Top 10 SEO Tips

1.Understand the keywords customers use to find your hotel
  • Research keywords and select the most appropriate keyword for the topic.
  • Use keyword rich unique Meta data: Page titles, Meta descriptions and Meta keywords.
  • Page file name: keywords should also be added to the page URL. When amending URLs remember to 301 redirect the old URL to the new URL.

  • Utilise supporting keywords and synonyms.
  • Ensure synergy with PPC terms.
  • Remember that keywords work best in groups of two, three and four, as users tend to search with multiple words.
  • Consider the importance of being first to publish: freshness of content and being first to offer product information is important to search engines.
  • https://adwords.google.co.uk/select/KeywordToolExternal
2. Copy is King
  • Write 250 – 300 words of keyword rich copy per page.
  • Ensure the chosen keyword/ appears within the first 25 word of the copy.
  • Implement a 3-tiered structure, using keyword-rich h1 and h2 header tags.
  • Provide between 250 - 300 words of copy per page.
  • Maintain a 5 - 8% keyword density – any more, and your copy runs the risk being punished for spamming! Use keyword synonyms when density exceeds 8%.
  • Keyword confidence is key!
  • Write copy that's 'easy' on the eyes; ensure there are enough paragraph breaks on the page so your readers won't be over-loaded with text.
Common copywriting pitfalls!
  • Duplicate copy: decreases the value of site content.
  • Off-topic wanders: lowers the authority of a page.
  • Calculating Keyword Density: instances of key phrase ÷ word count) X 100
3. Use on-page optimisation techniques
  • Keyword targets should be included in the page title and meta data of every page.
  • Use keyword rich H1 and H2 headers. Secondary headings should be synergistic with the main heading.
  • Use keyword rich anchor text.
  • Use keyword rich navigation and cross-linking.
  • Ensure image alt attributes contain keyword rich labels .
4. Use Google Insight to analyse search trends & spot opportunities
  • Compare up to 5 keywords against each other to view competing search volumes and popular related terms.
  • Analyse how search behaviour is changing and what keywords are popular.
  • Tip: switch preference to UK results for the most accurate results.
  • Sign in to your Google account to obtain percentage increase in search queries vs. average for the travel industry.
 5. Optimise for link building – Directory Submissions
  • Generate inbound links by submitting your site to directories.
  • Write a 25 word or less description of your entire web site. That description should make use of the two or three key terms that you want your site to be found for.
  • There are many free and paid for directories, why not start with these:
http://uk.dir.yahoo.com/ - Yahoo Directory
www.google.com/dirhp - Google Directory

 6. Create and proliferate press releases online
  • Generate buzz around your hotel and generate inbound links.
  • Optimise your press release to include your key strategic keywords.
  • Seek as many quality inbound links as possible – use as many wires as possible.
  • There are many free and paid for wires, here’s a list of a few you can use:

 7. Create a YouTube Channel and upload videos
  • Create a free user channel on YouTube here http://www.youtube.com/create_account
  • You can upload a logo and make sure the channel has your branding.
  • Use the keywords you want to be found for in the channel name and video titles.
 8. Submit and proliferate photos of your hotel online
  • Create an account with Flickr and upload photos www.flickr.com (owned by Yahoo)
  • Create an account with Panoramio and upload photos www.panoramio.com (owned by Google)
 9. Bookmark your pages in social bookmarking sites
  • Social search are sites where internet users bookmark, tag and share their favourite sites with other users.
  • Bookmark your homepage, hotel pages and any relevant offer pages.
  • Use your appropriate keywords when tagging your site and pages.
  • There are many social bookmarking sites, here’s a list of a few you can use:
www.digg.com – for your news stories

 10. Analyse what is being said about you in social media channels and look for opportunities that you have the resources to maintain
  • Check out what’s being said about your hotel in Tripadvisor – you can register as an owner.
  • Use www.technorati.com - Real-time search for user-generated media (including blogs) by tag or keyword. Also provides popularity indexes.
  • Use Google Blog search http://blogsearch.google.co.uk
  • Engage in Facebook, Twitter and other social media channels if you have a clear strategy and the resources to maintain a presence!

2 comments:

  1. Your article is very helpful and it includes links relevent to the topic. I have looked at 100's of sites and yours is the first to show the important links. Great Job

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, im glad i read that and thanks for posting those directories, i will definitely check them out, except for the travel directories, i doubt they would be of any use to my get paid to advertise website.

    ReplyDelete