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Ranking on Google in 2026 is not about volume alone. It is about finding the intersection of real search demand and beatable competition. That sweet spot is where low-competition keywords live — and the right AI-powered tools can surface them in minutes.

According to Backlinko’s keyword research study, long-tail keywords — which often carry the lowest competition scores — account for 91.8% of all Google searches. Yet most content creators chase the same short, high-volume terms and never rank for any of them.

This guide covers the best free and affordable AI keyword research tools, a step-by-step methodology on how to search low competition keywords for blogs?, and the common mistakes that keep even experienced SEOs stuck on page two.

What Are Low Competition Keywords??

Low-competitive keywords are search queries that have measurable monthly search volume but lack strong, authoritative content competing for the top positions. On most AI keyword research tools for SEO research, these are flagged with a Keyword Difficulty (KD) score below 30, on a scale of 0 to 100.

The practical definition matters more than the score: low competitive keywords are one where a well-written, on-topic article on a smaller website can realistically reach page one within 3–6 months.

Low competition does not mean low-quality traffic. A 400-search-per-month keyword with a KD of 8 can outperform a 10,000-search-per-month keyword with a KD of 75 — because you’ll actually rank for the first one. Compounding traffic from dozens of low-KD keywords often exceeds chasing a single high-competition term for years.

The three key filters when evaluating any keyword:

• Search Volume: Monthly searches (target 100–2,000 for starter sites)
• Keyword Difficulty / KD: Competition score from 0–100 (aim for under 30)
• Search Intent: What does the searcher actually want — information, comparison, or a product?

Best AI Keyword Research Tool Free in 2026

Not all powerful keyword research AI tools require a paid subscription. The following tools offer genuinely useful free tiers — and several are built on AI or machine-learning models that surface intent-driven keyword suggestions automatically.

Using two or three free AI keyword research tools in combination beats relying on any single platform. Cross-reference volume from Google Keyword Planner with KD data from the Ahrefs free generator and question data from AnswerThePublic for a comprehensive, cost-free research stack.

How to Find Low Competition Keywords Using Free AI Keyword Research Tool

The process below is the same framework used by the SEO team at Directory One to identify ranking opportunities for clients in competitive industries — adapted here for use with free keyword research AI tools? only.

1. Start with a Seed Keyword

Enter a broad topic term — not your target keyword — into Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest. Example: instead of “free AI keyword research tool,” enter “keyword research” to generate the widest possible suggestion set.

2. Filter by KD and Volume

In Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool (free searches), set KD to 0–29 and volume to 100–5,000. This surfaces keywords with real traffic potential that most competitors overlook.

3. Mine Question-Based Queries

Switch to AnswerThePublic and enter the same seed. Questions like “how to find low-competition keywords for blogs” often have high informational intent and low competition — perfect for educational content.

4. Validate Intent via Google SERP

Search your shortlisted keyword in a fresh browser window (or incognito). If the results page shows mostly forums, thin content, or older articles, that is a strong signal that the keyword is winnable.

5. Check Google Search Console for Quick Wins

For existing sites, sort GSC data by “Impressions” descending and filter for queries where you rank in positions 8–20. These are keywords already driving impressions — targeted content improvements can push them to page one.

According to HubSpot’s Marketing Statistics Report, 75% of users never scroll past the first page of search results. Ranking on page two is effectively invisible. The step-by-step process above is specifically designed to find terms where page-one ranking is achievable, not just aspirational.

How to Identify High Volume Low Competition Keywords

“High search volume low competition” is the holy grail phrase in Search Engine Optimization — but it is often misunderstood. True high-volume low-competition keywords are rare at the top level. What you are more likely to find — and what is equally valuable — is a cluster of medium-volume, low-KD keywords that together drive substantial traffic.

Here’s how to identify these clusters with free AI keyword research tools:

• Enter a broad seed keyword into Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool and group results by Topic.
• Look for topic clusters where multiple related terms all show KD < 30 — this is a content pillar opportunity.
• Cross-check volume data in Google Keyword Planner for the US (or your target region) to validate the numbers.
• Use the Ahrefs Free Keyword Generator to confirm KD estimates before committing to a piece.

A study by Ahrefs found that 94.74% of all keywords receive 10 searches per month or fewer. This means the vast majority of ranking opportunities are in the long tail — precisely where free AI keyword tools excel at surfacing ideas that paid tools’ dashboards can miss.

