Welcome to the Q&A Forum

I have about 25 sites on an unlimited HostGator account right now ($8 per month I think), most of them get minimal traffic (few thousand visitors per month), but a couple of them are pushing 30k-50k per month and I will most likely have to move them.

Using it as a starting point is fine for new sites until they begin to gain traffic, then move them to better hosting.

That's my humble opinion anyway

So, you are looking to buy links from these sites? Maybe you should start here:

http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=66736

I agree with Alice. Time would be better spent these days looking for other places to post that content, that is not to say article marketing is worthless completely, but I don't put enough weight into it myself to spend the time when I could use other tactics that would get better results.

Your right, sorry.

I would trust Danny over you any day LOL

Author Rank from Squidoo? Add in Ezine and ArticleBase too huh? LOL

See ya 'round LOL

Seems to me, the question was based on SEO (hence the "post Penguin" part in the op's question)

I would refer you to a recent Tweet by Danny Sullivan: https://twitter.com/dannysullivan/status/208311374101745664 

If you are using it for it's intended purpose, that's one thing, but if you are using it for SEO... complete waste of time.

No offense, but I would ignore Squidoo, and any other article directory type site....

I have a Plus page for my company, I don't use it but wanted to capture it. I use my face, and my personality to brand. I do the same thing on FB and Twitter as well. Having "company" profiles for all of them, I rarely actually use them.

I think you answered your own question

I noticed that too on second look.

Funny thing is, this forum post shows up as #10 on Google for that search already....

A couple of things I would consider:

Move one of the ads above the fold. 3 ads above the fold is too much (and that is on my MacBook Pro 13"), and Google has been known to frown on it lately.

Consider changing to Wordpress, their site is on it and if you notice some of those pages ranking above yours are category pages. One thing most people don't realize with Wordpress is the SEO benefit of the category and tag pages that are literally automatically created for you as your site grows. IE: One article on a topic can easily become several using categories and tags.

Every link counts...

I don't know that I would consider sponsored reviews from mom bloggers a bad tactic. Not that it matters, but I have a few clients in the home improvement niche that regularly do reviews when they get free product. As long as you aren't asking for a favorable review in exchange for samples... who cares?

Also, don't forget social... FB, Twitter, Plus, Pinterest, etc.. all has good affects on any online marketing plan.

Finally, some directories as well as blog commenting still is helpful as long as you are doing it for the right reasons... don't purposely search out do-follow blogs only for commenting. Search out the best places to leave comments and build relationships with those bloggers, I promise you if you leave some butt kickin' comments on a food bloggers' site, you will have a better chance of getting a guest post with them.

Local is the only place I always recommend using local directories (Google Places, Yahoo Local, YellowPages, Hot Frog, etc...) the directory listings may not have much link value, but they definitely work to drive traffic and they usually rank well on their own.

I would start here:
http://www.seomoz.org/ugc/updated-tool-seomoz-api-data-for-google-docs 

That should help with tracking....

Using directories for SEO is probably not the best way to spend your time, and if you use a submission service getting a ton of submissions at once will most likely result in negative results.

The ONLY time I use directories is when I have a client looking for "local" listings. And even then I use it with the concept that it will help us get more traffic from visitors to those directories.

The links aren't worth the time in my view....

Did you try to generate a new sitemap after clicking update options and then submitting it to webmaster tools?

Generally it will only update when you add/delete pages on it's own.

It may take some time for it to propagate to Google if that is what you are asking. Are you trying to block the pages/posts completely from search engines?

Great question, and WP really should make this easier!

http://businessaccent.com/2009/06/08/what-is-my-wordpress-post-id-number-and-how-can-i-find-it/  This article explains one way to see it, also if you open up the post/page in the admin panel to edit it you can just look in your browser to see the url which will have the post ID in it... IE: www.yoursite.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=615&action=edit (615 is the post ID)

Hope that helped

I would recommend Yoast over ANY SEO plugin to be honest....

Personally, I have run some tests, even before the devaluation by Google, and have found articles directories to be a waste of time for the amount of time you put into it and the little to no value you get from it.

With so many factors to consider for a good SEO plan, I try to focus on ones that help the most...

Also, while the links do not count for SEO value towards your website because they are marked as nofollow, which essentially tells search engines to ignore them, you should still add links to your website to both the Website field and within your About Me text using the link button. Even if search engines ignore those links, visitors are still likely to click on them.

Found that here: http://realtybiznews.com/optimizing-your-activerain-profile/9876834/

That is from the profile itself, but I am assuming the same goes for the blogs. I still think it is a good network for realtors, and no-follow links still have some value as they add to your natural looking link profile, as well as can potentially be clicked for traffic.

