https://poptype.co/learngardening/a-introduction-to-organic-seo-in-2020-for-webmasters
https://essentialseoresources.blogspot.com/2020/04/what-is-organic-seo-put-in-simplest.html
https://www.calameo.com/read/0062421019d556fe3ee3c
https://issuu.com/sussexseoservices/docs/a_primer_on_organic_seo_for_wewbmasters_in_2020_-_
Friday, April 24, 2020
What Is Organic SEO?
Put in the simplest manner possible, organic SEO is search engine optimization done manually using no black hat methods, no underhand methods and no automated scripting. It is the purest form of optimizing your website for the benefit of search engines, while still retaining interest for your site visitors, and done well it is exactly the thing that search engines are looking for in a website. Once they find it they will reward your site with better rankings and improved positions within the search engine results pages. Throughout the course of this article it will be referred to as simply SEO.
Understanding The Search Engines
Understanding Search Engines and their general concept is vital to the use of effective SEO methods. Search engines enable their visitors to enter a specific word or term, known as keywords. Once submitted, all pages containing those keywords that can be found in the search engine’s directory are listed on the search engine result pages. Each page is “ranked” according to relevancy, popularity and a few other factors. Therefore, in theory, the more relevant a page is to a given keyword the more likely it will appear at the top of the listings.
Introducing The Search Engine Spiders
Another important factor to remember about search engines is that they don’t use real people to crawl the billions of websites and judge how relevant they are. Instead they use automated software called a “spider” or a “bot” that does this work much quicker. The calculations that the search engine uses to determine the ranking of a website are called algorithms and in the case of the major search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN these algorithms are changed on a regular basis. The changes and the specifics of the algorithms are not released to the public in order to prevent black hat SEOs from manipulating their sites to reach the top of the pile despite containing to information relevant to the search query or keyword.
Optimizing For Search Engines – Optimizing For Visitors
Of course to some extent, all of us reading this article are probably guilty of altering our web pages to meet the whims of search engines but it must be done in a positive and organic way. We understand that optimizing a page purely for the benefit of search engines spiders may massively detract from the actual value of the site to your visitors. Search engines understand this too, hence the evolution of the algorithms. With each new algorithm created and usually patented by search engines like Google, we are getting closer to a structure whereby sites are genuinely judged on their value to visitors. It may sound like an Isaac Asimov novel but the algorithms and the spiders are basically becoming more human like.
Basic Components Of SEO
The actual methods of optimizing your website are saved for another article, but the basic components of an SEO campaign are broken down into on page and off page optimization techniques. On page SEO includes factors like keyword inclusion, content optimization, page structure etc… whereas the main contributing factor of off page optimization is inbound links. There are many different factors to each of these areas and different SEOs will give you varying information on which factors are the most relevant to gain higher rankings. These extensive differences in opinion occur because nobody is certain of the algorithm criteria.
The Benefits Of SEO
SEO is probably the most beneficial way to conduct Internet promotion. It is highly cost effective, can yield long term results and the leads it generates are opt in and targeted. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider trying out alternative methods of advertising your site. For many, banner advertisements, press releases (can actually be used as part of an SEO campaign as well), PPC campaigns and sponsored listings prove to highly beneficial and including these will help your site’s popularity.
To Cost Effectiveness And To Life
The cost effectiveness is easily determined when you look at the potential of an SEO campaign compared to the method that many consider to be the next best thing – PPC. A PPC campaign will usually cost you anywhere upward of 5 cents per visitor generated. This means that for every thousand visitors you receive you will have paid $50. Some fairly basic SEO work on a web site containing ten pages will generate this kind of traffic on a monthly basis relatively quickly.
$50 doesn’t sound much but consider that you pay this in one month to receive the desired one thousand visitors. Over the space of a year you will have paid $600, and so on. Now consider that you are competing for a relatively competitive keyword and you find that you need to be paying a minimum of 50 cents per click to generate just the one thousand clicks in a month. All of a sudden you’re paying $6000 per year and you are still only getting one thousand clicks every month. $6000 will buy you an awful lot of SEO work and you should find that within a few months you are generating a lot more traffic using SEO.
Targeted Leads
Targeted leads are the best type of leads you can generate. It means that the visitors to your site are already predisposed to the basic topic of your site and are interested in what you have to say. It means that they will be more likely to purchase goods or services from your site, click on affiliate links or click Google ads to earn you revenue. Because SEO leads are physically searching for the topic that your site relates to you are guaranteed that they are interested in whatever you’re offering. First of all they search using keywords relevant to your site. They then read the description and name of your site and this further compounds their interest in the page in question and click on the link. Already they have become highly susceptible to the message of your web page.
