph

A colourful and interactive, albeit it slightly wonky, graph! What more could you want?!

5. Under the hood

You don't need to read this section if you are neither interested in how it works or need to edit it at all. Besides which, I'm mostly just going to refer you elsewhere! A big shout out to Tom Critchlow, whose prior work contributed heavily to this little tool. Firstly, you need to read:

How To Build Agile SEO Tools Using Google Spreadsheets

Which introduces how to scrape the SERPs for ranking data. I modified what Tom did slightly as I wanted a list of subdomains, rather than pages, so there is a bit of string cropping (and fudging!).

Next you need to read Ian Lurie's post (which Tom also helped with):

Linkscape + Google Spreadsheets. Together, at last.

Again, this I also edited. I changed the code around quite a bit, which you can see in the script editor. You end up with a function you can enter into a cell:

=getLinkscapeData(A1, 1)

The A1 is a cell reference to a URL, and the 1 is a dummy parameter to prevent annoying caching issues.

For a look at the full code for the Linkscape API interface, and some pointers on how to modify it to suit your needs I've put up a separate post on Using the Linkscape API with Google Docs, which includes a simpler example spreadsheet to try the code out with.

The rest of the spreadsheet is a few simple bits to filter and cumulate the necessary bits and pieces, along with a few tricks to try to sidestep some bugs in Google Apps. Nothing in the sheet is protected (there are a fed hidden columns) so you can take a look at the workings. If you have specific questions, post them in the comments and I'll try my best to answer.

This was my first real foray into Google Docs, so it might not be particularly elegant. Also the document seems to have trouble updating sometimes - if anyone has a solution that would be great. In the meantime, if you just 'Make a copy' it seems to force an update.

6. Wrap up

Ok, it isn't in depth analysis, but if you have a keyword list, and want a very quick peek at what domains are players, and their general stats, this tool gives you a quick and dirty look. Most importantly - it is free and open, so you can tweak it to your hearts content.

Questions, comments or suggestions are very welcome - post below and I'll get back to you.

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Seth's Blog : An end of magic

An end of magic

Arthur C. Clarke told us, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

Head back to the 1800s with a Taser or a Prius or an iPad and the townsfolk will no doubt either burn you at the stake or worship you.

So many doors have been opened by technology in the last twenty years that the word "sufficiently" is being stretched. If it happens on a screen (Google automatically guessing what I want next, a social network knowing who my friends are before I tell them) we just assume it's technology at work. Hard to even imagine magic here.

I remember eagerly opening my copy of Wired every month (fifteen years ago). On every page there was something new and sparkly and yes, magical.

No doubt that there will be magic again one day... magic of biotech, say, or quantum string theory, whatever that is. But one reason for our ennui as technology hounds is that we're missing the feeling that was delivered to us daily for a decade or more. It's not that there's no new technology to come (there is, certainly). It's that many of us can already imagine it.

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sâmbătă, 14 mai 2011

SEOptimise

How to Perfect Your Press Releases

Posted: 13 May 2011 05:38 AM PDT

As the importance of SEO becomes increasingly widely recognised, millions more marketers have started churning out press releases. Unfortunately, many seem less concerned about the potential media coverage than about the optimisation benefits.

A good press release, when it's picked up on and used by the media, can do wonders for your brand awareness and corporate authority. But it's also great for optimisation, and if your agency is writing slapdash articles, calling them press releases and distributing them to a bunch of websites where nobody will ever read them, then you're barely scraping the surface of your press release potential.

By creating press releases that writers and bloggers will actually use, your effort can pack a far more powerful punch both in online and offline marketing. Here are some of my top tips for dramatically better releases.

Run some analysis or research

Forget every other tip in this article; if your press release doesn't have a good story then it won't even get read, let alone used. Although a good story for an industry-specific publication may not be something the editor of The Times would publish, your releases have to have a decent hook, no matter how niche your field. Otherwise you are doing nothing more than churning out half-hearted copy that no human will ever read!

Pro top tip

Invest in your release! Analyse your company's sales data and see if there's an interesting trend you can highlight, run a survey among your customers or on your website, or even consider paying an agency to conduct research on your behalf.