Great article John provided. I recently did some research on this topic for a friend (luckily for me my clients are all US targeting US so I don't have to deal with it) and found this Matt Cutts video helpful too (a couple years old now but still relevant I think)

http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/more-about-generic-tlds-in-say-uk-results/

I would consider moving hosts then. I use Wordpress to not only build CMS type sites, but static sites as well, and have been for over 4yrs. I use HostGator for hosting, but I like BlueHost as well. Mine have never been hacked. (knock on wood).

I am a big fan of Wordpress, the community and forums are great, it is user friendly, SEO friendly, and works great for any type of site.

I would go with Wordpress, and move my hosting to something more reliable. A plan on most places is only around $100 for shared (obviously more if you need dedicated servers).

That SEOmoz LI group is a great resource, and you will definitely get much better results than on Craigslist. You should provide more detail, do you need someone in-house/on-site or can they be located else where (SEO can be performed from anywhere, but some companies still like to micro-manage)...

If I didn't have to move to Detroit I might be interested (I live on the beach and prefer the weather here)

I work with several realtors/builders and I would say to build a website with a blog on it (for content and SEO value) then use a lead gen from that. Build an email list, there is no better way for realtors to connect with potential clients, whether you are trying to get other realtors to show your listings or get buyers to list with you.

Network with other realtors on networks like Active Rain and LinkedIn, use some sort of IDX solution on your site so potential clients can search for properties, and bait them in to sign up for your email list.

The money is in the list!

I see this A LOT lately, and I have been using Plus since it started in beta.

You get what you put in to it. Period. If you only use it as a "megaphone" to self promote, who cares. If you use it like any other social network (to network and share) you will get something out of it.

Most of the people I see that say they don't get anything out of it, don't try. If you opened a Twitter account, followed 10 people, then sat and looked at it.... only sending out links to your own crappy content, you will get the same results.

I have found that by sharing content, videos, images, etc... and actually engaging with people like you would on FB or Twitter, you get more out of it.

That being said, Google has made it very difficult to get people to circle business pages, so I have learned a trick or 2 to help expedite that. I have a local home builder page that has over 300 people that has circled them, while our FB page only has 130 fans for the same builder. And yes, I have seen it help the SERP's.

We share industry related articles, cool architecture images, and add in a little of our own stuff for that builder, and we are starting to see some traction.

Bottom line, you get what you put in it. I am seeing local groups forming to work together to help promote each other, etc...

Still a very young network. Remember, you can't automate "social".... (not that that was question at hand, just like to remind people social isn't a "set it and forget it" metric in marketing)

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/google-sitemap-generator/ is the one I use on over 20 WP sites, it is easy to set up, one click and your done. With over 7.5 million downloads I think it's pretty popular

Then I guess I would ask why? Why would you setup a wordpress (new installation) blog to have .html extension? You have to go out of your way, as the default is to not have it.

Just old school? If there is no benefit, I just wonder why I guess.... but not that it matters much.

I am working on a team (my part is the SEO) where the developer added the .html extension to the permalinks. I don't understand why, on Wordpress, you would do this.

Is there any benefit, or penalty for it as an SEO standpoint?

I usually just set mine up %postname% as the permalink structure, but I am not the web design lead on this project.

I asked the designer why, but he seems to be reluctant to answer any of my emails about his work, (like he is above that or something).

Not wanting to make things worse, I dropped it and thought I would ask here since I saw a few posts in reference to it today in the forum.

Is there an advantage or disadvantage (either way) to using the .html extension on a Wordpress site?

I agree with Chris, I usually go with %postname% and then edit each post for the best value in url I can get. Thinking more about a call to action in the url sometimes will help get it clicked on in the serps as well...

Everything SEO isn't links Alan. If you go commenting on blogs looking for links only, yes, you will fail.

If you read my comment, it clearly says use it to build a network and gain exposure, this in turn could lead to someone writing about you because you are simply awesome!

On top of that, Matt Cutts tells us what he wants us to know

Links are more than just to gain rankings on Google. What about traffic, new followers, brand evangelists that share your stuff socially? There is so much more to a good quality comment strategy other than looking for links as an SEO strategy....

Personally, I rarely (if ever) use article directories anymore. The links are usually as close to worthless as they come. (behind forum signature links perhaps)

Like Dan said, try networking and guest posting on *reputable sites.

I would add to that, a good social plan, network with people, create link worthy stuff (memes, infographs are hot right now), provide/create something needed in the industry for free, etc...