Keyword Research Tools AI: What Makes AI-Powered Research Different

Traditional keyword research tools work by pulling data from a fixed database and filtering it by metrics. AI-powered keyword research tools go further — they interpret search intent, suggest topically related clusters, and generate question-based queries using Natural Language Processing (NLP).

The practical difference for an Search Engine Optimization practitioner:

• Intent classification: AI tools label whether a keyword is informational, commercial, navigational, or transactional — critical for matching content format to user expectation.
• Semantic clustering: Instead of a flat list of keywords, AI surfaces related subtopics — helping you plan comprehensive content that covers a full subject.
• Predictive suggestions: Tools like Semrush’s AI writing assistant and Ubersuggest’s AI content ideas can suggest angles and headers you may not have considered.

Google’s own documentation confirms that its ranking systems use advanced language models to understand the meaning behind queries — not just exact matches. AI keyword tools are designed to align with that same logic, which makes them more SEO-accurate than older volume-only databases.

How to Use a Free AI Keyword Research Tool for Blog Content

Finding low-competition keywords for blogs is where free tools deliver the most immediate return. Blog content ranks for informational queries — and informational queries are the lowest-competition segment of most niches.

The most effective workflow for bloggers:

1. Use AnswerThePublic to generate 50–100 question-based keyword ideas around your topic.
2. Copy the question list into the Ahrefs Free Keyword Generator to check KD for each.
3. Flag any question with KD < 25 and monthly volume > 150.
4. Validate in Google: search the question, review the top 5 results. Are they thin, old, or off-topic? Write something better.
5. Organize approved keywords into a content calendar grouped by sub-topic.

The team at Directory One applies this exact approach across client campaigns ranging from local service businesses to national e-commerce brands. The methodology works because it puts search intent — not keyword volume — at the center of every content decision.

5 Common Mistakes When Searching for Low-Competition Keywords

Only checking volume

A 10,000/mo keyword with KD 80 is less useful than a 500/mo keyword with KD 12. Always check both dimensions.

Ignoring search intent

Writing a product page for an informational query — or vice versa — is a common ranking killer. Match format to intent.

Trusting one tool’s data

Volume estimates vary significantly between tools. Cross-reference at least two free sources before committing to a keyword.

Skipping SERP review

A KD score doesn’t tell the full story. Always manually review the actual search results page before writing.

One keyword per article

Modern SEO rewards semantic coverage. Each article should target a primary keyword and 4–8 closely related secondary terms.

Conclusion

The most effective keyword strategy for 2026 is not about budget — it is about methodology. Using the right free AI keyword research tools in combination, you can build a comprehensive, low-competition keyword map that drives measurable organic traffic without paying for expensive software.

Need expert SEO guidance? Call us today at 713.269.3094 or visit us at www.directoryone.com.

The team at Directory One has helped businesses across Texas and beyond identify high-impact keyword opportunities, build content strategies, and rank on page one for competitive terms. If you’d like a professional keyword audit or Search Engine Optimization consultation, we’re here to help.

Whether you run a blog, business website, or online store, applying these search engine optimization tips can boost rankings, improve content performance, and increase organic traffic.

What Is On Page SEO and Why It Matters

On-page SEO refers to all optimization activities performed directly on a website to improve its search engine ranking. These include content optimization, HTML elements, page structure, internal linking, and technical improvements. Many businesses invest in on page SEO services to ensure that their pages follow modern SEO standards and remain competitive in search results.

Besides, understanding the difference between on page SEO vs technical SEO is also important. While on-page SEO focuses on optimizing content and page elements, technical SEO deals with website performance, indexing, and crawling issues.

Combining strong content optimization with on page technical SEO improvements creates a solid SEO foundation for any website.

Top 10 On Page SEO Tips for Higher Rankings

Below are the top 10 on page SEO tips that help improve search rankings and user experience.

1. Optimize Page Titles and Meta Descriptions

Page titles are one of the most important ranking factors in SEO. A well-optimized title helps search engines understand the topic of your page. Effective targeted on-page SEO tips for titles include:

• placing the primary keyword near the beginning
• keeping titles under 60 characters
• writing clear and descriptive headings

Meta descriptions should also provide a clear summary of the content to encourage clicks from search results. Businesses often rely on an on page SEO expert to optimize titles and meta descriptions across their websites.

