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This is a good "problem" to have.

My client is a consortium of web companies. It has just produced a terrific info-graphic on the the latest European data policies. The author is a leading lawyer in the field and the content is outstanding, authoritative, and current.

The issue is how to best use the info-graphic for both SEO and general marketing purposes.

We will publish the info-grahic on our own site. But what else should we do?

(1) The info-graphic already contains the website name. Should we make this a hyperlink on our own site, with or without keyword rich text?

(2) We can certainly do handcrafted outreach to likely sites, who might republish. Should we just ask them for backlinks and hope for the best? Or should we embed?

(3) We can also send the info graphic as an Eblast to a wider list. Same questio:n Should we just ask them for backlinks and hope for the best? Or should we embed?

The site already high DA and a diversified link portfolio. There is no need for risky tactics or "Hail Mary" passes. OTOH, it seems a pity not to make the most of this.

Ideas on the above? Other thoughts?

Forgot to mention, I have had very good experiences with Whitespark.

The work is carefully and diligently done.

On completion, you get a spreadsheet with logins and passwords.

So you "own" your own listings.

Another problem with Yext is that you are locked in to a very high annual fee.

If you don't renew, Yext threatens to "release" your listing and says you have to manually "reclaim" each one.

Not a good solution and not the most noble of business practices, IMHO.

Now that there are better alternatives, I would use Yext only for big businesses with deep pockets. Its only advantage is its speed. If I had a reputation management client who need to push negative stuff down quickly...I might consider Yext. But that's it.

Re: $5 backlinks from a personal blogger.

The only worse than a whore is a cheap whore.

If you lie down with dogs, you will get fleas.

(Make up your own filthy variation. And keep it you yourself.)

My work here is done.

Maybe I'm missing something -- but I've never seen the benefit of tags to the end-user (at least as most site authors use them.)

Tags are often displayed and authors often over tag. Many authors confuse tags with SEO page titles and come up with really bad ones. They also confuse tags with categories.

I've tried and failed in the past to educate multi-author sites on the distinction between all these.

Again, maybe I'm missing something -- but I just don't see tags as that important in the grand scheme of things.

I focus my attention on ensuring posts are done in accordance with a regular schedule on agreed-upon topics in agreed-upon categories. We display by category, recency, and popularity. So who needs tags?

I agree.

Run for the hills.

SEO for $5? It's a bit like the guy offering a genuine Bulova watch in Times Square for $5.

Thanks for the thanks, Patrick G.

An amusing sidelight: one company that refused my request for company email had previously  entrusted me with use of their corporate credit card -- and continued to do so after refusing my request.

Go figure.

(sigh)

I agree is always better to use a company address when representing the company (for link removal requests to third parties... or anything else. e.g.. creating Linkedin profiles or acting as Privacy Officer.)

I have had many "lively" discussions with clients about getting company email addresses.

Bottom line: hopeless with Fortune 500 or large companies with rigid policies. They are not going to make an exception for you, however compelling your case. They are hung up on (often phoney and imagined) compliance issues. Even if you clear that hurdle, they can always fall back on the old "we have to treat all vendors equally" claim.

But I have had some success with medium sized companies. In one case, I offered to let the IT manager monitor my email to ensure I was using it only for agreed upon purposes....on pain of contract termination.

Not sure I understand the question...

...but here is a case study I worked on.

The goal was to convince people my client  could handle pretty much everything.

You can read other case studies on the home page at www.lingualinx.com

No, no, no....

A thousand times No....

......to Google Translate.

See my YouMoz Blog post here.

I ended up with a box of SEOMOZ swag. (Thanks! As to how this came to pass...I shall draw a veil, as they used to say in Victorian novels.)

My upstairs neighbour Max, age 5, enjoys a rich fantasy life and is very much into superheroes and costumes. Naturally, he ended up with a lot of the Roger stickers.

Alas, I was unable to answer all of Max's  questions.

When he asked: "What does Roger do?" I replied:

"Roger makes your computer work." Pretty good, I thought.

But then Max asked:

"What does the antenae do?" I was kind of stumped.

Then it got worse.  Max asked what Roger's superpowers are and if he could beat Spiderman. I tried to change the subject. Max wasn't impressed.

What are the answers?

Enquiring five year old minds want to know!

I am a writer and editor and TV producer and non-profit executive, turned web strategy consultant.

And I agree completely with the warnings about the perils of ultra-cheap content.

"You get what you pay for."

Truer words were never spoken!

<<rant mode="" on="">></rant>

It kills me that people will spend hundreds or thousands chasing the latest speculative SEO trend du jour, while also trying to get away with spending  50 bucks on an article that is is worth 500 dollars or more, if done right.

