Now I am thinking about multi-colored spandex and a black-tiled room full of overweight men working out… ah the 1980s… All Olivia Newton-John song references aside (although I am sure you are singing it in your head), Google Analytics is a free website analysis tool that generates detailed traffic reports for websites. These traffic reports “talk” to us in a sense, by listing important website statistics that are useful in many ways.

DDA, a search engine marketing company, uses Google Analytics on websites that we are not hosting, but are enrolled in the SureThing Optimization Program. By adding a piece of tracking code to each page, we are then able to track our progress of website optimization by viewing the improved traffic to the site.

We find that being able to view traffic reports is an important part of website optimization. We can see which keywords potential customers are using to search for a website’s services and can then point out which terms need focused optimization to improve rankings. This software can show how visitors find a website and how they interact with the website’s content.

Being a search engine optimization specialist, I find it important to be able to view a website’s visits and pageviews, new and returning visitors, and also which search engine the visitor is coming from.

I was reading an article the other day about what to look for in a Search Engine Optimization Specialist. I found the paragraph below interesting :

“Most so-called Search Engine Optimization Specialists are people who slap keywords and keyword phrases inside of HTML tags without considering an overall online marketing strategy. On the other hand, there are people who can write for the search engines, analyze site statistics, have a thorough knowledge of spider-friendly HTML, have considerable experience with SEO in multiple industries, and stay up-to-date on search engine happenings. These are the true search engine experts.”

At first I took offense to the initial sentence thinking. “Hey, that is not true about me!” Then I continued to read and calmed down and thought “OK, that’s much better.”

So I guess working at DDA, a search engine marketing company, has turned me into a search engine expert. Working with websites in varying industries, from medical to plastic injection molding, means that each websites needs its own focused optimization. I do not just slap keywords into the meta tags, thank you very much, but rather integrate them into all meta tags, content development, and focus each page on each word specifically. And you could say that 12 years could be looked at as “considerable experience.”

At DDA, we stay ahead of the game on search engine happenings and are truly search engine optimization and marketing experts.

Lately it has amazed me how quickly the days are flying by. My daughter just turned 9 and celebrated her First Holy Communion. It seems like just yesterday I was counting down the days until my due date.

The same can be said for the days that I have worked at DDA, a graphic design company. This year marks 12 years that I have been working with this company. I still remember getting a phone call from my older sister who was then a Graphic Designer with DDA. I was home from school and was asked if I could come in and help put together a product catalog that was designed by DDA. Before working here, I never really used computers. Then I became proficient on a Mac. Over the years, I was in charge of mailing lists, software, data entry, proofreading, and many other tasks that could look like a laundry list if every aspect was included.

Today, my title is simply a Search Engine Optimization Specialist. This is not something that happened overnight and it wasn’t quite simple either.

Back when I started to learn about the techniques used for website optimization, things were much simpler. But back then, the switch from using a Mac to switching to a PC was my hardest challenge! As each year passed, I became more and more independent in my website optimization. And now, I handle all of these websites each month without a second thought.

So here I am today, three children later, still managing to keep up with the latest search engine marketing and optimization tips and trends. Time flies when you’re having fun! Enjoy your weekend everyone!

As a Search Engine Optimization Specialist at DDA, a search engine marketing company, Dreamweaver is always open on my computer. Dreamweaver is a combination of visual layout tools, application development features, and code editing support… everything I need for my website optimization on a daily basis. From editing meta tags to adding alternate text, this all encompassing program can handle it all. When I first started using Dreamweaver many, many years ago, I only knew how to do the basics. Over the years I have learned how to use several of the tools and even how to make changes in the code, of all things!!

Sure from time to time it will throw me a curveball and make me redefine all of my websites. Or give me the occasional “fatal error” and “this program is not responding” message. This usually happens when I have been working on a page for a while and right before I get to save my work. So with a few words mumbled under my breath and a click of the mouse, I continue on. This program has become my right-hand man when handling optimization of websites.

Forget diamonds (although they will never be turned down)… Dreamweaver is a search engine optimization specialist’s best friend!

As each new calendar month begins, I start over on my alphabetical list (of course) of websites to optimize. Each website needs different optimization each month. I cannot just say, “OK, this month I am going to submit a press release for all of my clients.” Each site has individual needs and there is no blanket statement to make for them all. As I setup my monthly website optimization schedule, I need to review past optimization as well as look through the website to see what is needed.

Occasionally, while deleting Spam emails, I run across search engine optimization tips. I read through and realize that I already know all of the tips they are so graciously spamming to everyone.

Each client that comes into our SureThing Optimization Program, wants to be listed #1 on Google. DDA stays on top of Google’s changing algorithms, and can make this possible. Our own website, www.zeroonezero.com, currently has 1,698 terms with first place rankings in Google. We are constantly updating and optimizing our website and keeping up with Google’s algorithms, and we strive to do the same for our clients so over time, they will see the same results.

Being a Search Engine Optimization Specialist, I have many sites to optimize each month. As the final days of each month roll in, I can get a little panicked. Having so many websites to optimize in one month’s time can be overwhelming. Even with optimization schedules, calendars set up, and basically doing as much as I can as fast as I can, the last few days usually hold those sites that I have been putting off for the entire month. But somehow, I manage to get everything done by the stroke of midnight on the final day of the month.