2. Use Proper Heading Structure

Headings help search engines understand your content structure. Using H1, H2, and H3 headings correctly improves readability and SEO. One of the on-page SEO tactics is organizing content using structured headings that clearly explain each section of the page.

For example:

• H1 for the main topic
• H2 for major sections
• H3 for supporting information

This structure helps both search engines and readers navigate the page more easily.

3. Improve Content Quality and Relevance

High-quality content remains one of the most powerful SEO factors. Applying the top 10 on page SEO tips requires creating content that answers user questions and provides valuable insights.

Content optimization includes:

• writing detailed explanations
• including relevant keywords naturally
• updating outdated information

Many businesses partner with an on page SEO company to improve content quality and keyword targeting.

4. Optimize URL Structure

A clean and descriptive URL helps both users and search engines understand the topic of a page. Examples of optimized URLs:

• /on-page-SEO-tips
• /SEO-content-optimization-guide

Well-structured URLs are part of targeted on-page SEO tips that improve indexing and visibility.

5. Add Internal Links

Internal links connect related pages across your website and help search engines understand your site structure. Internal linking benefits include:

• improved crawlability
• better page authority distribution
• increased user engagement

Many on page SEO services include internal linking strategies to strengthen website architecture.

6. Optimize Images and Media

Images improve user engagement but must be optimized properly. Best practices include:

• adding descriptive alt text
• compressing image sizes
• using relevant file namesagency

These improvements support on page technical SEO by improving page speed and accessibility.

7. Improve Page Speed and Mobile Experience

Page speed is a critical ranking factor. Slow websites often experience higher bounce rates and lower search rankings. Speed optimization techniques include:

• compressing images
• reducing unnecessary scripts
• enabling browser caching

Many businesses rely on an on page SEO agency to identify performance issues and implement technical improvements.

8. Optimize Content for Ecommerce Pages

SEO is especially important for online stores. Implementing on page SEO for ecommerce helps product pages rank higher and attract more buyers. Important ecommerce optimization strategies include:

• optimizing product titles
• writing detailed product descriptions
• adding structured data markup

Applying on page SEO for ecommerce website pages ensures that search engines understand product details and display them correctly in search results.

9. Use Keyword Optimization Naturally

Keyword placement should appear natural within the content. Over-optimization can harm rankings. The top 10 on page SEO tips recommend including keywords in:

• headings
• introductory paragraphs
• image alt text
• internal links

Many companies hire an on page SEO expert to maintain the correct keyword balance while improving content relevance.

10. Perform Regular SEO Audits

SEO requires continuous monitoring and updates. Conducting regular audits helps identify optimization opportunities and technical issues. SEO audits analyze:

• keyword performance
• page speed
• indexing errors
• content gaps

Professional on page SEO services often include periodic audits to maintain consistent search performance.

On Page SEO vs Technical SEO

Understanding on page SEO vs technical SEO helps businesses implement a complete optimization strategy.

Many websites achieve the best results by combining on page technical SEO improvements with strong content optimization.

15 of the Most Important On-Page SEO Tactics

Beyond the top 10 on page SEO tips, several additional optimization strategies help websites improve visibility, user experience, and search performance. The following are 15 of the most important on-page SEO tactics used by SEO professionals to optimize pages effectively.

These strategies represent 15 of the most important on-page SEO tactics that help websites rank higher in search engines. When applied together with the top 10 on page SEO tips, they create a comprehensive optimization strategy that improves both search visibility and user experience.

On Page SEO for Ecommerce Websites

Online stores require specialized optimization strategies. Implementing on page SEO for ecommerce ensures that product pages attract search traffic.

Important ecommerce SEO practices include:

• optimizing category pages
• improving product descriptions
• adding customer reviews
• using structured data

Businesses that operate large online stores often work with an on page SEO agency to manage product page optimization. Using strategies of on page SEO for ecommerce website can significantly increase product visibility and organic sales.

How Businesses Can Improve On Page SEO Performance

Implementing the top 10 on page SEO tips requires consistent effort and expertise. Businesses that want faster results often work with experienced SEO professionals. An experienced on page SEO company can help businesses:

• optimize website content
• implement advanced SEO tactics
• improve technical performance

Many marketing agencies also offer white label on page SEO solutions for digital agencies that want to provide SEO services under their own brand.

How Directory One Helps Businesses Improve SEO

Businesses looking to improve search visibility often partner with experienced SEO providers. Directory One offers professional on page SEO services designed to help businesses improve rankings, website performance, and organic traffic.

