Matt Cutts of Google at Pubcon reported today that Google will soon be treating sub domains similarly to the way they currently treat folders, according to Search Engine Land.

There will only be two URLs from any domain in the search engine results page. So, if you have multiple sub domains on your site, only two will show up in the search engine results page - no matter what.

If you search Google, for example, you can see that the top 10 results are all Google sub domains for products.

So, how will Google and other site owners still be able to show their sub domains?! I mean, they are very important to Google and the site owners, and Google would not just say “Awww, too bad you only get two URLs in the search engine results page.”. So, what is Google going to do?

I think Google will be granting sites with multiple sub domain and folders site links in the search engine results page. They are already doing this, but I think the site links will become a common sight in the search engine results page. Good old Barry over at Search Engine Roundtable thinks this as well.

Site links are the URLs that are placed directly underneath your main domain listing in the search engine results page, and site owners can control what is displayed through their Google Webmaster Account.

When you search “Search Engine Roundtable” in Google you see:

With this in mind, Google should be getting site links under their main domain. It might look something like this:

So, site owners, I think you need to get ready for a site link invasion. Make sure to verify your site with your Google Webmaster Account, so you can control what site links are displayed.

Only time will tell if am correct, but I have a good feeling about this one!

UPDATE:

Looks like I was correct. At 12:31:00 PM Google officially announced the following:

We’ve also been tweaking things here and there so that Sitelinks will appear for many more websites, and with more descriptive names. These improvements should help get you to the specific page you’re looking for even more quickly.

Here at eVisibility we pride ourselves on being ahead of the curve.

“Because inside information is always the best!”

So, you just got a job in the SEO (search engine optimization) industry!

First off, I want to say congratulations. Trust me, once you start SEO, you just can’t stop. You might even find yourself working for an internet marketing company like eVisibility!

Now if you are that green to the industry you are probably wondering “Where the hell do I start?” Trust me; we have all felt that way! But don’t worry - I am going to give you a starting point.

(Warning: After you have finished reading this post and book-marking it as great resource you are on your own!)

SEO News Sites

You have to read every day! If you do not like reading, then I recommend you walk over to your boss right now and say “I quit.” It is important to stay updated on what is going on in the industry, because it is always changing. (The Google Gods get bored and like to play with us like puppets. Don’t worry, you get used to it.)

For the latest new in Search Engine Marketing:

• Search Engine Land
• Search Engine Watch
• Search Engine Round Table
• SEO Moz
• Sphinn
• Search Engine Journal

For some great tips on Social Media:

• Pro Net Advertising
• Quick Sprout

If you refuse to read or can multi-task, then try some Podcasts and Videos:

• Webmaster Radio
• Daily Search Cast
• Web Pro New Video

Chat it up. No question is stupid. It is very important to get active in Forums:

• Search Engine Watch Forums
• Cre8asite Forums
• Digital Point Forum

Now you may be wondering, “How the hell am I going to keep track of this all?” Lucky for you, there are RSS Readers:

• Blog Lines
• Net Vibes (My Favorite - and no, they did not pay me to say that)
• Google Reader

SEO Tools

Now that you are up to speed on what is going in the world of search, let’s arm you with some SEO Tools.

First off, download FireFox Internet browser and never open Internet Explorer again.

Then download these plugins:

• SEO for FireFox - Enables you to get site information with a click of a mouse. (I use this every day)
• Google Tool Bar

Spider Test Tool - Great tool that simulates what a search engine spider picks up on your site.

Keyword Research Tool - Very simple and straightforward.

Keyword Trends - Google’s version and MSN’s version

Competitive Research - Compete, Quantcast, SEODigger (Freaken Rocks), SEOmoz Page Strength

Back Link Checker - Check out what anchor text people are using to link to your site.

Keyword Density - Do you have the right amount of keywords on your site?

Duplicate Content - Don’t let Google Bot find duplicate content on your site.

301 checker - Make sure those redirects are true 301 redirects.

Google Data Centers - Check your rankings from various data centers. They could be different.

Quick Snapshot - Collects a large amount of information

Domain Research - Domain Bots, Whois Checker

Site Functionality - Find out what people are clicking on!

MSN Lab center tool kit - Way too much to mention, but useful.

PollDaddy - Need a poll on your website?

Site Maps - Great tool for making sitemaps.

Hopefully this points you in the right directions. Good luck, and most importantly remember to have fun. If you stop having fun then change your career. I recommend becoming an accountant. I hear they have all sorts of fun.

For all of you gurus out there, if I missed anything comment below and I will update the list. (Please keep in mind I wanted to make this as simple as possible).

It is no secret that Google has been going through a major, long overdue, PageRank (PR) update that is targeting sites that Google perceives as selling links with the purpose gaming the PR system. Of course the SEO community is in an uproar along with many site owners and people who buy links. And if you are a search engine optimization company that has clients with paid links or are a text link broker, then you have been fielding many mad calls from clients and have been going through the same spiel with all of them over and over again, ad nauseum.

Here is what the real deal is. The end goal of SEO is to get rankings, assuming that if you get rankings then you will get more traffic and if you get more traffic then you will get more sales, leads, branding, etc. Well what has happened to the rankings of all of these sites like SFgate.com that have been losing PR? Nothing, except that they have lower Google toolbar PR. There have been no reports of a loss in rankings for any of the sites that have lost PR.

Why would Google “penalize” sites by lowering their PR but not lower their rankings as well!? I mean after all, everyone makes such a big deal out of PageRank, claiming that it is so significant to your rankings. Well, news flash… it is not. PR is merely one of the hundreds of ranking factors. It is still a piece of the puzzle but it is not as integral as everyone thought it was and many smart Internet marketing companies have been saying this for years. This latest PR update and ensuing PR penalties proves it. The real reason that Google has lowered the PR is because much of the value of a paid link is attributed to the site’s PR. The higher the PR of a site the more they typically can charge for a link. So PR is/was an integral measuring stick in determining value in the paid link industry, which is an industry Google wants eliminated.

If you are still not convinced take a look at the center of the paid links business, http://www.text-link-ads.com/ versus http://www.textlinkbrokers.com/. TLA was cemented at the top of the rankings for the term “text links” for a very long time but is now buried deep in the rankings for that term. But TLA still sits pretty with a PR 7. While TLB slipped to a measly PR 3 with this update, but they enjoy position #1 for the same term!

So if you are using paid links to bolster your link portfolio you need not worry about this latest PR update until you see a drop in your rankings and the rankings of the sites you are purchasing links from. And stop obsessing over your PageRank and obsess over your site’s usability and conversion instead. The former gets you nowhere and the later gets you where you want to be, profitable.

It’s no secret that submitting press releases can help you build link popularity and ultimately help with internet marketing company of your website.

So where to start?

To most people, a blank page may seem empty; but in the eyes of a writer there are ideas, stories, and secrets already on that page. This is no different for a press release. Your job is to fill a page with news. But what makes particular story news? Or better yet, who makes a story news? That is a tough question to answer. In all honesty, anyone can make it into the news; you don’t have to be escaping rehab or breaking up with one of Hollywood’s hottest actors to do it. While people are busy searching for the latest on Lindsay Lohan or Brad Pitt wishing they had that kind of fame, you could be getting that fame with a well written press release, published and used all over the Web.

If you want to cause a stir in Hollywood (which is not that difficult to do, seeing as how the media is all over Jessica Alba’s boyfriend split, or her split ends) all you really need to have is a juicy story. But suppose you want to get your company high rankings on a search engine. What better way to do that than by optimizing the release to link back to your site. Basically, your Press Release is gaining authority from other links that eventually link back to your site. And with a well written story, you are gaining even more attention to your site. The next part of this article will further explain this; but until then, picture a large magnifying glass over the release. You have all the energy from the internet being condensed as it passes through the glass. Think about the strength of the sun frying a little ant. Your press release can have the same effect. Just try it.

Of course, you have to fill the page with something that is “newsworthy” first, and then it will be published. Meanwhile, you have to make the release appeal to your business without preaching to the industry’s choir or standing with your moose ears yelling “neener neener neeeener!”

If you’re not sure about what you should cover in a press release, consider these ideas to see if any apply to your business to get you started.

• Announcing a new branch/ subdivision of a business
• Announcing a new product or service
• Announcing a partnership
• Announcing a public appearance in person, on radio, television, or online.
• Announcing a restructuring of the company/organization
• Announcing free information available
• Announcing that an individual in your business has been named to serve in a leadership position in a community, professional or charitable organization
• Announcing that you’re available to speak on particular subjects of interest
• Announcing that you’ve reached a major milestone
• Announcing the results of research or surveys you have conducted
• Celebrating an anniversary
• Changing the company or product name
• Changing the structure of a company
• Contributing to charity
• Earning recognition of the company, product or executives by a publication
• Establishing a unique vendor agreement
• Expanding or renovating the business
• Forming a new strategic partnership or alliance
• Helpful information (on a newsworthy topic- more about this in Part 3)
• Introducing a new product
• Introducing a unique strategy/approach
• Introducing new employees
• Issuing a statement of position regarding a local, regional or national issue
• Launching and/or expansion of a website
• Laws, rules, etc. taking affect on the business
• Making public statements on future business trends or conditions
• Management changes
• Meeting some kind of unusual challenge or rising above adversity
• New charitable partnership
• New direction of company/business
• New laws that affect the business/Industry
• New management
• New Programs
• Obtaining a new, significant customer
• Offering an article series for publishing
• Opening up branch or satellite offices
• Ownership changes
• Participating in a philanthropic event
• Reaction to new developments, laws, etc.
• Receiving an appointment
• Receiving an award
• Relocation
• Renaming a business
• Restructuring your business or its business model
• Setting up a customer advisory group
• Sponsoring a seminar or workshop
• Starting a new business
• Using new technology
  

Just remember that there are no limitations on what to write in a press release and if it is well-written, almost any event can be turned into news.

Like a typical political campaign, it takes the right wording and a little bit of convincing to make a good story. Just add a little sweet talking and some catchy phrases, and viola! You have yourself a press release. There are a couple of tricks that might give your press release an edge. Depending on what you are planning on getting out of the release, you will have a different sugar coating on your story. But go easy on the sugar, not everyone has that kind of sweet tooth.

Next: Part 2: Your Press Release and SEO, a Match Made in Heaven

Part 3: Targeting Your Press Release With Google Trends

Over the last few days the search community has noticed that dmoz was no longer showing up in the search engine results page. Many thought that it could have been banned do to Google backlash on directories or of duplicate content issues.

Looks like that is not the case. Our all mighty Matt Cutts explains what happened over at sphinn:

Hey all, I dug into this a little bit with the help of a couple crawl folks. It looks like when Googlebot tried to fetch http://www.dmoz.org/, we got a 301 redirect back to http://www.dmoz.org/ . It looks like that self-loop has been going on for several days. We were last able to fetch the root page successfully on Sept. 10th, but from that point on DMOZ was returning these 301-to-itself pages, and after a few days Googlebot gave up on trying to fetch the url.

It looks like the rest of the site is fine, so I suspect that if DMOZ gets 301/redirects for their root page sorted out on their webserver, we’ll recrawl and index the page pretty quickly.

Just to be 100% clear, “Googlebot gave up” is not the root reason. I was just introducing a bit of levity. The real reason was of course the infinite redirect loop that lasted for days. If I 301 page A to point back to page A and do that infinite loop for a week (or more), it’s probably a bad user experience to return that infinite loop to users. But if the loop stops, then our system is set up to get the page again fairly quickly.

So, remember folks 301 redirects are very powerful so make sure you are doing them correctly and never place a 301 redirect from http://www.domain.com to http://www.domain.com.

Its almost like a dog running around chasing his tail!

Thanks Dmoz.org for the lesson!

Are you having trouble ranking your site for your key terms? Tired of low traffic and conversion numbers? Want to know what you need to do to improve your site and attain the rankings that you have always dreamed of? Then you need a professional site evaluation from an experienced team of SEO experts! This report will be intensive, and will provide you with actionable items that you can implement on your site to make it more visible to search engines. This detailed report will contain specific details on how you can improve your site for search engine rankings. With more than 10 years of experience in search engine optimization, eVisibility has the knowledge to make your site successful.

We will be giving away a free comprehensive and professional Website evaluation to one lucky site owner this month. To participate, all we ask is that you subscribe to the eVisibility blog via email. At the end of October we will randomly select the winner of the detailed SEO evaluation, and the winner will be announced on the blog and next month’s newsletter.

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