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02/03/2006: "Search Engine Strategies for Success: 2006" by Asbjorn Lonvig

by John Wooton, Author and Creator, The SEO Journal Blog and Asbjorn Lonvig.


Readers of my latest Art News Artblog have asked me to write about how I got a relatively good presence on the internet.
Yesterday's statistics:
150,000 hits on Google.com and 100,000 hits on Yahoo.com on the search term "lonvig"
and 64,708 hits and 1,176,552,123 bytes transferred per day on my web site www.lonvig.dk



John Wooton:

As you know, every year is always rocked by a plethora of changes in the search engine marketing world. The acquisition of smaller companies by the Big 3 changes the marketing landscape as we know it every month and with every update to the index that is made, we hold our breath and hope that we come out better (if not, the same) in the end. So when it comes to the new year, there are many things that we should look out for to stay on top of the rankings.

1. Quality Content: I say this so often and I cannot overemphasize this enough: Content is KING! Search engine spiders, crawl the net to find what? Content! Your site has information (hopefully) that you want the spiders to see and include in their index. By the creation and publication of quality content, you give the search engines more reason to return. You are feeding them what they want. In 2006, you should be finding creative ways to get your content noticed and viewed as well as finding creative ways to publish fresh content on a regular basis. A very good way this is done is through the use of message boards (hosted on your site) and by blogs (enabling you to publish more frequently).


Asbjorn Lonvig:

Tell a story.
Every time I enter something on the internet, on my own website or another web site like an online gallery I tell a story. Like what Jose Dali said about my fairy tale character Crab-Mac-Claw or Alice Garibaldi's view of my computer drafts of sculptures in Rome.
For search engine optimization and submission to selected search engines I use the software IBP Internet Business Promoter by Axandra, Germany. For check of meta tags I use the free Meta Tag Analyzer from Submitexpress.com. This is to ensure 100 % title relevancy to page content, 100 % description relevancy to page content and 100 % keyword relevancy to page content.


Don't focus on your web main page (index page) - focus on every page,
only 1.56 % of my visitors enter through
the web main page.





John Wooton:

2. Don't Overextend Your Link Exchange Structure: Backlinks were a popular way to increase your rankings fast in the search engines. The tradition holds: find a PR7 website and trade backlinks and you'll be indexed in Google within 24 hours. That strategy still holds true and is beneficial for new web sites.

But in my opinion the days of tremendous link swapping are coming to an end. Many website have been founded with the purpose of allowing you to exchange links with other web sites. This has caused a massive influx of web masters who want to exchange a ton of links with the hope that it will help them in the search engines.

But what really matters when it comes to links is the amount of quality one way backlinks that direct users to your website. You want the balance of links to be in your favor, that is what leads to success.

Also, there has been talk of search engines taking notice of these "link farms" and penalizing those who take part in them. So if you do take part in link exchanges, please be moderate in respect to the number of exchanges you take part in.


Asbjorn Lonvig:

I do not concentrate upon links any more. I only make links that are relevant to my content. If I am asked to link to a Kangaroo farm in Canberra, New South Wales, Australia, I sure will do it.
Now and then I run a Link Popularity Check on my online galleries to check their degree of presence on the internet. The Link Popularity Check program is free and it is from Axandra, Germany. Absolutearts.com has the highest link popularity of all online galleries.




John Wooton:

3. RSS and XML: Two new technologies that have begun to take center stage especially in 2005 include a programming language that has been around for several years called XML. XML is short for extensible markup language and is a derivative from HTML. The main difference is your ability to create descriptive tags for your data.

This has led to the advent of RSS or real simple syndication. RSS is a way for you to publish your data to an XML file hosted on your site. Users subscribe to your RSS feed via the XML file and whenever you make a changes to your XML file they are notified. It's become a major technology used by news agencies and bloggers alike as a simple method of publishing your information across a wide variety of platforms.