By combining modern optimization strategies with proven targeted on-page SEO tips, Directory One helps companies build stronger online visibility and attract more qualified visitors.

Summing Up

Applying the top 10 on page SEO tips can significantly improve search rankings, website traffic, and user experience. From optimizing titles and headings to improving content quality and technical performance, these strategies play a critical role in modern SEO.

Whether optimizing a corporate website or implementing on page SEO for e-commerce, businesses that follow the 15 of the most important on-page SEO tactics can build stronger search visibility and long-term digital growth.

Working with an experienced on page SEO agency or on page SEO expert can further enhance results and ensure that your website remains competitive in search engines.

Google’s algorithm evolves rapidly, with the company implementing an average of nine to ten updates daily, according to Moz. While each of these updates refines Google’s ranking formula, core updates are particularly influential. To achieve and sustain high organic search rankings on Google, it’s essential to grasp the workings of these core updates.

What Are Google Core Updates?

A Google Core Update is a substantial revision to Google’s ranking algorithm, impacting a significant number of indexed web pages. These updates typically occur every few months and are designed to improve the quality and relevance of search results by adjusting the rankings of various web pages.

When a core update is rolled out, it modifies the criteria Google uses to rank web pages. As a result, a page that previously ranked well for certain keywords might see its ranking drop, while another that ranked lower might climb up in the search results.

Some of the most well-known core updates include:

• Penguin
• Panda
• Fred
• Hummingbird
• Pigeon
• BERT
• RankBrain
• Medic
• Possum
• Mobilegeddon
• Freshness

Core Updates vs. Minor Updates

Google also performs minor updates to its algorithm, which are designed to enhance the quality and relevance of search results but typically affect fewer web pages than core updates.

While a core update might influence 5% to 10% of all searches, a minor update may impact only 0.1% to 1%. These smaller updates are often so subtle that they go unnoticed by most webmasters.

Minor updates occur much more frequently than core updates, with Google’s team of engineers and search specialists rolling them out daily. Core updates, on the other hand, are usually planned well in advance and can take weeks to be fully implemented.

How Core Updates Affect SEO

Core updates can have a dramatic effect on search engine optimization (SEO) strategies. The essence of Google SEO is to optimize your website so that it aligns with Google’s ranking algorithm. When a core update is introduced, the algorithm changes, which can disrupt the effectiveness of your previous SEO efforts.

For instance, a core update might render a previously valuable ranking signal obsolete, causing your website’s rankings to drop. In some cases, core updates can even introduce penalties that severely harm a website’s search rankings. The Panda update, for example, penalized websites with thin content, forcing webmasters to publish more substantial content to maintain high rankings.

Core updates can also alter the structure of Google’s search engine results pages (SERPs). These updates may add, remove, or modify alternative listings like People Also Ask (PAA) boxes, featured snippets, and Knowledge Graph panels.

How to Identify Core Updates

Because core updates affect a large number of web pages, Google often announces them before they are rolled out. These announcements are typically published on Google’s Webmaster Central Blog, where you can find timely information about the latest changes to Google’s ranking algorithm. Subscribing to the blog’s newsletter or following Google’s official search liaison account on Twitter can help you stay informed about upcoming updates.

In addition to official announcements, tools like MozCast can provide “weather reports” that indicate how active changes are in Google’s search results, giving you insight into whether a core update may be in progress.

Preparing Your Website for Core Updates

To prepare your website for a core update, start by staying informed. When Google announces an upcoming core update, take the time to read about its focus and which types of websites and web pages it will affect. This knowledge can guide you in making the necessary adjustments to your SEO strategy.

However, not all core updates are announced in advance. Therefore, it’s important to continuously improve your website’s content, as core updates are generally designed to enhance the quality and relevance of search results. By prioritizing high-quality content over manipulative SEO practices like keyword stuffing or link spamming, you can better position your website to withstand the impact of core updates. Google’s ranking algorithm is constantly evolving, with core updates playing a crucial role in these changes. To keep your website competitive, follow Google’s announcements, focus on creating valuable content, and avoid black-hat SEO tactics. By doing so, you can help ensure that your site remains relevant and high-ranking in the ever-changing landscape of search. Visit Directory One to learn about how you can grow your business with SEO call us at 713.269.3094 / 713.465.0051.

