So what exactly is SEO?

Search engine optimization otherwise known as SEO is a popular form of search engine marketing. The main goal of which (as its name would suggest) is to improve the ranking of the site in various search engines. An entire industry of consultants has sprung up around the idea of search engine optimization. However it’s important to note that there are two distinct and disparate methodologies at work when it comes to optimization. The two categories are best known as “white hat SEO” (which is aimed at improving overall site quality, and increasing the site’s ranking through approved methods), or “black hat SEO” (often use methods such as cloaking and spamdexing to increase rankings. However, using such methods can lead to your site to being removed from search engine listings). Those in the white hat camp charge that black hat methods are not only giving SEO a bad name but are also attempting to manipulate and undermine the search rankings. The black hatters counter that argument by saying that in truth all SEO is an attempt to manipulate rankings, and therefore the particular methods one uses to increase rankings are irrelevant. In other words they take the more Machiavellian approach of using the end results to justify the means they use.

So what more specifically are the methods being employed by the two camps?

White hat methods:

These methods typically involve following the search engines’ published guidelines as to what is and what isn’t acceptable. The advice typically given by the white hat SEO experts is to create more user-friendly content, and not focus so much on the search engines. That is if your site is well put together and presents something users need it will naturally climb in the rankings. Also by making content that is easily accessible to the search engines spiders it will be properly read and therefore properly indexed in the search engines. The white hatters are needed most often because a webmaster has made critical mistakes in either the design or the set-up of their websites, inadvertently “poisoning” them so that they will not rank well. The SEOs then attempt to discover and correct these mistakes, which may include unreadable menus, broken links, temporary redirects, or simply a poor navigation structure.

Here are a few examples of SEO activities which the search engines find acceptable:

o Using a reasonably-sized, accurate description meta tag without excessive use of keywords, exclamation marks or off topic terms.

o Optimizing tags, titles and other parts of the code as necessary;

o Using WordTracker or a similar database to find popular and relevant keywords and phrases to use for your site.

o Monitoring the various search engines to ensure that your URL gets indexed

o Increasing the amount of unique content on the site.

o Writing quality content for the website visitors instead of the search engines.

Black hat methods:

Whereas the white hat methods follow search engine guidelines “Black hat” SEO methods to try to improve rankings by any means necessary. Most of these methods are disapproved of by the search engines, typically because of their deceptive nature, but also hamper the ability of the search engines to provide quality content to site visitors. Search engines often penalize the sites they discover using black hat methods, by reducing their rankings or eliminating their listings from the search engine results altogether. These penalties are usually applied automatically by the search engines’ algorithms, because the Internet is too large to make manual policing of websites feasible. However once they are discovered, search engines may take action against those found to be using unethical SEO methods. Take for example Google’s removal of both BMW Germany and Ricoh Germany in February 2006 for use of these practices.

One common black hat method is known as Spamdexing. Spamdexing is the promotion of irrelevant, chiefly commercial, pages through various deceptive techniques and the abuse of the search algorithms. Unfortunately it often gets confused with white hat search engine optimization techniques, which do not involve deceit. Spamming involves getting websites more exposure than they deserve for their keywords, leading to unsatisfactory search results. Optimization involves getting websites the rank they deserve on the most targeted keywords, leading to satisfactory search experiences.

One example of spamdexing is link farming. Link farming can be basically defined as any group of web pages that all link to every other page in the group. Another common practice is listing popular keywords in fine print or in the same color as the background so they can’t be seen by users.

So how can you tell the difference between Black and White SEO practices?

A very easy way to distinguish between the two is though the amount of time involved in getting the desired results. White hat SEOs use methods that produce results slowly over time and only after a good deal of effort has been put into the site. Black hat SEOs offer you quick and easy results most, if not all, of which will obtained through deceptive practices.

Today I will give you some tips, to point out some things to buy on Aliexpress. You probably know this Chinese website, where you can find everything from mobiles to clothes, sneakers, any decoration product … Really, everything you are looking for will be on Aliexpress.

As always when any type of transaction is made through the internet, a series of previous security measures must be taken into account. Not only to prevent theft, but also to avoid any kind of misunderstanding.

1. Ali express, that big mall

Before starting, it is important that you know the operation of Aliexpress. Actually, it is not a store, but rather something like a shopping center. Inside it, you can find different stores, and with it, a multitude of vendors.

