Legal Internet Marketing Blog

Search engines are intended to provide Internet users with the most relevant results to the terms, also known as keywords, they enter as search options. While it is true that we may not always find what we are looking for on the first page of Google, it is also valid to say that we may need to enter different combinations of terms in order to seek the information we need. So what role does anchor text play in the ocean of search engine optimization?

Anchor text is considered to be the visible and clickable label of a link on a particular web page, blog post, social media profile, email, or other online medium. For instance, if I were to mention that SLS Consulting was ranked in Lead411’s Technology 500 List for 2010, “SLS Consulting” would be the anchor text. The site that the anchor text is linking to is the landing page, which in this case is http://www.legalinternetmarketing.com/. Rather than including that URL to its fullest extent, I have provided a more visually appealing, shorter, and relevant version by titling the link. When the linked (anchor) text is directly related to information on the landing page, this contributes to the rank or weight of the anchor text determined by search engine algorithms. As rules that concern search engines when they are ranking or weighing a website’s listing within its index, algorithms and their influences cannot be ignored.

An anchor text also provides a convenient way for a reader to click on a term of interest to learn more about that subject. The words making up the anchor text also provide a sneak preview to the material of where the link takes you if it is clicked on. However, the quantity, quality, and formulation of links that make up anchor text all play a role, in addition to other search engine optimization tactics, in rankings. Do not expect adding any link to your website or blog to be the major break you have been waiting for. It takes more than that.

While the proper use of anchor text is important, you cannot rely on anchor text alone to beat your online competitors or achieve positive search engine results. Anchor text is just a piece of the puzzle that brings your Internet marketing strategies together to form high search engine rankings and a strong online presence.

It is not too late to join in on The Daily Post, the challenge presented by WordPress for users to write and publish one blog post a day (or a week) throughout the course of 2011. Mashable notes that WordPress announced their challenge over the New Year holiday, catering, in a way, to the likelihood that various writers and bloggers have been looking for something to help keep them motivated to blog more frequently in the New Year.

The Daily Post is a guide that provides blog topic suggestions on a daily basis to help inspire, encourage, and even give advice in regard to blogging. It can be difficult to carve out the time to write for your blog, especially if you can barely find time in the day to eat! However, if that is your situation, it may be a good idea to explore resources to help you manage your time and workload. In any case, blogging on a daily basis may not be your cup of tea, but blogging at least once a week could be a great start towards boosting your business’ or law firm’s online presence by sharing your knowledge and helping spread your unique experiences.

Any WordPress user who would like to participate in The Daily Post challenge only has to write about their intentions, then tag posts with “postaday2011” or “postaweek2011” through the year. Even if you do not want to join in on The Daily Post challenge, you can still take on this dare and make it your own. Why not devise an editorial calendar or a list of topics that you would like to cover in January, February, etc.?

Wetting your appetite for creating more online content will only help your Internet marketing endeavors. It is important to remember, however, that more content does not mean any content. You want to write blogs that are pertinent to your area of expertise, informative, and helpful to your target audience. The same goes for adding new content to your website. Make sure your content is relevant and that appropriate search engine optimization (SEO) is properly integrated.

What are your blogging goals for 2011?

It would appear as though the competition between Google and Microsoft is not a thing of the past. It would also appear that one man is trying to inform the public about something worth knowing. USA Today reports that Google researcher Michal Zalewski has publically disclosed a fresh security flaw in Microsoft’s Internet Explorer web browser. This is the second time this has happened within four months. In September of last year, another Google researcher, Chris Evans, discovered a fresh Internet Explorer vulnerability and announced it publically before Microsoft could prepare what is called “a security patch.”

Apparently, over the weekend, Zalewski denied Microsoft’s request for him to postpone revealing the discovery until the company had time to launch a patch. Microsoft argues that Zalewski has heightened the chances of cyber criminals finding a way to abuse the browser flaw before a patch can be developed, tested, and circulated. While this claim has not been proven, Microsoft is attempting to find out if hackers could potentially take advantage of the flaw. No known attacks due to the flaw have been reported.

Google’s Chrome web browser contends against Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, the most dominantly used browser worldwide. On the other hand, Microsoft has made significant efforts to convert Internet users from conducting searches through Google to Bing instead.

Zalewski claims that he disclosed the discovery of the Internet Explorer flaw since he believes that Chinese researches have already recently discovered the same issue. To detect the flaw, Zalewski stated that he used “cross fuzzing”, which is a technique that involves submitting unanticipated data to the Internet Explorer browser until it breaks, thus allowing the ability to take control of the browser.

The Microsoft browser problem exposed by Zalewski and Evans brings to light the potential risks of cybercriminals and hackers alike to dominate Internet-connected computers. On the bright side, now that this potential problem has been made publically known, a solution can be found. Flaws in Internet browsers and other applications just go to show that staying informed and being prepared go a long way in ensuring that online “property” is secure.