Any SEO expert will advocate the importance of links in determining your placement in any major search engine, as will Outrank.com.

That said, link building is risky and complicated–too much so for an amateur to perform wisely.

All of the following are considered in the valuation of a given link:

• Continuity of subject matter
• Number of additional links to a page
• Presentation/positioning of the link
• Sites linking to the link-providing site
• Perceived authority of the linking site
• Variety of link sources
• Relative timespan/trending of links

This is a small and non-exclusive list. Furthermore, these factors vary in importance and use with one another…and between search engines.

With that said, search engines do a fairly good job of differentiating sites that try to game their algorithms from sites that are associated with relevant, trusted, popular, non-spammy domains. Fortunately, there are a variety of ways to gain legitimate, valuable links to your site, though these tactics require a large investment of resources and expert SEO knowledge:

• Creative content strategies
• Viral sharing
• Evaluating trending topics relative to your industry
• Legitimate directories
• Publicity

On a final note, attempting to use these strategies on your own or with an underqualified SEO company can have disastrous results. In the wrong hands, these efforts can damage your reputation or put you out of business. To talk about building your online presence as a small business, call Outrank at (877) 332-4321.

Outrank.com has come across a couple of new developments in the search industry. More specifically, search giant Google rolled out changes that affect the way we interact with its engine.

Users of Google search have been alerted in results pages of potentially malicious pages for a long time. However, new notifications have been added that reflect advances in the company’s detection capabilities. When a site is deemed questionable, a notice appears below the title, reading “This site may be compromised”. This technology is also intended to inform well-meaning webmasters.

Also, Google’s Translate feature has been fleshed out. For one, “alternative translations” have been added, which allow the user to see the actual intent of a translated phrase. Secondly, virtual keyboards have been introduced, as some world languages are difficult to type on a standard keyboard. Finally, speech technology is now available for three additional languages (improved in seventeen), which allows you to actually hear what a translation sounds like spoken.

Check Outrank.com’s blogs regularly for more Google updates.

When it comes to small business advertising, Outrank.com is the leader in reaching potential customers on the front page of the search engines. With a low cost and measurable results, it’s no surprise that the SEO specialist now caters to over 8,000 small businesses looking to establish an online presence.

There is no secret to the company’s success, as the product sells itself. Clients are given a website and are registered on local directories in a way that helps their customers find the products and services they offer. It’s evident that people are going online to research and contact local businesses.

As demand grows, so does Outrank.com. They’re constantly adding experienced client services professionals to the team to make sure that every client has a personal point of contact, no matter what their monthly budget is. They’re also beefing up their marketing team, whose sole job is to make sure the product drives business to the customer. They have recently been named a “Top Workplace” by the Austin American-Statesman and a “Best Company to Work For” by Texas Monthly. These honors reflect their dedication to their employees and customers alike.

To see what all the buzz is about, call Outrank.com at (877) 332-4321.

As if it were any surprise, Verizon is currently asking legislators from Virginia and Maryland for permission to stop delivering the local white pages to everyone except those who explicitly request it. One of the country’s premier phone service providers, Verizon has already been granted these permissions by five other states. By early next year, the company hopes to have these changes made in all twelve states in which it offers its services.

What director of public relations Harry Mitchell calls a shift to “on-request delivery” heralds the inevitable death of the phone book. According to the Washington Post, about 2 percent of residents are actually requesting phone book delivery in states where forced delivery is out of practice. While also citing environmental benefits, Mitchell also noted that “the nature of the way people are getting information is evolving.” Both Verizon and AT&T–who has reportedly pursued similar permissions–say that “most people search for numbers online,” according to the Post.

This news has immeasurable implications for your business. Though these changes only affect delivery of the white pages at this time, rest assured that the yellow pages are on their way out too–well after people have stopped using them entirely. This is especially important if you are wasting money on advertising in the phone book or have not established a visible online presence for your business. Talk to a small business specialist at Outrank.com to see how you can achieve this at a fraction of the cost of other advertising methods.

If you read Outrank.com’s blog offerings on a regular basis, you’re probably familiar with the launch of Google Instant and its implications for SEO success. More recently, users now have the ability to view a thumbnail-sized screenshot (or “image-based snapshot,” in company lingo) of  any listing directly on the search results page.

The thought is that this technology will allow users to make better decisions when choosing what results to click. Google claims that, from their initial observations, users are noticeably more satisfied with the result they click after viewing a screenshot. The image, which is shown when a user clicks a corresponding magnifying glass icon, is intended to emphasize the most relevant sections of the page.

With this feature, users are able to more easily discern quality pages from spammy ones. Relevant text is highlighted in orange within page previews for further screening. Previews can come in handy when you need to recall a page you visited earlier. They can help you find an official or authoritative source for information. Previews are also a great way to sidestep cyberattacks from shady websites that occasionally sneak into SERPs.

For Outrank.com customers and other legitimate small, local businesses, this can only be helpful. Our optimized websites are professional-grade, battle-tested products that continually bring in new customers for our clients. Most of all, they are search-friendly and designed to attract and convert potential customers searching for products and services in your neighborhood. Call us at (877) 332-4321 to get more business for yourself.

