We’re seeking a results-driven SEO Expert who has a successful track record for implementing SEO best practices and strategies for a variety of websites, including but not limited to e-commerce and news media. The ideal candidate will have excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work closely with cross functional teams to meet client needs.

We need a person with:

• BA/BS in Marketing with a strong understanding of technical SEO – OR – BA/BS in Engineering or similar technical discipline
• 5+ years direct working experience as a Search Engine Optimization professional
• SEO strategy development experience
• Thorough understanding of data feeds and means to effectively optimize them
• Understanding of basic HTML, CSS and code structure as it relates to SEO
• Experience with link building and proper usage while representing the brand in the best possible light
• Working knowledge of the latest web technologies, social tools and methods for effectively leveraging them to improve brand visibility
• Solid verbal and written communication skills
• Experience authoring SEO assessments and reports for clients

What you’ll do here:

• Develop strong SEO strategies for clients based on their specific needs
• Identify and execute new opportunities for improving high-quality organic search engine traffic for clients and agency
• Apply knowledge of search algorithms to properly leverage in the SEO strategy
• Determine, measure and track key SEO metrics that will be included in Mindgruve’s monthly analytics report (Logic Reports)
• Work with account managers to build SEO roadmap and properly execute against it
• Work with development team to implement SEO changes that will improve the ranking and overall performance of the site
• Stay up to date with industry trends and inform other stake holders on required changes
• Support account management team and sales team by providing estimates of work for new business proposals
• Write and present SEO presentations, assessments and reports for internal teams and  clients

Compensation commensurate with experience. This is an in-house position. No headhunters, contractors, freelancers, overseas agents, or professional job hoppers will be considered.

To be considered for this job, qualified candidates MUST submit a cover letter, resume and salary requirements to careers@mindgruve.com with “SEO Expert” in the subject line.

The battle between SEO and PR has been occurring for quite some time now and we’ve decided to see if we can bring some sense to this altercation. PR has been around longer, dominates the traditional realm and takes a proactive role in making the web a source for news and information. Alternatively, SEO is newer, but well-known to anyone with a website who is concerned with high search engine rankings, community-sites, widgets, virals, etc. With overlapping tactics and differing goals, it’s hard to tell which better handles the client’s online presence. SEO’s goal is to improve organic search rankings through relevant search terms, while PR’s is to develop relationships and positive brand image through relevant content. One’s priority is attracting the attention of robots and the other is of people.

An example of how the two can clash is SEOs see blogs as an opportunity for keywords and PR sees them as a place for meaningful articles and news. Another is SEOs use link building to obtain website links, while PR uses relationship building to get featured on websites.

Despite their differences, we have quickly learned that both are important for an online marketing strategy. Each just needs to be understood more in order to work together harmoniously. For smaller businesses that don’t have dedicated SEO and PR departments, it’s even more critical to have a strong understanding of both, and know that content isn’t just for ranking or for creating a press center.

A person coming from an SEO background has better leverage of social media, can write for search engines and ensures traffic and conversions are long term. On the flip side, a person with a PR background has better understanding of social media, knows that quality trumps quantity, and that awareness, influence and trust is imperative in creating a strong brand image. Both are valuable and can get you maximum results when used simultaneously.

Here is how SEO and PR can be approached for effective online marketing:

You should write authentic content without worrying about keywords and links first. Then, revise and sprinkle the keywords and links without altering the prose too much. For instance, changing “athletic footwear” to “athletic shoes” is fine. Changing it to “running shoes” may denote a different meaning.

From an SEO standpoint, online content spreads faster and usually stays online. Meaning, your page should be found quickly and be pertinent enough to be found later. From a PR standpoint, “all the keywords in the world can’t substitute for good content,” (that’s why “sprinkle” was emphasized).  PR builds reputation through positive coverage, which is good practice for effective link building. When people read your page, it should be engaging enough for them to share, getting you those reputable links. Remember that bloggers are also your online audience and consumers read their blogs, which can give you more links. But again, the content needs to be worthy of sharing to help you gain exposure.

