Steve Penny, SEO guru, shares his search engine optimization expertise, in these four tips:

TIP 1. Learn the top 10 SEO reasons website redesigns lose rankings and traffic.

TIP 2. Do KeyWord Research with Google’s Keyword Research Tool

TIP 3. Know about the Google Sandbox.

TIP 4. Spider Check Your Website for Top SEO

TIP 1. Learn the top 10 SEO reasons website redesigns lose rankings and traffic.

Steve strongly suggests that clients and webdevelopers review this article so they have an understanding of how much is involved in this - and that failure to think through one element undoes everything else. He says that this checklist of the top 10 reasons redesigns lose rankings and traffic is a topic he deals with on a daily basis. People don’t realize how much is involved in doing this thoroughly and so don’t get the outcome at the end they were hoping for due to one over-site. You won’t find this checklist of the TOP 10 SEO REASONS WEBSITE REDESIGNS LOSE RANKINGS AND TRAFFIC anywhere this concisely on the Internet. Read more…

TIP 2. Do KeyWord Research with Google’s Keyword Research Tool

The Google keyword research tool is located here. Per Google, in answer to “How do I use the Keyword Tool to get keyword ideas?”

You can search for keyword ideas by entering a keyword related to your business or service or a URL to a page containing content related to your business or service. Or, you can go straight to filtering keyword categories. You can use one or the other or both together; the tool is completely flexible depending on how you’d like to use it. Things to try:

• Click Advanced options to further refine your search, for example, by country, language, or mobile search.
• Select or deselect the keyword match type checkboxes to further refine your search in the main browser pane.
• Click the Columns button above the results table to customize the columns you see within your results data.

Learn more here…

TIP 3. Know about the Google Sandbox

The Sandbox (a.k.a. Sandboxing or the sandbox effect or the Google penalty) is a name given to an observation about the way Google ranks web pages in its …

If you are starting up a new website, it is very important to understand the Google Sandbox for immature domains that have not yet built trust rank.

If you are dealing with existing sites, the ways that site redesigns lose rankings and traffic is far more common than people realize if your web developer doesn’t know and think through all of the ten elements outlined here.

TIP 4. Spider Check Your Website for Top SEO

If you want a website that works for both people and search engine spiders like the GoogleBot, you have to spider check your work. It sounds obvious and simple, but if you don’t spider check your work – how do you know it works? Search engine optimization or SEO is an environment where humans have limited visibility. There is definitely a limit how much human eyeballs alone can see in terms of how the GoogleBot sees your website without actually spider checking your work on Google. Read more…

Here are some great resources with tips and hints on blogging for business.

• How to Improve Your Blog – A collection of 110 informative tips from a wide variety of bloggers. Some of my favorites include:
  • Resist the Urge to Overplug — make it more than self-promotion.
  • Short Attention Spans Rule — keep it short.
  • Gimme News I Can Use.
• Six Reasons Every Brand Should Blog — From Huffington Post blogger, Paula Berg:
  • “Despite the evidence in favor of blogging, with the rise of Twitter and Facebook, many brands are reluctant to blog. While blogs can be a lot of work, they provide a foundation for information on the web and an owned platform for your social business.”
  • Brand Identity: A blog provides a low-cost, long-term venue to continuously bring your brand to life.
  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO): A blog provides an informative resources for anyone seeking information about you or issues related to your brand.
  • Control the Message: A blog provides you with a platform to accurately tell the important brand stories.
  • Social Media Home Base: A blog provides a long-term home for content than can be continually accessed and pushed through other social and traditional channels.
  • Lead generation: A blog can help grow your business
  • Analytics: Blog analytics can help you perfect your online communication strategies and improve ROI.
• Good Blogging Etiquette for Guest Posting Hopefuls — from Tutorial Blog:
  • “As bloggers, wanna-be writers and hopeful freelancers, we hear, probably on a daily basis, just how important guest blogging is. We know we should be guest blogging which means we know we should be actively seeking out new blogs and new sites as potential homes for our precious content.”
  • Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice — add your own kick and spunk.
  • Make the Host Blogger’s Job as Easy as You Possibly Can
  • Be Yourself, But Try to Fit In Too
  • Don’t Be a Stranger – don’t just blog and vanish.

Thanks for attending my June 21, 2011 class Before You Hire Your Web Designer or Web Developer. [If it's before the class date, you'll find class registration info here.]

Here are some helpful resources for anybody planning a website from scratch or an update to an existing website.