XML has also proved useful with the Google Site maps program, newly released in 2005. The optional tags available with the XML site map allow you to be descriptive about the individual pages on your site including dates the individual pages were modified. There are some small things you need to pay attention to when creating this: namely you have to follow the Google xml schema, and you have to be diligent about tracking and fixing errors in the code. But if used correctly, it is a great way to help Google index the hidden pages of your website due to javascript or flash.


Asbjorn Lonvig:

I have made an RSS to all main pages on my web site and an RSS to every online gallery.
I use the FeedForAll RSS feed creation tool to built my own RSSs. This way I have built 73 "hand made" RSSs.
I use the following blogging systems for posting a lot of news and for automatic building of RSSs, ATOM feeds and RDFs: Blogger.com, Blogger.dk, Blog.com, Bloglines.com, Spaces.msn.com, Squarespace.com, Angelfire.com and Artday.org.
Artday.org is Japanese. It is from Tokyo. And so is the image to the left. It's the Tokyo skyline with Tokyo Tower. The title is "Tokyo Moonlight".

All of the above RSSs, ATOM feeds and RDFs - both my own "hand made" RSSs and the RSSs, ATOM feeds and RDFs generated automatically by blogging systems - are submitted to selected directories and search engines with the software RSS FEEDS Submit from rssfeedssubmit.com - if you need an introduction to RSS news feeds, you'll find it on rssfeedssubmit.com.

I have built one site map in English and one in Danish.





John Wooton:

4. Stay away from Flash and Javascript for the time being: Flash and Javascript are very powerful tools for creating dynamic and eye catching web sites. The most prominent problem with the two technologies is that the spiders can't index through them (at least not yet). This limits your ability to have the search engines index portions of your site. Many have speculated that the Big 3 are working on solving this problem, but for the time being, avoid or limit your use of these technologies.

5. Avoid Unethical SEO: There are a lot of programs out there that help you to achieve maximum link back ratios in a very short amount of time. Some of them are good; some are bad. In fact, some of them will waste your effort trying to post trivial comments on blogs or trying to maximize your link exchanges. In my opinion, you should seek success in SEM the right, ethical way. Seek out honest web companies to exchange a moderate amount of links with. Post only relevant comments to forums and blogs because that behavior leads to lasting link backs. Also, don't try to manipulate your website to make it appear to have a higher PR than you really do. Google sees that one!

Asbjorn Lonvig:

I stay away from Flash and.....
I stay away from unethical SEO.





John Wooton:

6. Last, but not least, Articles: There is a little bit of controversial talk about whether it is right to post articles for free use in directories. In my opinion, you are providing a well needed service to web masters and I don't see this one as a potential loss for 2006. Information is valuable. And web sites that need content (especially fresh content) desire what you do to make their efforts a success. So it is natural for your web site rankings to benefit through backlinks from those articles. It's a win win situation.

One other thought on this subject. Right now, the search engines can punish web sites for having duplicate content, and that is an argument that many will propose. But, the search engines will usually only punish you if the html format of a web site is similar, not a couple of articles. So posting articles is safe for now.

But be cautious. Many lucrative methods of ethical SEO can be turned into a problem when too many people attempt to abuse the technology.

So that's it. Short, but informative. SEO is both an art and a technology that we have to use correctly for the right type of success. Who knows what the year ahead may bring, but playing your cards right, you can achieve success and avoid any pitfalls that may come.


Asbjorn Lonvig:

This Art News Artblog article is an example of Articles.
I write articles to as you know WWAR/Absolutearts, to Editorial Qroquis - a printed art magazine in Buenos Aires (translated into Spanish) and ADN World ArtNews in Tokyo. Furthermore my articles are published on selected RSSes of my own, on all the blogging systems mentioned above and on the online gallery ArtCad.com in Paris.