With millions of searches being performed on Google every day, SEO has emerged as the best way to reach a large audience at a low cost. Not surprisingly, the same tactics used by Outrank.com for small business success are being widely used by politicians to provide information to voters and to shape public opinion.

With the US midterm elections in full swing, political hopefuls at all levels of government are discovering the full potential of  search engine marketing. Recently, campaign strategists have made headlines by using SEO to make negative information about their opponents more visible. For years now, voters have used the internet to inform themselves about candidates. In the past few days, Google has noted a significant increase in searches for voting registration and polling places that shows no sign of slowing down in the future.

These tactics have a proven, measurable impact on your business success. This is why companies like BP are throwing large sums of money at search marketing campaigns. Hiring a capable SEO means having control over the way potential customers view your business. Just as Americans turn to search engines for voting information, they are using search to find the services you sell. Call Outrank.com at (877) 332-4321 for a free consultation.

Recently, Google introduced a series of minor changes that affect the user’s experience. As Google continues to command a domineering search engine market share, those of us at Outrank.com seek to keep you up-to-date with the latest happenings.

Although the term “Autocomplete” has been used formally and informally for some time to refer to Google’s ”Suggest” feature, the change was recently made official. Users will recognize this feature as the box that appears with a few suggested search terms after they start typing a query.

If you have a Google account, adding a date of birth to your profile will now result in a “special treat” on your homepage on said date, according to a recent company announcement. The surprise will be a birthday-themed graphic, in the vein of Google’s tradition of altering its logo on significant dates. It is reported to look like this:

For those of you interested in global search, Google has made a couple of significant changes. First, the “Instant” feature (a hot topic now in its own right) has been brought to users in Australia and New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and India. Weeks after its initial launch, Google has reported an unspecified increase in the proportion of users taking advantage of Instant. Also, Google has been working to make public information more accessible in Europe. To see how it looks, go here.

Check back for more updates and insights into search marketing from Outrank.com.

This week, Outrank.com brings you some compelling data to prove how effective SEO is for small to medium-sized businesses. The study I’d like to discuss today was put together by Bain & Company (one of the world’s most prestigious consulting firms), in collaboration with the Interactive Advertising Bureau (whose members account for over 85% of online advertising).

The findings of this study (located here) reinforce the power of advertising on the internet for businesses interested in closing sales as quickly as possible. The figure below illustrates this potential:

In this chart, we can see five “brand objectives”–in other words, the effects that TV, magazine, newspaper and internet ads have on potential consumers. Clearly, most small business owners (including everyday contractors, photographers, insurance agents, landscapers, etc.) are more interested in using their hard-earned advertising dollars to drive actual sales. When comparing internet advertising (most notably, SEO) against these other mediums, we see that the internet is the most effective way to turn your advertising dollars into “purchase intent”, A.K.A. profit.

The chart also indicates that, in 2008, companies spent over $35 million on TV ads that were only successful in “Creating Awareness”. Only a minute amount of TV ad spending was shown to result in actual sales. Think about it from the consumer’s perspective. We are all aware of the commercials we’re subjected to when we are watching our favorite shows, but that doesn’t mean we have any intention of buying their products.

With an extremely low cost and access to a large number of customers that are actually looking to buy products and services, SEO empowers the little guy more than any other advertising method. Call Outrank.com at (877) 332-4321 to learn more.

Small Businesses Look to Outrank.com for SEO Expertise

For businesses that are considering marketing themselves on the internet, it can be hard to know what it takes to achieve lasting prominence in search engine results. The truth is, there is no way to cement your ranking without routine maintenance performed by experts like Outrank.com. SEO is like putting flyers a telephone pole–if you post one advertisement and then leave it alone, it’s only a matter of time before your competitors cover you up.

As I discussed earlier, the formulas that determine search engine results change frequently and without notice. These formulas are also significantly different when returning local and organic rankings. High rankings become more competitive on a daily basis, as more and more small businesses smarten up and hire professional SEO firms.

Because of these factors, you need an SEO company that has the resources and experience help move you to the top of the search engines. A first-page ranking is extremely valuable and worth a small investment to hold on to. For example:

• If you are a remodeler in the Dallas area, it is safe to say that at least 2,500 searches will be performed on Google for your type of services every month. Based on data leaked from AOL, roughly 90% of searchers will click on a result from the front page. Based on these numbers, a front page listing exposes your business to an impressive number of customers.

At a price that could rival your monthly car payment, hiring a good SEO is a no-brainer. Contact Outrank.com at 877.332.4321 to find out more.

Outrank.com is growing faster than ever. The search engine optimization experts at Outrank now work with over 6000 small, local businesses to improve their visibility online. When it comes to achieving front page placement on the major search engines, small business owners know they can trust Outrank – success is sure to follow.

Outrank.com’s service delivers a high amount of value at a price that any business can afford. When business owners start to see the phone ring, it’s easy to justify the low monthly cost of Outrank.com.

The Austin-based company’s “Work for Free Guarantee” and month-to-month agreement are also reasons for its success, as customers don’t have to worry about being locked into a contract.

The client services department at Outrank.com is growing fast this year to keep up with the firm’s expanding client base. Search engines are now the go-to place for people to research local businesses, and Outrank.com continues to build revenue-generating websites and achieve front page ranking for thousands of clients to reach these prospective customers.