That way, you have an actual story that goes beyond 'new product launched'. You can of course put out a release when you want to sell a new service or product, but make sure there's something juicier in there for the writer too.

Build relationships with writers

The best way to garner press attention for your release is to have an existing relationship with the journalists or bloggers you're targeting.

For larger brands with bigger budgets, this can mean taking a few writers out for a meal to discuss working with them in the future. Companies with less cash and smaller teams may do better chatting to relevant writers via platforms like Twitter, commenting on their blogs and gaining introductions at conferences and other industry events.

You may also benefit from ringing around a few of the writers you know, just to bring their attention to your release. A quick, friendly chat on the phone can work wonders.

Pro top tip

If you're friendly with a particularly well-known blogger or writer, then why not offer them exclusive access to your release in advance? You'll do them a favour by offering them an exclusive and it makes it more likely that your story will get publicity.

Get your spelling and grammar right

All journalists and most bloggers care about spelling, punctuation and grammar. They can't help it – it's wired into their minds, and for good reason. Badly written news articles look unprofessional and untrustworthy, and the same goes for press releases.

So, if you want your pitch for their attention to look professional, have it proofread before you send it.

Pro top tip

Forget WRITING IN ATTENTION-GRABBING CAPITALS and ditch the over-excited exclamation marks!!!! They make your content look spammy and unprofessional.

If a writer has opened your release, the sight of an abused caps-lock button or an abundance of exclamation marks will just make them close it again. And what's more, they'll be less likely to open your emails in the future.

Be clear, precise and concise

Writers are busy, busy people. Don't waste their time – get to the point as early as possible or you risk them never getting as far as your actual story.

Say what you have to say in as few words as possible and be strict with yourself when you come to edit your release.

Use a professional writer if you aren't confident about writing well. There are even some copywriters who charge just a few pounds to proofread work, so you can get a professional's opinion even if your budget is stretched.

Pro top tip

While puns can be fun, a good headline is a clear one that shows the writer exactly what they will get from the release.

The really good news is that this is also great for SEO, as it makes it more likely that your keywords will fit neatly into your headline.

Justify your claims

Once people start actually reading your press releases, you'll quickly learn how essential it is that you can justify any claims you make.

Journos and bloggers can be a clever bunch, and are likely to pick up on any claims you can't substantiate. That means that your release could result in a negative story, which is hardly the point.

Pro top tip

When making any kind of claim, asterix it and include as much information regarding it as possible beneath the article, such as links, survey size and so on.

If a writer is half-heartedly considering running your story but then decides they would need to contact you for additional details, it might just put them off using it.

Journalists are an overworked race, while bloggers often work in their spare time, meaning they don't always have time to research. Make it easy for them.

Seth's Blog : What (people) want

What (people) want

What do customers, friends, the socially networked, users, neighbors, classmates, servers, administrators, employees... maybe even brands... want?

notice me
like me
touch me
do what I say
miss me if I'm gone

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Email-Id Awarded £1,000,000.00 Pounds in B.A.T Promo Send"
Names...Tel...Country...

vineri, 13 mai 2011

SEOmoz Daily SEO Blog

SEOmoz Google Analytics Setup - Whiteboard Friday

Posted: 12 May 2011 02:24 PM PDT

Posted by caseyhen

This week Tom Critchlow from Distilled talks about the suggestions he has given to SEOmoz to improve our Google Analytics setup. These suggestions are as easy as adding events to specific user actions or as complex as adding all your domains into one Google Analytics account. Tom discusses why he thinks that these improvements will help SEOmoz and why you should be thinking about using some of these improvements in your setup. Below the video you will find some code snippets that we used to setup our Google Analytics account that should help you in your setup.

If you feel you need further assistance please feel free to write us in the comments and we will look at pointing you in the right direction or writing a new post to help you in your setup.

Custom Variable

You only need to insert one line of code to track these custom variables and it's list below. The tricky part is getting those variables filled in when using something like PHP or Ruby. If you're not comfortable with a programming language it could be a hurdle for you to overcome..