So Remember…
SEO is a webmaster’s greatest tool but treated badly it can quickly blow up in your face. By ensuring you stick to the very letter of the law and do not use any underhand methods you should soon benefit from powerful leads that will frequent your site and earn you revenue.
For more information check these links
https://essentialseoresources.blogspot.com/2020/04/httpsessentialseoresources_24.html
https://www.calameo.com/read/00624210126a82750fc26
https://poptype.co/learngardening/some-basic-principles-every-newbie-web-designer-needs-to-follow-for-success-in-2020
https://issuu.com/sussexseoservices/docs/10_basic_web_design_principles_to_follow_in_2020.d
https://sussexseoservices.podbean.com/
https://sussexseoservices.podbean.com/e/learn-seo-part-1-seo-optimised-web-design/
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nljV7aqph5m_aiLMKB1FpPC7MVfWFHDYG14sJXgYHzU/
https://hearthis.at/sussexaudiobooks/jonathan-maberry-v-wars-2-blood-and-fire-pt-2/
https://t.me/s/seolinksuk
https://fasterseo.no.comunidades.net
http://acceleratedseoknowledge.vblogetin.com/696472/the-basics-of-seo-optimised-web-design-for-e-commerce-for-smes-in-2020
http://intelligentseo.win-blog.com/771051/principles-of-e-commerce-strategy-in-2020-a-guide-for-newbies
https://artmight.com/user/profile/87174
https://share.nuclino.com/p/Our-Principles-Ethical-SEO-White-Hat-Methods-Only-NbugKdh2VG57wn6AyDRFsV
http://teachingseo.qowap.com/28858334/using-the-squidoo-lens-method-to-create-outstanding-seo-results
Principles In Web Design
In web designing, design is more than just using HTML tags on a web page. The principles outlined below will help you create a more useful and effective website.
Balance
One of the most basic principles in web designing is balance. It is the distribution of the light and heavy elements on a page. It shows one to layout web pages so that they will work effectively. It is also a visual interpretation of design gravity. Remember that darker and larger objects appear heavier than lighter and smaller objects.
Balancing designs can be done in three ways:
Symmetrical Balance – done by placing elements in an even manner
Asymmetrical Balance – more challenging to design because they don’t have elements that match across the designs centerline
Discordant or off-balance – designs that suggest more action and motion
Contrast
When people encounter the word contrast, color is the first thing that comes to mind. However, contrast is more than just a difference in color. There can be contrasts in shapes, sizes and even textures. It is an accentuation of element differences in a design. When you apply contrast in a web design, think beyond or more than just colors. Think about how you can attract your readers in terms of contrasting font sizes, shapes, images and text styles.
Moreover, contrast in web design can be done in four ways. It can be done by
Changing of fonts
Providing links
Using different sizes of images and elements
Using contrasting colors
Emphasis
The eye is drawn to what is emphasized in a design. Though it is very tempting to give emphasis on everything in your website, as a designer you should determine element hierarchy and apply emphasis accordingly based on the hierarchy.
With emphasis, you make the most important element stand out in your design. To include emphasis or dominance in your design, try doing the following ways:
Use semantic mark up that will provide some emphasis even when there are no styles
Changing of fonts or images
Use of contrasting colors
Rhythm
Rhythm is also called repetition. It allows the design to build an internal consistency which helps the viewers to understand it easily. It is said that the whole design can only be understood once the brain has recognized the pattern in the rhythm. Furthermore, rhythm instills a sense of order in the design because it seldom occurs on its own. Due to this, viewers become attracted and therefore tend to investigate further.
To include rhythm in your web design, you can repeat actual HTML texts, add images several times, use background-repeat property and repeat navigation elements of your design.
Unity
In design, unity is also termed as proximity. It is the method of keeping same elements together and keeping different elements apart. It provides cohesiveness to designs and is said to pull elements together. It is primarily achieved through layout placement but can also be accomplished with the use of padding and margining of the elements.
Unity can be implemented through adjusting the layout of elements, changing the text spacing and playing with the box properties to influence the padding and margins.