The priorities are all wrong.

This is not only short-sighted, it is actually evil. You are enabling and encouraging BS content that hurts everyone. End times are upon us!

Can the Zombie Apocalypse be far behind?

It makes me want to jump up on my desk, strip off my clothes, and shout out:

"Hire a F@#%ing professional writer!"

from the top of my lungs.

And then post the video to YouTube.

<<rant mode="" off="">></rant>

But here's the point:

Would you hire the cheapest possible developer?

Would you hire the cheapest possible designer?

If not, why then does it strike you as "normal" to hire the cheapest possible writer?

I normally include copywriting as part of my consulting services. But sometimes I get busy and need help.

I've been able to get first-rate, magazine quality, copy from professional writers for around $500 for case studies (anywhere from 500 to 1,500 words) that required several interviews and drafts. And the writers were happy to have the work.

But trolling el cheapo sites to get writers for 20 bucks instead of 80 bucks?

Not a smart idea.

The Web does not need more crappy content.

And you do your clients a disservice if you take that route.

Both of your examples could be greatly improved. Way too many numbers.  And you're trying too hard to cram too much stuff in. You need more focus.  Far too many page descriptions read like transcripts of cheesy used car commercials.

You have to consider how page descriptions  look -- and work -- in conjunction with page titles. Words in the page title that are repeated  in the page description are bolded.

I generally hand craft page descriptions  for each page that make my client stand out from the competition.

My first draft might look something like this.

Example 1

**Anytown Fitness | Anytown, NY Gym and Fitness | Boot Camp                           **

**A****nytown Fitness **will get you in the best shape of your life, no matter who you are. Caring, supportive environment, rave reviews. Try us!

Example 2

Widget People | Custom Widgets and Doodads | Googas                                                          Save up to 70% when our certified widget makers lovingly handcraft yourdoodads & googas.  Family- run company, rave reviews. Find out why.

I'd then throw the descriptions into a character counter and refine. In Example 2, I might eliminate "Find Out Why" and sub "great service" to make the final phrase: "Family run company, great service, rave reviews."

Of course, I would never talk about rave reviews unless we had the Yelp and Google and other reviews to support the claim.

And I'd only use the & if I was short of space. I'd use + only in something like 500+ widget styles.

I say nay....at least for now...and at least on the basis of the limited information you were able to provide.

I have two clients in exactly this situation. Let's say one is in the health and wellness business and the other is in the gourmet food business.

I agree that tailored keywords are important. But I'd move heaven and earth on an organic search strategy for several months before even attempting PPC. By that I mean super-premium, high quality editorial content or interactive features  -- and a handcrafted link-building strategy that targets MSM outlets. We're talking commissioning articles from established writers or paying for interactive apps.

I'd also encourage your client's very top execs to grovel for links from their partners, suppliers, clients. The idea that approval can happen at the "web guy" or even marketing dept.  level is comical. You have to pretend you're just the "tech guy" -- even if the stategy is all yours. Then you fight like hell over "billing" -- a bit like Hollywood.

I'd also invest a lot of effort into reviews and recommendations, both on-site and on third party sites.

All that said, YMMV. It all depends on the industry and the client and the competitive landscape.

I have one client who offers a super-premieum service  -- for whom I've implemented an Adwords cmpaign. The CTR is miniscule. So is the cost. ...about $9 a day. And it's paid off big.

But I just use the CPC as a supplement to other stuff. My overarching point is you should try other stuff first.

I agree with the Twitter follow suggestion, but don't consider it even "a little grey hat."

My team and I have been able to get about one in five people we follow to follow us back. And we've seen more than a few convert into valued customers.

The best strategy is to be both selective and transparent. Don't go on a blitz where you follow hundreds of people from a few sources on a single day. Be very targeted. Follow people slowly and incrementally, after first providing something of value on your own Twitter feed....and jumping into discussions where you can provide expertise.

Too many people go on fishing expeditions in which they randomly follow people from targeted Twitter feeds. The targets may click over to your Twitter feed out of curiosity, but be turned off by one marketing message after another, but no real content. Or they may follow you -- and then have nothing more to do with you ever again.

I've used PR Web with success for several clients.

Each release is typically linked to by around 100 sites, but these are typically no follow.

The real value comes from the link from PR Web's site itself.

I always regard "real" pick-ups (i.e. a news outlet writing a story, based on the release) as a bonus. This requires individual outreach and is more in the realm of PR than SEO.