_gaq.push(['_setCustomVar,INDEX, NAME, VALUE, OPT_SCOPE']);

SEOmoz Code:

_gaq.push(['_setCustomVar', 5,'User-Type','admin', 2]);

See this blog post for more information on setting up Google Analytics Custom Variables - Custom Vairable Setup

E-commerce Tracking

E-commerce has a longer section of code that needs to be installed on your receipt page or page where your users are sent when the transaction is complete. You can view the setup for e-commerce tracking from google at the following page - E-Commerce Tracking.

Site Speed

Site speed is a very easy setup and only includes adding one line of code to track how long it takes your pages to load. Just add _gaq.push(['_trackPageLoadTime']); after you load the _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); and you will start to see page speed data in your new Google Analytics profile. Tom wrote a post on Google Site Speed in Google Analytics.

Events

Events is a straight forward way to track the way that your users interact with your website. All you have to do is all a simple on-click event to the button that you are tracking and now you can see anytime people are click on that button. See this post that was written by myself last year for more information on how to use Google Analytics Events to monitor your CTAs.

Video Transcription

Howdy, SEOmoz fans. Welcome to another edition of Whiteboard Friday. I'm currently working aside SEOmoz, and since I've been here, I have been working to improve some of their Google Analytics setup. I thought it'd be really useful to walk through some of the things that I have been doing with SEOmoz and some of the tracking that we've installed and why we've installed it. In this blog post, hopefully down here below in the post, you'll see some code snippets that you can use to implement some of these things and show you how we've been doing it at SEOmoz.

Okay. So, the first thing that I've implemented at SEOmoz is rolling all of the data into one profile. So, SEOmoz thankfully doesn't have too many websites. There's mainly just SEOmoz.org and Open Site Explorer. But all of that data currently lives in two separate profiles. So, what I want to do is I want to roll all that data into one profile. In particular, I want to be able to see people that come to Open Site Explorer, then click through to SEOmoz, and then purchase Pro. I want to know where those people came from originally rather than just knowing they came from Open Site Explorer.

You do this by implementing cross-domain tracking. This involves doing a bit of code on both of the websites, but also making sure that when a user clicks between SEOmoz and Open Site Explorer, that click is tracked in the URL. Actually, the implementation that we have set up includes tracking that using the hash rather than a query string so that we don't end up with messy URLs all over the place and potentially getting them indexed and all that kind of stuff.

This is really useful and this allows us to get a bit more data about where people are coming from, how they are browsing the site, and in particular how the traffic interacts between SEOmoz and Open Site Explorer. That's really important because Open Site Explorer gets about 200,000 visits a month. So that's, like, a not insignificant source of leads for us. So we should really understand where this traffic is coming from and how it's browsing around the site.

The next thing I've got set up at SEOmoz is user level custom variables. This is really useful for us. At SEOmoz, there are four basics states that you can have. You can either be a visitor for the website, so you're not logged in, we don't have any information about you. You can be registered with the site, so you're registered, you can leave a blog comment, you have signed up for the site, but you're not paying us money. You can be a Pro member, so you actually have access to all the Pro features and you're a fully paid customer. Or you can be an admin. That's people like me and the staff and bloggers and so on who have kind of advanced privileges.

These four basic states are really useful to have within Google Analytics. Being able to look at how visitors browse the website, how registered users browse the website, how Pro users browse the website, and how admin users browse the website, or more importantly excluding how admin users use the website, these four states can be really useful. It gives us more information about the different types of user and how they use the website.

A particular example for this is some of our tools, the URL is the same whether you're logged in or you're logged out. But if you're logged out, you can't use the tool. So visitors viewing that URL have a very different experience to registered or Pro users visiting that URL. That can be really useful, but there is no other way of seeing that within Google Analytics because if the URL doesn't change, that page view would always be the same. So using this kind of data, we can start to understand how people are using the site, what experience they have when they land on our pages, and really get a slightly deeper understanding of the traffic to the SEOmoz website.

