Search Engine Optimization: Your Visual Blueprint for Effective Internet Marketing

by Kristopher B. Jones

Welcome to the only guidebook series that takes a visual approach to professional-level computer topics. Open the book and you?ll discover step-by-step screen shots that demonstrate over 140 key search engine optimization techniques, including analyzing your competition, researching and analyzing keywords, developing your link building skills, and setting up blogs and communities. Succinct explanations will walk you through using Google Analytics, networking with Facebook and MySpace, setting up pay-per-click campaigns, and much more.

Genres: Nonfiction, Business, Technology, Web, Website Design

296 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 2008

Reviews

[Garrett Burnett · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is possibly a good starter book for someone who has no idea what they're doing. Even then, however, some of the advice is bad (e.g., the recommendation to tag your headings with bold--why not just, say, use heading tags). Another problem--and one that's inherent in any book of this type, no matter how good--is that more and better information is available on the web. As an SEO guy, I'd say don't bother.

[Jay Best · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was probably the core of what I learned and know about SEO.

It lists it clearly and covers a broad range of SEO skills in a simple but concise manner.

The copy I just read was the 2013 copy, and covers much of what I know / knew so I will be buying an updated copy as a bit of the items I do know have faded a bit in effectiveness or refer to tools that aren't around anymore.

Read the physical book in a speed / skim mode in 15 mins (200 ish pages, with lots of photos).

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent intro to SEO, but it’s fairly shallow. It’s mostly screenshots with minimal explanations. It covers several tools of the SEO trade, both free and paid. It was published in 2013, so some specifics are dated, but the fundamentals are the same.

I skipped chapters 10-12 on the basics of social media and PPC. I skimmed chapter 13, which covers search engines besides Google.

Notes
SEO
#1 most important factor: quality backlinks. #2: original, well-written content.

• Use long-tail terms, not head terms, for most or all pages. It’s easier to rank for long-tail terms.
• When writing anchor text, use text similar to the title tag of the page you’re linking to.
• In general, the higher a link is on a page, the higher value it has.
• Engines look for about pages and privacy policy pages, which add credibility.
• For help creating a privacy policy, see freeprivacypolicy.com.
• When choosing a domain name, choose either 1) one with 1-2 keywords, or 2) a brand name with as few characters as possible. Avoid hyphens.
• htaccesstools.com can generate .htaccess code blocks.

Local SEO
• Create and optimize Google+ page.
• Get reviews on Google+ page. Reviews there count for more than other sites (Yelp, Merchant Circle, Foursquare).
• Optimize website for local search. Put city, state, ZIP in header and/or footer, as well as title and meta description of geo-focused pages.
• Increase followers on social media. Focus on acquiring those with social influence. Increase follower engagement.
• Correct inaccurate location info across web.
• Use product/service and location keywords in anchor text that points to your site or Google+ page.
• Add business to Local.com, Yahoo, Yelp, YP.com, ReferLocal.com.

[Galileo Valiente · Rating 1 out of 5]

First published in 2010. I still read it in 2020 hoping I might find it useful even though technology evolves on a daily basis. There were still a few sections of this book that are relevant - only in concept but not in the implementation.

It's still advocating buying links which are considered unethical ways of promoting your rankings. Good thing it mentioned that you ought to have good quality content to give value to your readers, which is still the best way to gain an audience.

It is also mostly full of screenshots of software tools they've used to implement the techniques. I find those to be fillers/spacers to thicken the book that serves little purpose because you will eventually find those screens modified/different after a few versions. This book would probably be just 50 pages.

I would have rated this 3 stars in 2010 but now 1-star in relevance.

[Gary Meldrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was well structured and easy to read. The concepts are broken up into 2 page topics which give the reader the overall concept which then can be applied in the "real world". Since the world of SEO is everchanging, and this book is a good kick-start in the craft.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and easy to comprehend. I learned a host of interesting analytics sites that I didn't know existed.

[Brandee Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the pictures in the book (not often do my work books have pictures in them)

[Leonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to search engine optimization. There are some useful techniques and helpful websites.

[Fiona Cheng · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for beginners, it teaches you practical tricks to ace your SEO. It is accompanied by step by step instructions and pictures.

[Michael.Lee · Rating 1 out of 5]

day day up!