What Is SEO and How Does it Work?

Posted on 04/16 by admin

Getting started online is one of the hardest things most local business owners ever have to go through. SEO and website design and social media… all of this seems like a foreign language to them.

But in today’s high-tech world, businesses must keep up and conform to the demands of their customers and potential customers. People go straight to the internet to find what they need these days, so if your business does not have a strong presence there, you are missing out on some serious profits.

You’re probably thinking, “Well, I already have a website.”

Having a beautiful website is not enough… If your website is lost in the jungle where no one can see it, it’s simply a waste of time, money, and effort.

Your website needs traffic. And the most effective ways to get that traffic is through SEO.

What is SEO?

First, it is important to understand precisely what SEO really is. SEO stands for search engine optimization. Most business owners who are not internet-savvy might ask, “What does my business have to do with a search engine?”

Surprisingly enough, your business has plenty to do with search engines and the results that they produce.

Think of a term you are looking to find out more about. You will head on over to your favorite search engine, be it Google, Bing or even Yahoo, and you will type in that word in the search box.

Hundreds of pages come up that have your keyword in them and are most related to your search. From there you can search through each of these sites to find the information that you are looking for.

The idea is for your business website to land on the first page of results. The more often your site shows up as a result on the first page, the more likely you will gain business from internet users.

SEO refers to the manner in which you can optimize your website so that it gains higher search engine rankings when keywords related to your business are entered into the search box.

There are many different ways to get your website on the first page of search engines. However SEO is one of the easiest and most affordable means to do so.

But SEO does take time and you have to be patient.

Although some businesses will see quick SEO results when they start, there are some businesses that take a little bit longer to see results. This is because SEO depends on a LOT of factors such as location and industry.

If your business has a lot of competition, chances are that it can take a little time to out-rank them. But once you do, you will see the amazing impact it can have on your business.

How Does SEO Work?

Understanding how SEO works is important to every business professional who is seeking to use their website to draw customers.

When implementing SEO, all of the content and information on your site is closely related to your business, your products, and your services – at least it should be.

When a search engine user types a term into a search engine, a list of websites containing those terms come up. If you use those specific words effectively throughout your website, it will show up in the results as well.

The problem is that you may be way down on page 25 of the results. As you know, most web searchers don’t go past page one when looking for a product or service.

So page one is where you want to be. That can be accomplished with proper SEO. But why stop at page one? Most businesses today strive for the FIRST POSITION on page one… This is where you REALLY want to be!

You’re probably wondering, “How can I get there?”

SEO is based on a mixture of “on-page” and “off-page” techniques that should be followed in order to increase your webpage results rankings.

SEO is based on the following 4 main principles:

1. Identify the Right Keywords: Identifying the right keywords is the most important step of Search Engine Optimization. You have to figure out the right set of keywords so that you get the desired traffic to your page. Your keyword list can be created by you or they can be obtained from online service companies.

2. Optimize Your Website: Make sure your website has keyword-rich page titles and metatags. Also keep in mind that the search engine bots cannot view the images and videos that you have on your site; they can only read the text. So choose the right text content for your website – and use a lot of it! You want to be certain that your content is appropriate and strongly relates to your business. Your content should be structured in a way that captures some of the local keyword terms that your local prospects may type into the search engines.

3. Backlinks: Backlinks are the inbound links that are directed to your website. You want to get links from sites with high-authority as well as sites that are relevant to your niche. It is a form of determining how many websites think that your site is important. The more ‘important’ your site is, the better rankings you will have. The better rankings you have, the more visitors you will have.

4. Site Structure: From an SEO perspective, the site structure is also a factor to determine the rankings of the website. The structure of your site is based on how easy it is to navigate and the way that you utilize the content you are sharing with your viewers.

As simple as it sounds it is extremely important to remember SEO when you are creating content for your website. Think of the terms that your prospects will be searching for online.

For instance, if you have a plumbing company, don’t fill your website up with information about electricity. That’s unless you want to attract consumers who are looking for electricians.

The content of your website should always be centered around your specific product or service; especially if you are planning on using free SEO as a form of marketing your business online.

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Did You Know Being Connected to Facebook Fans Means MORE Money?

Posted on 11/29 by admin

So you are starting your new marketing journey and want to be sure to hit the internet with a bang. One of the easiest and most effective ways to accomplish this is by using customized, professional Facebook Fan pages.

