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Creating brand awareness online - the optimisation era hits SA

31 Aug 2004 13:5614 commentsBizLike
Creating brand awareness online is South Africa's step up to equal the rest of the world in the competitive IT industry. This industry has been quietly brewing, overlooked by many, in the background of our number one seller - tourism. However, the IT industry has experienced a boom unlike any other the last few years, especially in the form of online promotion.
The Optimisation era has finally hit South Africa!

Although there still is only a small portion of online marketing companies that practice Search Engine Optimisation, each company offering these services in South Africa is a pioneer in itself. Online Promotion comprises of a few sub-areas including, but not limited to: Paid Search, Search Engine Optimisation and Affiliate marketing.

As Sally Falkow stated recently on Bizcommunity.com in her published article on 'Optimising Press releases'... "It's no longer a passive, one-way communication through the mass media. Your public is online and actively searching for what they want."

Briefly defined, Search Engine Optimisation is a form of online marketing where your website is made highly relevant for both Search Engines as well as searchers looking for your product or service online. Let me sketch an example: You are looking for a cell phone retailer in Cape Town. You type the name of your favourite Search Engine into your browser address bar (e.g. Google, Yahoo, MSN, Aardvark, AltaVista etc.). You type your query "cell phone retailer in Cape Town" and wait a few seconds for your results to display. Theoretically, the first 10 results displayed should be the most relevant to the query you entered. Statistically, 80% of all the traffic goes to the first three listings.

This practice in itself is the dawn of a new era for South Africans who, until a few years ago, found everything through the trusty dialling of 1-0-2-3! (A local telephonic information service.)

It is with pride that I can say that many global brands have turned to our handful of South African Search Marketing companies to help build their brands online.

Search Engine Optimisation specialists not only ensure that your site is visible on the Search Engines, they also ensure that these visitors to your website find a well-designed, content relevant and user-friendly site.

Consult with a Search Engine Marketing specialist and make sure that your brand, product and/ or service is found online.
 
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About the author

Christine Stander is head of Search Engine Optimisation SynthaSite
query
about the author SEO , link to heir website is broken..-
see above Posted on 1 Sep 2004 15:40
Daniel
obvious.-
I'm rather shocked that you think that the SEO era has hit South Africa.

Many South African webmasters have been practising this for years and have made some good money in the process (including myself).

It's funny how you publish things which are supposed to be logical and known to ALL in MARKETING. I mean who exactly are your audience? children? Posted on 1 Sep 2004 16:16
a seo
not so obvious-
I disagree Daniel - how many companies in SA truly know what SEO is? I agree that it has been practiced for a few years now, but the general SA (online) market place has only recently become aware of the importance that it brings. At least 1/2 of online SA are still much unawares of the importance, and it is for this reason that all SEO's / companies should unite to create this awareness and benefit SA companies also. Posted on 2 Sep 2004 10:55
a. designer
i agree daniel...-
This is just a pitch by some patronising marketing wannabe and really should not have been published Posted on 1 Sep 2004 16:30
Daniel is right... where is the valuable content!-
this article was just a glorified press release. biz-com should be doing better than this methinks! Posted on 1 Sep 2004 17:15
James
hmmm-
I disagree that this was a glorified press release - it reads more like a "big-up to SEO" in SA...methinks Posted on 2 Sep 2004 11:08
Ashdown
Any good SA SE Optimisation Software?-
SEO has been around for years, but I need to look at it again. i know things have changed quite a lot in the past 5 years, so can anyone help me with the following?

1. Any good SA SE Optimisation Software? or any other that anyone can recommend?
2. Do the search engines still read meta tags? Posted on 2 Sep 2004 10:50
a seo
software & meta data-
It depends what you want to do with it? There are a few software products to help with ranking reports etc. But I do not personally recommend using them for optimising your content.

Meta Data:
Depends which search engine you are referring to. Most read title & description only. Posted on 2 Sep 2004 11:03
Marguerite
Fabulous!-
I found this article quite inspiring! It is good to know that even overseas clients turn to SA for all round development and optimisation solutions! Posted on 2 Sep 2004 11:29
interested
Where can I learn more?-
Where can I learn more about online marketing and SEO? Posted on 2 Sep 2004 11:31
what a load of shit-
google hates SEO.

SEO is an outdated practise from an era long gone.

Content is King. Google will find good content.

Usability is the most important thing!

Google will continue to update their algorythms in order to get rid of web content which has been Search engine optimised.

hope SEO dies soon. Posted on 3 Sep 2004 13:31
Christine
get ur facts straight-
Granted - there are people and companies out there in the online world that focus strictly on leaving 'spider food' all over their websites - and dont give a dime about the users....

IMHO the best practice SEO is, is SEO that is content and user focussed.

A site that is optimized and appears within TOP10 but delivers a poor user experience is on par with a site that is not optimised and does not appear in the SERP's. IMHO of course.

To me SEO is something that comes naturally within your copy, if your copy is relevant of course. I do not believe in keywords stuffing copy to attract the attention of search engines.

It sounds very much like you have been scarred by a bad SEO experience - which is a real shame, as it really is an Art form and can provide much "joy" to the site owner, SEO and public alike.

Perhaps my SEO is just different to what you have experienced, but then again - you may think that I am biased...as I work in the industry... Posted on 23 Sep 2004 16:26
Sally Falkow
Learn more about SEO-
Visit my websites and my blog

www.falkowinc.com
www.falkoweb.com

myst-technology.com/mysmartchannels/public/blog/49337 Posted on 4 Nov 2004 16:28
Michele
A Necessity-
Every company and website designer/company should make SEO a no.1 priority Posted on 7 Sep 2004 18:06
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