New Web Site! / Seeking Feedback

[seoguy]

Some ppl have been lamenting about how whenever you look for anything laser-related in Google and/or the other search engines, either (for good or bad) the elephant in the room keeps coming up,

http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1226683792/4#4
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1196358395

Or you can't easily find what you're looking for, especially if you want to take a DIY approach to creating your own custom laser!

I myself originally had problems searching for information on this fascinating topic, finding bits & pieces like WL & Sam's, before finally coming across this wonderful forum!

So, as I know just a "wee bit" about search engines, I've decided to solve this problem - I am pre-announcing a new web site dedicated to this fantastic hobby!

I am still finalizing what all I want to have on this new site, but I'm looking towards a centralized resource for links and information, with useful tricks for the more seasoned pros, as well as someplace a newbie can go to get a good "head's up" on how to get started!

And of course, a site that does well in the search engines!

And no, I do not plan on making a forum site, as we already have the best one here!

(Besides, you all talk too much, you're nearly killing poor c0ldshadow's server!

) I do plan on linking to LPF, however!

I also plan on having a "product reviews" section, so any of you that sell all those wonderful toys here, if you want to get some good publicity for your products, just let me know!

But like I said in the title, I am also seeking your advice...

What kinds of sections, features or things would you like to see on such a site?

What search phrases would you like to see such a site show up for? What would you type into Google to find a site about this area? (i.e. - "homemade laser", etc.)

I'm especially interested in what you think a "newbie" might type-in, so that we can point them in the right direction!

Thanks all!

 

[seoguy]

Ideas, anyone?

 

[dr-ebert]

My previous experience with "centralized resource websites" is that contributions quickly fizzle out and the site sinks into oblivion after a very short time.

 

[seoguy]

Not if they're coming-up #1 in Google they don't!

I have a resource site for another field that has been around and going strong for over 4 years now!

But thanks for the "positive" feedback!

By ideas, I meant what I asked about in the original post - desired features, what search phrases they would like to see in Google, and particularly what a "newbie" might type-in when looking for this sort of information?

 

[Kenom]

Sounds good to me. I'd really like to see people directed here when they search "kipkay laser hack" and show. BAD BAD BAD DON'T DO THIS!! lol. That and all the resources here for DIY lasers.

I almost forked out $$ to have google adword my Kryton laser barrels. Had I done that I'd have had to keep some in stock all the time. While that's not a bad idea, I don't have the resources now to keep lots of barrels on stock.

 

[seoguy]

Thanks for the input, Kenom!

I'd really like to see people directed here when they search "kipkay laser hack" and show. BAD BAD BAD DON'T DO THIS!! lol.

I seem to remember coming across some of those "instructional" pages when I was first searching for lasers! In one of those, the guy had taken a kid's toy Star Trek "phaser pistol", gutted-it, and replaced the flashing LED with something a bit stronger! Another guy had created something that looked like a cross between 25th century scrap metal & something from Lucas's prop dept!

But as I recall, none of these guys seemed to even be familiar with the word "driver" - unless you prefaced it with something like "truck"!

Any other words you think ppl might search for, to find this sort of thing?

I almost forked out $$ to have google adword my Kryton laser barrels.

Don't do that - too $$$$!

I always enjoy talking to a prospective client that is currently buying AdWords PPC Ads (Pay-Per-Click), and watch their eyes bug-out when they realize they can show-up in Google -

"and I don't even have to pay anything for each click???"

(If that doesn't freak them out, I can also point out that while they may be used to an PPC click-thru rate ~1-2%, if they are coming up #1 in that search, they are going to be looking at more like ~100%!)

Kinda feel like Santa Claus sometimes!

I also don't like how some of the sleazier PPC salesmen will tell ppl that what I do is not possible, just to convince them that buying paid ads is the only way for them to show up in Google!

I suppose there may be some situations where it may make sense to buy ads (like when some wickedly evil

company buys ads to show-up instead when ppl search for your company's name!)

But as you can tell, from my perspective (being able to get sites to come-up & then getting all those clicks for FREE), I'm normally not a big fan of PPC!

