WEB 2.0h No!
January 8th, 2008Just when you thought it was safe to get back in the SEO water, the web goes and shifts the tides on you. And not just some small subtle move to the right or left, everything is upside down and cattywampus.
Web 2.0 has changed the whole ballgame. It not only places the Internet user squarely in the middle of things, but it gives that user the means and power to create and manipulate data. Web 2.0 dramatically changes how we view and use the web. Actually, in many respects, it creates a whole new Internet.
What the heck is Web 2.0? What does it mean? Is there a precise definition that all webmasters can get their heads around and understand? The reality is that it’s a pretty nebulous concept. Many believe Web 2.0 is just another one of those contrived buzzwords, signifying mostly marketing hype! But it is more than that, and if you are using your website to deliver information about your business or attract clients, you want to understand how this new platform affects your site.
The simple definition can be found in the word “you”! Time magazine probably summed it up best by making reference to the “you” in user generated content. Web 2.0 can be seen or manifested in such “user centered” sites as YouTube, MySpace, Del.icio.us, Digg, Squidoo…Web 2.0 uses special scripting languages to construct interactive platforms that can be used to create all this user-generated content.
You might hear this referenced as AJAX, and no this does not refer to the popular cleaning agent under your kitchen sink! This AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) comes from Google and if you have used applications like Google Earth, you will realize how powerful and revolutionary they can be, not to mention a whole lot of fun.
How all this new media plays out is anyone’s guess but all webmasters should optimize their sites for this new Web 2.0 and take full advantage of all the SEO possibilities presented by this brave new Internet.
Here are a few SEO suggestions you can try:
1. RSS/Blogging.
Having a blog and RSS feed will place your site into the mix. Each category you create in your blog will be seen as a tag by such sites as Technorati. RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication and your RSS feeds will get your content distributed across the web. A simple and easy way to tap into the new Web 2.0 universe.
2. Create some Google Juice!
Join as many of these highly interactive sites as you can: MySpace, YouTube, Del.icio.us, Digg, Wikipedia … one of the best is Squidoo, where you can create Lenses on different topics that interest you. Of course, link back to your sites in your posts and creations in these user-created content havens and watch your PR ratings go way up.
3. Use Interactive Scripts.
Place interactive JavaScripts and platforms on your own sites. Have membership forums, polls, blogs, feedback forms, user-contributions… to build unique content driven sites.
4. Tagging (Folksonomy).
Be constantly aware of the tags (keywords) you’re creating with your blogs and sites. This can have a very beneficial effect on your traffic and rankings. Closely relate these tags to the content on your sites and build higher rankings in all the major search engines.
5. The Long Tail.
Especially important for affiliate marketers, you need to cover special niches where there is less competition and content. These narrow niches make up a large portion of the whole vast web, creating content in these unique areas will get your site included in the search engines a lot quicker and keep them there a lot longer.
6. Holistic Web 2.0!
Be constantly vigilant in placing your sites in the whole Interactive Game, building links and partnerships with the important YouHubs: MySpace, Del.icio.us, YouTube, Digg, Squidoo… the more connections you have, the more your own sites will prosper.
The Next Generation
No doubt, Web 2.0 will play an ever increasing role in the development and evolution of the web. Make sure your sites are optimized and in the You game. Create blogs, RSS feeds, interactive forums, membership areas, user-generated content, and your sites will reap the benefits of this new Web 2.0 generated SEO gold rush.
To learn more about how to get your site ranked in the Top 5 on Google and Yahoo, contact Digital Peabody, a Denver Web Design firm, with offices in Denver and Chicago.
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