Case Study: REI

REI logo

  • 200% gain from overall natural search sales
  • More than a 250% gain in “non-branded” keyword natural search sales
  • Achieved full indexing in Google
  • Measurable natural search traffic and natural search sales increase
  • Website visibility increased by 1000%.
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Case Study: figleaves.com

figleaves.com logo

  • 40% increase in natural search traffic
  • Page 1 Google Rankings for their 3 most important keywords
  • Indexation has risen over 15% across Google, Yahoo, and MSN
  • More than doubled number of back-links
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Newspapers Search for Web Headline Magic

February 2nd, 2007

by Netconcepts

Originally published in CNET News

Elinor Mills, author for CNET News.com discusses the effect of SEO on Newspapers and the websites those newspapers maintain. It may not be a new concept to us but those folks working with the print medium have not had to worry about SEO, until now.

Headlines are a primary focus for print marketers. “Good” headlines can catch the readerĂ¢??s attention and pull them into the article. However, “good” happens to be in the eye of the beholder. Clever and witty headlines may catch readerĂ¢??s attention but search engines are not so easily persuaded.

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Search Engine Optimization: Writing Effectively

December 1st, 2005

by Stephan Spencer

Originally published in Practical Ecommerce

In order to achieve maximum search engine visibility, you need to think a bit like a search engine when writing the copy for your website.

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Maximizing Your “Natural Search” Channel: SEO That Really Works

MarketingProfs virtual seminar series — online (webcast)

November 18th, 2004

Webcast by Stephan Spencer

Imagine an online ad that costs you nothing per impression, guarantees both a local and worldwide audience actively seeking your products and services, and offers 6 times the click-through rate of a banner ad… a search engine listing.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the ultimate targeted, low cost and high return weapon in the e-marketer’s promotional arsenal.

Learn how to maximize your reach through the “organic” (unpaid) results in the search engines:

  • Which search engines to target
  • Keyword research tools and tactics
  • Writing copy that “sings” to the search engines
  • Benchmarking against your competitors
  • Link building strategies that work
  • Optimal search engine architecture
  • Best practices to emulate
  • Scams exposed
  • Case studies – including the “inside scoop” on what worked and what didn’t
  • Making your e-commerce or database-driven site “search engine friendly”
  • Measuring the return on your search engine marketing investment
  • Developing a search engine marketing plan
  • Criteria for selecting a search engine marketing agency
  • Online tools and resources

Hiring experts brought results

“My job is to make my boss look good, and when SecureWorks hired Netconcepts for SEO I expected them to make me look good – and they definitely did.”

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How To Write For Search Engines

November 1st, 2004

by Stephan Spencer

In order to start writing for maximum search engine visibility, you need to start thinking like a search engine.

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500% increase in Google traffic

“Thanks to Netconcepts, in the first six months, we improved our Google search results 300 percent and increased Google traffic 500 percent.”

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Case Study: Guild.com

Guild.com logo

  • Sales up 41% after 4 weeks
  • #1 ranked on key products
  • 10,000 new pages indexed
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Internet Marketing workshop

New Zealand DMA workshop — Auckland, NZ

October 7th, 2003

Workshop by Stephan Spencer

Join us for a hands-on, one-day workshop on Internet marketing tactics, including search engine optimisation, copywriting, conversion, and web project management. Each module will be jammed packed with practical advice, online resources, tools, tips, case studies – including the “inside scoop” on what worked and what didn’t – and interactive critiques of attendees’ websites and online marketing efforts. With a live Internet connection, we will examine in-depth:

Search engine optimisation
You want to get to the top of the search engines? Ah… but which search engines should you target? What keywords are your prospects searching for? And how do you get your site to the top for those keywords and then stay there?

Learn the tactics that will make your site ‘scream’ in the search engines – ethically and sustainably – without costing you a fortune ongoing.

  • Hands-on keyword research
  • Fine tuning your content, HTML, design, and site architecture for optimal rankings
  • Workarounds for poor search engine practices (such as frames, question marks in URLs, Flash, pop-up windows, links that say “click here,” page titles like “Welcome to ABC.com”, pull-down navigation menus)
  • Making your e-commerce or database-driven site “search engine friendly”
  • Building links (directories, niche sites, etc.)
  • Google’s secrets revealed (PageRank, hyperlink text, etc.)
  • Pay-per-click search engines (Overture, etc.)
  • Benchmarking & competitive intelligence
  • Measuring the return on your search engine marketing investment

Improving conversion rate
So you’ve got visitors on your website, but will they “convert” to customers? Improving conversion on your site is an art and a science that involves a mix of clever copywriting, compelling offers, a follow-up strategy, meaningful metrics for measuring success, and more.
  • Developing a unique voice / personality
  • Active vs. passive tense
  • Verbs vs. adjectives
  • “You” vs. “we”
  • Toning down the marketingspeak
  • Fine tuning your offer
  • The call-to-action
  • Segmenting
  • Personalizing the content and the message
  • Marketing metrics: cost per click, cost per conversion, customer lifetime value, churn rate, etc.
  • “Blogging”

Working with your web developer
What are the ingredients for sucess when launching a redesign or a new site? What processes are helpful in keeping the project and the vendor on track? What are reasonable expectations of the client and the vendor? What goes into (and what doesn’t go into) an effective brief or specification? How do you manage the legal risk?
  • Writing a strategic brief, creative brief, functional spec, content plan, etc.
  • Budgeting and resource allocation
  • Vendor selection
  • The art and science of estimating time and costs
  • The web development process
  • Change management
  • The project extranet
  • Web development contracts
  • Liability and disclaimers
  • Ownership of source code
  • Terms & Conditions for your website users

We guarantee that after this intensive workshop you’ll walk away with loads of practical, actionable tactics and tips. So what are you waiting for? Register today.

BIOGRAPHY
Stephan Spencer, M.Sc., is the founder and president of Netconcepts, a full-service interactive agency with specialization in search engine optimisation, e-commerce, email marketing, and Web site auditing. They count amongst their U.S. clients: Birds Eye, Wella, Midwest Express Airlines, InfoSpace, Homestead.com, The Sharper Image, Cabela’s, and MP3.com; local clients include Westpac (NZ), The Fletcher Trust, nzgirl, SmokeCDs.com, TrustPower, and Business in the Community.

Stephan is a columnist for Unlimited. He has also written for Marketing Magazine, Management Magazine, Catalog Age, and Building Online Business. He has been featured on the cover of In Business magazine in the U.S. Stephan is a frequent speaker at Internet conferences around the globe – Berlin, London, Toronto, Santiago, Boston, New York, Chicago, San Francisco. He currently serves as a director of Sales & Marketing Executives International.


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