Everything you need to know about the future of search engine marketing you learned in the 1990s
September 30, 2008
That’s an overstatement, of course, but the basics of SEO and SEM — the very first things you probably learned — now are more important than they’ve been in years for bringing people back to your Web site. It’s all thanks to the new browser wars among Firefox 3, Google Chrome, and Microsoft Internet Explorer 8, all of which are generally evolving in the same direction. All three, for instance, support searching from the address bar, where you normally enter a Web site URL. Chrome encourages this the most, as it doesn’t even have a search box, but the same feature is on all the browsers. The searches all are conducted through the default search engine you select (IE8, for example, doesn’t hold you to Live Search).
More importantly, these address bars all offer suggestions as you type. Generally, these are based on which sites you’ve previously visited, how often and/or recently you’ve visited them, and potentially some other factors. Firefox sticks to your browsing history, but Google will sometimes recommend other sites it deems relevant, while Microsoft occasionally recommends a page from one of its properties. The history is what marketers and publishers have the most control over, so that’s where the focus needs to be.
The opportunity here is retention. If someone has visited your site before, however they found it, you want to increase the odds that they’ll come to you directly rather than search again and potentially check out competitors. Ideally, you want to be found through search once, and then save the consumer the need from ever running that kind of search again.
For starters, you should optimize page titles. All three browsers rely on them. For instance, I ran a search that I tried when planning my honeymoon: “travel India.” I clicked one ad, leading me to a landing page entitled, “Private Guided Travel in India & Nepal: India, U.A.E., Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan.” I searched again and clicked on another ad where the landing page simply had the tour operator’s name. Now, whenever I start typing “travel India” in the address bar, that first tour site comes up, and it will also come up if I start typing queries relating to any of countries listed in the title. The site for the other operator never comes up. The same effect shows up across all three browsers.
Another important factor is the filename. I went to my blog and clicked on a photo of Usher from the Service Nation event in New York a couple weeks ago. The filename is usher_at_service_nation_nyc.jpg. Now, when I type “Usher” in my Firefox address bar, it leads me right to that image. With IE8, it actually goes to the blog post where that image lives rather than the image alone, even though I hadn’t actually visited that post in IE. Chrome doesn’t bring up the file in its suggestions at all, but that will most likely change over time. These browsers have a way of looking more alike, even as they stake out their own identities.
Reviewing these optimization basics won’t likely cause a huge difference overnight. As I mentioned in my end of summer roundup, it will take some time to learn how much these new browsers encourage direct navigation. Yet it’s somewhat reassuring that you probably already know the tactics that will put you in the best position with the new browsers, and they’ll provide other benefits for your landing pages whether you’re focused on SEO or paid search. While it may be frustrating needing to focus on a new round of browser wars, they can make you feel smarter for having learned all the tricks already.
David Berkowitz is director of emerging media and client strategy at 360i. You can reach him at dberkowitz@360i.com, and you can read his blog at MarketersStudio.com
Post from: SiteProNews: Webmaster News & Resources
Everything you need to know about the future of search engine marketing you learned in the 1990s
My New Website-From Scratch to Profit
September 30, 2008
Without traffic from search engines (both large and small) you will be very limited in your chances for success of any magnitude. Pay-Per-Click can be effective after you learn the ropes. Just be sure to limit how much you can lose. To get traffic from search engines, you will need page rank (where your organic-free ad appears when someone enters one of your keywords in a search box). In order to get your website to rank high enough that search engines give you decent position for your organic ads- you need to work on two aspects of your website. The content (words) on your home page which contain your keywords, and back links pointing back to your website. A back link is your URL in the content of another website. It could be a one-way link in a directory, or an ad with your link you have paid to place on another website, or it could be a free classified ad on a website, or it could be your URL on a discussion forum, or in an article you have written that has been published.
Keywords on your home page should be repeated maybe 3 to 5 times with the main keyword being repeated maybe 10 to 14 times. Your keywords should be included in well structured sentences and paragraphs. Try to get authority links to your website. Authority links are links to websites that offer the same type services and products that your website offers. These types of links will build your page ranking with the search engines much faster. Place your paid ads on high traffic directories that specialize in listing the same type services or products that you offer. Do a search for one-way free directory links and get a list of these directories and submit your URL to a few dozen of them. This should help your page ranking.
When I optimize my website to get a good page ranking, I figure that page content (keywords on home page) account for about 20% of page rank, and back links to authority websites account for 70% of page rank, and one way links to general directories and forums accounts for about 10 % toward a favorable page ranking. Keep in mind that it can take from 60 to 90 days for links of all types to become effective as a factor in search engine ranking.
