May is a special month for the partners of Sidhe Communications. This year, we celebrate our 5th year anniversary. We are proud to present our fresh new ideas and approaches for success in the organic search marketing field.

Over the past five years we have implemented many new website marketing services, such as keyword analysis, website analytics readings, blogs, and audio and video podcasts. All of these services increase real traffic to websites, which in turn helps to build businesses, lives, and communities. Our clients are all small to medium sized businesses looking to compete in the internet marketplace. We help place them on page one of Google under primary and secondary keyphrases and watch their businesses expand.

The partners of Sidhe Communications have been experimenting with various formats and plans to determine how much text must be uploaded to a website each month in order to attract search. We now know that between 3,000-3,500 words of text per month is the right amount of promotional material to keep a website 1. recent & 2. relevant on search.

Thanks to the implementation of Google Analytics new Beta version for tracking, and a clause in our contract which requires that Sidhe Communications tracks websites we promote, we are now able to show, statistically, that our methods increase traffic to a website by 30-75%. In the higher stats figures, a seasoned SEO programmer is employed to ‘open the gates for search’ on the back end of the website, in conjunction with our organic search marketing campaign.

As we look to the future with our client base, we are beginning to examine and address usability issues. Usability problems or issues are the number one reason why traffic does not stay or return to a website. We are now offering website upgrades to client contracts that include a focus on keeping traffic on a website — and encouraging traffic to return.

Since the fall of 2007 we have been implementing and testing our podcast production and syndication project. This has been a rewarding experience for Sarah and myself. We have now opened up the full spectrum of Web 2.0’s new media to our client base. We bring the same amount of creativity and vigor to each podcast project that we bring to our writing endeavors.

What lies ahead for Sidhe Communications LLC is a year filled with the promise of even more partnerships with programming and design firms. As we partner with publicity firms, and small to medium sized companies throughout the United States, we are coming the to the realization that we are helping to usher in a whole new age in marketing, advertising, and publicity through the arena of website promotion. The consumer no longer wants scripted, glossy, canned material that is designed to make you want to buy. Instead, the online consumer is interested in authenticity, real value, and expertise that cannot be found elsewhere. In all of the materials Sidhe Communications creates, we strive to educate and inform the consumer because the online marketplace is different from traditional media.

Finally, Sarah and I are both proud to be working with a whole new crop of talented writers who are being trained to implement keyword writing, internal and external linking, and other best practices for website writing into their work. Many of these writers come to us with decades of experience in traditional publicity and marketing. Like us, these writers are willing to embrace website writing techniques and incorporate it into their work.

Sidhe Communications is proud to be both pioneers and innovators in the field of organic search marketing. We look forward to helping smaller companies rise and compete in the online world.

Elizabeth Kirwin

General Partner, Sidhe Communications

How the Web has Changed the English Language

The Internet has not only changed the way we learn, do business and live our lives…it has also changed the way we speak. The Internet has forever altered the English language now that people can say things like:

“I myspaced you about the concert last night.”

“I am going to blog about my trip south.”

“I can IM you my cell phone number before the meeting”

“If you need to sign up for the class just visit my web site address and get the registration form.”

Not only has the way we talk been affected but the way we write has also evolved. Writing for the web is a specific skill that needs to be developed and crafted, the same way academic writing, grant writing or technical writing are learned and practiced skills.

Writing for the Web: A Powerful Tool

It is amazing to consider that in just the last 10 years the power of the World Wide Web has brought great transformation to every industry. Most affected by the Internet have been the marketing, communications, sales, advertising and PR professions. We have been given this exceptional tool to help us

–reach our target markets

–communicate clearly and conveniently with our best customers

–provide simple and effective customer service practices

–make buying and selling easier than ever.

The key is: do we know how to use it? A tool is only valuable if we know the best, most efficient way to use it. A web site and the Internet are valuable to your business and worth the investment if you know how to employ them correctly. Writing for the web is becoming an increasingly important skill to have in almost any industry. Whether you are a small business owner, marketing professional, freelance writer, PR staff member or e-commerce store learning to write for the web will help you increase your bottom line online!

The Technology of Words

Search engines are an important part of website success. In order to achieve the results you want with an online presence, catering to the search engines and their demands is essential. Search engines are based on technology that even I don’t understand, but what we all know is that the technology search engines use is rooted in the power of words. I call this the technology of words. Here are the facts:

1. The Internet is full of text and content and the search engines judge this content as credible, visible and valuable or not.

2. This judgment affects your ranking and ranking affects the amount of attention you can get online.

3. Understanding how to write for the web, correctly use keyword terms and research the keywords and phrases popular with your target markets can make the difference between success and failure online.

In order to execute a feasible web site promotion and marketing plan or to achieve higher rankings with Google, Yahoo and MSN you must know how to write for the web and choose the keyword terms that will generate a qualified and large enough response. Once you begin with keyword writing as a cornerstone you will be able to add the rest of the necessary building blocks to solidify a strong web site marketing foundation. A strong foundation will lead to long term success.

For more information about keyword writing feel free to peruse our blog or consider attending our organic search marketing class in Raleigh on May 17th. Click here to find out more! I hoe to see you there!

Sarah Benoit