SEO - Search Engine Optimization

My current web optimization focus of study lately is Search Engine Optimization (SEO).  I have decided to devote most of my effort on the search engine with nearly 90% of the share, Google.  The first challenge I am finding that needs to be overcome is to get the Googlebot to index my site.  It is not instantaneous.

First thing I do is get the site verified with Google's Webmaster Tools and submit a sitemap.  Looking at other people's experiences it may take a while and I am finding that out with my first blog site taking nearly one month to get indexed.  My next step will be to participate in related communities and get the blog linked with credible sites.  After the Googlebot gets the sites indexed, I plan to employ the techniques detailed in the Google's Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide to see if I can get my blog sites more visible.

All this makes me wonder if a blog, such as Blogspot sites just are not as important to the Googlebot.  So, my plan is buy a cheap domain name to see if the Googlebot initial index time is cut down.  A domain also allows me to maintain, control, and monitor my own domain that is not part of other sites.  That way I can start to learn more about the infrastructure type things to keep a website up and running on my own.

Google Local Business Center

As I learn more about web strategy, I question why companies do not use certain services, applications, or features available.  One of the biggest head scratchers is the non-use of Google Local Business Center.  This is a totally free service that just makes your business website look more important and more professional in Google's search results.

All you have to do is enter the address, phone number, and category of you business.  Then, select from a several options to let a customer get a quick glimpse of your business from a search results.  Things like payment options, hours of business, photos, videos, and other specifically stated information.  I feel business hours alone should be boost because I find myself frequently looking for hours of a business only to dig around on their website and ending up calling, which is a very frustrating process.

Google Local Business Center is a no-brainer if you want to get more search exposure for your business on Google.  And, Google even provides a short video succinctly detailing how the service works and how easy it is to get setup.

Seattle Seahawks

As a venue to vent, the Seattle Seahawks are terrible again.  After last year's embarrassing and injury riddled they went out and got some new parts by trying to bolster the defense, giving Hasselbeck and new target, and drafting a stud LB.  With all the new personnel, coaching staff, and aggressive attitude there was hope, but it is looking like this season is going to be no different than last.  They are injury-riddled AGAIN and no one can figure out why this is happening.  With Seneca Wallace in there they have no chance offensively, so you lean on the D, but they are playing uninspired and injured.  Looks to be another long year.

The other thing I am finding odd is how the team is plain awful on the road no matter who is coaching.  Makes me wonder if there is something deeply rooting within the culture of the team that hopefully goes away as guys under the Holmgren regime retire or move on.  I don't understand how you can play with fire, passion, and inspiration at home and then play purely crappy as though they are just running through the motions, biding time until they get to go home.  Does not make sense.

If this is a complete disaster of a season they will get a high draft pick plus Denver's first rounder to help try to shore up some holes from injuries and age.  They definitely will need to find Walter Jones' replacement because Jones is done.  The other areas that will need attention are RB, QB, and secondary.  I believe you can get a very good RB in the 2nd or 3rd round, so QB may be on the docket for that other first-round pick. Let the QB learn under Hass for one season, then let Hass walk the next.  The good thing is this draft class should be very rich in talent and deep with the looming NFL labor issues and potential for a 2011 rookie slotting system.

This is definitely early to think like this, but I have seen this all too often and the team just starts to go through the motions as the losses pile up.  Especially when you lose like you did today against the Colts.  Go Hawks! Let's hope you can get this all figured out before it is well too late.