To keep track of the effect of my efforts to have a relatively good internet presence I use a server based statistic system on my web hotel called InSite.
I use Google Alerts to continuously inform me what new things of mine have been indexed.
Occasionally I check presence on Yahoo.com.
And then I check the online galleries.
January 2006 WWAR/Absolutearts topped with 73,000 hits followed by ArtWanted in Salt Lake City with 21,000 hits. Other online galleries like Yessy.com in Denver Colorado had 17,000 hits and a new online galley in Paris - ArtPourTous - had reached 4000 visitors. "Grand Maitre" to the right - that is Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec - is of course exhibited in Paris.
I'm working hard to produce decent traffic on all online galleries.




Asbjorn Lonvig:

Thoughts.
Your sales has nothing to do with your artistic talent, with your exhibition at Chicago Athenaeum or with nice words written about your art in a French book on "How to communicate through pictures".
It's all about your internet presence???

Thanks.
I want to thank John Wooton Author and Creator, The SEO Journal Blog for permitting me to use his article "Search Engine Strategies for Success: 2006", which I read 5 January 2006 in Entireweb Newsletter.

Questions.
Ask all the questions you like in comments to this entry.

Replies: 22 Comments

on Thursday, February 9th, Asbjorn Lonvig said

Dear Jim Peden once more,
You must validate your RSS on http://rss.scripting.com/.
Sincerely,
Asbjorn Lonvig

on Thursday, February 9th, Asbjorn Lonvig said

Dear Jim Peden,
Search Engines are based on words, as you say. To have your images registered in search engines you must add "alternate text" (in HTML ALT="text") to every single image on your site.
Soon after you and everybody else can search every single image. You can add as much relevant text you want.
Sincerely,
Asbjorn

on Wednesday, February 8th, jim peden said

What a useful article!

We just started up our arts and crafts site a few months ago and we're still in the fabled Google "sandbox" - i.e. we don't get to be included in any search results yet.

I echo Slava's comments about dynamic websites and images. We wanted a dynamic site so that we could keep it up to date easily - the search engines index it well (aside from Google, anyway!). Currently, search engines are interested in WORDS and not IMAGES so we art sites are at definite disadvantage, images being our raison d'etre.

We have just implemented an RSS feed on our site and are waiting to see what comes of it. It looks like it will be a real alternative to search engines in the future. If you don't know anything (as I didn't a week or two ago) then the BBC have an intro to it at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/help/3223484.stm#whatisrss.

By the way, the preview button on this page lost my earlier message!

Anyway, many thanks for a stimulating and useful article.

on Tuesday, February 7th, Hyacinthe Baron said

Thanks Brad. And I am listed in so many other ways as well. One of the search engines even has all my art works and book covers up as well as personal photos.
So someone looking for me can find me under Hyacinthe Kuller, Hyacinthe Kuller Baron, Hyacinthe Baron, Sable Publishing, Baron Gallery, Baron Galleries, palmspringsarts.com as well as other web sites that carry my information and other websites that have mentioned my name, for instance the Asian American Repertory Theatre Company performed my poetry in front of my paintings during an exhibition in our gallery in San Diego and that was about 8 years ago and the listing is still on the search engine.

HERE IS AN INTERESTING THING TO NOTE: When searching if you put in barongallery instead of Baron Gallery you will bring up many more links the first way than the second.

At one point Google even picked up and posted the Submission form for the Art and Human Nature Collection.

All of which brings us back to the original problem: As Margeret replied: She would like to be found under Glass Artist, than under her name alone.

Well this is interesting: Put in Martha Raye and you will find a link to barongalleries and a photo of me with her portrait, same for Marilyn Monroe and so on.

The Search engines always seem to pick up honest and interesting information that doesn't appear to be forced, like the 3x rule of the old days.

So a solution, albeit a tricky one would seem to be: If you are a glass artisty put your name next to a glass artist of repute and your name will appear higher on the rankings. It seems to work.

For instance: Margaret Stone is a devoted follower (admirer) of ----so and so artist.

Some causes are hopeless. For instance, palmspringsarts will never make page one because there are so many paid sites for Palm Springs and the word arts incorporated into the body of the text on the web site.