Thanks to the internet, when we talk about making money online, we do not only talk about the big players. Fact is, there are more small businesses online than the bigger ones. The power of the internet has allowed greater competition and has allowed even smaller businesses to earn income online. One way you can make money online is by creating your own website. Building a profitable website is a four-step process.
The first thing you need is a domain. This is basically the name of your website. If you have a preferred domain name, you can check a domain name registrar and see if the name you want is still available. If it isn’t, some domain registration services will give you suggested names. You will also need to have a hosting service in order for your site to be viewed on the internet.
The process of optimizing your website so that it will rank high on search engines such as Google and Yahoo is called Search Engine Optimization (SEO). SEO is important because 80% of traffic going to your site is through search engines. Aside from this, traffic from search engines is free so capitalizing on SEO is one of the best tactics used by most website owners today in order to get a return on investment at a reasonable time.
Search engines rank the importance of websites through the number of websites which are linking to your site. Another method is through the keyword density (number of times keywords are repeated) of the content found on your website. Most SEO experts believe that you need to place meta tags (keywords and phrases placed in the first part of your page code) on the pages of your website in order to help search engines understand what the page is about. Also, there shouldn’t be more than 25 keywords per page. It is important that keywords are repeated in the page content as many times as possible, but don’t overdo it because some search engines can already detect faked content.
The last thing you need to do in order for your website to become profitable is by promoting it. You can submit your site to search engines and website directories. You can also buy links or create valuable back links through articles. There are article submission services that will submit your article to hundreds of ezines and article directories. In the internet world, just like the real world, you need to make sure that your site gets as much exposure as possible. Remember that the more visitors you have for your site, the greater chances you have of making a sale. Keywords: your home page, search engines, back link, back links, authority links, your website, free directory links, page ranking, make money online, making money online, domain name, optimizing your website, page rank
John Smalley of Smalley Web Solutions is a team of four people with skills in marketing, website design, and programming. Our website design fees are among the lowest in our industry. We offer free web hosting and domain name registration for one year to all of our clients. Contact Smalley Web Solutions at http://www.webwizardonline.net or jfsmalley@clearwire.net.
Post from: SiteProNews: Webmaster News & Resources
My New Website-From Scratch to Profit
What the heck is a press release , anyway?
September 29, 2008
A press release or media release, as it is also called, is a condensed article that is written in a journalistic style. The purpose of the news release is to highlight what is interesting and newsworthy about your company or organization.
Press release publishing offers many benefits to your business, and is a powerful marketing tool in any integrated marketing plan.
Traditionally, a press release is short lived, it has a limited amount of time make your impact on the media before it becomes old news and is replaced by fresh press releases. This is NOT scary…It’s just like writing any other piece of info. Make the press release JUST one page.
The really cool thing is that if you submit it to the correct places, you may get a phone call requesting an interview!! This is huge for your business and website. It’s surprising just how easy (and FREE) it is to submit a press release to put your home business out there to the public!!
Press Release Example and Template
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Contact Person
Company Name
Voice Phone Number
FAX Number
Email Address
Website URL
XYZ, Inc. Announces Widget to Maximize Customer Response Rate
This headline is one of the most important components of the press release as this needs to “grab the attention” of the editor. (Just like any other article or blog post or video)
It should be in bold type and a font that is larger than the body text. Preferred type fonts are Arial, Times New Roman, or Verdana. Keep the headline to 80-125 characters maximum. Capitalize every word with the exception of “a”, “the” “an” or any word that is three characters or less.
City, State,Date - Your first paragraph of the release should be written in a clear and concise manner. The opening sentence contains the most important information; keep it to 25 words or less. Never take for granted that the reader has read your headline. It needs contain information that will “entice” the reader. Remember, your story must be newsworthy and factual; don’t make it a sales pitch or it will end up in the trash. Pretend like you are the reporter. What would an objective reporter write?
Answer the questions “who”, “what”, “when”, “where”, “why” and “how”. Your text should include pertinent information about your product, service or event. If writing about a product, make sure to include details on when the product is available, where it can be purchased and the cost. If you’re writing about an event, include the date, location of the event and any other pertinent information. You should include a quote from someone that is a credible source of information; include their title or position with the company, and why they are considered a credible source. Always include information on any awards they have won, articles they’ve published or interviews they have given.
Keep your sentences and paragraphs short; a paragraph should be no more than 3-4 sentences. Your release should be between 500 to 800 words, written in a word processing program, and spell checked for errors. Don’t forget to proofread for grammatical errors. The mood of the release should be factual, not hyped; don’t use a sales pitch as it will ruin your credibility with the reader.