Check out these links for more information
https://essentialseoresources.blogspot.com/2020/04/httpsessentialseoresources_23.html
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Wswg3W0jD5Js9uWtHGd4wU5jF47AAkajOxmo2R4xg2E/edit?usp=sharing
http://learnseo.review-blogger.com/15204033/learn-website-design-in-2020-the-basics
https://www.calameo.com/read/006202379fd9726e9b007
http://teachseo.mybloglicious.com/15528378/using-website-templates-to-drastically-reduce-the-cost-of-web-design-in-2020
http://kentweb.post-blogs.com/15383403/the-basics-of-editing-in-css-in-2020-a-newbie-guide
https://www.flipgorilla.com/p/26183111565912141/show
https://www.flipgorilla.com/p/26183111565912142/show
http://online.fliphtml5.com/oloxh/frwh/
https://online.pubhtml5.com/bywr/vkvb/
https://wiseintro.co/mysite4264286
Thursday, April 23, 2020
The Importance Of Keyword Rich Content Writing For SEO in 2020
SEO writing is very different from content writing, article writing, story writing and news writing. When I first realized my innate talent for writing stuff and putting thoughts into words, I was still reading Mills and Boons, and it was during this time that my romance storybooks were confiscated by my classroom teacher because I was reading in class.
Writing is a very personal thing, I discovered. Some people have the talent for writing creative stuff. Some people have the talent for writing ads. Some write excellent factual stuff. Well, I fall into the factual stuff category. The boring-writing-technical-mumbo-jumbo writing stuff. How I fit into this category, I don’t know.
Well, SEO article writing is very much like that. First, you decide what topic or keyword that you want. For instance, you’re selling decorative lamps, right? in the SEO article writing process, list down ‘decorative’ and ‘lamps’. Then think about other words that relates to ‘decorative’ and ‘lamps’…words that people use all the time to describe them. This is a very important part of SEO article writing because these are common words that your potential site visitors will use to find you.
How about ‘light’, ‘bright’, ‘pretty’, ‘lighting’?
Ok, now your SEO article writing keywords are:- decorative, lamps, light, bright, pretty and lighting, right? So, on to the SEO article writing process. First you write everything that you need to write down first. Beef up the article. As a general rule of thumb, SEO articles should be no less than 300 words and no more than 500 words. Any more than that, you’re wasting your writing a novel for your SEO article. Read through the SEO article now and replace words and reword sentences to fit in those keywords. Yes, you’ll have to restructure some the SEO keywords here and there, but do it anyway.
Make sure the sentences make sense, ok? Because although the search engines won’t know bad grammar from good grammar, your site visitors will. And most of them, site visitors who visit your website based on those SEO keywords DO mind the bad grammar. And once you turn them away, it’s almost impossible to bring them back!
The final step to SEO article writing is…..proofread your SEO article and make sure they flow. The problem with SEO writing is that your thoughts might come in buckets….a splash here and a splash there. So, during the SEO article proofreading process, you’ll have to make sure one paragraph flows on to the next.
Good luck!
https://www.calameo.com/read/006202379590283c702fa
https://issuu.com/info-local-seo-london.co/docs/how_to_write_seo_optimised_content_in_2020.docx
https://poptype.co/teachseo/the-key-to-creating-seo-perfect-content-in-2020
https://telegra.ph/The-Secret-To-Producing-High-Quality-SEO-Optimised-Content-04-23
https://essentialseoresources.blogspot.com/2020/04/httpsessentialseoresources_23.html
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Wswg3W0jD5Js9uWtHGd4wU5jF47AAkajOxmo2R4xg2E/edit?usp=sharing
Tips For SEO Success-Get The Most For Your Efforts
SEO (search engine optimization) is a term given to a variety of methods that are used to improve the placement of your website in the search engines. A large percentage of people find new websites through search engines, and they heavily favor the sites that appear at the top of the first page of results. The following tips for SEO success will help you get the most from your efforts.
1. Three words: Keywords! Keywords! Keywords! People use keywords when using the search engines, and the keywords you choose will make or break your site in the search engine results. Invest time selecting the best keywords and optimizing your site around them. You need to look at how many searches each keyword gets and see what kind of competition each has as well. There is no magic number or how many searches a keyword should get, so there will always be an element of guesswork involved, which brings us to the next o the tips or SEO success...
2. Test and track your SEO. The search engines use proprietary algorithms to determine where a site is positioned in the search engine results, and they protect these algorithms carefully. The best way to get around this is to test and track your SEO efforts to get an idea of what works and what doesn't. It can take some time for changes to be reflected in the rankings, so be sure to give it some time before drawing conclusions. You also need to keep in mind that the results are dynamic because most of your competition will be doing SEO, too.