So there is our ruling: Accommodate both nicely into your strategy. You need SEO to drive consumers to the website/profile/blog, and PR to drive the conversion. Whichever background you happen to have or believe is better, the main takeaway is that you should always optimize for people first, then search engines second.

Premier, user-friendly site extends Indianapolis Scale’s reputation for top notch products and services.

SAN DIEGO,CA – July 9, 2010 – To provide visitors with a better experience and streamlined service process, San Diego-based digital media firm, Mindgruve, launched a new website for the Midwest’s leading scale and force measurement company, Indy Scale.

Using improved navigation, increased product information, and highlighted features such as 24/7 emergency service and online quoting, Mindgruve has provided Indianapolis Scale with a clear conversion path for their existing clients and potential customers. In addition, the new website possesses an updated design and improved search engine optimization (SEO) to help users quickly locate and engage with Indianapolis Scale online.

Mindgruve has also initiated a new email marketing campaign for Indy Scale to provide timely updates regarding customer deals, new services and industry news. These emails will provide a periodic reminder of how businesses can utilize Indy Scale’s services to improve productivity and profitability.

“Indy Scale provides an unmatched offering in their market segment,” Stated Chad Robley, President of Mindgruve. He continued, “leveraging their reputation for service and quality products, we were able to create an interactive environment to drive sales and revenue.”

About Indianapolis Scale
Established in 1985, Indy Scale is the leading scale and force measurement company in the Midwest. Their reputation for quality work is built on providing prompt, professional service, and state-of-the art equipment to maximize their client’s productivity and profitability. www.IndyScale.com

1. SEOcial Media
With the recent upgrades by Google and Bing to integrate Facebook and Twitter posts into search results, as well as the powerful new real-time and personalization functionality, creating a symbiotic relationship between SEO and social media will be key to getting results. With many clients already questioning the ROI of social media, this might confuse them even more, but here are some of the basics to get you started:

• The bigger your social media presence, the more your links and content become available for search engines to aggregate.
• The more frequently you update/interact on your social media – especially within popular/trending topics – the more likely you are to rise in the search results, including real-time results.
• Monitoring micro-trends in your social media space will give you insights for adjusting your overall SEO strategy – providing your audience with more relevant and “clickable” results.

The list goes on, and as Google and Bing refine their new functionality, it will become more clear to how to make the most of it. For now, start thinking of your social media as an extension of your SEO efforts and vice versa.

2. Let’s Go GEO
What’s true in real estate is quickly becoming true in digital marketing: Location. Location. Location. The increased use of smart phones, localized search, geo tagging and augmented reality has opened the door to better access your target with relevant information, helping you find them, when they want you.

The area most likely for a boom of growth is the use of smart phones. Applications like FourSquare, Yowza and Yelp provide a location-based way to quickly find just about anything you’re looking for, as well as deals attached to it. Brand-specific apps like myStarbucks add another layer, offering store locators based on a variety of criteria and can alert other Starbucks fanatics of your whereabouts.

On top of that, Twitter is getting in on the act with it’s new geo tagging API. This means that geo tags will quickly be as important as #tags for joining conversations. Recent statistics by the National Retail Federation state that 60% of consumers will use social media to locate deals and coupons. Combine that with eMarketer’s finding that 45% of social network users in the U.S. will be accessing their social networks from their mobile devices, and we believe that location is quickly becoming a key component of conversions.

3. Micro Content Is Big Biz
We know, Twitter was already a big deal in 2009, but this year, people are actually going to figure out how to use it. Additionally, Twitter is in the process of rolling out several business friendly features.

Let’s start with the obvious. The new paid brand accounts offer something that has been lacking for most companies (and their marketing departments): user analytics and improved feed-back functions. These additions, along with rumored ad space, should make providing relevant tweets to your audience a lot easier. Based on who they are and what they tell you, your Twitter now provides unlimited uses, such as a perpetual newsletter, talent recruiting, product/service launches, customer support, niche group building and contests.