I have been playing with keywords for years with mixed results.

One thing is certain: It is important to list yourself on the search engines through relevant keywords. I hope these experiences and results of mine are helpful.
If anyone has advice or suggestions re how to beat the competition and get listed on page one under categories art collectors are looking for I'd like to hear.

on Monday, February 6th, Brad Michael Moore said

Hyacinthe, I understand your frustration over name association. My middle and last name is Michael Moore - the same as the famous (sometimes infamous) film maker of “Farenheit 9/11 ”. It's hard to shed such a large shadow that “Moore” casts (no pun intended). On the other hand – people looking for him often find me – I know because they send me their opinions over his films. People seeking info for Saint Hyacinthe might find you as well – maybe an extra sale will come along by such coincidences.
Also, when I search you name as “hyacinthe baron,” and go to the last page and click at the end of the line that says – “In order to show you the most relevant results, we have omitted some entries very similar to the 15 already displayed.
If you like, you can repeat the search with the omitted results included.”
http://tinyurl.com/ex6c7
having done that – all the many hits I got were yours deep into the search.
After skimming the 1st 1000 hits – I was still finding relevant item headings.

on Monday, February 6th, Asbjorn Lonvig said

Dear "Glory Harley",

It means, do not waste time on link exchange.

on Monday, February 6th, matt said

For some easy to understand information about
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)see link below to Search Engine Optimization "Elements of an SEO Strategy"

http://www.portentinteractive.com/seo_1.htm

Matt

on Monday, February 6th, Glory Harley said

Asbjorn please explain what this means in English.

5. Avoid Unethical SEO: There are a lot of programs out there that help you to achieve maximum link back ratios in a very short amount of time. Some of them are good; some are bad. In fact, some of them will waste your effort trying to post trivial comments on blogs or trying to maximize your link exchanges. In my opinion, you should seek success in SEM the right, ethical way. Seek out honest web companies to exchange a moderate amount of links with. Post only relevant comments to forums and blogs because that behavior leads to lasting link backs. Also, don't try to manipulate your website to make it appear to have a higher PR than you really do. Google sees that one!

on Sunday, February 5th, Slava said

Tried to post my reply, but for some reason it was cut off. So, here is another try.
Thank you for an interesting article, Asbjorn and John. I wanted to add a couple of things that might be interesting to webmasters of art related websites. Our website, www.buy-modern-art.com has been online since March 2005, and it took us some time to get indexed correctly by Google. The main reason is because it is a dynamic PHP/MySQL website, and Google, as well as Yahoo might treat your dynamic website differently, if your URLs use long and complicated combinations of symbols (instead of simple .html extenstions). Keep your URLs simple and clean. Try to create a very clear structure, with links to your homepage located on every webpage of your website, and try to use text links instead of image links. Also, use alt tags for every image on your website, especially if you own an art gallery. Alt tags give a name to every image on your website, and this way your artwork can be found on Google images, and thus lead to your website. Sometimes, small things like that make a big difference in your traffic.

on Sunday, February 5th, Slava said

Thank you for an interesting article, Asbjorn and John. I wanted to add a couple of things that might be interesting to webmasters of art related websites. Our website,

on Sunday, February 5th, Asbjorn Lonvig said

Dear Jennie Kenneally,
The URL of the article on absolutearts.com is http://blog.absolutearts.com/blogs/archives/00000213.html

on Sunday, February 5th, Jennie Kenneally said

This is a really fascinating article and it is great to see an approach for more advanced users as well as things that newbies can use. I am still trying to optimize my page with RSS syndication and keywords, it seems to be getting results already but I am looking forward to applying more of these techniques to further my site and exposure.

