11.13.08
Posted in SEO Articles at 9:27 pm by Joe
I have gotten some recent feedback showing yellow pages are still a viable option. No disagreement here.
My main point in my recent article series is simply to demonstrate that search is growing increasingly powerful in reach and is simply more cost effective in most cases. All media has value at the right price.
In addition, many have asked about comparisons between online yellow pages and local search.
Quite simply, map searches have more than 3x the traffic and growing - and are primarily used as business directory searches. They are also 100% free for a listing on major search engines. Hard to compete with free… and to my main point - if you ARE spending thousands on yellow pages, why would you not also invest 10 minutes in creating a local directory profile on a major search engine?
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Posted in SEO Expert, SEO Articles at 9:26 pm by Joe
By Joe Beccalori
November 10, 2008
Search-engine optimization is the process of improving the volume and quality of traffic to a Web site. When SEO is done properly, it will place you high on search-engine result pages for certain key phrases and terms (i.e. real estate, law firms, doctor, etc.).
In today’s online-driven world, the names Google, Yahoo and MSN are rapidly becoming more of a household name than the Yellow Pages. Most of us now have access to the Internet via work, home and mobile phone. According to research by Jupiter Media way back in 2004, more than 64 percent of people who are looking for information online use search engines. The number is closer to 80 percent today.
Low risk, high impact
In these tough economic times, business owners are becoming increasingly challenged and conservative with their marketing budgets. Most of us are seeking low-risk, high-impact marketing options in a down economy. When it comes to meeting these needs, search engines like Google provide a viable and cost effective solution.
So where should your advertising dollars be spent in today’s market?
Consider the traditional advertising option of the yellow pages. For a prominent ad, your costs could be thousands of dollars per month Also, Yellow Page ads have limited flexibility, and you are usually locked in to a one-year commitment.
Optimize your Web site
How many times have you used the paper Yellow Pages this month?
How many times have you searched for a business or service on Google or Yahoo this month?
Now consider your Web site. You can further your business leads by making sure that more people are viewing it. You can optimize your Web site to rank in the main listings without any media spending at all. You can test multiple ads and list under multiple words or phrases all at the same time and get instant tracking on which ads are working for you.
The major search engines also can determine where the search is coming from. This means you can target ads all the way down to a city, or ZIP code.
If you are not currently utilizing this marketing channel, I recommend you take half of your local marketing this year and invest in search optimization or paid search ads. Work with a search-analytics professional to track the new program for 90 days. You likely will be surprised to see who’s been searching for you, and see an immediate impact for your business.
Guest columnist Joe Beccalori is president of SearchTROOP in New Windsor and New York City. He can be reached at
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On November 10, 2008 at 10:10 AM
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Some good advice and yet…. in 2007, US consumers referenced the print directory over 13.4 billion times. And 86% of those buyers made a purchase after consulting the YP. With online YP, mobile, video formats and voice apps, and considering that the YP publishers are providing data to the big …
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09.24.08
Posted in SEO Podcast, SEO Expert, SEO Guru, Joe Beccalori at 3:37 pm by Joe
Thanks to all for the comments and feedback, and yes - also for staying on me to keep the SEO Podcast coming with something more than quarterly frequency. Good news - I have been back building a lot of content- including articles, podcasts, and even video content for SEO Training. I took a long break from blogging this year, to work on the launch of my new SEO Company SearchTROOP, a NY SEO Company focused on providing Affordable SEO to local and national advertisers. In addition to on site SEO, the firm also provides strategic link building, social media marketing, and blog development services. I am happy to say we have grown quickly, to 11 people and over 50 clients in less than 6 months… and now that the initial launch is behind us, we are working on a new educational and training offering for SEO. In the coming months, the blog, podcast, and video training series are launching - which will provide business owners, webmasters, and the SEO community with much more information than we’ve been able to provide in the past.
For those of you in New York, we are also introducing 1 and 2 day workshops for SEO , Social Media, and Blog Training. We even have special programs for agency partners including staff training programs, and an agency resller agreement for SEO services - allowing traditional or design agencies to offer top-notch SEO Services to their clients.
So sit back, and get ready… we are aiming to impress. If you want early bird details about the SEO Expert training events or series, shoot me an email and I will get you on the email list.
Talk soon,
Joe
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03.18.08
Posted in SEO Podcast, SEO Expert at 5:07 pm by Joe
Just like lifting weights… once you have achieved ranking for a significantly competitive term - it is easier to maintain relevance and rank for that term. This is particularly true of blogs. For example, this SEO Expert blog and podcast start to toggle between the first and second pages on Google, and it usually takes a mere piece of new, well-written content to get back on top. Not that you should abandon your link building - but perhaps move on to targeting new terms. In this case, my primary terms ‘SEO Expert’, and ‘SEO Podcast’ become easier and easier to maintain - they are the well worked muscle groups - so now it’s time to move on to other challenges - like those flabby abs… so give me 20 (high PR links that is).
