In case you have been living under a rock recently and haven’t heard, Senator Rick Santorum, has gotten into a bit of a predicament in Google search results. These leave many people questioning how this even happens? How did a website with a false definition make it to the #1 position in Google? The answer: crafty SEO techniques. (more…)

Link building can be hard; link building for big brands can be even harder. Traditionally, link builders are at their best when they can quickly move around the web, reaching out to bloggers and web masters and looking for that perfect opportunity to make a connection. When link building for a big, corporate client however, this freedom disappears. The link builder is restrained by branding restrictions, employees looking to protect their online turf and perhaps a not so web-savvy executive or two. Even with these restrictions, a link builder who knows how to handle the situation can leverage the massive corporate structure and really move the needle. Here are five examples, though there are many more: (more…)

First things first, what is the Google Analytics Individual Qualifications Exam?

It is a test put together by the fine folks at Google to prove proof of proficiency in utilizing Google Analytics. Seems pretty straight forward, but why is this important, or even necessary? (more…)

Google Analytics is an excellent way to track and analyze on-site traffic.  However, the UI for Goggle Analytics is not mobile optimized, which presents challenges for those who need to see updates on their mobile device.  The Google Analytics Software Design Kit (SDK) and corresponding Application Programming Interface (API) rectify the issue by allowing developers to create their own Apps.  Thankfully, there are several well-built, fast and intuitive Apps available.  I will focus this blog on the App universe for Android powered devices.  While I am inclined to frugality (some might argue parsimony), this blog will present what, in my estimation, are the best available free and paid Android Apps. (more…)

Once upon a time, search engine rankings were kind of nerdy: their somewhat complex algorithms caused them to keep to themselves and they didn’t always play well with website owners and developers, who wanted very much to play with them—and rank well as a result.  Then, something changed; a new kid came to town by the name of social media.  Social media changed the internet marketing landscape with its new take on marketing and, consequently, left business and webpage owners along with marketing consultants and managers all scratching their heads.  Like search engine rankings, social media was sometimes misunderstood and perhaps that’s why they eventually became friends. (more…)

A lot of debate in the interactive media sphere surrounds whether advertisers should bid on their branded terms.  At Rise Interactive, we believe the answer is an unequivocal “YES”. (more…)

The topic of mobile SEO vs. desktop SEO is one that is highly debated.  There are many leaders in SEO that believe the optimization process is the same and others that believe that they are vastly different.  I have read a few articles on these positions and have discovered a few observations that hold some truth.
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When individuals became aware of the new ranking factor, “Panda update 2.2”, many became confused and apprehensive that it may be an algorithm update.  Some feared that their website would drop in the rankings on Google, but others hoped that theirs could rise.   Above all this speculation, one thing has been verified: Panda is a new ranking factor, not a completely new algorithm. (more…)

SEO is, in many ways, still a developing art form.  At Rise, we strive to stay at the forefront of thought leadership and constantly seek out the latest developments in the industry, some of which can bring significant changes and considerations. There are, however, a few things that most think of when looking to rank high in Google and ultimately, get the click throughs and page views that will meet company goals. Among these are keywords, site architecture, links and speed. (more…)

Writers’ block is bad enough—but what if you don’t even know what to write about?  This tends to be the problem for many who are tasked with cranking out frequent blog content.  My advice to this frustrated bunch—use SEO keyword data to dictate the editorial for your blog entries. (more…)