An effective SEO strategy involves thorough keyword research to identify relevant search terms that potential visitors are using to find products or services offered by a web design, marketing, and video company. By strategically incorporating these keywords into the website’s content and meta tags, the company can improve its chances of appearing in the top search results for those specific queries.

Furthermore, building high-quality backlinks from reputable websites and employing technical SEO techniques to improve site speed, mobile responsiveness, and overall user experience are critical aspects of successful optimization. A well-executed SEO approach ensures that the company’s website gains more visibility, attracting targeted traffic that is more likely to engage with its services or products.

For a web design, marketing, and video company, SEO is not only about getting more visitors but also showcasing their creative work and expertise to the right audience. By optimizing their portfolio and content, they can increase the chances of potential clients discovering their services and recognizing their authority in the industry.In the competitive digital landscape, where millions of websites vie for attention, investing in SEO becomes paramount for establishing a strong online foothold. By consistently refining and adapting SEO strategies to keep pace with search engine algorithms’ ever-changing requirements, a web design, marketing, and video company can stay ahead of competitors and secure a sustainable stream of clients, ultimately leading to business growth and success. In conclusion, SEO is an indispensable component of digital Houston internet marketing, empowering businesses and organizations to improve their online presence, reach their target audience, and thrive in the competitive online arena.

Most Houston business owners expect the internet to increase sales. They erroneously assume a website will skyrocket their bottom line overnight. When the phone doesn’t start ringing or online sales go up, they find an internet marketing company to help.

Business owners usually start their hunt for help online using terms such as search engine marketing (SEM), search engine optimization (SEO), or internet marketing. These terms are used interchangeably by those outside the industry.

The search engine results used your keywords deliver a list of results. If you tried different related keywords, many of the same companies appeared on the first page of your results, but in a different place.

That’s the difference between SEM and SEO.

SEM, SEO, & the broad and narrow

There’s already a whole lot on the internet about SEM and SEO.  Suffice it to say that the difference is only as great as the definitions of broad and narrow.

SEM is full blown internet advertising strategies and tactics. It includes SEO, pay per click (PPC), guest article writing, social media, and just about anything else you can think of to get your name out there in cyber land. SEM is the internet version of a traditional marketing campaign on steroids.

SEO is narrower in scope than SEM. It is targeted methods to get a top search engine ranking when a user types a keyword into the browser. SEO is about website organization (layout) and content development.

How SEM and SEO affect your decision

If you really want to know how SEM and SEO chose the internet marketing companies that you wanted to know more about, ask yourself

What did I want to accomplish?

You might think that’s a dumb question (duh, I needed an internet marketing firm in my area), but it’s not. Really think about it.

What really prompted you click on a hand full of companies?

• Were the companies listed in the first page results?
• Was the description informative and intriguing?
• Did you click on an advertisement in the sidebar or the top of the page?
• Did you follow a link from another website?
• Did you go on Facebook, Twitter, G+ and ask?

That’s search engine marketing.

Next think about what you did when you visited the websites.

• Did you keywords return the results you needed?
• Were you impressed with the site’s layout?
• Was the landing page informative?
• Was the site navigation easy and intuitive?
• Did you enjoy articles and blogs?
• Was finding contact information easy?

This is search engine optimization.

Answering these questions demonstrate how SEM and SEO affect your decision to shortlist internet marketing companies to contact. This process works in the same fashion, regardless of user search topic.

The ultimate goal of internet marketing is to sell, or at least entice someone to make contact. The really knowledgeable internet marketing companies in Houston are experienced in both SEM and SEO strategies and use them in conjunction to increase their clients’ traffic.

Silver Website Marketing Package

The silver package is Directory One’s most basic SEO marketing package. This package includes:

• Website Redesign and Conversion to CSS Format (15 work hours a year)
• Content Development and Optimization
• Site Map Creation
• 5 Optimized Articles
• Press Release (1)
• Link Building through Directories
• Monthly Reporting

For only $500 a month, we can optimize and maintain your website. Moreover, our monthly reporting keeps you updated on the progress of your website and increases in traffic to your website.

