Overhead at the SEOmoz Pro Training Event

SeoMoz's Pro Training Series wrapped up yesterday and I learned a lot listening to these company insiders talk shop. Here are a few of the quotes overheard during the event that are worth repeating:

On responding to negative reviews

"Remember that the unhappy customer isn't the audience for your response."

David Mihm @davidmihm

Using Google Analytics effectively

"Top level performance measures aren't helpful. Look at micro conversion events to find what is happening with your business."

Joanna Lord @joannalord

Business process

"When SEO is institutionalized, it dies on the vine."

Marshall Simmonds @mdsimmonds

Keyword targeting in content

"After you've built pages for high- and mid- volume keywords, use tools to keep the super long tail words in front of you as you write your content. Including them naturally within your copy can help in aggregate."

Tom Critchlow @tomcritchlow

Visual distractions on landing pages

"If it doesn't directly contribute to the current transaction, get rid of it."

Tim Ash @tim_ash

"Rankings are a milestone, not the goal."

Seth Besmertnik @besmertnik

Waiting for Google to reward your big link

"Authority links don't always add instant value."

Wil Reynolds @wilreynolds

Building links manually

"Your best links are the ones competitors can't get."

Rob Ousbey @robousbey

Designing link bait

"Ask your audience about linking to your content before you write it and do it on the phone."

Rob Ousbey @robousbey

Encouraging community participation

"Reduce the friction to participate."

Rand Fishkin @randfish

Writing headlines that stand out

"Use active language and include references to current events."

Ian Lurie @portentint

"SEO strategy is product strategy"

Laura Lippay @lauralippay

On @bhendrickson's new LDA data on language usage on-page

"Remember 45 minutes ago when we thought that links were really important?"

Rand Fishkin @randfish

Presenting data

"The sexiest report is a phone call."

Will Critchlow @willcritchlow

"Engage people, not sites."

Tom Critchlow @tomcritchlow



Here are the slides from the presentations at the event.
http://www.seomoz.org/dp/presentations-seminar-2010