Most business owners had one goal in mind when they decided to have a website built: To drive a flood of potential customers to the company website and experience a massive surge in sales.

However, it doesn’t happen like that for most businesses because they don’t know how to properly use the Internet to drive traffic to their websites and create a meaningful online presence.

To accomplish this, you will have to be strategic in the ways you establish an online presence. This involves putting yourself right in front of your prospects and customers. Most of them are hanging out online – namely Facebook.

So any business who needs more new customers and wants to build customer loyalty should seriously establish a presence on Facebook.

But it doesn’t stop there… you have to build relationships by being proactive and engaging with your audience.

Being connected to clients and prospects through the use of custom Fan pages will propel your product or service into the market with staying power.

If you need fresh business leads, repeat business, the ability to conduct surveys, or the ability to promote offers, custom Fan pages should be one of your initial online focal points.

As you’ve probably noticed, the most profitable businesses today have a dynamic charisma on the web. Studies have shown that social networking strategies are proven create long-term customers and ultimately boost profits.

Therefore, utilizing the power of Facebook Fan pages is really not an option – it’s a necessity today. Start socializing and soon you will experience an income surge as a result of smart planning and proper use of 21st century tools.

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What It Means To Optimize A Website For Increased Visibility

Posted on 10/21 by admin

All this talk about SEO and search engine optimization, social media network marketing, blogging, article marketing, pay per click advertising and so on is enough to make the average person’s head spin! That is why people have ignored the subject for over a decade, paying little attention to it if any at all. Recently, SEO (search engine optimization) in particular, has been getting an enormous amount of attention and interest. Probably because it is one of the most profitable, long term assets that a business can secure for itself — An “organic” top Google listing. That is precisely what optimizing a website entails… Helping it show up on Google and other popular search engines like Yahoo, MSN, Bing, etc. for specific keywords and/or keyword phrases that are directly related to your website, business or both.

Since Google (or any other search engine) doesn’t reveal how they go about ranking websites on their engines, it would be impossible to know exactly how to manipulate the system to get any position that you wanted. However, there are techniques that come very (almost scarily) close. SEO is all about keywords… If someone is searching Google for a product or service — which 80% of the market now does by the way — they are going to type in keywords or a keyword phrase. It’s not rocket science. They are going to type in something like “auto parts in Chicago.” How would you like to be one of the auto parts stores who’s site shows up on the first page of results? Many keyword phrases get thousands or even millions of searches daily and monthly.

An SEO consultant or specialist will perform the necessary keyword research for your specific niche market, as well as optimize your website’s HTML code to make it what’s called “keyword optimized.” They will also have the ability keyword optimize your content, and then build incoming links to your website which will boost its page rank thus increasing its overall search engine friendliness. There are many different methods, techniques, shortcuts, tricks, etc. but in the end, as long as no rules were broken and the website gets optimized then there is no problem whatsoever. However, there are people that try to scam local businesses by guaranteeing them unrealistic results or making false promises that they most certainly cannot keep.

There is a lot more to the whole entire process, but this captures the gist of it. Basically, SEO is the process of optimizing a website for the search engines and mainly, for the people who are looking for exactly what that website offers. To get your own website optimized, search for an SEO specialist or internet marketing consultant in your area and be sure to compare prices and details before making a final decision. Don’t wait until your competition has all beaten you to it!

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Posted on 10/05 by admin

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The Shift From Digital Downloads to Tangible Products

Posted on 07/29 by admin

Digital downloads will always be a staple in the online world of marketing. People want information, so they click the order button and download it instantly – we’re a world of instant gratification seekers and we always will be.

But digital downloads are now being converted into tangible products in a more common manner. Take eBooks for instance. Traditionally, an eBook was sold online, downloaded and read in PDF format from your hard drive.

For marketers who had a hefty bankroll, they were able to offer printouts of the product, which were simple printed pages stuck in a binder and shipped to your door. It was really something you could do yourself at home if you had enough computer paper and ink to do the job.

But now, you can be the creator of an info product in digital format and get the same professional means of delivery as a professional, published author – providing a tangible book with artistic cover artwork to your readers. This is what’s known as print on demand, so you don’t have a huge inventory of books you have to try to sell.

Many marketers have been using print on demand bookstores for years. But it just wasn’t as affordable as continuing to sell it in eBook format and getting 100% of the profits. Print on Demand bookstores took out too hefty of a percentage.

