Strategic Plan of Attack - SEO

Recently, a client ask for a general plan of attack for their strategy. While I generally do not write these out as they can be time consuming, specifics are based on individual websites, the industry they compete in, and markets being targeted and all change with the search engine times - I thought I would "double" the value by sharing this here.

The client "loved" it and I never touched on areas they wouldn't comprehend elements, tags, attributes, etc. or SEO techo-babble.

I removed some specifics to keep this generalized but a fair long-term plan...


General

1. Links Inbound

Time Line: Continuous and never-ending, scheduled daily (approximately every other day).

2. Links Outbound

Time Line: Start with DMOZ

3. W3C Compliancy

Time Line: When time permits

4. In-site Content

Time Line: Continuous and never-ending

5. Content Links Inbound

Time Line: Continuous and never-ending

6. Directory

Time Line: Continuous and never-ending

7. Network

Time Line: Continuous and never-ending (combination of #1, 2, 3, 5, & 6)


The general plan will change periodically and without notice... you must not become complacent is search engine research, analysis, and discussion to take incomplete observations to better conclusions


Specifics


1. Links Inbound

Link development is 6-fold and on-going.

Direct "free" links, reciprocal links, directory inclusions, and PPI. For instances where links are perceived to be quite noteworthy use any developed linking resources to push more PageRank, weight, and relevancy to the page linking to the website being SEOed.

A noteworthy link to you is "noteworthy" as few other links exist on the page thus more benefit from everything you point to it.

The last development of the 6-fold process network partnerships (covered later).


2. Links Outbound

Outbound links from your website can have a major impact and of the same philosophy as "noteworthy links".

Example: DMOZ - adding a link towards DMOZ (particularly if you are in DMOZ) adds value.

Any "trust" site that links to you or that links to others that eventually (down the link path) links to you - thus proxy linking is good to have on your website. (Trust & credibility are the important parts but having a lean towards your topics works more in your favor).

3. W3C Compliancy

W3C is currently forward thinking for future quality control.

W3C QUOTE

A core principle of the W3C is that the Web can only reach its full potential when data can be shared and processed by automated tools (some of which are search engine bots, crawlers, spiders, and intelligent agents) as well as it is by people. Guided by a vision of the future where data on the Web are defined and linked so they can be used by machines, not just for display purposes, but also for automation, integration, and reuse of data across various applications, these technologies will help ensure the possibility of a bright future for intelligent (and intelligible) information on the web.

W3C UNQUOTE

The strategic importance of compliancy is the inevitable alignment with standard protocols that all industries and sectors (particularly in information media marketing and advertising) must adopt.

The question isn't "why validate" it is "why not"?

4. In-site Content

Content within a website has a major impact to scope and breadth of topic you can possibly rank under. Think on the lines of "forums", "blogs", "Article CMS" and RSS Feeds.

Expand your topic scope - consider not currently "on the market" topics as the theme of guides, tutorials (rather than simple consumer guides or FAQs). While having a consumers resource is needed for sales potential - there isn't alot of different ways to say "how to".

5. Content Links Inbound

While most focus solely on PageRank as a motivator to gain links - often weight and relevancy is severely limited. Article content links captures all the value that can be offered from any given website simply because "your topics" are induced on the website and page and copyright ownership is your link.

It should be noted - Google has recently started (based on observations) to discount such copyright techniques where content is replicated (carbon copies). While in the past "write once" and added to many seem it work well, Google seems to be able to identify the original and "credit it" and disregard the remainder... as such mass distribution seemingly works (from a loose observation) but the value to the "point to" site is no more than added "1" or the "original" thus under-productive.

Caveat: Similarly developed CMS repositories seemingly have the least value where diversity of repository platform offers more.

(Example Only) a post at a .php forum adds values - replicating that post to 50 php forums ads no more value than the first.

6. Directory

Adopt a submission directory that allows autonomous management and effortlessly. Attempt to place in under website domain and strive for 50% of reciprocal links point to the domain and 50% to point to the directory itself allowing PageRank, weight, and relevancy to develop from multiple entrance point which is far superior to a singular focal point.

7. Network

Mutual benefit is far superior to total self control. When there is "shared value" you simply cannot do whatever you wish and forget the partners. This is a "FAIL SAFE" measurement for "Google Quality Control".

Seek them and make them work!

Excellent Fathom, well put.

Another one of Fathom;s many posts bookmarked by me. Would you mind if I use it on my site fathom ?

No problem with copying. Please quote fathom as author (no link required).