SEO is Search Engine Optimisation which means how to make a website rank highly on search engines so more people can find it easily and hence go to that website.

There are many techniques used in SEO including use of keywords, headings, quality content, meta-data for pictures etc. and lots more.

One old fashioned approach to SEO was to get as many backlinks to your site from other sites as possible.

Google keep their exact algorithms for calculating ranking a secret but links to your website from other quality high ranked sites is going to help.

Recently emails have started to appear offering huge numbers of backlinks. One email offers to get up to 500,000 backlinks from their inventory of websites (many in your niche).

500,000 backlinks from poor sites is not a good idea.

You should always try to have quality content on your site to attract people and that includes only having backlinks from other quality sites.

Another variant on this is the idea of purchasing expired websites that still have an entry on Google. You buy the expired website and create links from there to your website.  There are businesses that specialise in finding and buying such expired websites then selling them on under the guise of SEO.

These are unpleasant practices. Do not be fooled into believing there is a magic answer to endless traffic.

To get visitors – create the best content you can, get links from sites that can appreciate your work, use social media, articles etc. There are lots of worthwhile methods available rather than attempting to cheat.

Do leave a comment on this post – click on the post title then scroll down to leave your comment.

Many scammers try to take advantage of holidays, events or anything in the news and Valentine’s Day is a big target for them.

Scam #1: Valentine’s Day E-Cards

There’s always lots of ads for electronic cards (e-cards) and especially around public holidays. If you want to try sending such cards – it’s better to find a website yourself rather than clicking on an advert.

If you receive what seems to be a Valentine’s e-card then be careful as many are created by scammers and sent out by the million. Rather than clicking the link to see the e-card – hover your cursor over the link and see if it does link to the website you expect. If it does then go to the website (do not click the link) and see if there is a card waiting for you. This doesn’t guarantee the e-card is safe but does exclude most forms of the scam.

Scam #2: Valentine’s Gift Cards

A Valentine’s gift card may seem a good idea and the adverts try to convince you they are the safest way to please someone.

But many are scams so beware inputting any confidential details and paying online. Make sure the site is a reputable one.

Scam #3: Buying Flowers Online

If you look on the Internet there are many choices of flower shop offering to deliver the perfect Valentine’s day surprise, but there are also pop up scam flower shops. Many offer beautiful bouquets at amazing prices (photos copied from a legitimate site of course) and some are taken in by this.

Always pick a reputable seller – preferably with well-known bricks and mortar branches around the country or at least one that has been around for some time and built a good reputation.

Scam #4. Online Dating

For some, this is a time to turn to online dating to look for the right partner. There is a huge array of websites and APPS offering to find your Mr Right or Miss Right, but there are also many new such sites and APPS appearing all of the time. Many of these are legitimate and do a good job but some are scam sites simply looking for confidential information and your credit card details.

Choose a site or APP that has a good reputation rather than a bargain offer.

Once in the world of online dating there are many scammers who post fake profiles and try to hook up with a number of people. They create very appealing profiles but their intention is to form a bond very quickly then start to get money from you – maybe a small gift or help to pay translation costs or money to visit you.

These people will likely research you online by looking at any profiles and posts on social media so they can see what you would like and use that to entice you further into a relationship.

If someone you have never met professes undying love for you then it’s going to be a scam.

Scam #5. Social Media Posts

Posting romantic moments on social media is very popular this time of year – but be careful before you click on any poems, letters , quizzes, surveys etc. directed to you on social media.

APPS on Facebook and other sites are not necessarily as safe as you expect, especially not just because they are about romance.

Stay safe.

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This is a malware site waiting to infect your computer.

It advertises itself as an awards site and your first encounter with this is likely to when you are redirected to a site such as instantprizesnow.com and a screen filled with animated confetti, best wishes signs,  the banner SEARCH REWARDS will appear

It tries to make you believe that it is part of Google and you have won an award simply by conducting the 5 billionth search on Google or sometimes it’s the 9.68 billionth search or some other random number in the billions.

They you have to choose between 3 hidden prizes and much of the screen is made up of testimonials of people who have won similar rewards telling you how wonderful it is.

It’s all scam. Clicking on one of the prizes is likely to result in malware attempting to download onto your computer.

Just shut the page down if you see it or anything similar.

If you have any experiences with these scams do let me know, by email.

The radio station receives hundreds of spam emails every week offering online services such as web site design, search engine optimisation (SEO), pay per click advertising etc.

Many are from small/medium businesses in this country, East Europe, Asia, America and almost everywhere else.  It’s a lucrative market that’s easy to enter.

Most of the spam messages are from individuals as this work only needs one person, but they almost always claim to be part of a large company.

Why?

• Perhaps they think prospective customers will trust a company more than an independent worker
• They want to ‘big up’ their role
• Maybe they dream of being part of a business rather than alone
• They are lying cheating scam artists (true for many)

Whatever the reason, it’s usually very obvious that they are lying.

One of today’s special spam messages is from Lindon Newton offering to build APPS for us, SEO, e-commerce development etc. – the usual stuff.

His email address is a Gmail account, so he doesn’t have a company – no company website or email address.

But he claims to work for a big business and is Head of Marketing.

Nope – he works alone and probably is Head of Marketing, but also

• Head of Production
• Head of Development
• Finance Officer
• Human Resources Boss
• Head of Acquisitions
• Head of Coffee Making, Toilet Cleaning, Chief Spam Writer and Sweeper Up.

No thanks – if someone lies in their Marketing to get business, then you cannot trust them.

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