The Camcorder as an SEO Tool
Search engine optimization (SEO) types have a wide array of tools available to them, ranging from free to commercial. But they're all software. Is there any hardware you can use as an SEO tool? Well, how about your camcorder?
If you really want an eye-opening experience as to how others use the Web, and more importantly how they find (or not find) your site, do the following:
- Put your camcorder on a tripod and aim it at your computer.
- Open a browser window to your favorite search engine.
- Invite a non-techie (this could be your spouse) to sit in front of your computer.
- Adjust the camcorder so that you can see the screen and the subject. Start recording.
- Ask the subject to find your site. Don't give him or her the address of the site, but give a description of the site and tell them to search for it.
- Record what they do. Stifle all attempts to direct them the right way. Do not ask leading questions. Do not imitate Homer Simpson. Let them do their thing.
- When subject finds your site or gives up in frustration, thank them profusely.
- Now watch the video you just took. Take notes on what the subject did or didn't do.
- Repeat this process with different subjects.
- Apply what you learned to make your site more findable.
It's easy to forget that most visitors are not like us. A few video sessions will remind you of that.
Of course, you can also make videos that drive traffic directly to your site. But that's a different kind of SEO…
Sponsored Link: Lots of hype today about the Butterfly Marketing Manuscript. So many of the new sites that you see (like The List FX, Mr. OverDeliver, Secret Page Spy) were built using the Butterfly Marketing techniques that there's probably something to this book, so check it out.
Eric Giguere is the contextual advertising expert who wrote Make Easy Money with Google and Uncommon AdSense. If you like this posting, why not link to his blog or bookmark it as one of your favorites?
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