OldGit Posted January 30, 2009 Author Share Posted January 30, 2009 (edited) A quick point on how to use your basschat sig to enhance your Google performance. Lots of us have links to our bands websites and myspaces from our basschat sigs. This can be a good way of scoring brownie points on Google if you use your name and a few key words in the link. So rather than have a link that says My Function Band My Rock band use key words in the linked text such as: My Function Band: Our Souls My Rock band: The Rock Splods Better still use your geographical area or other top search term My Wedding Band: Our Souls. Top Wedding band in Lincolnshire My Rock Band: The Rock Splods. The worst rock band in Skegness Then every time you post on Basschat you will rack up points with Google (cos google indexes basschat) and these are considered [i]relevant inbound links [/i]- and they are the best you can get. Goodness all round Edited January 30, 2009 by OldGit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 good call, cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retromal Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Thanks for those tips, already used a couple on my webstie, still needs work but much better than it was.. Mal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted February 26, 2009 Author Share Posted February 26, 2009 [quote name='retromal' post='420043' date='Feb 26 2009, 01:05 PM']Thanks for those tips, already used a couple on my webstie, still needs work but much better than it was.. Mal[/quote] You are welcome. You should edit your signature here to make your web address a link too - and any other places it occurs - that will have various positive effects including raising your google score and also bringing interested visitors from here.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retromal Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Thanks again... Mal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted February 27, 2009 Author Share Posted February 27, 2009 [quote name='retromal' post='420659' date='Feb 27 2009, 10:11 AM']Thanks again... Mal[/quote] There see, now I clicked on it and went to your site.. However you need to read the bit at the top about Frames sites not working with Google PM me and I can suggest a fair few changes the site to make it work well for your band. OG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 I was checking on some search optimisation I've done on our site and found an agent that had our name on his site, but no link. I contacted him and apparently we had done work for him in the past. We hadn't, but one of our members had given him our details a few years back and we'd never followed up as we became quite busy through another agent. Anyway moving on... I asked him to link to our site, but he wanted an 'agent friendly' page. ie one with no contact names, numbers, emails, or prices on. I was thinking of creating a single page specifically for agents. What would be the best way to do this. Should I just get some free web space with an entirely different URL? Or can you recommend another way. eg MySpace is not supposed to be used by covers bands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted March 8, 2009 Author Share Posted March 8, 2009 (edited) [quote name='TimR' post='428298' date='Mar 7 2009, 11:19 PM']I was checking on some search optimisation I've done on our site and found an agent that had our name on his site, but no link. I contacted him and apparently we had done work for him in the past. We hadn't, but one of our members had given him our details a few years back and we'd never followed up as we became quite busy through another agent. Anyway moving on... I asked him to link to our site, but he wanted an 'agent friendly' page. ie one with no contact names, numbers, emails, or prices on. I was thinking of creating a single page specifically for agents. What would be the best way to do this. Should I just get some free web space with an entirely different URL? Or can you recommend another way. eg MySpace is not supposed to be used by covers bands.[/quote] Ah yes well .... This is a perennial problem for agents - they want to place bands for the band's normal fee plus their commission. You have to separate the two markets: market one is your direct link to punters, market two is you selling your band to the agent. These markets have different requirements. Many moons ago when I still built sites I was asked to do two separate almost identical sites for a band - a normal one with full on search engine optimisation and direct booking contact info, and one with no contact details other than the agent's contact details. This also used techniques to try to prevent the site being found by Google (that was a challenge!)