Why is this important? Because you may not have a problem with a seller, and with another. It is not the platform’s fault, but the seller in particular; And, if you report it to Aliexpress and explain your case, you will probably get it removed from the page.

2. How to buy a product?

Before buying anything, always check if the seller is legit. How? Get into all the products it offers, go looking at the notes that other customers have given you, if you have a wide offer, what you do specifically … Thus, you will save the occasional subsequent headache.

3. Imitations everywhere

Something that you must be very clear before buying any product is that everything, absolutely everything, will be imitations. You are not going to find Nike sports shoes for thirty dollars, nor a Mac lipstick for three dollars. They are probably imitations; In the case of shoes, if they are used for everyday use, they can always be acceptable. In the case of makeup and beauty products, no. But we will go to that later.

When you see something that appeals to you, and that puts it that is branded, be clear that it will be an imitation. Of course, within the criteria of each one is spending thirty dollars instead of ninety in some shoes; but, as advice, if you are going to use them for any type of sport, always look for quality. You could, by improper cushioning, seriously injure yourself.

However, this is not the only problem with imitations …

4. Customers

Indeed, if they detect that your package contains imitation slippers (or any other product), it will automatically remain in customs. It may not happen, of course, but it can also happen. And the Aliexpress seller will not be responsible for the price of a product that he has already sent; that is, you will lose what you have bought, and the corresponding amount.

Customs is that raffle that everyone who decides to buy online plays. Personally, I have been shopping online for years and I have not had any problems yet; However, it could happen. Normally, customs stop very bulky packages, or that exceed twenty-two euros’ worth.

To avoid this, what you can do is ask the seller to Divide your order, so that you don’t have to pay for customs fees. For example, if you are going to order products valued at forty euros, send you two packages; probably, the seller does not put any fault, since for him the result will be the same.

If you look for testimonials on the internet, you will not find just one in which they had to pay customs for orders on Aliexpress; Although it may seem otherwise, it is a very serious company, and where the problems when buying will be minimal.

5. Shipping costs and product description

Something you should always check before paying is if the product has shipping costs. Aliexpress is a platform where you can find practically anything without shipping costs, but it is always better to make sure before taking the surprise.

It should be noted that, having no shipping costs, the waiting times until you receive the product at home are almost Send less; We talked about one month at best, and two months at worst. The seller usually indicates, in the shipping method, the maximum days to be extended. For……., usually put between……and…..days. The product will be in your home. However, there are others that go down to 45 days; this you have to take into account, since, if in those days it has not arrived, it is best that you claim in case there has been a problem.

In the event that you are in a hurry because your order arrives (maybe a birthday that is approaching too fast), what I always recommend is to select another shipping method. For example, in four or five days you can have at home what you have requested; Of course, you will have to pay it, and the pinching may be important.

Another issue to consider, in addition to possible imitations, customs and shipping costs, is the product description. It may sound obvious, but (especially if you are asking for clothes) it is essential. In the description, everything should appear: material, specifications, size, measurements, complementary data … The photographs do not usually correspond to what you will later find, at least not in most cases.

6. Customer reviews, and beauty or personal care products

In addition to the product description, in that sense it is especially interesting to take into account the opinions that other customers have had, either about that particular buyer or about that specific product.

Normally, in the comments you will find photographs of other clients who have already bought that before you. So, you can see how the product really is, if it corresponds to the description … And, if you buy something that does not convince you at all, the best thing you can do is leave it in a comment, so that all who go after you can see and take into account.

7. Ali-express Return Policy

Last but not least, nothing: beauty products or imitation personal hygiene. Yes, it sounds radical; keep this in mind as if it were personal advice, if you want, but keep that in mind. When you buy a beauty or hygiene product in a physical store, you are sure that it has already been tested and has passed minimum tests to ensure that it cannot harm you. But, when you buy it that way, you can’t be sure. And a colony (for example) with more alcohol in the account could cause burns.

There are Asian brands that are distributed through this page; My recommendation (as I say, more personal) is that you investigate any brand before buying it. Yes, it is true that many will have passed all the necessary controls, but prevention is better than cure.

So remember: look well who is the seller, if what you are buying is an imitation, take into account customs, shipping costs, product description, customer comments, and care with hygiene products. That way you won’t have any problems!

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

• Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
• Because it will help you focus you own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

• Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
• What topics do you think you’ll write about?
• Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
• If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.