1) Set up 301 redirects –The URL structure of the new website will be different to the old website and rather than just moving pages and forgetting about the old URLs, ensure that all pages within the old site 301 redirect to the most relevant page within the new website. This helps on a number of levels. It will redirect users who may have bookmarked a page on your old site to the correct page on the new site and avoid displaying an error code. It will also pass on any ‘link power’ from external links to the new URL which in turn helps to preserve ranking positions.

If you don’t have the resource to set up redirects for all your URLs, identify the most important pages by the amount of traffic they receive and the number of external links they attract. This data can be found in Google Analytics and Google Webmaster tools respectively.

2) Update your XML sitemap – Along with 301 redirects, this will help search engines update their indexes quicker, reducing the chances of a search engine user being directed to an obsolete landing page.

3) Make sure any ‘noindex’ tags are removed – If a site is available to be previewed over the internet then it’s possible that the developers might have inserted ‘noindex’ tags on every page to ensure search engines ignore it. On most occasions they will remember to remove them once the new website is actually live but it’s worth double checking.

4) Insert the Google Analytics tracking code – It’s surprising the amount of times this is forgotten. Always ensure the new website has the correct tracking code and that everything is working as was. This may mean that you have to alter previously established Goals to allow for any changes to URLs.

If you are planning to rebuild your website then Distinctly Digital can help ensure that all of the above is managed correctly so that your new website has every chance of succeeding.

UnlockData have traditionally relied on pay per click (PPC) advertising to drive traffic to their website but realizing its vulnerability to factors outside their control approached Distinctly Digital to establish a presence in the natural search engine listings. That was only 8 months ago but since then over 85% of the keywords targeted are in Google’s top ten ranking positions despite being outside the top 100 prior to the campaign.

Brief

Our brief was to establish UnlockData in the natural search engine listings and reduce their reliance on traffic from paid search (PPC) campaigns. Due to PPC campaigns UnlockData were already running, they had already identified keyphrases that drove both traffic and sales to their website; these were to be the focus of the SEO campaign.

Strategy and Execution

• Optimisation of key onsite factors such as page titles and URLS
• Creation of new product specific pages that enabled optimisation of a larger number of keywords
• Ongoing competitor analysis to identify important backlink partners in the telecommunications sector
• Implementation of Google Analytics tracking software so increases in traffic could be measured and user journey’s monitored and improved
• Link building campaign focusing on attaining deep links with keyphrase rich anchor texts
• Creation and optimisation of videos to provide backlinks and increase user interaction

Results
Despite the campaign being in its infancy, the results have been extremely satisfactory:

• 85% of targeted keywords are now on the first page of Google.co.uk
• 100% of targeted keywords in the top 20 results of Google.co.uk
• Unpaid search engine traffic has doubled (Month 1/Month
• Unpaid search engine traffic is now responsible for 15% of all traffic to the website (6% month one )

These impressive results have recently lead UnlockData to expand the scope of the campaign to focus on a wider variety of keyphrase such as those relating to different mobile phone manufactures.

Click here to visit Unlockdata.co.uk

This post discusses ways of using business network LinkedIn to help grow and promote your business and hopefully pick up a few sales off the back of it. Remember that it takes time to establish credibility and trust in any networking situation and due to its faceless nature this can take longer to build online than in person so patience is key.

So here are 5 tips for getting the most out of LinkedIn:

Display your expertise –Use it to tell clients or prospects about all the experience you have your sector. Think of it as an online CV and use it to assure people that they are in safe hands when working with you.

Research –LinkedIn is great for researching companies who you may be working with or employees you may be thinking of employing. It’s possible that there may be differences between a CV you receive and the candidates LinkedIn profile.

Use it to get a backlink – Every LinkedIn profile can contain up to 3 links to other websites. Make sure 1 of them links to your website and it will help to improve your offsite SEO.
Use it to stay connected – Business cards are great but how many do you lose or misplace? After you attend a networking meeting, go home, look up any new connections up and connect. This way you will be permanently connected and no longer reliant on keeping a business card safe.

Share your knowledge – Every industry has related groups on LinkedIn where members can ask questions to each other and answer questions from other members. Sign up to groups related to your business and set aside 30 minutes a week to login and answer questions posted by other members. This will help establish yourself as authoritative figure in your sector, increasing the chances of a contact referring business to you.