I hate to suggest this, because I think people take it and run spammy campaigns with it, but I have had much success commenting on sites. Not "Hey, nice post. I found you on Yahoo, how do I subscribe?" comments, but real value added information. It's a great way to network and get attention, which can lead to people writing about ..... YOU! Best links ever come from those that are linking to you because you have something of value to share..... (isn't that what Google intended for links to be for anyway?)

Good luck

Most likely your data is the ones that are incorrect. SEOmoz brings back non personalized, non location based results...

Seeing a recent comment about promoting infographs here in the forum, I thought I might ask if anyone has any resources on getting them made, obviously they are a great way to promote and are extremely shareable becoming a link building source.

I am not a graphic artist so am wondering if any of you have used someone to build them with any luck?

Really, this depends on a a lot of factors. As a reader, I prefer to land on a site and see 6-8 articles (if there is a blog as the main site) with titles and snippets. I don't know how this works for rankings though....

I would echo Doug's response, get involved in the community of auto website owners, write soem of the very best articles you can come up with and start submitting them to the best sites.

Love the BBB answer Syed. Real legitimacy involved in that so MFA's would never do it. Good call!

I actually question the value of any of these directories anymore (even the ones listed on SEOmoz)... just seems like the things that worked a few years ago with the directories just doesn't do it anymore.

Maybe the big G is hip to these techniques.

After all, Google's job is to provide the best results to searchers, the most relevant information. Just because you have more directory submissions, does that make your site better than one that has more natural links?

Certainly not knocking using directories, I just usually start with the on site metrics like content, titles, descriptions, images, video, etc... Then move towards social interaction (I honestly think this is where more weight is, or will be given) including articles on authority sites if possible, maybe even press releases... all before ever even thinking about directories.

Once again, I don't want to say directories are a waste of time, I just go in a different direction maybe.

This is a tricky space Leslie.

I went through something similar with a fence contractor and we ended up with a bunch of worthless sites with exact match domains for various towns around the area.

In my case I found it easier to carry the authority of the existing site to rank for new keywords on a "blog" in a subdirectory rather than a new site.

Also, looking briefly at your sites, it looks like you are linking back and forth anyway so one doesn't really help the other. Because those links under "Latest News" flow through a feed proxy, they aren't really adding any SEO value to your blog as well (I could be wrong here, but I think there is a way to change the way those links show from a feed).

I guess if it were me, I would install the blog on the main URL. Seems like the whole site could work towards the same goals then....

Hope this helps, I look forward to seeing other responses.

I am in the US (North Carolina), my name is Dutch though...

Always good discussion, and I don't think either one is right or wrong here.

Ooh, good idea. Let me send an email to the webmaster and ask him to try that...

I was thinking the same thing with the 2 different WP folders... out of my control and I can't see why either.

I am new to the community here too, and I love it!

I would still be careful, whether they are paying for the link or the ad, Google can decide and you could be screwed.

Also, if you can't vouch for the page it is linking to, I wouldn't make it a followed link. Being careful who you link to is important, at the same time I think it is important to link out to high quality sites with relevant content.

To me, if you are questioning it, your gut is already telling you the answer. Besides, the advertisers are there for the job ads, not followed links right?

I have always found it difficult to try to optimize for more than a few keywords/phrases per page. Most times I will target one per page if at all possible, using content marketing (blogging) to optimize for others, even writing multiple articles about a keyword to gain authority in it.

I am not saying it's impossible, many factors would determine that, like competition, etc... I just personally think it's easier (all the way around) to limit the number of keywords per page...

I was hoping to find better responses here, like where to find quality linkbuilders to outsource to LOL

Guess I haven't had enough coffee yet and am still sleeping....

My client has 2 WP folders (one is the main site, and one was for an added blog, don't ask me why they did it that way).

They sent me the login for Google Analytics, and the first thing I see is 2 profiles, one for the main site, and one for the blog. Doesn't the code in the head of the main page cover ALL the subdirectories too? I could see this if it were a subdomain, but not in a subdirectory.

Thanks in advance.

If you don't no-follow the links, isn't it just paid links which is against TOS? Seems like a big chance you would be taking in getting penalized to me.

The travel niche is a very competitive one, I would expect to work very hard, provide intelligently written high quality content (not keyword stuffed crap that people will just click away from), and work on a "natural" back linking strategy.... meaning, the less you try to "game" the system, the better your chances will be to have longevity.

New sites often see jumps up and down in rankings until Google figures out where you really belong.

Naghirniac is right, also I would consider changing to SEO by Yoast plugin (I have even used this plugin in conjunction with SEO Presser with great success) and write all your titles and descriptions.

The Yoast plugin has a great interface that allows you to see the Ttile, URL, and description exactly as it would look in Google search, excellent WP plugin....