3. Linking the right way. There are a lot of myths about the best way to use links for SEO purposes. Massive link swaps are one example of a link building strategy that is no longer effective. However, you can get a boost by getting links from well-respected pages that are relevant to your website. If at all possible, be sure that the links to your site include the keywords you are trying to rank for. There is also on-site linking which covers all of the links on your site that link to other parts of your site. Generally speaking, you should have all of your pages interconnected and you should use keywords for those links.
4. Stagnation and SEO don't mix. This is one of the most overlooked tips for SEO success. A lot of website owners think of SEO as something you do once when setting up your site, and then it somehow keeps working its magic. The reality is that you need to keep doing SEO on a regular basis for two reasons: one, the search engines are always changing their algorithms so you need to respond in kind; two, you have to assume that your competition will always be doing SEO and you don't want to drop down in the results as they move up.
https://poptype.co/teachseo/some-seo-tips-tactics-and-strategies-in-2020
https://telegra.ph/SEO-Tactics-Strategies-Tips-That-Work-For-SERPS-In-2020-04-23
https://www.calameo.com/read/006202379c4600b022e52
https://issuu.com/info-local-seo-london.co/docs/seo_in2020_strategies_tactics_and_tips.docx
https://essentialseoresources.blogspot.com/2020/04/tips-for-seo-most-for-your-efforts-seo.html
SEO (search engine optimization) is a term given to a variety of methods that are used to improve the placement of your website in the search engines. A large percentage of people find new websites through search engines, and they heavily favor the sites that appear at the top of the first page of results. The following tips for SEO success will help you get the most from your efforts.
1. Three words: Keywords! Keywords! Keywords! People use keywords when using the search engines, and the keywords you choose will make or break your site in the search engine results. Invest time selecting the best keywords and optimizing your site around them. You need to look at how many searches each keyword gets and see what kind of competition each has as well. There is no magic number or how many searches a keyword should get, so there will always be an element of guesswork involved, which brings us to the next o the tips or SEO success...
2. Test and track your SEO. The search engines use proprietary algorithms to determine where a site is positioned in the search engine results, and they protect these algorithms carefully. The best way to get around this is to test and track your SEO efforts to get an idea of what works and what doesn't. It can take some time for changes to be reflected in the rankings, so be sure to give it some time before drawing conclusions. You also need to keep in mind that the results are dynamic because most of your competition will be doing SEO, too.
3. Linking the right way. There are a lot of myths about the best way to use links for SEO purposes. Massive link swaps are one example of a link building strategy that is no longer effective. However, you can get a boost by getting links from well-respected pages that are relevant to your website. If at all possible, be sure that the links to your site include the keywords you are trying to rank for. There is also on-site linking which covers all of the links on your site that link to other parts of your site. Generally speaking, you should have all of your pages interconnected and you should use keywords for those links.
4. Stagnation and SEO don't mix. This is one of the most overlooked tips for SEO success. A lot of website owners think of SEO as something you do once when setting up your site, and then it somehow keeps working its magic. The reality is that you need to keep doing SEO on a regular basis for two reasons: one, the search engines are always changing their algorithms so you need to respond in kind; two, you have to assume that your competition will always be doing SEO and you don't want to drop down in the results as they move up.
https://poptype.co/teachseo/some-seo-tips-tactics-and-strategies-in-2020
https://telegra.ph/SEO-Tactics-Strategies-Tips-That-Work-For-SERPS-In-2020-04-23
https://www.calameo.com/read/006202379c4600b022e52
https://issuu.com/info-local-seo-london.co/docs/seo_in2020_strategies_tactics_and_tips.docx
https://essentialseoresources.blogspot.com/2020/04/tips-for-seo-most-for-your-efforts-seo.html
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Introduction to SEM (Search Engine Marketing)
Search engines have become an integrated part of our lives. In today’s world, 'being online’ is not an option. In US alone, around 7 billion searches are being made every month. Travel, finance, entertainment, education, health or ecommerce, search engines are being used to find information, products and services.
Search Engine Marketing or SEM is the process of marketing a website via search engines. SEM strategies primarily consist of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising.
SEO is the process of improving natural or organic rankings on search engines. Search engines rank websites based on variety of parameters and each search engine has its own algorithm to rank different swebites. However, one common and most important ranking parameter is a site’s credibility which is determined by the quality and quantity of other sites which link to it. PPC is a type of internet advertising in which the advertiser pays an agreed amount to a search engine for every click a visitor makes on the advertisement. It is also referred to as Cost Per Click (CPC), Paid Placement and Search Engine Advertising.
