The document outlines six common SEO mistakes that business websites often make, including having duplicate title tags and meta descriptions, failing to update content regularly, and not optimizing new content. It emphasizes the importance of unique page identifiers, maintaining freshness, and optimizing for local search, while also highlighting the significance of building quality backlinks. Overall, the focus should be on improving user experience and conversions rather than just rankings.

1. 6 Common SEO Mistakes on
Business Websites
7/24/2012

2. Hall Internet Marketing
• Based in Portland, Maine
• In business over 13 years
• Twitter: @hall_web
• Facebook.com/hallweb
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3. Who We Are
• Rachel Bowes, Digital Marketing Strategist
• Dora Leav, Paid Search Marketer
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4. Today’s Format
• 25 minute presentation
• Use GoToWebinar “Ask a Question”
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5. 1. Title tags and meta descriptions
aren’t unique.
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6. Review Your Website
Look for duplicate title tags and meta descriptions.
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Use an SEO crawler tool to capture page
Crawl Site title tags and meta descriptions. Small
websites can be done effectively by hand.
2 Find Every page on your site should have a
unique title tag and meta description.
Duplicates Highlight any duplicate values.
3 Implement
Changes
Rewrite title tags and meta descriptions to
match unique page content.
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7. Title Tags
How to find them.
Free Next Day Shipping I Zappos.com
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8. Meta Descriptions
Typically appear in search results pages.
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9. Meta Descriptions
How to find them.
Shortcut: Ctrl U (View Page Source)
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10. Meta Descriptions
Search for meta-description
Note what’s there.
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11. No Meta Description?
Engines will extract text from the page and
use it on search results page.
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12. Site Crawl
Capture title tags and meta descriptions.
URL Title Tag Meta Description
http://www.mainecats. maine cats Cats, maine, kittens
com/about_us in Brunswick!
http://www.mainecats. maine cats Cats, maine, kittens
com/contact_us in Brunswick!
http://www.mainecats. maine cats
com/calico_cats
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13. Title tags: 70 characters
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14. Meta descriptions: 150 to 160
characters long
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15. Rewrite Duplicate Tags
Make sure that each page is unique!
URL Title Tag Meta Description
http://www.mainecats.com/ About Maine Cats Maine Cats was
about_us founded in 2005. We
love finding Maine cats
new forever homes.
http://www.mainecats.com/ Contact Maine Cats Contact Maine Cats
contact_us with any cat related
questions. We love
hearing from you!
http://www.mainecats.com/ Calico Maine Cats If you're considering a
calico_cats calico cat for adoption,
you probably have a
good idea of what you
want in your new pet.
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16. 2. Your website isn’t updated
regularly.
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17. Freshness counts for SEO.
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18. New Content, Most Relevant
Clinton Administration Website
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19. New Content, Most Relevant
Current Administration Website
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20. Freshness and Your Website
Update your website regularly.
Editorial Create an editorial calendar and schedule updates
Calendar for your blog and other areas of your site.
Industry Comment on industry news and trends. Make sure
Trends that your content is unique and timely!
News and Publish press releases to your site. Potential topics:
Events internal promotions, new hires, charitable initiatives.
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21. There are many ways to keep your
content fresh.
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22. Even small changes can have a
positive impact.
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23. 3. New content isn’t optimized.
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24. Creating New Pages
Get the most return for your effort.
Optimized Site
Summer New Staff
2012 Members
Events
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25. Pick an SEO friendly CMS
(Content Management System).
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26. Optimize New Pages
‣ Title tag- 70 characters
‣ Meta description- 150 to 160 characters
‣ Write SEO friendly content
‣ Description alt tags for images
‣ Internal link to other pages
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27. 4. Optimize for local search.
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28. 20% of all Google searches have
local intent.
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29. Local searches are expected to
increase.
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30. Optimize for Local Searches
Have a targeted approach.
Directory Create or update local search directory listings. Be
sure to optimize for your business type and
Listings addresses.
Stay Keep up-to-date with Google+ and changes to local
Current search.
Leverage Sponsor local events and bloggers. Geo-tag photos
Local on networks like Google+ and Flickr.
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31. 5. Not having a backlink strategy.
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32. Strive to obtain backlinks from
several websites.
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33. Trusted Sites Are Connected
Backlinks from several websites.
Petfinder.com
Portland.go
Tufts.edu
v
Mainecat
.com
Visitmaine.
Mespca.org
org
Boston.co
Cats.com
m
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34. Isolated Sites Aren’t Trusted
Paid4links.tv
Portland-cat.com
Spammy-
blog.com
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35. Do not buy links.
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36. Obtain Quality Backlinks
Have a targeted approach.
Quality Create unique content that people will share, like
Content blog posts, infographics and videos.
Sponsor/ Consider sponsoring local events or helping non
Engage profits. Ask that a link to your website be included.
Ask Ask business partners. Reach out to local and
industry bloggers who may be interested in writing
Nicely about you.
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37. 6. Focus only on rankings.
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38. Instead, focus on conversions and
user experience.
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39. Monitor Site Engagement
‣ Do users complete the desired action?
• Request more information?
• Download a white paper?
• Sign up for e-newsletters?
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40. Make incremental improvements.
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41. Mistake Free SEO
1. Unique title tags and meta descriptions
2. Regular content updates
3. Optimize new pages
4. Optimize for local search
5. Seek out backlinks from quality websites
6. Focus on conversions and user experience
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42. Learn More
• Upcoming Webinars:
http://www.hallme.com/search-marketing-
webinars.php
• Phone: 1-877-425-5932
• info@hallme.com
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