A major Google algorithm change may have bigger economic impact than rising oil prices!

New Google Algorithm Shakes Up The Web

They even tell you up front, "Hey! We're constantly changing!"

Written by Resources for Entrepreneurs Staff
Published: 2/24/2011
Reposted by Grace Rizza
Website Marketing Chicago
Forget rising oil prices. A new Google algorithm may have a bigger impact on the economic fortunes of many companies.
Google announced today that it has rolled out what it calls a pretty big algorithmic improvement, designed to improve its search results.

The company blog notes that the "update is designed to reduce rankings for low-quality sites -- sites which are low-value add for users, copy content from other websites or sites that are just not very useful. At the same time, it will provide better rankings for high-quality sites -- sites with original content and information such as research, in-depth reports, thoughtful analysis and so on."
Given the number of companies that depend on Google for organic search traffic, a major algorithm change like this arguably impacts the global economy as much as other large economic trends, such as the rising cost of oil due to tensions in the Middle East. Winners can quickly become losers, and losers can quickly become winners.
According to the official blogpost, 11.8% of search queries have been "noticeably" updated. Google-powered traffic at our own site, gaebler.com, dropped 40% after the latest algorithm change, suggesting that we add less value to the world than we had hoped, at least in the eyes of Google.
The new Google algorithm update follows weeks of industry news about Google's dislike for so-called "content farms" -- arguably defined as sites that copy content from other sites and/or sites with low levels of original content. In response to a Google user uprising against content farms, Google provided protesters with Personal Blocklist, a new extension for its Chrome browser that allows users to block certain domains from appearing in their Google search results.
In its announcement today, Google noted that this update does not utilize the new data they are getting from Personal Blocklist. They did, however, indicate that they are "very pleased" to report that 84% of the top domains requested to be blocked by Personal Blocklist are also impacted by the algorithm change.
For small business owners who regularly visit our site and rely on us for small business news, we recommend that you closely watch your search traffic in the days to come to see if you have been negatively impacted by the new Google search engine algorithm.
If your rankings are lowered, you are either a "false positive" casualty of the new algorithm – a site that is undeservedly adversely affected by Google algorithm changes – or you may need to take a long look in the mirror and ask yourself whether your site consists largely of shallow content that is not truly original and valuable to your site visitors.
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SEO Caution: Avoid The Blacklist!

http://www.searchenginemarketingfirmchicago.com

Blacklisting is Google's way of penalizing websites that abuse SEO tactics.  If you are subscribing to SEO and your site one day drops out of the rankings, it may have been blacklisted.  Choosing and internet marketing company that is familiar with ethical SEO and knows how to avoid blacklisting is very important.  The following SEO practices can knock your site out of the race for ranking first on Google.

1.  Cloaking: Cloaking is the process of hiding content on a webpage.  Having relevant keywords on your site can contribute to your SEO, but hiding content to increase your keyword count can get you on the blacklist!

2.  Keyword Stuffing:  Listing the same keyword multiple times on your page isn't going to help it.  Firstly, it'll be confusing for your potential clients.  Secondly, if Google crawlers detect more than 10% of your content are your keywords, your site may be penalized and added to the blacklist! Strategically choosing and placing a keyword only a couple times can be more effective than keyword stuffing anyways.

3. Links:  Links to your website or backlinks can increase your ranking on google search results.  However, multiple links from one site or page can lead to blacklisting.  Attaining irrelevant links can also hurt more than help.  They key is variety and timing.  Attaining a variety of types of links, as well as quality links over a period of time is better than getting hundreds at once from the same source.

If you suspect your SEO company may not be practicing to the highest standards, please feel free to contact us for a free evaluation of your online presence.  We'll be able to tell you where your SEO dollars are going and discuss a way to make your campaign more efficient.

Grace Rizza
SEO Specialist
Chicago SEO Company
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QR Codes & Their Marketing Functions and Uses - Chicago Online Marketing & Mobile Marketing Chicago

What are QR codes and how can they contribute to your marketing and business goals? Read on!


Quick Response codes (QR codes) and other similar codes are on the rise! QR codes allow consumers immediate access to product, service, and business information.

QR Codes- The Basics

If you’re not yet familiar with them, QR codes are similar to barcodes used in stores to track merchandise.

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(QR code to Bob Rizza, Addison Realtor's Website)

Unlike traditional barcodes, QR Codes are two-dimensional (2D) and can hold thousands of characters of information. Their ability to hold information paired with their ease of use makes them ideal for small businesses.

You scan or read a QR code with your iPhone, Android or other camera-enabled Smartphone. you can link your clients to your website, your phone number or email address, you can link them to an instant message! And it takes less than 5 minutes to set up!

The ability of QR codes to connect people with each other and to multimedia digital content is very useful for businesses and consumers alike.


The uses for QR codes are virtually endless.  Attention Restaurant Owners! Do you want to populate your Facebook page?  Link your QR code to your menu and allow your customers instant access!  Want to share an EBook with professionals in your industry? Link it up!  Hey Realtors! Would you like potential buyers to have instant access to a virtual tour of your listed home? LINK.IT.UP.  Give me an industry, and I'll think of a way for a QR code to boost your sales.  Let's not forget what an impression you'll make while staying ahead of the technological curve!

SEO Strategy

Determining your keyword strategy is the first step of any successful internet marketing campaign.

When optimizing your site, you need to choose which "keywords" or search terms you'd like to be highly ranked for.

For instance, if you are a real estate agent, you may want your website to come up first whenever someone searches "real estate agent."  But hiring an SEO agency to make you come up first for "real estate agent" may cost tens of thousands of dollars per month.  Why?  Because the competition for this phrase is off the charts!

A more practical and affordable SEO approach may be to focus your optimization efforts on the phrase "real estate agent in (your town)".  This approach may cost anywhere from a couple hundred dollars per month to a couple thousand per month depending on your level of competition and the chosen SEO agency.

I personalize each campaign to optimize the budget I'm working with.  For instace, if you want to spend between $200-$300 per month on SEO and get the best return possible.  I may recommend optimization for 2 key phrases.  I'll be able to estimate the amount of traffic the chosen keywords will drive to your website and provide monthly reports to show results.

Unfortunately NO ONE who does SEO can guarantee results, since your competition could be paying for SEO as well.  However, I have been very successful at estimating a timeline and expected results for a variety of clients based on my research.

For a consultation or free competitive analysis, call me (Grace) at 630-432-4519.