E-commerce tracking is another thing that I've set up. You can do goal tracking in all kinds of different ways in Google Analytics. Historically, they have been doing goal tracking actually using goals. But I find that that is not necessarily the most robust way of tracking actual revenue purchases. Goals can be a great way of tracking kind of newsletter signups or a registration or something like that where the URL path works exactly. But with e-commerce tracking, we can actually get a bit more data. We can get the amount that they paid. We can get the location where they have purchased from, all this kind of more interesting data and more robust data into our analytics. Actually having revenue data in there is a really big win, because that allows us to start segmenting our channels and saying, well, we got this many signups, but actually this much money. This will become even more important as we start to role out new pricing levels. I know there's a few new pricing levels on the way, so watch out for those.

Site speed. I wrote a blog post about this last week. Google Analytics now lets you track the load time of your pages directly within Google Analytics. It does this by sampling some of your data, and for those sampled users, tracking the actual load time for that page. This is really important because you've been able to track load speed in all kinds of different ways previously. There are all kinds of third party tools and monitoring systems that you can use to track the load time of your website, but this actually lets you break it down by page type. You can actually look at logged in and logged out users and sessions. So, for example, Pro.SEOmoz.org is the subdomain where a lot of the web apps sit, and we can actually look at the site load for all of those users by just segmenting the URL and the site speed function.

Unfortunately, at the moment we can't use the custom variables with site speed because Google Analytics I think is still rolling this out. They haven't got that data lookup in place yet, but hopefully at some stage you'll be able to look at this and this together, which will be a hugely powerful report for us.

Then the last thing that I've got set up is calling events rather than virtual page views for all kinds of what I guess I'd call secondary goals, so things like when you click on the RSS feed on the blog, sign up for the RSS. Historically, we've been tracking that with virtual page views, and actually if you look on the site at the moment, we still track it with virtual page views. But I want to start rolling over on the site and start using events for these because events is a much cleaner way of tracking those kind of on click actions. There is all kinds of things that you might want to track for on click. We can track a click on the RSS feed. We can track a click on the Twitter account, Facebook, if you leave a blog comment, if you interact with your thumb up, a Q&A, whether you thumb up a blog post. All of these kind of mini interactions, we can actually track that all within Google Analytics. But using events means that we don't start inflating our page views, don't start getting kind of messy URLs all over the place. This is really the best way of doing these kind of mini goals.

Hopefully this gives you a little bit of an overview of some of the things that you might be able to implement with Google Analytics and importantly why you might want to implement them. We're going to have all the code snippets, like I mentioned, in the blog post. So watch out for those. Any questions, please leave a comment. Thanks, guys.

Video transcription by SpeechPad.com

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Seth's Blog : Cool new tool for finding and perfecting phrases

Cool new tool for finding and perfecting phrases

Can't remember the end of a cliche or whether to say use or used in a sentence?

Want to know how common a last name is?

Netspeak is a simple free tool I just found. Type in something like:

Winston tastes ?

Seth ?

music soothes the savage [beast breast]

and it searches a bazillion pages and shows you the most common matches for the question mark. Not the right answer, of course, just the most common one.

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duminică, 15 mai 2011

SEOmoz Daily SEO Blog

SEOmoz Daily SEO Blog

Seth's Blog : An end of magic

An end of magic

More Recent Articles

sâmbătă, 14 mai 2011

SEOptimise

SEOptimise

Seth's Blog : What (people) want

What (people) want

More Recent Articles

re

vineri, 13 mai 2011

SEOmoz Daily SEO Blog

SEOmoz Daily SEO Blog

Custom Variable

E-commerce Tracking

Site Speed

Events

Video Transcription

Seth's Blog : Cool new tool for finding and perfecting phrases

Cool new tool for finding and perfecting phrases

More Recent Articles

Pagini

Persoane interesate

Arhivă blog

duminică, 15 mai 2011

More Recent Articles

sâmbătă, 14 mai 2011

More Recent Articles

vineri, 13 mai 2011

Custom Variable

E-commerce Tracking

Site Speed

Events

Video Transcription

More Recent Articles

Pagini

Persoane interesate

Arhivă blog

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