Web Manager University - Spring 2008
Class Title: Basics of Search Engine Optimization: Using Search Data to Get Customers to Your Content
| Class Format: | Webinar | about our webinars |
| Instructor: | Erik Arnold, Search Solutions, Inc. | |
| Date | April 23, 2008 (Wednesday) | |
| Time: | 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (EST) | |
| Place: | Online Webinar* |
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| Fee: | $50 federal, state, or local U.S. government employees; $75 for non-government participants. |
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*If you're at an agency that has multiple people who want to participate, we encourage you to register one person and view the webinar together in a conference-type setting or at a shared workstation.
Webinar Description
Every day, millions of people are trying to get something done on the web, and most of them start by using a search engine. The reality is that many people arrive at our government websites—not by typing in the URL of our agency websites—but by using a commercial search engine (like Google, Yahoo, MSN, and others). So, are you optimizing your website so these millions of people can find your content?
Too often customers don't get to our most relevant content or we lose visitors because of poor search results. But by optimizing your site for search engines (known as search engine optimization), you can turn this around. One of the most effective strategies is to make better use of search analytics—the process of analyzing your search logs, discovering the keywords your customers are using, and writing and organizing your content to address those keywords.
What You'll Learn
- The importance of search engine optimization and the value it brings to your agency's web efforts.
- The four key pillars of search engine optimization:
- Analyzing search logs to identify your customers' most important keywords
- Having an effective site architecture
- Establishing an effective process for indexing your site
- Ensuring quality links and link popularity
- How to use your search data to improve your content and make it more accessible to search engines.
- How to optimize your content not only for web search engines—but also for visitors who search within your site.
The tips and strategies you'll learn will be relevant whether you use a free search engine or have an enterprise search solution.
Webinar Format
This is an online webinar. Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions and share examples at the end of the presentation.
Erik Arnold has over 10 years of experience in the web search industry. He is the director of Search Solutions, Inc., a consulting company that advises companies and government agencies on how to improve their search systems. Most recently, Erik was the federal program manager for Vivisimo, where he performed account management and business development functions. Prior to Vivisimo, Erik served as a subject matter expert for InfoZen, a government consulting company where he primarily worked with the House of Representatives and the FirstGov.gov (now USA.gov) web portal. He started his career at Lycos, where he was a product marketing manager. Erik then moved to NBCi where he served as business development manager and developed new revenue streams, set up strategic partnerships, and targeted companies for acquisition. Next, Erik started SmoothSale, an e-commerce instant messaging company that blended commerce with instant messaging. Erik has a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia.
Return to the Spring 2008 Schedule of Classes
Last Updated: January 17, 2008