Anyways, I am looking to apply some of those same talents to this new site. I have bested companies in industries that are probably more competitive than this one, so it should be interesting to see what will happen!

 

[charliebruce]

I was planning something a lot like this - is your aim to create the layman's equivalent of "DeviantPhoton" but with better SEO?

 

[ixfd64]

Someone on LPF actually created a laser-related wiki. It's at http://lasers/.wikia.com.

 

[seoguy]

The one thing that comes to mind is a Wiki approach.

Someone on LPF actually created a laser-related wiki.

abadcaffeinetrip, ixfd64, I'm making a full-fledged web site, not just a simple Wiki (although I suppose I could add one as an option?) The way a Wiki makes the HTML would also cause problems for optimizing (as well as having ppl changing it all the time!)

This is also going to be on it's own domain name, not one of those cheesy "free" sites like on Wikia, Blogger, or Geocities!

is your aim to create the layman's equivalent of "DeviantPhoton"

If you mean with the whips & chains, then NO! LOL (isn't that FrothyChimp's site? Nice site, btw!)

But yes, something like that would be part of it, but much more expansive - also product reviews section, information for newbies, something about kipkap (per Kenon's suggestion - thanks!), links to good laser-related resources & sites, perhaps something to show-off most impressive hobbyist accomplishments (like the famous laser cigarette lighter!

), plus other stuff.

Still looking at what all I want to include, that's why I asked folks here what they'd like to see on such a site!

But basically, the ultimate resource for all things laser!

... but with better SEO?

Not just better SEO, but optimize the heck out of it, designed from the ground up to get top rankings! When you try to search for this stuff, either a bunch of non-relevant (for the hobbyist) things would come up, or one company kept hogging the spotlight!

I plan on fixing that!

That's why I asked folks what searches they would want to see such a site come up for, what would you type into Google to find information about this fascinating hobby? So I know what searches to get us #1 for!

Kenon has suggested going after "kipkay laser hack".

Anybody else?

 

[www.skylasers.com]

Sounds like an interesting website! It also sounds like a large project that will take many many hours to accomplish. I assume the website will be full of ads? While I wouldn't call myself a SEO specialist or anything, I believe this project of yours would be accomplished much faster if you had the help of the community here. If you need help with this project, please email us at support@skylasers.com.

The free wiki software is actually quite good considering the well-known wikipedia uses a platform similar to it. I think another system that may work is joomla. Joomla is very SEO optimized as is. Another free sofeware to consider is modifying wordpress into a CMS platform.

In terms of keyword or phrases, wouldn't it be better to start building the site first and let the keywords appear by itself through good creative content?

Yes, it's always better to have a personal domain. :wave:

 

[seoguy]

Sounds like an interesting website!

Thank you!

It also sounds like a large project that will take many many hours to accomplish...

That's one of the advantages when working on your own site rather than a client's - no timeframes/deadlines, so you can work on it on your own schedule!

I assume the website will be full of ads?

Not necessarily - I'm still deciding on that.

The free wiki software is actually quite good considering the well-known wikipedia uses a platform similar to it.

Just because a major site uses it, does not make it good for SEO. Sites like that have such a high PageRank, that they came come up for searches IN SPITE of their software, rather than because of it. Wikipedia has an insanely high PageRank of 9 - that's higher than even MSN!

I think another system that may work is joomla. Joomla is very SEO optimized as is. Another free sofeware to consider is modifying wordpress into a CMS platform

Wiki, Joomla, WP, and other similar products that depend on software-generated HTML all suffer from the same basic issues - they restrict what you can do, tend to produce bloated code (which can hurt your rankings), and will always take second-tear to a hand-optimized page.

Indeed, on an SEO forum, I recently advised a business owner to REMOVE WordPress from his homepage and move it to it's own page, because of how certain HTML limitations were hurting his rankings, even WITH the SEO Pack installed!

In terms of keyword or phrases, wouldn't it be better to start building the site first and let the keywords appear by itself through good creative content?

You get benefit from good content, naturally. But relying on that exclusively is like going on a trip without consulting a map, driving aimlessly and hoping you get somewhere you might enjoy.