Speaking of contests, “Tweepstakes” have become a proven source for increased interaction. And according to a recent Razorfish study, special offers (like contests) drive engagement, “consumers not only want to engage with brands, but engaging with brands is having an inordinate effect on affinity for brands and the likelihood to purchase.” Additionally, “of those surveyed, 64% had made their first purchase from a company as a result of a digital interaction…”

Whether you like it or not, in 2010, Twitter will be a key player in garnering a dedicated audience and encouraging them to partake in your products and services.

Of course, these are just predictions. The only thing that we are 100% sure of is that the landscape we work in changes daily, if not hourly, and we will continue to do everything in our power to bring industry-leading brand, digital and social media successes to our clients. Happy 2010!

New brand platform and website lay groundwork for successful, forward-thinking marketing initiatives.

SAN DIEGO, CA – December 31, 2009 – Heritage Pioneer Corporate Group (HPCG), a long-standing industry leader in packaging, manufacturing and shipping needs, recently aligned with Mindgruve to strengthen the company’s online presence through an invigorated brand and improved customer experience.

Mindgruve was tasked with repositioning HPCG atop their industry and providing the tools necessary to maintain that position. To provide a streamlined foundation, Mindgruve developed a brand platform, including a new logo and color story, which served as the starting point for all other marketing development.

Mindgruve continued HPCG’s evolution by creating a single website that functioned seamlessly across all 18 locations. Additionally, it includes a Content Management System, Flash integration and Search Engine Optimization to ensure HPCG stays top of mind for existing and potential business partners.

Once launched, Mindgruve helped drive traffic to the new content-rich site through paid search and email marketing tactics. “It was important to keep in mind the extensive amount of information passing from HPCG to their customers. Developing a new approach to their brand, digital and marketing strategies gives them a leg up on the competition,” explained Chad Robley, Mindgruve President.

Mindgruve, capitalizing on HPCG’s status as an innovator, also made sure their key advancements, such as sustainable packaging, would be easily integrated into the site and scaled as they continue to grow.

“Mindgruve’s drive to generate an action plan that would introduce us to new customers and strengthen existing relationships has solidified us as the industry leader,” said Bill Bumstead, Heritage Pioneer Corporate Group Chief Marketing Officer.

About Heritage Pioneer Corporate Group

For 30 years, Heritage Pioneer Corporate Group has worked to find innovative and efficient packaging solutions for the industrial, retail, moving and storage industries. Heritage Pioneer Corporate Group aids in every step from design and manufacturing to fulfillment and storage. They specialize in creative, durable and sustainable packaging options for a variety of needs. www.hpcorporategroup.com

Let’s face it, these days everyone is “connected”, whether it be through our various social networks,cell phones, blogs or Twitter accounts. And the one common thread that all of these connectors have is the importance of SEO to get information out and drive traffic in.

Search engine optimization (SEO) helps to improve the volume and the overall quality of the traffic that is going to your site. This level of traffic is detected by organic search results and typically the higher your site ranks, the more people will visit your site; therefore increasing sales.

Effectively Optimizing Your Site

Seeing as there are so many sites competing with each other for that top spot on Google, as well as other search engines, it’s essential to know some basics about SEO. The following are some tips that will help you to effectively optimize your site and ensure that your site gets steady traffic:

Find the best keywords- Knowing what words need to be keyword optimized and implementing them will help searchers find your site faster

Research your competitors- By being aware of your company’s competitors and their marketing strategies you can gage your own SEO tactics

Optimize your website title- Including keywords in your website’s title will only help to increase traffic

Use headings- By using headings to address different topics on your site, and keyword optimizing your headings, your chances of driving more traffic will increase

Create a site map for your page- Creating a site map for you site will grant visitors easy accessibility to different parts and increase your clicks per page

Buy multiple domains for your site- Purchasing multiple domain names for your site, will help minimize your competition

Use bold text to highlight title, headlines and important information- Using bold text will draw more attention to the important aspects of your site

SEO as an Internet Marketing Strategy

SEO has been used by some of the top companies in the world as an internet marketing strategy since it considers how search engines work and what people are searching for on a day to day basis. When optimizing your website all you need to do is edit your content and HTML coding so its relevant to specific keywords. By making edits to your site you can also remove barriers that may stand in the way of the indexing activities of search engines.