Living in a world of meta tags, website analysis, ranking reports and of course Dreamweaver, website optimization is an important part of a website’s design and functionality. Years ago, when people would ask what I do, they had no idea what website optimization was.

Now, everyone seems to know the meaning and importance of the work that I do on a daily basis.

You’ve been optimizing away and now you have great rankings for your site and you’re getting lots of quality traffic, but wait, why is no one converting into a customer?

Oh yes, that’s right, I forgot all about usability.

As silly as this may seem, clients who are excited about search engine ranking often focus too much on them and how to generate more traffic when their energy may be better spent converting the existing traffic into clients.

Usability is a huge topic and should be addressed from the very preplanned stage of a website. A little footnote here, if you present your content in a user-friendly way, then more often than not, that is an ideal way for the search engine spiders to find and digest your content as well.

The Golden rule is to make sure that a user can find the information they are looking for with the minimal amount of effort. Keep that in mind and you shouldn’t go wrong.

On a more complicated level, this breaks down into a million sub categories. Take the simple task of adding pictures to your site. How many images do I use? What style is best? What format? What size? How compressed should it be? What is the ratio of text to images?

For example, if I’m buying a piece of jewelry, what is more important to the user — how it looks, what it looks like from a different view, the dimensions of it, how much it costs, or the size of it?

All of these are important but if all are presented with the same weight, the consumer would be overwhelmed.

Once you have decided how to present that information, did you take into account the users level of expertise? Now do I mean the user level of comfort navigating a website/using a computer or the user’s knowledgeablity of jewelry? Of course I meant both and both have to be factored in.

Suddenly it’s a lot more complicated than just putting up a picture of a broach.

There is a solution and it’s Us. That is DDA. We have more than a decade of experience in creating user-friendly websites, so stop by to check out our new building, and while you’re here, let us show you how we can convert your traffic into sales.

After making it through my weekly case of the Mondays, next up comes the Tired Tuesdays. It’s not so bad, since at DDA, we work a four-day work week. So after today my week is half over.

With my cappuccino in hand, I check my emails, check my calendar to see which websites I will be optimizing today, and of course there is that request for something that was not scheduled. All tasks will be handled, completed and all of this with a smile on my face to compensate for the bags under my eyes.

Website optimization is a tricky task. Knowing what the major search engines are looking for and implementing those items into your website without changing the website design, functionality and overall appearance, can be challenging at times. And once Google changes its mind on what is the most important element for a website to have, I need to go back and make the updates.

Years ago, keywords were everything to Google. I would create lists and go back and forth with clients on which keywords were just right for their website. Nowadays, Google doesn’t even weigh as much importance on keywords as much as having keyword-rich content.

DDA, a search engine optimization and marketing company, stays ahead of the game and knows what optimization aspects to implement into our clients websites. Not to mention our own website that is over 3,000 pages! www.zeroonezero.com.

As I look at my day ahead, full of sips of cappuccino, Dreamweaver and Filezilla, I know that the efforts I put into my clients website, will over time increase their website rankings.

Happy Tuesday Everyone!!

I have been playing drums for about 14 years now. In my high school years, after classes I would always be hanging out with friends, making music. Up to date, I have been in 3 serious bands; Mush Mouse, League of Death, and Mr Radar. I was also in a couple other not so serious bands called Feelium and Spit Spreads Death, the later ending in complete mechanical and electrical failure at a battle of the bands contest. What kind of music is Mr Radar, you ask? Well, I suppose I would classify us under garage-pop-alternative, but really, it’s in the ears of the beholder.

We currently have a myspace page (of course) and also a website . Our website is very bare-bones, as we plan on fully developing a website full of imagery and fun things. Working at DDA, I have learned a lot, and am thankful that I can now use these skills to develop my band’s website. We have also designed stickers and T-shirts, all with the help of knowledge I have gained from being at DDA. From creating the design, to building flash applications for video and audio delivery, and optimizing the site, it’s nice to know that we won’t have to incur the costs of developing a site. We can put our earnings towards recording, touring and creating merchandise.

DDA is made up of all sorts of talented people; artists, musicians, authors, designers, and others. We all bring our talents and skills to the plate when it comes to working on a project. In turn, we take our acquired experience and knowledge, and use it to better and enrich our lives.

One of the great things about working at DDA, the pioneer and leader in digital advertising, is the capability to access everything you need even if you are at home. I was working from home yesterday and was able to have all of my necessary information at hand. From website optimization to updating website ranking reports, I was able to complete my usual tasks while sitting behind a different desk, in a different location. The advancements in technology over the years are amazing. I remember when working from home meant printing out papers and labels, and anything that I forgot would have to wait until the next day. Nowadays with email, networking and any other technical terms that I am unaware of… everything I need to complete tasks while at home is available to me. I have set up everything that I use in office to be so organized that when I am accessing files from home it is not a game of finding a needle in a haystack. Being organized is very important. From search engine optimization and forwarding potential clients’ requests for website design, to setting up the optimization schedule for the many websites that we optimize, keeping it all organized is task #1!