Now, more online stores are allowing eBook authors to promote their products at an affordable rate where they get ample exposure to consumers looking for information in their niche.

Amazon.com is one such place. You can sign up for an Amazon listing and your eBook will be printed whenever someone orders it, and shipped directly to their front door!  You’ll even have your own ISBN number and a professional listing in the Amazon marketplace.

Books are one of the top sellers on Amazon, and it would be nice if your name were among the authors listed who had devised a contract with a major publishing house. Now you can have that as a reality.

There are some marketers who have been approached by publishers for a contract after they spied the author’s success on Amazon’s site. And you can have the best of both worlds – selling to a consumer market who wants instant gratification in the form of a digital download at 2 o-clock in the morning, and catering to the demands of those who like to hold the book in their hands and invest in tangible instruction manuals alone.

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Trending Topics for 2010 Info Product Pursuits

Posted on 05/30 by admin

There are always certain topics that remain the same in nature and some that evolve from year to year (even faster in many instances). If you enter a niche where trend spotting is important, then that’s a skill you need to learn how to master.

For example, if you were to write an eBook about the grieving process when a loved one dies, you could get away with writing an eBook that pretty much didn’t change from year to year (unless there was some new mind-blowing process someone came out with). Dog training is another similar niche – dogs aren’t changing, so training them pretty much remains consistent over the years.

But if you are in a niche about fashion, Internet marketing, finances, or technology, then you’d better stay abreast of several things – consumer needs, wants and demands and marketplace developments that create selling opportunities for you.

Let’s take finances as an example first. Consumers are going through a disastrous economical crunch right now. They need, want and demand money savers. Your info product could teach a wide variety of things.

When gas prices hit the roof, a ton of eBooks about saving on gas were flooded into the marketplace, but what else happened? Technology developers created tools to help convert water into gas and stretch the gas out. Those who were early on this trend made a lot of money with it.

In 2010, consumers will continue to need cost cutting advice. We’re not out of the recession yet. They’ll also need advice on how to find or keep a job, since unemployment is very high going into the New Year. Work at home topics will be highly sought after for those who want to save on daycare and commuting costs, or those who weren’t able to find a job the traditional way.

Mobile networks will become even more popular in 2010. Cell phones, social networking from your mobile gadget – all are on the horizon of becoming mainstream, where grandma has a Motorola Droid and she’s Tweeting at her grand children’s recital. Even your gadgets will have gadgets developed for them. Cell phones are going to have boosters – if you only get 1 bar in a certain area, you can use a gadget that boosts you by 3 more bars.

In the gaming niche, video games will almost make hand held clunky controllers a thing of the past – developers are coming out with games that are controlled more by the movements of your own body.

You’ll need to determine if your own niche has trending possibilities and create a forecast based on some market research that you conduct with keywords and a little investigative spying on what manufacturers or experts are predicting.

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Keyword Research and Usage

Posted on 04/30 by admin

Keywords used to be used for one major purpose – to stuff a web page so full that Google and other search engines considered them the most relevant to a particular topic. We’ve come a long way, baby!

Keyword research is going to change dramatically in 2010 in a way that will help marketers capitalize on trends more than they have been. To date, most keyword research tools have been a bit lagging in results.

But now, developers are coming out with real time trend data for keywords. Google Trends, for example, is updated daily. And now you can access Hot Topics and get an hourly snapshot of what topics are most being investigated by the public.

You can periodically log into these free tools to see what topics or content is relevant or can be connected to your own niche site. Then create an AdWords campaign or blog about it or Tweet something to get that current flood of traffic diverted to your own website.

I predict that you’re going to find more free keyword tools that are almost as competitive as the paid versions. Developers will make their money elsewhere with the tool. For instance, Wordstream just launched two free keyword research tools (Keyword Niche Finder and Keyword Grouper) that search for, build and clean your lists for you.

In 2010, Google and other search engines will be looking for ways to counter keyword spam. They’re going to have future functions that weed out spammers and try to connect searchers to relevant content they really want.

Keywords will also be delivered via Google using the Real Time Search function, which will run side by side with the older results and will include information from social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. Somehow I have a feeling spammers will find a way to capitalize on that, too.

You’ll be using your keywords and phrases – dominating with long-tail phrases as usual – in more places online in 2010. Aside from using them on web pages, in AdWords campaigns, and on typical social networking sites like Squidoo, you’ll also consider using them more in video marketing (which many marketers fail to do) and on mobile advertising networks, which are on the rise.