SEM Industry
According to a research by SEMPO, Search Engine Marketing industry was at $9.45 billion in North America in 2006. It is expected to be over $18 billion industry by the year 2011. The SEM industry grew significantly in 2006 as compared to 2005 when it was less than $6 billion in size. According to the same research, while SEO is the most popular form of SEM, it accounted for around 10% of the total spending. However, Paid Advertising accounted for over 85% of the total SEM spending in 2006.
Over the last few years, the importance and the acceptance of SEM has grown significantly. According to a survey by SEMPO, of all the respondents, more than 50% said that Senior Management at their companies are ‘very involved’ in their SEM program. Sales and Brand awareness were the two major objectives behind all SEM programs.
SEM Job Profiles
Growth in the SEM industry has created a strong demand for experienced and talented Search Engine Marketing professionals. This demand is expected to grow even faster in the coming years with lots of new opportunities for existing and budding Search Engine Marketers.
The SEM industry offers various kinds of job roles for its professionals. Given that the industry is still evolving, these job roles are also changing and new roles are being created with new initiatives. For instance, online PR (Public Relations) has gained significant growth over the last year and so is the need for PR writers and marketers.
An SEM professional may be employed for an in-house work or by an agency. For instance, ecommerce companies like eBay, Google, Yahoo hire SEM professionals for their own products and services promotion. However, agencies like iProspect hire people to serve their clients for various SEM assignments. One may also work as a freelancer. Since every activity of an SEM job can be done online, lots of freelancing opportunities exist for independent SEM professionals. Find below the list of some of the key job roles in the SEM industry. Please note that depending upon the size of the organization, some of the mentioned roles may be combined into a single role.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
• VP/Director, SEO
• SEO Manager
• SEO Team Lead
• SEO Executive (Link Building, Keyword Research etc)
• Content Writer and Editor
• Account Manager (for organizations who serve multiple clients)
PPC (Pay Per Click)
• Campaign Executive
• Campaign Manager
• Ad Writer or Copywriter
• Account Manager (as above)
Besides the above mentioned roles, organizations also hire technical professionals and graphic designers for building tools and technologies for effective SEM implementation and service.
SEM Salaries
Although there is no official data available on the salaries earned by SEM professionals, the annual salary for an SEM professional in US typically range between $30,000 for an SEM exeuctive to $250,000 for a VP level position depending upon the years of experience and the location. The salary offered for similar roles in India range between Rs 120,000 (approx $2500) to Rs 30,00,000 (approx $65000) per annum.
In-house professionals demand higher salaries than professions working in an SEM agency. The key reason behind this salary difference is that in-house professionals possess stronger domain knowledge compared to an agency professional and thus the role performed by an in-house professional is more critical.
Required Skill Sets
To be a successful SEM professional, one needs a variety of skill sets. Moreover, the skill sets requirement changes with time as per the changing needs of the dynamic SEM industry. Find below the details about the key skills required by an SEM professional.
General Skills
• Strong quantitative and analytical ability
• Excellent communication skills (particularly writing skills)
• Constant urge for learning (industry is dynamic and one needs to stay abreast of the best practices)
Technical Skills
• Sound understanding of Computers, Internet, Email and HTML skills
• SEO techniques - both “do’s and don’ts”
• PPC techniques including specific knowledge about programs such as Google Adwords, Yahoo Search Marketing and MSN Advertising
• Sound understanding of tools such as Word Tracker, Google Keyword Suggestion & Traffic Estimator, Google Toolbar, Google Analytics, HTML Editors and FTP Softwares
• Sound understanding of relevant programming and scripting languages such as PHP, ASP, XML and CSS (for technical positions)
Sales & Marketing Skills
• Ability to understand the customer and the market
• Customer Relationship Management
• Ability to think creatively & bring innovation to the marketing approach
Unlike the software industry where lots of options such as certification exams exist for one to assess his skills, the SEM industry offers limited avenues for skills assessment. Given the newness of the industry, it is justified. However, few options still exist for SEM skills assessment. Find below few such options:
SEM Certifications
• Google Advertising Professional Certification
• Yahoo Certified Ambassador
SEM Quizzes
• OM Careers SEM Quiz
• W3schools HTML Quiz
SEM Learning Resources
Success in Search Engine Marketing requires both learning and practice. The key element of learning in the SEM industry is to be abreast of latest best practices. Therefore, one needs to have a constant urge to learn in order to be a successful Search Engine Marketer. An SEM professional has numerous options to learn SEM concepts and best practices. However, it is critical that one chooses appropriate options for continuous learning. Find below a list of selected learning options.