Here are 5  (6, actually) Super Resources for the Small Business Owner Who Wants a Great Website! [June 15, 2011 update: added #6!]

I’m gearing up for my June 14 and June 21 classes. I want to make sure I let you know about these articles and tools:

If we can push past the alarming use of profanity against a toddler, there’s something to be gleaned from Mad Mall Mama’s concise call-to-action. The 25-character statement included at least 4 smart components.

This information is intended for very small business owners, like a local landscaper or painter or maybe a daycare establishment. A business that will likely never be able to justify the ROI of hiring a competent and professional SEO. And quite frankly? Likely doesn’t need to.

Here are 5 common web design mistakes you must avoid to create a great user experience and grow your bottom line.

Page Speed Online analyzes the content of a web page, then generates suggestions to make that page faster. Reducing page load times can reduce bounce rates and increase conversion rates.

This is the gold standard tool for keyword research.

From Outspoken Media: “Hello. I’m a potential new customer and I just landed on your Web site for the very first time. I’m taking a look around and I think I may like what you’re offering. In fact, your services/that pair of shoes/that quirky owl necklace are exactly what I’ve been waiting for. But, as a new customer, before I take the plunge, I have some questions. Things I need to know or at least would like to know before I commit to doing business with you.”

Yesterday (2/10/2011), Facebook introduced a major set of changes to the Facebook Page layout. Everybody’s blogging about it so here’s mine. Rather than reinvent, here’s my collect of other worthy blog posts to read if you want to learn about this new change. The essential update (for me) is that, whereas before I could post on other Pages just as my individual profile self, now I (a Page owner) can post as my Page’s identity. It’s a bit schitzy getting used to it. As soon as we all do, Facebook will probably introduce another change.

An Upgrade for Pages
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150090729064822&id=10381469571

Facebook Pages Manual
http://www.box.net/shared/9e5jiyl843

Facebook Pages Get A Redesign (PICTURES)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/10/facebook-pages-redesign_n_821635.html

Facebook Launches Pages Redesign
http://mashable.com/2011/02/10/facebook-pages-redesign-2/

What the New Facebook Pages Mean for Users & Owners
http://mashable.com/2011/02/10/what-the-new-facebook-pages-mean-for-users-owners/

Facebook Unifies UI As It Rolls Out New Design For ‘Pages’
http://techcrunch.com/2011/02/10/facebook-unifies-ui-as-it-rolls-out-new-design-for-pages/

New Facebook Features useful for dentist
http://socialmediadentist.com/blog/?p=337

Big Opportunities for Small Businesses in Facebook Pages Redesign
http://socialmediatoday.com/suzannevara/269583/facebook-new-pages-redesign-comprehensive-step-step-guide

Pay Attention to These 7 Facebook Page Changes [Video]
http://socialfresh.com/pay-attention-to-these-7-facebook-page-changes-video/

7 Things To Know About The Facebook Page Changes from Social Fresh on Vimeo.

5 Ways You Can Make the Most of Facebook’s New Page Layout
http://blogs.constantcontact.com/commentary/5-ways-you-can-make-the-most-of-facebooks-new-page-layout/

Will You “Like” These Two Updated Facebook Features? (3/3/11 update):
http://blogs.constantcontact.com/commentary/will-you-like-these-two-updated-facebook-features/

Here’s a well-done stand-alone slide presentation — perfect for Social Media newbies and as an overview/review for anybody who cares about social media and business.

[This presentation is at the top of Slideshare's list of most popular presentations. For more on that, see http://www.slideshare.net/rashmi/slideshare-zeitgeist-2010.]

As a web consultant and SBDC Technology Advisor, one of my services is to provide web audits for small business clients. A web audit consists of a thorough website review including review of first impression, design, navigation, usability, content, SEO, etc. I’m always on the lookout for articles to share with clients. [Updated January 21, 2011, February 8, 2011]

Here’s my recent collection of Best Resources to Review before You Design (or Redesign) Your Small Business Website:

1. I heartily recommend these two excellent books as an easy way to learn and/or review some of the basics of web design and web content:
2. • Don’t Make Me Think, A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability (Steve Krug)
   • Letting Go of the Words – Writing Web Content that Works (Janice Ginny Reddish)
3. Here’s my collection of Best SEO Search Engine Optimization Resources: http://saraisenberg.com/2010/10/16/best-seo-resources/
4. Here’s my collection of Great Social Media Resources — LinkedIn, Facebook, Twtiter, Blogging: http://saraisenberg.com/2010/07/22/social-media-resources-linkedin-facebook-twitter-blogging/
5. 8 Best-Practices for Small Business Websites (DIYthemes):
   http://diythemes.com/thesis/best-practices-small-business-websites/
6. What Does Web Design Say About Your Small Business? (Mashable): http://mashable.com/2010/12/13/small-business-web-design/
7. 10 Questions You Should Ask Your Web Designer to Get Tangible Results (DIYthemes): http://diythemes.com/thesis/web-design-results/
8. The Anatomy of a Perfect Landing Page (Formstack):
   http://www.formstack.com/the-anatomy-of-a-perfect-landing-page
9. How to Choose – And Hire – a Web Designer (DIYthemes): http://diythemes.com/thesis/how-to-hire-a-web-designer/
10. Building an Online Marketing Plan: http://blog.hotdesign.com/2011/01/building-an-online-marketing-plan/
11. The Benefits of Wireframing a Design (SixRevisions):  http://sixrevisions.com/user-interface/wireframing-benefits/
12. (I’ll keep adding resources so check back later.)

I’m always on the lookout for simple articles and overviews of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to share with clients. Zdnet’s recent post is one such example:

http://m.zdnet.com/blog/seo/how-it-works-what-happens-when-you-search-google/1211

The article includes a very simple video clip from Google. Perfect for SEO beginners! Check it out:

[Note: Scroll down to see the great list of resources/links. Originally posted June 15, 2010. Updated with more resources July 22, 2010. Updated again on December 22, 2010, January 5, 2011, January 14, 2011, February 7, 2011, February 22, 2011, May 17, 2011.]

One of the things I do as a consultant is technology advising with the Silicon Valley Technology Advisory Program (aka TAP). TAP is a program that is part of the Silicon Valley SBDC (Small Business Development Center).

From the Silicon Valley SBDC website:

We’re dedicated to the success of entrepreneurs in the Greater Silicon Valley Area, which includes Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.

The Silicon Valley Small Business Development Center offers a wide variety of services for present and potential small business owners. Our services include no-charge expert consulting, low-cost training, information resources, events and seminars. All consulting services are confidential and free of charge.

I’ve been a Technology Advisor with the Silicon Valley SBDC TAP for two years. Most often what I do is review (“audit”) websites of TAP clients — they’re usually owners of small businesses — and create a written report with recommendations for improvement, and then we discuss the recommendations. I review a wide range of websites!

Recently I’ve been working on creating a Social Media Report with a collection of resources that will help Silicon Valley SBDC TAP clients learn more about Social Media. Note: It’s for Social Media newbies! One of the Appendices that I’ve recently created is chock full of great links for people getting started on Social Media, so I’ve decided to share it here. Here you go!

Social Media Resources (general)

• Mashable’s 150+ Business and Marketing Resources From 2010: http://mashable.com/2010/12/22/business-marketing-resources/

• Mashable’s 10 of the Best Social Media Tools for Entrepreneurs: http://mashable.com/2009/10/26/socia-media-entrepreneurs/

• Mashable’s Social Media News: http://mashable.com/social-media/

• Social Media in Plain English (video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpIOClX1jPE&feature=player_embedded

• Hotdesign’s Getting Started with Social Media: http://blog.hotdesign.com/2008/12/getting-started-with-social-media/

• Hotdesign’s 5 Reasons for Social Media Marketing: http://blog.hotdesign.com/2009/03/5-reasons-for-social-media-marketing/

• Social Media Tune-Up: Tips to Strengthen Your Social Media Marketing Campaign: http://socialmediawithkaren.blogspot.com/2011/01/social-media-tune-up-tips-to-strengthen.html

• New! Monitoring Your Online Presence for Free: http://blog.hotdesign.com/2010/07/monitoring-your-online-presence-for-free/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

• New! 11 Free Services for Scheduling Social Media Updates: http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/technology/article/11-free-services-for-scheduling-social-media-updates-erica-swallow

LinkedIn Resources

• LinkedIn’s website: http://linkedin.com

• What is LinkedIn: http://learn.linkedin.com/what-is-linkedin/

• What is LinkedIn (video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVlUwwgOfKw&feature=player_embedded

• LinkedIn Learning Center: http://learn.linkedin.com/

• LinkedIn Webinars: http://learn.linkedin.com/training/

• LinkedIn Help: http://linkedin.custhelp.com/

• LinkedIn’s Timeless Guide to Small Business Success: http://blog.linkedin.com/category/linkedin-for-small-business/

