Overlay in Google counts ALL clicks for a particular link and thus the data for ONE particular page isn't correct. In comes CrazyEgg that manages to track individual click by page and not by site. Not only do they have an accurate count of clicks on links, they have cool heatmap and confetti views that show you where people click (precisely where), and where that user came from (color coded).

Add another weapon to your analytics arsenal because after all, the only competitive advantage you have online is your own brand and data.

Crazy for CrazyEgg is a post from: Distinct SEO Calgary

I was doing a search yesterday for the date of the John Mayer concert in Calgary. Now instead of going to Ticketmaster I figured I'd check what Google had to say. Who knows, maybe they'd do some cool result like they do when you ask for metric to imperial conversion with numbers (answer displayed at the top of the results). I typed in the query 'John Mayer Calgary' and was a bit surprised with the results. Have you noticed this?

Check out what the results displayed. A local result complete with a map to tell me where the event was going to be held. That's cool but I was curious to know WHO got that listing. Upon closer inspection it was a ticket reseller--essentially a glorified online ticket scalper.

Fair enough (OK maybe they aren't fair), but still I wanted to know HOW they were ranked. So I took a closer look.

Turns out this particular web site was running a frame within their page and had carefully constructed meta tags.

According to Google TOC frames aren't properly understood by the search engine spider--the content can't be seen. Yet here was this web page ranking number one for an upcoming concert. The reason why is they were VERY crafty on how they were creating each page (which is replicated for thousands of concerts).

Firstly they ensured that the content that the search engine spiders COULD see was specific on the concert and location complete with FULL concert address. The web site is in no way affiliated with the locations, but the full address coupled with the event in the title gave the web site TOP placement in Google search (complete with map).

After that they wrote a piece of script to call an iframe up with the correlating concert ticket information. Pretty clever.

Goes to show that you need to maximize your local results and insert your complete business details including address to help you rank for local searches.

Curious Google Local Results for Concert Ticket in Results is a post from: Distinct SEO Calgary

Firstly, web sites that are 100% flash are generally invisible to the search engines.

Google has only begun to figure out how to index flash, but in reality they cannot see behind your flash code, thus to them all the content and copy within your flash web site is invisible. That's a big deal because what Google can't see they can't rank. You must give the search engine something to grasp if you're going to rank for anything. What they find they'll try to rank you for. If they find nothing then you'll receive little to no traffic directly from search engine results.

Secondly, full flash web sites load slowly. These days server speed is a big deal, and if it takes 5 seconds to load a flash element then you're delivering a below average product. Page load time will start to play a greater role in the overall ranking mechanism employed by Google.

Lastly, full flash web sites can detract from the overall purpose. I usually skip right through ornate flash intros because they have little to do with the information I want to find. It's merely a cumbersome addition to a web site that I try to skip. It's rare that I find a cool flash intro that I sit around to watch.

So how should you approach flash? It IS a useful took to add to your web site arsenal. It's NOT, however, a mechanism to employ as your primary function. Flash should only be used as ornaments on a web site and should never dominate. At worst you'll never be found in the search engines and thus can only depend on referral/bookmark traffic. At best you'll make people sit through a preview they'd rather ignore thus degrading the overall user experience.

What are you thoughts on the use of flash on web site? How are you using flash now? Should you adjust?

How to Effectively Use Flash on Your Website with SEO in Mind is a post from: Distinct SEO Calgary

Technorati Tags: flash

Q. Describe your experience with the Distinct SEO team.

It was quite wonderful, their team was quite knowledgeable and always VERY quick to email questions and concerns. They are very knowledgeable in what they do and they do it VERY well.

Q. What made you choose Distinct SEO?

I didn’t do much research outside of the SEOChat forum but they were highly recommended there and felt very comfortable in my choice after speaking with Barry.

Q. Did we answer your questions correctly, concisely, and transparently?

Distinct SEO pays very close attention to detail and holds the customers requests with extreme importance. Anytime there was a question or concern it was and answered and RESOLVED in less than a day.

Q. Are you happy with the results of Distinct SEO’s work (you could comment on rankings, sales, etc.)?

My company went from 4th to 5th page results as a benchmark to being 1st and 2nd page hits within less than two months.

Q. How did Distinct SEO work with your existing business marketing plans?

They always asked and made sure anything drastic they were about to would fit perfectly with your company image and direction.

Q. Distinct SEO developed a custom blog solution for your web site, can you describe the results of this work and what it means for the company?

This blog came out fantastic! Distinct SEO gave us very clear and precise instructions in how to more effectively draft our posts so that it would positively impact our rankings and it clearly worked.

Thanks to Mark from Mac Matters, we wish them well in the future.

Client Review: Macs Matter for local Phoenix Firm is a post from: Distinct SEO Calgary

Great read, and brings up a few questions that I want to muse about here.

The free market enterprise assumes a number of things including: 1) People are free to criticize Google (the industry giant) and come up with better ways to exceed them, 2) Google is free to create competitive advantages and make money off of them, 3) those who cannot innovate will be left by the wayside when ideas change.

Google has unrolled their Local services and search results that end up preying off of the very web sites that give them the information in the first place (and who are ironically following their rules).

Take a read of Micheal's post linked above and you can see documentation of how Google is stealing traffic from web sites. When you type search parameters you are now receiving full information on results ranging from reviews to phone numbers. Really, no need to visit the web site at all if Google sums it up so well. Props to Google, unfortunately for the web site in questions they profit off of this move since they keep traffic that would otherwise head to your web site.

Some thoughts on the move: 1) Some web sites won't care. Why? Because regardless of whether or not someone visited the web site, action took place. In his case, he still ended up visiting the restaurant and having a meal, the restaurant doesn't care either way so long as they get the foot traffic. (I'm not going to discuss the implications this has on brand recognition which is a bigger deal.)