Discussion Forums - Given the dynamic nature of the SEM industry, participation in discussion forums is considered the best approach to be abreast of latest happenings. Below is a list of some of the popular SEM discussion forums.
• SEO Chat
• Search Engine Watch
• Web Master World
Blogs - Blogs are another powerful source of continuous learning. Find below some of the blogs which publish valuable information about SEM concepts including latest revisions and trends.
• Google Adwords Blog
• Yahoo Search Marketing Blog
• Matt Cutts Blog
• SearchEngineLand
Articles and Tutorials - Some people do not want to go through a complete training or a course. However, they are interested in a crash course or a quick revision. Find below some of the popular SEM articles and tutorials written by SEM experts.
• SEMPO Learning Center
• Beginners Guide to SEO by SEOmoz
• Google Webmaster Guidelines
Online Trainings - A training or a course in SEM offers a structured way to learn SEM skills and provides a good start, especially for the beginners. However, one needs to be responsible for continual learning to be updated about latest trends. A self study based online training offers the convenience of learning from anywhere and the flexibility of learning anytime, compared to a classroom based training. Find below a list of some of the valuable online training programs in SEM.
• SEMPO Institute
• Adwords Learning Center
• Yahoo Search Marketing (click on ‘Find out How Sponsored Search Works.’)
• OM Careers SEM Game
• DMA Training Program
Classroom Trainings - Although classroom based training has some disadvantages over an online training program, the fixed schedule of the classroom training offers a more powerful structure (one’s learning does not depend on one’s mood) to ensure the learning it promises. Find below a list of some of the recognized classroom based trainings.
• SEOToolSet
• High Rankings Seminars
• Search Engine Workshops
Newsletters - Newsletters are a great way to keep oneself informed about the latest happenings in the SEM world. Find below some of the popular and valuable SEM newsletters.
• Search Engine Guide
• SearchDay
• ClickZ News
Professional Organizations - By being part of reputed SEM organizations like SEMPO , one can stay up to date about latest happenings in the SEM industry. Moreoever, such memberships offer exceptional opportunity to network with industry experts. Find below some of the reputed Search Engine Marketing professional organizations.
• SEMPO
• SEOPros
Conferences - Participation in SEM conferences is another great opportunity for training & development, directly from the industry experts. Find below some of the prestigious Search Engine Marketing conferences.
• Search Engine Strategies
• WebmasterWorld Pubcon
• ad:tech
SEM Interviews
Search Engine Marketing is both a Science and an Art. The selection process for SEM professionals may involve a single interview, multiple rounds of interviews or a combination of written test and an interview. A candidate is most likely to be tested on both general and technical skills, as mentioned above. Many organizations first conduct an aptitude test and then follow it up with a technical interview.
Please understand that it is possible that the person interviewing you may not know more than just few SEM buzzwords. The reason they are considering you for a position is that they need your expertise and that you may be the first one to bring that experitse. The company may not be fully convinced about the potential of SEM for them and you may be able to convince them through the interview process. It is critical that before you go for the interview, you study the website of your potential employer and the products/services offered by them.
Some of the questions commonly asked in an SEM interview are:
1. What are the advantages of SEO over PPC?
2. What is Web Analytics?
3. How do you optimize a dynamic web page?
4. What is black hat SEO?
5. List 5 important website elements for SEO.
6. Mention 3 popular PR, Directory and Article submission sites.
7. List 5 most common SEO incompatible issues found on most websites.
8. What are the most common ROI metrics in Search Engine Marketing?
9. What is a landing page?
10. How do you perform keyword research?
Visit OM Careers SEM Interview section for a comprehensive list of SEM interview questions.
SEM Jobs Resources
The growing SEM industry has created lots of new jobs and the demand for SEM professionals is going to increase continuously at least for next couple of years. Find below a list of some of the popular job sites for SEM.
• SEM Jobs at SEMPO
• SEO Jobs in USA
• SEO Consultants
• GetAFreelancer (freelancing SEO jobs)
Search engines have become an integrated part of our lives. In today’s world, 'being online’ is not an option. In US alone, around 7 billion searches are being made every month. Travel, finance, entertainment, education, health or ecommerce, search engines are being used to find information, products and services.
Search Engine Marketing or SEM is the process of marketing a website via search engines. SEM strategies primarily consist of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising.