• Mashable’s HOW TO: Build Your Personal Brand on LinkedIn: http://mashable.com/2009/07/27/linkedin-personal-brand/

• Hotdesign’s Getting Started with LinkedIn: http://blog.hotdesign.com/2008/12/getting-started-with-linkedin/

• LinkedIn for Dummies (video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV_7yAPnkFw

• HOW TO: Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile: http://mashable.com/2010/12/15/optimize-linkedin-profile/

Facebook Resources

• Facebook’s website: http://facebook.com

• Facebook Pages (with step by step instructions): http://www.facebook.com/advertising/?pages

• Facebook Pages Product Guide [PDF]: http://www.facebook.com/advertising/FacebookPagesProductGuide.pdf

• Facebook’s Help Center: http://www.facebook.com/help/

• Facebook Pages Help: http://www.facebook.com/help/?page=175

• Mashable’s Facebook Guide Book: http://mashable.com/guidebook/facebook/

• Mashable’s Facebook Privacy: 10 Settings Every User Needs to Know: http://mashable.com/2011/02/07/facebook-privacy-guide/

• Hotdesign’s Getting Started with Facebook: http://blog.hotdesign.com/2008/12/getting-started-with-facebook/

• 32 Ways to use Facebook for Business: http://webworkerdaily.com/2009/07/21/32-ways-to-use-facebook-for-business/

• Open Forum’s How to Set Up A Facebook Page: http://www.openforum.com/articles/how-to-set-up-a-facebook-page

Twitter Resources

• Mom, This is How Twitter Works (not just for moms): http://www.jhische.com/twitter/

• Twitter’s website: http://twitter.com

• Twitter 101 for Business – A special guide: http://business.twitter.com/twitter101/

• Twitter 101 (video): http://business.twitter.com/twitter101/starting

• Twitter Best Practices: http://business.twitter.com/twitter101/best_practices

• Twitter’s Help: http://twitter.com/help/start

• Twitter Search: http://search.twitter.com/

• Twitter for Business: https://business.twitter.com/

• Mashable’s Twitter Guide Book: http://mashable.com/guidebook/twitter/

• Mashable’s How to Make the Most of Your Twitter Profile Page: http://mashable.com/2010/05/10/organize-twitter-profile/

• What is Twitter?: http://webtrends.about.com/od/socialnetworking/a/what-is-twitter.htm

• TweetDeck: http://www.tweetdeck.com/

• Hootsuite: http://hootsuite.com/ (new to this list)

• Hotdesign’s Getting Started with Twitter: http://blog.hotdesign.com/2008/12/getting-started-with-twitter/

Blogging Resources

• WordPress: http://wordpress.org and http://wordpress.com.

• More on WordPress: http://learn.wordpress.com and http://wordpress.tv.

• Printer-friendly version of the entire Learn WordPress.com tutorial.

• Blogger: http://blogger.com

• Business Blogging Best Practices: http://socialmediab2b.com/2009/06/business-blogging-best-practices/

• Business Blogging Best Practices (video): http://everything.typepad.com/blog/2009/02/typepad-business-class.html

• Blogging Best Practices: http://www.echoditto.com/blogging

• New! 30 Tips On How To Make Your Company’s Blog Rock: http://www.jeffbullas.com/2010/02/21/30-tips-on-how-to-make-your-companys-blog-rock/

• New! 20 Blogs Every Business Owner Should Read:  http://www.businessinsider.com/20-blogs-every-business-owner-should-read-2010-7

• 9 Things to Do to Make Sure Your Next Blog Post is Read by More than Your Mom: http://www.problogger.net/archives/2009/09/03/9-things-to-do-to-make-sure-your-next-blog-post-is-read-by-more-than-your-mom/

• New! The Yahoo! Style Guide: http://styleguide.yahoo.com/

As a public service for social media and social networking novices, New York Times Personal Technology writer, David Pogue, demystifies Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Foursquare, and Yelp in his article For Those Facebook Left Behind.

If the novices didn’t get it before, I’m not sure this article will change things, but I love reading articles by Pogue, none-the-less.

In summary, Pogue writes:

THE BOTTOM LINE These sites all derive their power the same way: We, the people, provide the information — not the Web site owner. Some of these services establish lines of communication between people who might otherwise never meet, joining them by interest rather than geography. Others connect you with people you do know, or once knew, so that you can help each other out.

Read the full article here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/08/technology/personaltech/08pogue.html?_r=1&ref=technology

Here are some past goodies from Pogue:

http://saraisenberg.com/2009/04/06/david-pogue-on-twitter/