Gold Package: Affordable Search Engine Optimization at its Finest

The Gold Package goes the extra mile. This packaged includes all of the services provided in the Silver Package and the following additional services:

• Website Design (60 hrs/yr)
• Mobile Website Design (10 pages)
• Monthly Optimized Articles
• Free Domain Name Registration and Hosting
• Press Release Writing (2/yr)
• Video Production and Optimization (up to 1:30)
• Quarterly Visits with the CEO of Directory One
• Social Media Set-up and Management
• Blog Set Up and Training
• Pay Per Click Campaign Management

This package covers all bases of your online marketing needs: visitors will be able to reach your through social media sites, their mobile devices, paid advertisements, your blog, or your YouTube channel.

Platinum Package

This package provides your website(s) with optimal marketing service. In addition to the services provided in the Gold Package, the Platinum package includes:

• Website Design (100 hrs/yr)
• Bi-Monthly Optimized Articles
• 4 Press Releases a Year
• 3 Optimized Videos
• PPC Management ($500/month)

All of these packages can be customized to best fit your website’s needs.

An online presence is necessary for any business to succeed in the modern world. For more information about affordable search engine optimization, please call Directory One at 713.465.0051.

We all know what search engine optimization is, or at least we all think we do. Wikipedia defines search engine optimization as the process of improving the volume and quality of traffic to a website from search engines via “natural” (“organic” or “algorithmic”) search results.

So what then is website optimization? What Google calls website optimization, I call conversion optimization, making it much less likely to be confused with seo.

What I can’t figure out is what is it about search engine marketing that leads people to call every sub-category of what they do for a living whatever they feel like?

This goes far deeper than the confusion between website optimization and search engine optimization. That one is only the tip of the iceberg. I mean why stop there?

The way I see it, the entire genre (search engine marketing) falls under the top-level category, Internet Marketing. Maybe that’s not as good of a plan as I originally thought because in the beginning, Internet marketing was all the borderline sleazy stuff, like Internet guru peddling, affiliate marketing, and of course, sales pages that made you scroll down till your scrolling hand got tired. Although the term Internet marketing certainly started off that way and still includes the aforementioned so called gurus, to me at least it seems to work as the top-level phrase for the genre. In other words, while seo, website optimization and pay per click all seem to me to be subsets of search marketing, also called search engine marketing

Because we’re not marketing for search engines, but rather for websites, it might be better to call it website marketing. Lets see what Wikipedia has to say about Internet Marketing.
Internet marketing, also referred to as web marketing, online marketing, or eMarketing, is the marketing of products or services over the Internet.” So that didn’t really help at all because now we have web marketing, online marketing, and emarketing to deal with.

So why not try interactive marketing? Wikipedia defines interactive marketing as “the evolving trend in marketing whereby marketing has moved from a transaction-based effort to a conversation. Interactive marketing is the ability to address the customer, remember what the customer says and address the customer again in a way that illustrates that we remember what the customer has told us.”

With the current obsession withsocial media, it shouldn’t be too much of a stretch to call the “top level” phrase for the Internet Marketing genre interactive marketing.

Takeaways

A rose, is a rose, is a rose. Things are what they are no matter what you call them.

Actually Shakespeare said it best when he had Juliet say, “What’s in a name anyway? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.”

In the end what matters is what something is, not what it’s called.

Press Release Writer

Back in the 1980?s (you know that time when parachute pants and Members Only jackets where in vogue) writing a press release was left to the seasoned marketing and public relations professional whose main goal was to get their clients “press”. However, many of those press releases did little to capture the attention of editors at local newspapers or television stations. I know, because I was one of those editors filing press releases daily into the circular bin. (Yes, I had parachute pants!)

Twenty years later, press releases are still hitting the bin, but now it’s the recycle bin or the spam folder of a desktop computer. Ironically, after years of being a part of the television news business, I find myself on the other end of the press release game- I’m writing them! But the rules of the game have drastically changed thanks largely to the internet. But the reason to write a press release, in my opinion, still should stay the same.

Press release writers are now employed by more than just public relations and marketing firms. Website development companies are now getting into the press release game. And their focus is not for traditional coverage by members of the press but for search engine attention. Writers for these companies are composing releases and paying to have them posted with companies like PR web who then distribute them to other websites, hoping for search engine hits. These companies even offers tools to help writers get their press releases to the top of search engines by telling them what “key-words” to use.
But beware my fellow press release writers or those who are entering the press release game; crafting a release just for search engine optimization is dangerous. Instead, I believe you need to take a step back and craft a press release for its original purpose -¦to get press. A GOOD press release is something that prompts a journalist to write an article. But a GREAT press release IS an article. So here is my challenge to you, stop writing releases for just search engine optimization and start writing news stories.