The last paragraph before the company information should read: For additional information on (put in the subject of this release), contact “name” or visit www.yoururl.com. If you offer a sample, copy or demo, put the information in here. You can also include details on product availability, trademark acknowledgment, etc. in this area of the release.
ABOUT (COMPANY) - Include a brief description of your company along with the products and services it provides.
- END - At the end of the release, you need to indicate that the release is ended. This lets the journalists know they have received the entire release. Type “End” on the first line after your text is completed. If your release goes over one page, type “MORE” at the bottom of the first page. For a great example of a press release that I recently put out, go to this link: http://www.prlog.org/10122195-in-this-uncertain-economy-small-businesses-are-saying-no-to-expensive-advertising.html
So, when is it a good time to put out a press release? ANYTIME! Have you thought about hiring your first employee? Have you come up with some kind of compelling reason to get people to your website (newsletter, free samples of your product)? Did you buy a state of the art printer and you’re now putting out full color brochures? Did you finally get your baby potty-trained…okay, maybe not ANYTHING. You’ll have great results with press releases, especially with the PAID submission services. Sorry cheapos! Usually you get what you pay for.
Dan Dimit - If you’d like more information on driving free traffic to your website, please visit http://www.thefreetrafficformula.com
Post from: SiteProNews: Webmaster News & Resources
What the heck is a press release , anyway?
Top Blog Directories to Submit Your Blog to
September 29, 2008
f you have a blog, then you can count yourself among the thousands of other people on earth who have a blog, who can sell their products and services online, and who find ways to network through friends, former classmates, relatives, even acquaintances, in order to make more money. There are thousands upon thousands of blogs on the Internet right now, and you will need to shine through the muddle of language, or, at the very least, be known to a few well enough in whatever niche you choose to place yourself.
One way for you to establish your audience is to actually have a niche that you proclaim yourself to be in, and one way for you to do this is to place your blog address in a blog directory. You also have the pick of the litter: you are not limited to placing your blog in a single directory, which is advantageous if you consider how these blog directories have their own audiences whom you might lose if you aren’t meticulous enough.
If you are interested in submitting your blog to a blog directory, make sure that your blog is ready for the viewing. Do not simply place your blog address and then expect people to read half-baked essays, poor stories, or no entries at all. Have a lot of good content to welcome your new and current readers. Moreover, be aware of exactly what keywords your blog will have.
This means that you will have to go through your content, and then evaluate what keywords to use, so that you can properly categorize your blog and then provide the right keywords if the blog directory service asks for it.
Here are some blog directories that you may want to consider when you are finally ready to sign your blog up.
- Blog Catalog (http://www.blogcatalog.com) allows you to not only place your blog into a category. It also shows which categories are the most popular, so that you can be better guided as to what market has the biggest readers. Through blog catalog, you can join discussions and form or join groups.
- At Blog Hub (http://www.bloghub.com), you can add your blog and chat at a forum, chat with your fellow bloggers, and get news on affordable web hosting services, as well as other articles that might be of interest to you. Blog hub also offers information on how to use services to monetize your blog.
- You can also add your blog to the directory at Blog Hint (http://www.bloghints.com), where you can view the latest blogs added, the most popular, and the highest rated. Blog Hints will even suggest a category for your blog, and you can access some Wordpress themes if you are using that service. There are many different blogs in this directory that you can search through. The blogs are also arranged in folders that are readily visible on the front page of the site.
- At Blogging Fusion (http://www.bloggingfusion.com) you can also readily view the available categories, and you can even get your blog featured. There are also available blog ratings systems and popular blogs lists for you to browse.
- Another directory is Blog Flux (http://dir.blogflux.com) where you can look through an alphabetical directory, see featured blogs, and see the latest updates to blogs listed in the directory.