As always, don't over do press releases -- or any other technique. Regard press releases as just another part of a diversified link portfolio. Above all: don't embarrass  yourself or your client with silly releases that contain no news hook. PR Web actually has some standards in this regards -- unlike it competitors. They sometimes reject releases or require edits. That's part of the reason it's a bit pricy.

And remember: even if it passes muster,  a 20% off sale is not much of a story.

One release per client per month is plenty. I sometimes find myself doing less because I can't come up with anything worthy...even though I have a bulk subscription.

I agree that charitable contributions make good releases. Product launches and executive appointments are also press release staples.

Thanks for the even-tempered and genuinely curious response!

Oddly enough, I think we are all saying the same thing...but in different ways: excellence is paramount and everyone needs team players with a broad general understanding of the big picture.

So this kinda reminds me of a B movie scene where the bad guy says to the tied up hero: "We are not so different -- you and I. NYAH-HA-HA"

Like you, I am not a developer. I started off as a TV writer, producer, and director before moving online in the late 90's. Along the way, I have held executive and editorial posts at places like PBS and The Environmental Defence Fund where I managed teams of developers, among others.

So I think I know how developers think. Some of my best...(oh, never mind.)

A developer would look at your job post and leap to the  conclusion that your company would be a bad place to work. He would think "the bosses" are clueless about development, his skills wouldn't  be respected, and he should take his talent elsewhere.

Think of it as "reverse hiring." You have to sell your company if you want really top notch talent.

Instead, your job post just throws in a whole bunch of stuff. It's almost comical....at least to a developer. They would conclude the company is run by idiots.

A better approach would be to:

• focus on just a few skills

• talk a lot about your company and its culture

-show how the devloper's skills would be respected and how they would fit into the bigger picture

After all, most top notch developers can master new skills quickly. But too many companies still screen by ticking things off checklists. It's the wrong approach. Making sure there is a good cultural fit is much more important.

Grace:

Arrgh!!!

No, no, no...the advice given to you is all wrong! It's generic and outdated. And it's not appropriate for you

I know because I am  an editor and TV news guy turned "web strategist" and SEO guy.

My clients include leading authorities in the nutrition, health, food, and fitness fields. Many are leading authors and experts.

Nor will the generic keyword advice you will find in most guides prove to be especially helpful. That's because you have something rare: the ability to create high quality content for both your own site and other sites.

There is a pretty easy way through a Wordpress plug in of applying one or two key phrases to each blog post, (past and future) while also picking up the headline of the post (which should be especially written with this in mind.)

The meta descriptions should combine general info on your site with specific i nfo on the specific post.

I'm not sure what you mean by "attaching key phrases". Are these meta keywords (don't bother) or tags within WordPress designed to bring up similar posts for readers?

I agree that it all begins with which keywords you are targeting. It sound to me like you may be dividing your focus.

For example, in the SEO title cited, there is no indication of the topic of the blog: Dessert Recipes. You may be getting useless traffic from people who want to buy chocolate cakes from a shop or mail order. And what if I'm not interested in chocolate cakes but pineapple cake? There is no indication the blog may be useful.

Feel free to PM me. I have more than enough on my plate on the moment (so to speak!) but would be happy to talk to you on the phone.

Yikes!

No, no, no.

A thousand times no.

And once again: no.

Fakery is always and everywhere wrong. It's not complicated.

If that means nothing to you, consider the consequences of exposure.

As a former TV news director I can assure you this is a helluva story:

"Company in the sleazy SEO business is caught red-handed in the cynically calculated use of deceit to intentionally mislead the public by creating a fake  business; calls it an "intern experiment" and says it did nothing wrong. Consumer advocates disagree and call for regulation and licensing of SEO industry. Part two tomorrow, as our series on the death of privacy and birth of web big brotherism continues. Are your children safe?"

Sheesh.

Few issues are black and white.

But this is one.

Agree completely with the above.

Every situation is different and your mileage may vary.

That said, as a general rule and in most circumstances:

It is probably best to let sleeping dogs lie re: old reviews. Much better to focus your attention on new, positive reviews...and general link-building.

There are some common sense exemptions, of course. If there is a persistent  pattern in the negative reviews..it is best to address the root cause head on -- to show you have improved.

As I have written elsewhere, short and snappy " zinger" responses that avoid tit-for-tat re-hash are best.

Examples from my own practice:

In response to a 1,000 word complaint re: recurring credit card charges: "We issued a full refund as soon as we were notified of theproblem." In response to a complaint about a trade school:
**"The author of this review is a former employee, and not a student. We're sorry things didn't work out for her, but wish her well. " **