If you’re proud of it then promote it! – Include a link to your LinkedIn profile in your email signature or even your business card. This will help build your network of connections and also show to people that you are an open and honest character.

We hope you’ll follow us on Twitter and keep us up-to-date with what you’re interested in, thinking about or planning for the future.

Distinctly Digital can also be found at www.facebook.com/distinctlydigital, we look forward to seeing you there soon!

As the number of internet users increases every year, so does the importance of your website being at the top of search engine rankings for keyphrases related to your business. Think about it, when you last looked for a business or service where did you look?

One of the main advantages of search engine optimisation is its ability to increase your visibility to potential customers who have already identified a need for your offering and therefore the resultant traffic is highly convertible

Distinctly Digital have vast experience in managing search engine optimisation campaigns for clients in both business to business and business to consumer environments throughout Hertfordshire. We have strong relationships with all our clients and with frequent activity and performance updates; our approach is completely transparent.
With tailored SEO packages from as little as £400 per month Distinctly Digital are well placed to provide an excellent service for a competitive cost.

Get in touch today to discuss your requirements in more detail.

As the number of internet users increases every year, so does the importance of your website being at the top of search engine rankings for keyphrases related to your business. Think about it, when you last looked for a business or service where did you look?

One of the main advantages of search engine optimization is its ability to increase your visibility to potential customers who have already identified a need for your offering and therefore the resultant traffic is highly convertible

Distinctly Digital have vast experience in managing search engine optimization campaigns for clients in both business to business and business to consumer environments throughout Hertfordshire. We have strong relationships with all our clients and with frequent activity and performance updates; our approach is completely transparent.
With tailored SEO packages from as little as £400 per month Distinctly Digital are well placed to provide an excellent service for a competitive cost.

Get in touch today to discuss your requirements in more detail.

As the number of internet users increases every year, so does the importance of your website being at the top of search engine rankings for keyphrases related to your business. Think about it, when you last looked for a business or service where did you look?

One of the main advantages of search engine optimisation is its ability to increase your visibility to potential customers who have already identified a need for your offering and therefore the resultant traffic is highly convertible

Distinctly Digital have vast experience in managing search engine optimisation campaigns for clients in both business to business and business to consumer environments throughout Hertfordshire. We have strong relationships with all our clients and with frequent activity and performance updates; our approach is completely transparent.
With tailored SEO packages from as little as £400 per month Distinctly Digital are well placed to provide an excellent service for a competitive cost.

Get in touch today to discuss your requirements in more detail.

PPC has the ability to get your advert in front of people at the exact time they are searching for your product. Costs are only incurred when a user actually displays interest in your advert by clicking on it, so you only pay for traffic relevant to your website. When managed correctly, it can lead to a great return on investment which is one of the reasons PPC is so popular with marketers and has been for many years.

Distinctly Digital take a very hands on approach to managing PPC campaigns. We review what’s working and what’s not on a daily basis; constantly tweaking keyphrase bids, adding new keyphrases and optimising the adverts themselves.

Prior to a campaign commencing, we work closely with our clients to establish a desired user behaviour or ‘goal’ and measure our performance based on the number of goal conversions and the costs incurred. We produce weekly reports to ensure there is complete transparency of the success we deliver.

If you are looking to outsource the management of your PPC marketing or require ad hoc consultancy, get in touch today to discuss your requirements in detail.

Brief
The brief from our client Keepers Kit – one of the UKs leading goalkeeping equipment suppliers – was a simple one; improve natural search engine rankings for a number of important keyphrases and deliver an increase in volume of unpaid search engine traffic to the site.

Strategy and Execution

• Extensive optimization of onsite factors
• Vastly increased the number of internal links throughout the site to aid search engine spiders and inform search engines of the key landing pages
• In depth competitor analysis to identify important backlink partners in the sports retail niche
• Link building campaign focusing on attaining deep links with keyphrase rich anchor texts
• Provided SEO training to the Keepers Kit staff so they are able to perform basic optimization for any new products

Results

The KeepersKit.com SEO campaign is still under way with a further raft of changes planned for 2010. Results are therefore in there early stages but already include:

• All targeted keywords are now on the first page of Google
• Average search engine ranking position of keyphrases targeted has improved from 45 to 7
• Natural search engine traffic has increased by over 240% (December 2008/2009)