Whatever methods you use, you’ll want to make sure you continually build your keyword list, clean it for duplicates and irrelevant phrases, and then put them to use for you instead of letting them sit on your hard drive.

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How Will Social Networking Evolve in the Year 2010?

Posted on 03/27 by admin

The year 2009 was the year of slaps, smack and strict rules in the world of web 2.0. Social networking sites saw a mammoth rise in membership by marketers, followed by a surge of spammers and eventually got punished by Google for their leniency.

So their slap by the search engines is being passed down to you. Everyone has tightened their belts, restricted certain content, lessened the number of links you can use – and implemented any other rule to prevent Google from doling out the same harsh punishment in the future.

Social networking was once a way for peers to share information and opinions – it’s so much more than that now. It paved the way for marketers to immerse themselves in communities where targeted consumers were lurking, converting peer traffic into click-throughs and sales.

It probably would have been smooth sailing if everyone had done his or her part to provide great content and keep topics above the board. But it’s inevitable that when a good thing surfaces (like web 2.0), spammers and seedy characters will suck it dry of any opportunity it possesses.

Certain social networking sites such as Squidoo, Ezine Articles, Google Knol and Hub Pages have already learned their lesson when it comes to cracking down on spammers and unsavory marketing tactics.

The year 2010 promises the evolution of more niche-specific social networks for people – along with some broad web 2.0 creations that cater to many niche groups. It will be your job to infiltrate these membership areas in a way that helps the community with true value so that you’re branded as trustworthy and not a leech of their online society.

It’s estimated that blatant advertising on social networking sites (like Facebook for example) will reach a whopping $2 billion in the year 2010. So marketers may not have to be as stealth in their promotions as they once were, if they’re willing to pay for the right to be there.

Social networking will also play an important role in on-the-go advertising. Mobile Messaging will evolve into a new sort of social marketing. You’ll be able to designate ad groups that are shown to people while they’re away from, their computer, reaching them on their cell phones.

People are already social networking from their cells – logging into Facebook, Tweeting about their everyday actions. You’ll become part of the common mass marketing strategy already being tested in many markets today.

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5 Free Tools That Will Help You Be Successful In 2010

Posted on 02/28 by admin

There’s not a marketer on the planet who prefer to pay for something when they can get it free. Free marketing tools are getting better and better – with developers often making money on the ad slots they provide in and around the site or on the tools themselves.

If you’re watching pennies, or just like to get a good bargain from time to time, consider these five free tools for marketers that you may need for 2010:

1.) CamStudio for Video Screen Capture Marketing – http://camstudio.org/

Camtasia can be pricey ($299) when you’re just starting out. But luckily for you, there’s an open source project called CamStudio that allows you to make an endless number of screen capture videos for free!

Pair your version of CamStudio with some free audio recording software at http://www.audioflash.org/ and you can create very professional videos to help you generate interest in your products and services.

2.) GIMP for Graphic Creations – www.gimp.org

Photoshop is often very hard for some non-tech savvy individuals to learn. And when you spend money on a tool like PhotoShop, you want to have the shortest learning curve possible.

Now you can take your time and use GIMP instead. GIMP stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program and you can use it for free, along with their thorough documentation, to make call to action buttons, minisite graphics, ads and more.

3.) WIX – Free Flash Website Design Tool – http://www.wix.com/

Flash sites are so expensive when you’re searching for a company or professional freelance individual to create one for you from scratch. With WIX, you can customize a template or make your own.

With a WIX site, you’ll have drawbacks, such as WIX ads being placed on your domain – and the domain won’t be your own dot com moniker, but you can upgrade when you have the money to invest in it and remove ads and use your own domain.

4.) WordPress – Free Blog Software http://wordpress.org/

Chances are you’ve heard of this one before, but some people still think they have to pay for a WordPress blog. Not true. You can either host a WordPress blog on their dot org site, or install it free on a domain that you own. As most marketers already know, WordPress is loved by Google if you utilize it right by posting relevant content on a regular basis.

5.) MailChimp – Free Autoresponder Tool – http://www.mailchimp.com/

This tool is great for those with no list or a very small list to begin with. You can use MailChimp for free to store up to 500 contacts and send out up to 3,000 emails per month.

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