SEO is the process of improving natural or organic rankings on search engines. Search engines rank websites based on variety of parameters and each search engine has its own algorithm to rank different swebites. However, one common and most important ranking parameter is a site’s credibility which is determined by the quality and quantity of other sites which link to it. PPC is a type of internet advertising in which the advertiser pays an agreed amount to a search engine for every click a visitor makes on the advertisement. It is also referred to as Cost Per Click (CPC), Paid Placement and Search Engine Advertising.
SEM Industry
According to a research by SEMPO, Search Engine Marketing industry was at $9.45 billion in North America in 2006. It is expected to be over $18 billion industry by the year 2011. The SEM industry grew significantly in 2006 as compared to 2005 when it was less than $6 billion in size. According to the same research, while SEO is the most popular form of SEM, it accounted for around 10% of the total spending. However, Paid Advertising accounted for over 85% of the total SEM spending in 2006.
Over the last few years, the importance and the acceptance of SEM has grown significantly. According to a survey by SEMPO, of all the respondents, more than 50% said that Senior Management at their companies are ‘very involved’ in their SEM program. Sales and Brand awareness were the two major objectives behind all SEM programs.
SEM Job Profiles
Growth in the SEM industry has created a strong demand for experienced and talented Search Engine Marketing professionals. This demand is expected to grow even faster in the coming years with lots of new opportunities for existing and budding Search Engine Marketers.
The SEM industry offers various kinds of job roles for its professionals. Given that the industry is still evolving, these job roles are also changing and new roles are being created with new initiatives. For instance, online PR (Public Relations) has gained significant growth over the last year and so is the need for PR writers and marketers.
An SEM professional may be employed for an in-house work or by an agency. For instance, ecommerce companies like eBay, Google, Yahoo hire SEM professionals for their own products and services promotion. However, agencies like iProspect hire people to serve their clients for various SEM assignments. One may also work as a freelancer. Since every activity of an SEM job can be done online, lots of freelancing opportunities exist for independent SEM professionals. Find below the list of some of the key job roles in the SEM industry. Please note that depending upon the size of the organization, some of the mentioned roles may be combined into a single role.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
• VP/Director, SEO
• SEO Manager
• SEO Team Lead
• SEO Executive (Link Building, Keyword Research etc)
• Content Writer and Editor
• Account Manager (for organizations who serve multiple clients)
PPC (Pay Per Click)
• Campaign Executive
• Campaign Manager
• Ad Writer or Copywriter
• Account Manager (as above)
Besides the above mentioned roles, organizations also hire technical professionals and graphic designers for building tools and technologies for effective SEM implementation and service.
SEM Salaries
Although there is no official data available on the salaries earned by SEM professionals, the annual salary for an SEM professional in US typically range between $30,000 for an SEM exeuctive to $250,000 for a VP level position depending upon the years of experience and the location. The salary offered for similar roles in India range between Rs 120,000 (approx $2500) to Rs 30,00,000 (approx $65000) per annum.
In-house professionals demand higher salaries than professions working in an SEM agency. The key reason behind this salary difference is that in-house professionals possess stronger domain knowledge compared to an agency professional and thus the role performed by an in-house professional is more critical.
Required Skill Sets
To be a successful SEM professional, one needs a variety of skill sets. Moreover, the skill sets requirement changes with time as per the changing needs of the dynamic SEM industry. Find below the details about the key skills required by an SEM professional.
General Skills
• Strong quantitative and analytical ability
• Excellent communication skills (particularly writing skills)
• Constant urge for learning (industry is dynamic and one needs to stay abreast of the best practices)
Technical Skills
• Sound understanding of Computers, Internet, Email and HTML skills
• SEO techniques - both “do’s and don’ts”
• PPC techniques including specific knowledge about programs such as Google Adwords, Yahoo Search Marketing and MSN Advertising
• Sound understanding of tools such as Word Tracker, Google Keyword Suggestion & Traffic Estimator, Google Toolbar, Google Analytics, HTML Editors and FTP Softwares
• Sound understanding of relevant programming and scripting languages such as PHP, ASP, XML and CSS (for technical positions)
Sales & Marketing Skills
• Ability to understand the customer and the market
• Customer Relationship Management
• Ability to think creatively & bring innovation to the marketing approach
Unlike the software industry where lots of options such as certification exams exist for one to assess his skills, the SEM industry offers limited avenues for skills assessment. Given the newness of the industry, it is justified. However, few options still exist for SEM skills assessment. Find below few such options:
SEM Certifications
• Google Advertising Professional Certification
• Yahoo Certified Ambassador
SEM Quizzes
• OM Careers SEM Quiz
• W3schools HTML Quiz
SEM Learning Resources
Success in Search Engine Marketing requires both learning and practice. The key element of learning in the SEM industry is to be abreast of latest best practices. Therefore, one needs to have a constant urge to learn in order to be a successful Search Engine Marketer. An SEM professional has numerous options to learn SEM concepts and best practices. However, it is critical that one chooses appropriate options for continuous learning. Find below a list of selected learning options.