You don't accomplish your goals without setting them first. Wicked did not get to #1 because of nice content - they got there because they specifically targeted key, high-traffic searches for their industry.

Yes, it's always better to have a personal domain.

Not a personal domain - a business one.

It also sounds like a large project...If you need help with this project, please email us...

Well, lets see here, when I looked to see who your company was, I noticed...

Your "company" is hiding it's identity behind a private domain registration...

Your company's U.S. address is a P.O. box...

Your company's domain name is not even a year old...

You suggest I should not target specific keywords - but you are doing that yourself! Indeed, I see you are directly targeting some of the same searches as Wicked is! But with the exception of a few very specific searches, you don't appear to be showing-up in the top 10 for the ones I looked at...

Of course, that might be in part because you only have a PageRank of 1!...

And your web site is CMS-based...

With so-so, but not exceptional SEO...

And only a handful of inbound links good enough to be listed by Google...

And you only registered here on LPF in May - the month you posted this...

And only posted 3 msgs TOTAL on LPF...

all on the same day...

and all within ~ 1/2 hour...

And oh, yea - one of which appears to be specifically designed to use LPF to spam your keywords!

(What, you thought I wouldn't notice that?)

Are you sure that it's ME that needs YOUR help with SEO?

But as it appears you are a China-based laser manufacturer, if you can convince me you are legit, perhaps I can review some of your products on my new site for you.

It certainly won't hurt your search engine rankings any!

 

[rog8811]

@ last part of your above post!

Let us know when it is up and running, it sounds very interesting.

Regards rog8811

 

[seoguy]

Status Update -

Google somehow managed to find my new site b4 I was ready, and b4 I even had any incoming links to it, and the site is now ALREADY coming-up near/at the top in Google! :yh:

This includes Top-10 for its primary target, out of about 4 MILLION laser-related web sites!!!

It's also already coming-up #1 for several other laser-related searches in Google! :yh::yh::yh:

Kenom will also be happy to hear that it is already coming-up on some searches above a certain "instructables" video! :yh: (you know, the one about "Flashlight Hack for Quick & Easy Destruction of Your Pesky Laser Diodes!!")

The most amazing part, however, is the site is doing this with NO incoming links, and a PageRank of ZERO! It shouldn't even be showing-up in Google at ALL yet - let alone getting top rankings!

It's SCARY to consider what this site can actually do, once it gets some Link Lovin'!

(If I was Wicked, now's a good time to start worrying! LOL)

Anyways, wanted to give you all a quick update to share the good news! :beer:

 

[nikokapo]

Can't wait!
I'll help when it gets released and we can access it

 

[Chicxulub]

ooh exciting! subscribing

 

[seoguy]

New Update:

Been trying to expand my business, and things have been getting very hectic as a result, but wanted to drop by and give you all an update of the latest good news! :yh:

After Google found my new site, I went ahead and let Yahoo and Microsoft in, to see what would happen.

While they also like to see, ya know, actual links to your site , they are much less obsessed about PageRank than Google is, so doing well with them can be a good predictor of how the site might improve in Google, once I get some decent links!

Well, my site was found and added in Yahoo, and the results are now in! :yh:

For my primary search target...
.
.
.
.
.

#1, baby!

out of about 24 million!!! :yh::yh::yh::yh::yh:

Also coming-up #1 in Yahoo for a variety of other searches, plus a bunch of Top 10's as well! :yh::yh::yh:

In fact, I'm coming-up #1 for more things in Yahoo than in Google! :yh:

And the crazy thing is, I usually do the worst in Yahoo! (Yahoo ranks sites differently than Google does, so when I have to chose, I normally fine-tune for Google, as it's the bigger fish )

But that's probably because the site still has a PageRank 0. Once I get some links, then Google should kick into high gear! :yh:

Man, things are looking sweeeet!

BTW, I've been tracking visitors f/searches, and have noticed that a very large % of the ppl interested in this area are from foreign countries! (Much more than I would have expected!)

Perhaps I need to strike some deals with foreign distributors?

Anyways, wanted to share with you all the latest good news about the new site! :beer: