Go online to MediaPost’s Search Insider and read Rob Garner’s Top 17 Tips for Search Engine Reputation Management Optimization. Rob provides a good basic list of tips for the beginner needing to improve their image online.
Creating sub domains is an especially useful tip that I don’t think gets emphasized enough. Perhaps your company’s website and/or a personal website rank #1 and #2 for your name, but #3 is some unfounded accusation against you or your company. Depending on the strength of the website hosting the accusatory content, you’ll have to adjust your strategy. Still, creating a subdomain with your name in front of the company name (example: johnmark.awesomebusiness.com) will give you another premium ranking for your name, assuming you put quality content on it and get some good links to it.
For one client or another, I’ve been doing all the things Rob suggests except for the subdomains. Using subdomains really is a good idea. I just don’t always have the control to implement such practices on a client’s website. One of the downsides of contract or agency work is that the specialist rarely is given the power to implement any and all strategies which could benefit the client.
If you’re not doing these 17 things, now is the time. If you have already attempted them or need further explanation on how to accomplish them, my door is open.
