In need of site review...

[JMann2380]

Hello,

First post here but have been reading for a while. I basically manage a start-up online division for a local fence company. I designed the site, handle the PPC advertising, dabble in the seo, along with the business end (new products, purchasing, etc). The site is:

http://www.fence-depot.com

I have learned a lot about seo and good design techniques since then, however I know some of pages aren't the best code wise. I tend to lean more towards visual design.

I have received some decent links, however the opportunities aren't as abundant in this industry. Did have a PR5, but it has recently dropped down to a 4. We rank well for some obsure terms and 3 word combinations like "boca pool codes", however main search terms such as "aluminum fence" and "wrought iron fence" we fall on the 2nd to 5th pages.

It's constantly a work in progress, but am looking for some advise.

Thanks,
Josh

[seo guy]

First of all I think you should exchange links with www.acme-tools.com www.toolprice.com www.arizonatools.com and any other member sites that are industry related ;) you can PM SEO Kid to arrange this for you, and just keep building those relevant links (I know its hard) but inbound anchor text will get you further then ANY onpage optimization and if you havent already read this http://www.seo-guy.com/seo-tutorial/backlinks-anchor-text.html its a good idea :)

[JMann2380]

Thanks for the tips, I spend the better part of yesterday emailing the top home improvement sites for links, even compensating them ;) . Going to have to get creative for some links. I even asked a few if we could write some articles and in exchange for the content; they link to us.

Question: What percentage would you say themed links with keyword anchor text count vs. well coded pages with proper titles, desc., meta tags, content play?

Question 2: Should I pick a keywork per page and have the anchor text from the links match and then link to the internal page or link to the home page?

Thanks,
Josh

[calande]

I like it, it's clean and clear. Maybe it's a little too orange, or you could add shades or orange scales just to look a little nicer.
Best of luck,


--
Charles.
Chat: auriance@jabber.org
My webdesign page (http://www.auriance.com) ;)

[dazzlindonna]

Your home page could use a little more on-page optimization - maybe your target keywords as a header or bolded. Some of your interior pages could use more content. Some seem to consist mostly of a couple of graphics and a link. Make sure to at least have a paragraph of text on the page.

[bobmutch]

JMann2380: You need both backlinks and on-page optimization. By far off-page factors are the most important but also require the most work. Doing your on-page optimization is pretty simple and although it is a bit of work it's pretty cut and dry.
There is nothing wrong with a PR of 4 but as you work on your backlinks that will increase.
Take a look at Search Term Suggestion Tool (http://inventory.overture.com/d/searchinventory/suggestion/) and do a search on fence. 65499 fence, 18036 vinyl fence, 13308 fence pot,13089 invisible fence, 11798 chain link fence, 10774 fence post, 10041 wood fence, 9982 picket fence, 9222 dog fence, 8852 electric fence, 8339 privacy fence, 7040 pool fence and 6662 aluminum fence. The numbers are the searches per month from Overture PPC which Yahoo and MSN use. You can double these number to include Google which gives you an idea of the monthly searches for those terms.
Of course you are only doing fence work in your geographical area so this is a big limitation.
Next you want to take a look at the McDar Keyword Analysis Tool (http://www.mcdar.net/KeywordTool/keywordtool.asp) and see what the average PR and Backlinks the top 10 site have. This will give you an idea what you need to get first page search engine results postion (SERP) for that keyword.
For "fence" the top ten site have an aveage pr of 5.5 and average backlinks of 186.
Check out your pages with Search Engine Optimizer (http://optimiser.123promotion.co.uk/) and that will give you an idea of the on-page factors you need to deal with.

[JMann2380]

[QUOTE=bobmutch]JMann2380:Of course you are only doing fence work in your geographical area so this is a big limitation.
[/QUOTE]

Actually we do sell fence all over the world. We have sold to almost every state, Hawaii, Alaska, Jamaca, Latvia, etc. But we are also spending ~$5000 a month in adwords and overture.

Is link adage a good way to receive some relevent text links with controlled anchor text? Anyone have any experience?

Here is a page I just put up yesterday, any thoughts as far as on-page optimization? http://www.fence-depot.com/shopnow/drivewaygates/driveway-estate-gates.shtml

Target keywords are driveway gates, estate gates. Is it a "must have" to add a paragraph of text to the product pages?

I am going to be going through all of our pages to to target two or three keywords inline with the above page. Then I will hunt for relevent links with the target keywords as the anchor text linked to the inside page.

Am I on the right track?

Thanks,
Josh

[JMann2380]

bump

[bobmutch]

JMann2380: Sorry I forgot to get back to you on that one. I will try to do a post shortly on this one.
______________________
bobmutch

[melaniejk]

Hi Josh.
Well, I really like the web site. I don't think it's too much orange - just right.
The only thing that bothered me was the "Learn Fence".
Shouldn't it be Learn About Fences. I'm not sure, it's just the grammar bothers me.
I see that you probably wouldn't be able to fit it on the side menu, though.
So, I understand why you probably did it. It's a minor detail, so I wouldn't worry about it.
Overall, I'd give the look and layout of the site an A-.

[JMann2380]

Wow, thanks! There are much better designers/coders out there, but at least I know I am alright.

The "learn fence" bothers the one owner also, I was just trying to get across the point AND make it fit. I will probably end up re-designing the homepage and get rid of the rollover menu... go to something a little simpler and less bulky.

-Josh

[bobmutch]

JMann2380: Fencing all over the world - great I guess I didn't look very closely at the site. What you want to do with your big adword/overture bill is have your own pages get first page SERP for the keywords you are targeting with those two services.
Plane and simple what you need to do this is numerous revelant inbound links with their anchor text your keyword phrase FROM pages with high page reputation and some on-page optimization.
You will want to consider purchasing links and/or also a reciprocal linking campaign.
Please repost your "http://www.fence-depot.com/shopnow/...ate-gates.shtml" link as the link doesn't work and I will take a look at the on-page optimization for you.
"Is link adage a good way to receive some relevent text links with controlled anchor text," what do you mean here?
It is not a must have to have a paragraph of text on a product page but it can be good for you customer and also for on-page optimization. It lets you bold your keyword, put you keyword in h1/h2, and lets you work with the keyword density of that page.
"I am going to be going through all of our pages to to target two or three keywords inline with the above page. Then I will hunt for relevent links with the target keywords as the anchor text linked to the inside page." Not sure what you are meaning here.
You purchase links or get them by giving a reciprocal link. The inbound links you get should to be from pages that have a theme that is relevant to your site and their site content should be relevant to the keyword you are targeting.
You tell them what that anchor text is to be.
Hope his helps some.