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02.21.08
Posted in SEO Knowledge, SEO Expert, SEO Consultant at 2:16 pm by Joe
I went over to SEOmoz.org and took their quiz. I have to say, i thought I’d do better. Most of the questions seem to stem from best practices, and known facts (some taken right from Google patent submission) - but there is definitely some subjectivity involved - especially on the questions where they ask which one of the following is MOST likey or LEAST likely… in any case I’ve been told my score is pretty decent. So I am posting it.
SEO Master - 85%Are you an SEO Expert?
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12.14.07
Posted in Mystery Quotes, Famous Qoutes at 10:41 am by Joe
“Power is the faculty or capacity to act, the strength and potency to
accomplish something. It is the vital energy to make choices and
decisions. It also includes the capacity to overcome deeply embedded
habits and to cultivate higher, more effective ones.”
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Posted in SEO Expert, Joe Beccalori, Mystery Quotes, Self Improvement at 10:40 am by Joe
Believe it or not, the SEO Expert actually has other things going on in life, other than SEO, so I thought I would add a few blog categories to cover those as well. In 2007, for example, I made some serious life decisions regarding my personal health and my family life. As part of this transformation year, I’ve read an awful lot of self-improvement and philosophy books, and joined a few programs for balanced time management. Along the way, I picked up on a series of great quotes I’d like to rotate on the blog and share - of people through time that had some really great things to say. These have been an inspiration to me as I got back to the 40-45 hour work week, met my children again, quit smoking, lost 20 lbs, among other leaps and bounds. I hope to take a few weeks off for the Holidays (yes-even if it means slipping a few slots for ‘SEO Expert’ and will see you back again in 2008. For now, enjoy the Mystery Quotes - which will be revealed eventually.
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12.06.07
Posted in SEO Expert, SEO Consultant at 10:18 pm by Joe
SEO Consultant | 7 Things to Consider When Hiring Someone for SEO
1. Google your SEO Consultant, I Dare You!
Google the company name of your SEO Consultant. You’ll be amazed at how many things you can find about a company this way. See if anyone has been complaining about the company.
2. What is the guarantee from the SEO Consultant?
Be cautious of over-zealous guaranteesmade by your SEO Consultant
3. Discuss the Strategies with the SEO Consultant
If an SEO Consultant won’t tell you how they get your site ranked - they may not be up to par. SEO is not a secret science. A company should be able to tell you what methods they use.
4. Have the SEO Consultant show you examples
An SEO Consultant can be a great salesperson, but you’ll want to see evidence. Have the consultant show you examples of their customers rankings. Ask for a keyword you can go and type now and see how their clients rank.
5. Determine who is in charge at the SEO Consultant Company?
It may be better to deal with a smaller SEO company (3-10 people) than with the big ones.
6. Meet Face to Face with your SEO Consultant
If you can, visit with the SEO Consultant. See their work area and learn how they work.
7. Have a budget in mind when you call an SEO Consultant
Make sure you have an approximation of how much money you are prepared spend on the SEO Consultant services.
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Posted in SEO Podcast, SEO Expert, SEO Guru, SEO Advice at 2:54 pm by Joe
Thanks to all those who have helped promote the site. I appreciate all the link love and social bookmarking. The blog had record traffic this month, and record downloads of the SEO Podcast. Most feedback has been positive, and the rest was at least constructive. I know I had big visions for blogging and creating new written and audio content much more regularly, and I have been a bit delinquent - I will try my best to have more frequent updates into 2008.
The site is actually on page 1 results in Google for the terms ‘SEO Podcast’ and ‘SEO Expert’ and is continuing to achieve traffic growth. I guess I better start preparing that material. 
Best,
Joe
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10.30.07
Posted in SEO Knowledge, SEO Podcast at 10:03 pm by Joe
I released the first podcast today, for those who want to listen. There have been a few issues getting it published on iTunes, but I am working on it.
http://www.beccalori.com/beccalori/podcast/seo-expert-podcast.xml
An SEO Podcast. For those just getting started with SEO, or those of intermediate level, the SEO Expert podcast will get you on your way to becoming an SEO Expert.
Download our SEO Podcast today or refer the podcast to a friend who needs some SEO Advice.
The Podcast is an easy tool to listen and learn on your free time. Listen to the SEO Podcast while you work out, or on your daily commute.
Even if you are a successful SEO Expert, you may pick up on an occasional idea or distinction in this podcast, that will further enhance your SEO toolbox. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is an ever changing field. Why not listen to an SEO Podcast a few times a month to make sure you are keeping up to speed with the best, most supported white hat methods of natural promotion and link building.
Were your past SEO efforts thwarted because you followed Black Hat SEO tactics that then backfired when Search Engines changed the rules. If you listen to our SEO Podcast, you can stay up to date on changes like this.
So be sure to mark your RSS Feed, itunes Podcast, or other Podcast downloading software, and subscribe today to the SEO Expert Podcast.
As always, your feedback and topical requests are welcome!
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