First you need to start with the basics, do you have something that is even worth writing a press release about. Lets role play.

You are the reporter, and you are writing an article for the local newspaper or creating a story for the 10 p.m. news. What is it about this random company, person, product or event that even makes it even a story? What’s the hook, the angle? Why in the world would anyone care? Can it change someone’s life, make it easier, save them money or keep them safe?

A mistake that is often made in the development of a press release is the misunderstanding that a press release is an advertisement. It must be understood that even though a press release can assist a company in acquiring customers, it should not be your focus. The primary purpose of your press release is to deliver a newsworthy story about a company to the reader.
I believe, if you can’t figure those things out, don’t write the article, and don’t send the release. It’s that simple.

Sarah Osborne is an Emmy and Gracie award winning television journalist with over 20 years in the business. In addition to writing press releases, she is the Executive Producer of the national television show “Moment of Luxury” on PBS.

There is no doubt that the power of backlinks is an important factor to improve your search engine ranking. There are several people trying to game the search engines by falsely inflating backlinks to their site. This methodology of getting links will fail when Google slaps them right on top of their head as they loose all the ranking which they were trying to build.

One of the effective ways to get natural links coming from other sites is by making your website a quality source of content for visitors. By this way, people naturally start linking to the site because of the quality of the content.

Here are some effective natural techniques to get you the backlinks you will need:

1) Syndicate News and Articles Distributing articles and press releases to article directories, industry related PR sites, and media outlets can generate authority links which will boost your website ranking. Creating newsworthy press releases and interesting articles gets noticed by other website owners, journalists, and bloggers which can attract natural links from their websites.

2) Conducting Web Contests – Web contests are very popular now a days and it can go viral if the winning prize has a good cash value. These kinds of online contest products create an incredible amount of buzz around the blogsphere if you are able to get the word out. A few hundred dollars can result in getting thousands of dollars worth of traffic and backlinks.

3) Offering Freebies Everyone loves to get free offers. You must offer good quality content that has value without any obligation attached to it. It will spread the word and people start linking back to the offer. One of the best examples is creating a free tool like an online calculator or a tool which is valuable to the industry.

4) Product Review and Testimonials Most people look for reviews that they can trust before buying any product. Try reviewing products on other websites and if you have the option – put your website URL in the review. Also, companies will be interested in getting testimonials from their customers. If you have a chance to put a testimonial along with your website address, this will give your website a back link.

5) Sign Up with Social Media Adding your website in your social media profile will get you backlinks. For example, profiles in your Twitter and Linkedin accounts give you the option to add your website which shows up as a backlink in search engines.

6) Share Knowledge Sharing your knowledge will get you backlinks too. Answering peoples questions in help forums will make others think that you are an expert in the field and will link back to you. The key is to give quality information to the question they post.

7) Run Your Own Affiliate programs Run affiliate programs for your website address embedded within the JavaScript of the tracking code. Offering higher commission is the key to get more people to join your affiliate program and start promoting your program.

8 ) Creating Widgets for Blogs Coming up with widgets for blogs and spreading the word out to bloggers can get massive amount of links back to your site. Widgets are easy and simple way to add some flare to blogs which generates a ton of backlinks.

9) Offer Free EBooks Offering free information through downloadable eBooks can get links. You need to embed the links within the content of the eBook to get back links. You should allow the users the right to republish those eBooks without changing the embedded links.

10) Comment on Do-Follow blogs There are several blogs which have do-follow links on the comment files where you can put your website address while you engage in the blog posts conversations. By default, all blogs have no-follow tags, but you need to identify those blogs that allow do-follow on their comment fields.

A good link building strategy is just a good way of marketing. Its all about being creative and thinking outside the box. When you incorporate these tactics, it will set you apart from the competition as it gets you the backlinks that you will need to create a presence.

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) are a new way of laying out websites, that is far superior to building sites, in tables like the old days. There are many reason to build your site in CSS; the most important one is search engine optimization. SEO is the process of getting your web pages listed in the major search engines like Yahoo and Google.

Good SEO can result in many leads to use and utilize to grow their companies. The last study I read about return on investment (ROI) on advertising vehicles, ranked SEO second behind pay per click (PPC) advertising. TV, radio, newpaper, Yellow Pages, and other advertising, produced terrible returns on investment numbers.