Increasingly the web is the ideal marketing starting point for artists. it is inexpensive to start up (free in my case) and can be expanded as we start earning more money. I center a lot of marketing around drawing people and galleries to my site. While I do not conduct sales via my site I have sold all over the world as a result. Galleries can find more time for sites and look through them at will where making appointments to view printed folios is more time consuming. The main issue here is the lack of personal interaction. I try to make my invitations to view personal and inviting and I contact the galleries again to renew that sense of human contact.

The only other item I would add as an addition to the RSS feeds and articles sections that works well for online exposure are weblogs. my blog has generated a lot of traffic for my site and presents me as a person rather than a sum of my online galleries. I focus on my process and my work in my blog and look at art news and works in progress and aim to create a human and personal touch. If I can find a trackback for this article I would love to reference some of it on my blog!

Apologies for the length of this comment!

on Saturday, February 4th, Margaret Stone said

Hyacinthe, type Hyacinthe Baron in Google and you get a full range of references to things for you from fashions to your books and artworks. Very nice. Some of the other technical things people have referenced here, I just don't understand. It is a good thing I am not a webmaster.

on Saturday, February 4th, herb said

Several things that are also needed to be talked about. One is the new ROR.xml files that the search engines love and the other is the title of the pages of your site. At www.robertbenjamin.com I have used both of these features due to the site server does not use or have php scripting or SQL. So for the sites that are using a smaller 'footprint' these things can't be over looked.

on Saturday, February 4th, hyacinthebaron said

My first encounter with google and my artistic signature Hyacinthe resulted in the discovery that I am not alone.
Google Hyacinthe and discover that everyone in the oldest town in Canada which is St. Hyacinthe has a website.

I have tried everything and can't get my name and artistic signature Hyacinthe anywhere near the first page while the search engines go on forever with everyone including the dishwasher in that town.
Any suggestions?

on Saturday, February 4th, Margaret Stone said

Oh, I forgot to say--Asbjorn I did enjoy your article, it has some very useful information, and thanks for sharing it. I'll need to read it several times. Thanks.............

on Saturday, February 4th, Margaret Stone said

How fun. I googled my name and it came up 32,000 times. Well, there was a pianist, some genealogy, and a federal court judge with the same name. And odds and ends. But Brad, you are right and anything I would want anyone to know came up on the first page. I added art and it came up 15,000 times and finally added glass and it came up 400 times. Oh, I found out that in 1921 I fell 5000 feet and survived for a week on a ledge before being saved. And a person who purchased one of my paintings long ago was selling it on ebay so I sent them my web site and some info. All in all it was an interesting experience. I am much more interested, however, in having reference to my work come up when someone is looking for a particular type of art or glassart than just typing in my name.

on Saturday, February 4th, Brad Michael Moore said

i googled lonvig and got over 141,000 hits. I crused to the last page of the search, to the very last entry, and it was still yours... however, personally, when i google for info on anyone or anything - if I can't find the topic in the first page (or two) i move on to something else. in your case, if i were looking for info on you - everything i would need - i could find on google's first page of search items. i wouldn't need to go beyond that page. so, you definately win the award for search hits. your numbers are up there with countries and blogs over the subject of president bush.

on Saturday, February 4th, google said

"Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic."

http://www.google.com/alerts

on Saturday, February 4th, Kelly Borsheim said

What are "Google Alerts" and how do you get them?
I get overwhelmed by e-mail sometimes, so studying site stats and the idea of keeping a blog seems a bit intimidating. I am also a slow producer, so it makes it even more important to be efficient online.
Thank you.

on Friday, February 3rd, matt said

Asbjorn,

Thanks for the great and useful information!

I see the Internet as a tool that is available to us to get our work "out there." We can all, if not most, attest to that otherwise we wouldn't be here. Perhaps it's not the only way to have a presence as Jose points out but it's certainly a very profitable one in terms of large-scale exposure.

on Friday, February 3rd, jose freitas cruz said

Thanks Asbjorn for sharing all this information. it is useful, and it is indeed increasingly important to have a good internet presence but i still believe that there is more to it than simply internet presence or we run the risk of alienating ourselves and our art.