2) When reviews are present, and when they [Google] summarize other web sites that have gone through great lengths to create quality that content for reviews, searchers don't visit the review web site because the information is available and consumable quickly in Google's format.

That means a) the web sites that made the content and who followed Google's rules (by making a nice content rich web site), lose profit from visitors usurped by Google who makes cash by keeping and targeting Google ads to those users, and b) the web sites, as a result of the free market enterprise, need to innovate beyond how they offer what is essentially a glorified directory.

Yes Google is profiting off of web sites with great content and they have a right to do so. It just means it's time for the web sites being 'preyed' upon to kick the can or figure out a different way to attract visitors. It stinks, but such is the temporary life of the net.

Thoughts: Is Google Stealing and Hijacking Your Traffic? is a post from: Distinct SEO Calgary

Coaching is more than training, although that's a heavy component. Apart from training, a coach will help you work your way through marketing challenges and guide you towards profitable solutions. Coaches offer valuable insight on past experiences that can benefit your future strategies and tactics. Coaches also ensure you get the best education in your learning experience that's tuned to your specific business needs and insights.

Contact us for more information on this opportunity, space is limited.

Distinct SEO Launches Web Marketing Coaching Service is a post from: Distinct SEO Calgary

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/managing/leadership-in-the-postmodern-age/article1436737/

Those working in the marketing field should already be engaging in postmodern issues if they have any business dealing with 0-35 year olds. If you haven't, then you're again, behind the times, and will slowly face a decline in your capabilities if you don't adjust your perspectives.

Post Modernism in Business and Marketing is a post from: Distinct SEO Calgary

But how are these tools being used to mobilize networks into action?

To those who have not participated in social media and new media technologies, Haiti has revealed a whole new world.

In the days after the catastrophe news sources came from social media web sites like Twitter and youtube. Not only that, but as aid agencies started to unveil relief plans, they started to attract more attention because they were using social media outlets.

For example, the Red Cross would attract very little attention if there weren't disasters around the globe. The fact they were capable of engaging in social media, they had a voice and people had an outlet to get news and to offer support. Millions of dollars have been donated through Twitter and the web and that tab is only increasing. If the Red Cross (And others) were not available to capture this network searching for information and outlets, those millions of dollars likely would have not been given.

How are you mobilizing networks around your target market? Are you even participating in the communities and technologies that give them life/voice?

Within days of the Haiti event text messaging took on a new form as well. Phone companies banded together with aid agencies and released information on how you could DONATE via text. Instead of visiting the Red Cross, mailing a cheque, or visiting the web site, you could INSTANTLY participate by offering a donation, albeit in $5 increments, to help. Millions again were donated within days, and again, that's millions of dollars that would probably be otherwise unrealised.

So the question you must ask yourself is where is your business situated on the adoption curve of technology? If you're just figuring out Facebook you're a laggard. If you're just coming into Twitter, then you're a late adopter. If you're just coming into text messaging then you're way off the chart (in a bad way.)

I'm not suggesting that it's imperative to use these items in order to survive. But to survive in a marketplace you need to be able to speak the language, and if you're not engaged in some of the basic elements of social media then potential customers won't be able to find you if they're looking (nor will they bother to try to look for you).

Haiti has taught us concretely that new media technology and networks can be used effectively to capture voices and dollars, and to do so exceptionally fast. How are connected?

What Haiti Teaches Us About Social Media is a post from: Distinct SEO Calgary

The latest working BOTW (Best of the Web) discount code for the month of January, 2010 is: NEWYR.

Use the following promo code by following this link and when prompted using the BOTW Coupon promo code: NEWYR

This new code is only good for the month of January and you MUST follow the link below. This BOTW discount offers business owners the BOTW Bundled Submission which combines a Local Premium Listing with a Web Directory Listing at 20% off!!

You can use the special promo code and take advantage of a web directory listing and a dedicated page about your business on BOTW Local for half price! 20% off the already discounted price makes this an offer you can't afford to miss.

Simply use the following promo code by following this link and when prompted using the BOTW Coupon promo code: NEWYR

Current working coupon for BOTW.org: NEWYR.

Directory Submissions - Save on both the annually recurring and/or the one-time review fee.
Blog Directory Submissions - Save on the one-time review fee for blogs.
Monthly Sponsorship Ads - Discount the monthly rate for all new sponsorship ads.
Blog Advertising - Discount the monthly rate for all new sponsorship ads in the Blog Directory.
Bundled Marketing Package - Get your US Business listed in BOTH the Web Directory and BOTW Local for a fraction of the cost.  Save 20% on the yearly fee!
Premium Local Listings - Discount the monthly and annual rate for your Local Business Profile listing.

Submit to BOTW's directory options and save this month, enjoy

20% Off Coupon for BOTW – Promo Code BOTW Discount is a post from: Distinct SEO Calgary

Technorati Tags: best of the web coupons, botw, botw coupon, botw coupons, botw discount, botw discounts

Distinct SEO has long offered an introductory SEO Training program that is conducted primarily over the phone in a two hour session. We can teach you the foundational elements on how to build a successful web site according to the latest SEO standards.

If you live in the Calgary area then you have the opportunity to enroll in our training program and at no extra cost we can connect at your place of business, a coffee shop near you, or in a space provided by Distinct SEO.

Take advantage of our training program and learn the foundational elements of SEO and how you can propel your business to the next level of sales and exposure.

Corporate clients are not left out of the dark either, Distinct SEO is capable of training a your IT and/or marketing department with the necessary tools to propel your brand and web site to prominence in your target market. Get in touch for details on our program and topics covered.

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SEO Training in Calgary is a post from: Distinct SEO Calgary