... Sadly, and despite my advice to split the markets effectively, it was a waste of time because the band used the [i]same name[/i] for both markets. Thus any punters the agent directed at the "agent friendly" website to sus the band out just found the normal website the next time they googled the band's name .. The answer is to use [b]two names for your band [/b]- one that you market yourselves and another that the agents can use. Then you either don't have a website for the Agent's band name or you do a restricted contact one. I've worked with bands that have even more names - one for each market. To keep the agents happy and feeding you gigs you should not link the two bands in anyway online. This means no links from one website to the other. Myspace is not great for covers bands selling into the general market covered by agents (weddings, functions, birthdays, clubs). This is because of its "interesting" layouts and appearance. We are all used to it now, as are originals bands bookers, rekkerd company A&R people etc but [i]The Mother Of The Bride[/i] (your key decision maker here) will probably take one look, give up and head back to the agent's list or google to look for a band with a "proper" site. It's good if you have nothing else but it's not ideal for a functions band. So what is the ideal situation? A full on website, with full optimised SEO, showing all your pictures, MP3 downloads, Videos, all the normal selling stuff for a functions band but with a different name and just links to your agents. Here's an example: [url="http://e2music.com/index.html"]http://e2music.com/index.html[/url] Edited March 8, 2009 by OldGit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Thanks for your advice. Two names? I'll take it to the band and see what they think. Might be easier to have two different bands Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted March 9, 2009 Author Share Posted March 9, 2009 [quote name='TimR' post='429773' date='Mar 9 2009, 08:22 PM']Thanks for your advice. Two names? I'll take it to the band and see what they think. Might be easier to have two different bands [/quote] Ha ha Good luck. I had a look at your site and there's quite a lot you could chnge to help your site be found and then to convert site visitors to bookings. PM me your objectives and I'll go through the suggestions and maybe you can just avoid the agents completely. Cheers, OG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinbass7750 Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Hi Si, Would you be kind enough to pass comment on my band's website please? www.jacksborohighway.co.uk I know very little about website design, I've just managed to cobble a few together. Cheers Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted April 22, 2009 Author Share Posted April 22, 2009 (edited) [quote name='martinbass7750' post='469513' date='Apr 22 2009, 12:43 PM']Hi Si, Would you be kind enough to pass comment on my band's website please? www.jacksborohighway.co.uk I know very little about website design, I've just managed to cobble a few together. Cheers Martin[/quote] Sure. If you have had a read through the thread and had a look at the info there, and can tell me your objectives, I'd be happy to. PM me? Nice Meteor ... Not a bad site for a cobble up A couple of general points that others may benefit from (these are in the thread but I realise it's getting very long now ) - When choosing a name always google it ... and check there isn't already a band using the same name: [url="http://www.jacksborohighway.net/home.htm"]http://www.jacksborohighway.net/home.htm[/url] If there is you have to make it very clear that they are not you or vice versa, especially if you are operating just 50 miles from each other and have "separated at birth?" bass player lookalikes Not everyone will check and you'll get confused punters trying to book the wrong band. - Always make it abundantly clear on every page of your website what you do and where you do it "The Jacksboro Highway band, Classic soft rock, Gloucestershire and thereabouts, UK" Easiest way is to add that to your header graphic. That appears on every page and therefore so will the info. You need to say where you are as, not only is there band with the same name in the Midlands (UK) but also, of course, it's a place in Texas and the Web is [i]World Wide[/i] ...... - Always have a "contact us" page on your website, even if you do have your phone number and email address all over the site. The one place everyone knows it will be, without reading the whole site, is on the contact us page. if you don't have one they may well just go back to Google and book the next band in the results page. Edited April 22, 2009 by OldGit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinbass7750 Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 (edited) [quote name='OldGit' post='469525' date='Apr 22 2009, 12:48 PM'] [/quote] I know, spooky isn't it? We were the first band to have a website, although the other band existed when we chose our name. Some great advice there, I'll get updating. I'll also read through all the posts (must admit I gave up earlier today) and PM you with my targets. We took the photo's at Gloucester airport, where there are a few old planes lying around. Many thanks Martin Edited April 22, 2009 by martinbass7750 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted May 15, 2009 Author Share Posted May 15, 2009 (edited) If you have a function band you may benefit from getting your details (and a link back to your site) on these listing sites. Some charge a small amount but you'll soon make up any outlay in increased gig offers... Credit: BC members in general Band Me Up [url="http://www.band-me-up.com/"]http://www.band-me-up.com/[/url] Band 4 U [url="http://www.band4u.co.uk/"]http://www.band4u.co.uk/[/url] Partysounds [url="http://www.partysounds.co.uk/"]http://www.partysounds.co.uk/[/url] 123 Party Planning [url="http://www.123partyplanning.co.uk/"]http://www.123partyplanning.co.uk/[/url] Gig Guide (don't fill in your whole address on the form, they publish it!) [url="http://www.gig-guide.co.uk/"]http://www.gig-guide.co.uk/[/url] Alive Network [url="http://www.alivenetwork.com/"]http://www.alivenetwork.com/[/url] Function Junction [url="http://www.functionjunction.co.uk/"]http://www.functionjunction.co.uk/[/url] Wedding Services For You [url="http://www.weddingservices4u.co.uk/"]http://www.weddingservices4u.co.uk/[/url] Edited May 15, 2009 by OldGit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 I had to do a search for this. Is it not a sticky any more? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted August 3, 2009 Author Share Posted August 3, 2009 Hum aparrently not ... I'll give Ped a shout ... How are you ol' chap? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 Not bad Si, cheers. Could do you with you casting a quick seo eye over this one if you don't mind. [url="http://robotrobotrobot.net/"]http://robotrobotrobot.net/[/url] I think I have done okay. I have used a <h1> tag and a few <h2>'s. I have alt tagged everything and titled the links. I have used a couple of spellings of t-shirt. And the greatest move is just having it all on one page! How is the italian job going? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted August 3, 2009 Author Share Posted August 3, 2009 (edited) [quote name='paul h' post='559531' date='Aug 3 2009, 07:07 PM']Not bad Si, cheers. Could do you with you casting a quick seo eye over this one if you don't mind. [url="http://robotrobotrobot.net/"]http://robotrobotrobot.net/[/url] I think I have done okay. I have used a <h1> tag and a few <h2>'s. I have alt tagged everything and titled the links. I have used a couple of spellings of t-shirt. And the greatest move is just having it all on one page! How is the italian job going? [/quote] Hi Paul, Ped found some sticky stuff .. Can you PM/email me with this on Friday? Bit snowed under for a few days .. Allegedly the work on the W&T starts next week ... I have to say when it comes to bass building Erick and Enrico seem to have a more Germanic than Italian approach to dates and times. Generally things happen when they say they will Edited August 3, 2009 by OldGit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 Will do, thanks. Just fyi, the site went live yesterday and has just got indexed by Google. It is now appearing on page 8 of the search results for my top search term "robot t-shirt". I am pretty pleased with that for such a generic term. I will tweak a few things and see if I can't improve it. But I think it's more down to inbound links now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted August 5, 2009 Author Share Posted August 5, 2009 [quote name='paul h' post='560020' date='Aug 4 2009, 10:59 AM']Will do, thanks. Just fyi, the site went live yesterday and has just got indexed by Google. It is now appearing on page 8 of the search results for my top search term "robot t-shirt". I am pretty pleased with that for such a generic term. I will tweak a few things and see if I can't improve it. But I think it's more down to inbound links now.[/quote] Yeah you may make number one/page one for the name but the terms "robot" and "t shirt are just too generic to enable you to do much other than be there if someone searches for you under rule 1: They know you exist and they know you have a website. In on-topic terms that's like trying to get to number one/page one for "band" or "soul band".. It just isn't going to happen. Great bass robot tee shirt You should go to town on the descriptions of each design on it's own page, ah that seems to be off site.. is that out of your control? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 [quote name='paul h' post='559531' date='Aug 3 2009, 07:07 PM'][url="http://robotrobotrobot.net/"]http://robotrobotrobot.net/[/url][/quote] Hello Paul! Your site looks great... there seems to be a styling blip in the hearer, though? There's a gap in IE7, and a dotted line across it in Firefox.. it looks spot-on in Chrome, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 (edited) Cheers WOT. To be honest I rushed the site out amidst a ton of other work, so I have obviously let my testing lapse! Naughty boy! EDIT: Fixed. I say fixed, but I just mean changed because I can't be bothered to battle with the way these browsers don't even seem to count pixels the same way! Edited August 5, 2009 by paul h Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted August 5, 2009 Author Share Posted August 5, 2009 [quote name='wateroftyne' post='560927' date='Aug 5 2009, 09:54 AM']Hello Paul! Your site looks great... there seems to be a styling blip in the hearer, though? There's a gap in IE7, and a dotted line across it in Firefox.. it looks spot-on in Chrome, though.[/quote] Yeah I get that too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 All fixed now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 [quote name='paul h' post='560020' date='Aug 4 2009, 10:59 AM']But I think it's more down to inbound links now.[/quote] Given that Basschat signatures only appear when we are logged in, and Google analytics has not picked up on any inbound links from Basschat for my site. Do the links in our sig lines get picked up by anyone other than reqistered users of Basschat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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