Discussion Forums - Given the dynamic nature of the SEM industry, participation in discussion forums is considered the best approach to be abreast of latest happenings. Below is a list of some of the popular SEM discussion forums.
• SEO Chat
• Search Engine Watch
• Web Master World
Blogs - Blogs are another powerful source of continuous learning. Find below some of the blogs which publish valuable information about SEM concepts including latest revisions and trends.
• Google Adwords Blog
• Yahoo Search Marketing Blog
• Matt Cutts Blog
• SearchEngineLand
Articles and Tutorials - Some people do not want to go through a complete training or a course. However, they are interested in a crash course or a quick revision. Find below some of the popular SEM articles and tutorials written by SEM experts.
• SEMPO Learning Center
• Beginners Guide to SEO by SEOmoz
• Google Webmaster Guidelines
Online Trainings - A training or a course in SEM offers a structured way to learn SEM skills and provides a good start, especially for the beginners. However, one needs to be responsible for continual learning to be updated about latest trends. A self study based online training offers the convenience of learning from anywhere and the flexibility of learning anytime, compared to a classroom based training. Find below a list of some of the valuable online training programs in SEM.
• SEMPO Institute
• Adwords Learning Center
• Yahoo Search Marketing (click on ‘Find out How Sponsored Search Works.’)
• OM Careers SEM Game
• DMA Training Program
Classroom Trainings - Although classroom based training has some disadvantages over an online training program, the fixed schedule of the classroom training offers a more powerful structure (one’s learning does not depend on one’s mood) to ensure the learning it promises. Find below a list of some of the recognized classroom based trainings.
• SEOToolSet
• High Rankings Seminars
• Search Engine Workshops
Newsletters - Newsletters are a great way to keep oneself informed about the latest happenings in the SEM world. Find below some of the popular and valuable SEM newsletters.
• Search Engine Guide
• SearchDay
• ClickZ News
Professional Organizations - By being part of reputed SEM organizations like SEMPO , one can stay up to date about latest happenings in the SEM industry. Moreoever, such memberships offer exceptional opportunity to network with industry experts. Find below some of the reputed Search Engine Marketing professional organizations.
• SEMPO
• SEOPros
Conferences - Participation in SEM conferences is another great opportunity for training & development, directly from the industry experts. Find below some of the prestigious Search Engine Marketing conferences.
• Search Engine Strategies
• WebmasterWorld Pubcon
• ad:tech
SEM Interviews
Search Engine Marketing is both a Science and an Art. The selection process for SEM professionals may involve a single interview, multiple rounds of interviews or a combination of written test and an interview. A candidate is most likely to be tested on both general and technical skills, as mentioned above. Many organizations first conduct an aptitude test and then follow it up with a technical interview.
Please understand that it is possible that the person interviewing you may not know more than just few SEM buzzwords. The reason they are considering you for a position is that they need your expertise and that you may be the first one to bring that experitse. The company may not be fully convinced about the potential of SEM for them and you may be able to convince them through the interview process. It is critical that before you go for the interview, you study the website of your potential employer and the products/services offered by them.
Some of the questions commonly asked in an SEM interview are:
1. What are the advantages of SEO over PPC?
2. What is Web Analytics?
3. How do you optimize a dynamic web page?
4. What is black hat SEO?
5. List 5 important website elements for SEO.
6. Mention 3 popular PR, Directory and Article submission sites.
7. List 5 most common SEO incompatible issues found on most websites.
8. What are the most common ROI metrics in Search Engine Marketing?
9. What is a landing page?
10. How do you perform keyword research?
Visit OM Careers SEM Interview section for a comprehensive list of SEM interview questions.
SEM Jobs Resources
The growing SEM industry has created lots of new jobs and the demand for SEM professionals is going to increase continuously at least for next couple of years. Find below a list of some of the popular job sites for SEM.
• SEM Jobs at SEMPO
• SEO Jobs in USA
• SEO Consultants
• GetAFreelancer (freelancing SEO jobs)
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