Gary Pettit is a well established entrepreneur and internet marketer of 12 years. He enjoys helping others make big money on the web and manages all aspects of his business. Get more information at: http://www.Instant-Paysites.com
Post from: SiteProNews: Webmaster News & Resources
Top Blog Directories to Submit Your Blog to
Flypaper Studio Announces Partner Program to Certify Flypaper Content Producers : Company Connects Business Users with Partners for Expert, Rich-Media Content Creation
September 27, 2008
Flypaper Studio, Inc., founded by the team that developed ACT! and SalesLogix® CRM, announces the launch of a partner program where users will have access to hundreds of Flypaper Producers and Flypaper Business Partners who can be hired to help with professional content creation and services. (PRWeb Sep 18, 2008)
Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/flypaper/content/prweb1352734.htm
VinSolutions Finalizes Kelley Blue Book InfoDriver™ Integration
September 27, 2008
The integration between VinSolutions and Kelley Blue Book's InfoDriver™ provides dealers with an easy link for comparing KBB vehicle prices with their own dealer-assigned pricing, as well as acting as a valuable tool for calculating trade-in values. (PRWeb Sep 18, 2008)
Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/09/prweb1351084.htm
SEO Company The Search Engine Guys, LLC Expands to New, Larger Austin Location
September 27, 2008
Search Engine Marketing Firm Credits Dedicated Clientele for Rapid Growth, Pattern of Success in Regional and National Markets (PRWeb Sep 18, 2008)
Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/09/prweb1350374.htm
SEO Consultant Specialist Completes 1000 Hours of Successful SEO Consultancy on ODesk, a Leading Freelancing Website
September 27, 2008
SEO Consultant Specialist, Mr. Abdul Hayi Mansoor has reached the milestone mark of 1000 hours of Search Engine Optimization consultancy, charging $16.67 per hour on the freelancing website Odesk. Mr. Mansoor achieved this target while working for 23 projects, from all over the World, in various capacities such as SEO Manager, SEO Expert, SEO Pro, SEO Consultant, SEO Specialist, AdWords Specialist, AdWords Expert etc. (PRWeb Sep 18, 2008)
Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/freelance/seo-consultant-specialist/prweb1348994.htm
MarketingProfs’ Forum to Identify What’s Working in Digital Marketing, and What Isn’t Worth the Investment
September 27, 2008
The "Digital Marketing Mixer: A Forum on Email Marketing, Search Marketing and Social Media," October 22-23 in Scottsdale, AZ. (PRWeb Sep 18, 2008)
Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/09/prweb1347884.htm
Northridge Interactive Nabs Top Awards from International WebAwards Competition
September 27, 2008
The Web Marketing Association named Northridge Interactive and two Northridge clients among recipients of the prestigious 2008 WebAwards. The WebAwards were presented to Northridge clients Lakehouse Coffee for Outstanding Website Design in the highly competitive Beverage Category, and to Whirl Helicopter for Standard of Excellence in the Small Business Category. (PRWeb Sep 18, 2008)
Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/09/prweb1349764.htm
Extensoft Unveils Artisteer its new Web and Blog Design Automation Software at BlogWorld Expo
September 27, 2008
Ground-breaking Software Instantly Creates Professional Website Designs, Wordpress Themes and CMS Templates (PRWeb Sep 19, 2008)
Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/09/prweb1358664.htm
effortlessE Prices Their Retail POS Under $500 as They Introduce Their New User Interface
September 27, 2008
With this new user interface and a $500 price point, effortlessE braces for the usual holiday onslaught of retail business wanting to have a fully integrated POS, web store and gift card system. But effortlessE promises even more functionality and value before the end of the year. (PRWeb Sep 19, 2008)
Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/09/prweb1349214.htm
My1Stop.com Takes Top Honors from Webawards for Best Publishing Website Of 2008
September 27, 2008
My1Stop.com the only complete online printing superstore, today announced that for the second time it has received the prestigious 2008 "Best Publishing Website" award among all commercial printing and publishing websites from www.webawards.org . The award announcement was made on September 16th, 2008. (PRWeb Sep 20, 2008)
Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/online-printing/commercial-printing/prweb1355814.htm
Adobe Unveils Creative Suite 4, Milestone Software Release : Powerful Cross-Media Capabilities and Cutting-Edge Workflows Enrich and Inspire Creativity
September 27, 2008
Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced the Adobe® Creative Suite® 4 product line, a milestone release of the industry-leading design and development software for virtually every creative workflow. Delivering radical workflow breakthroughs that bring down the walls between designers and developers and packed with hundreds of feature innovations, the new Creative Suite 4 product line enhances the creative process across print, Web, mobile, interactive, film and video production. Adobe Creative Suite Master Collection CS4 combines all of Adobe's new design and development applications, technologies and services in a single box—the most comprehensive creative environment ever delivered. (PRWeb Sep 22, 2008)
Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/adobe/creative/prweb1373264.htm
Springbox Delivers New Web Site Experience for Premiere Global Services : New Design Conveys Brand Vision and Enhances User Interaction
September 27, 2008
Springbox announced today the release of a redesigned, content-rich Web site, www.premiereglobal.com, for Premiere Global Services, Inc. (NYSE: PGI), a global provider of on-demand, communication technologies-based business process improvement solutions. The Web site design conveys the value of the Premiere Global Communications Operating System (PGiSMCOS) with real customer examples, how-to videos and other interactive resources. (PRWeb Sep 22, 2008)
Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/global/springbox/prweb1367994.htm
