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The Money Is In The List
August 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment
When it comes to making money on the Internet you will often hear the expression “The money” is in the list, but what does this mean?
Well if you are serious about using the Internet to develop your business you need to start building a list, it is the process whereby you use your mailing list to connect with your customers. You see if you can capture an existing customer or a potential customers email address, then this enables you to stay in contact with them, and this means that you can use it to sell to them not just once, but time and again.
Now there are two ways to capture people’s email – online and offline. Offline email capture as an example would be where someone fills out a competition form or catalogue request in store, you would then manually add them to your mailing list.
When it comes to online email capture there are a number of ways to do this, and you need to focus on maximising the sign up rate. One of the key ways to do this is to offer a free report in exchange for their email e.g. “Enter your email and get a free copy of my guide to building chicken coops”. The user then enters their name and email (Never ask for any more details than their name and email, as if you do you will not get people signing up – to increase the conversion ratio keep things as simple as possible) and then get the guide sent to them by email straight away as soon as they have confirmed their email address.
You want the free offer to be as enticing as possible, if you just have a simple box asking them to sign up to your newsletter then it is doubtful you will get anyone joining up at all.
However when it comes to capturing peoples email addresses online then you need to take care not to be accused of spamming people, so you will need to choose an auto responder that allows people only to join your mailing list by a double opt-in, this is whereby they have to confirm that they have opted in to your list, thus they cannot later accuse you of spamming then.
Hang on what is the auto responder I just mentioned? Well this is the piece of software that is used not only to capture your prospects email and store it in a list, it is also the software that is used to send them a link to your free report.
You can also pre-load them with emails ready to be sent out stage at different daily intervals for up to a year in advance.
When used rightly they can be used to build up trust with your customer. They can also be used to send out details of a new store opening, a special 2 for 1 deal or new seasons catalogue, or news of a sale.
Hopefully now you can see how “The money is in the list” and use it develop your online business.
A family-run web design and development agency in Maidstone, Web Design Kent from TME can help see your business grow online with online marketers and consultants happy to help see your website expand and thrive every step of the way.
How Web Hosting Affects SEO
August 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Even though SEO is becoming more and more popular as those with websites begin to see how the process can improve traffic and sales on their site, many people still don’t entirely understand how it works. So it’s no surprise that some sites are utilizing improper web hosting services even though they may be paying for SEO, leading to results that aren’t quite what they expected. But when you realize how the web host you choose can affect your page rank, you’ll begin to understand why SEO is useless if you don’t have the right web hosting service in place. Here are just a few ways that your host could be having a negative impact on your SEO efforts.
The first thing you need to know about your web host is how reliable they are. If the servers that host your site are frequently experiencing downtime, you have a big problem. First, your customers may not be able to reach your site. If this happens more than once, you will very likely lose business because of it (sometimes once is all it takes). In addition, you might also get passed over by search engine bots attempting to cache your site, which can have a definite effect on your page rank if it happens frequently. Unless you have installed software specifically to inform the bots when an unexpected server downtime has occurred (as opposed to, say, scheduled maintenance), the bots won’t be able to differentiate, and they will likely label the lapse as a lack of reliability, or even inactivity on your site (bad news for your page rank).
You also need to focus on loading times. If it’s taking your site so long to load that pages are timing out, then there is a problem with your web host. It’s not unusual for older computers to have such problems, but when a brand new PC or laptop is unable to load your page then you know there’s something wrong with your web hosting service. The most common cause of this problem is shared hosting, by which several domains share the same IP address (including bandwidth and storage). While this certainly cuts cost, it can also be detrimental to loading times (which will once again put a dent in your page rank). If the problem persists you should seek a different host.
Finally, you need to consider added value, mainly in the form of features offered. Consider the control panel, which contains the administrative toolbox for your website. You should look for a web host that provides automatic SEO tools (like tags for every page) that will help to maximize your efforts and appeal to the bots that determine your page rank. You should also pay attention to other sites being hosted, especially if there seems to be an inordinately high number of spam and/or adult entertainment sites. These could have a negative impact on your own site, so no matter how good a host looks, you should avoid them if they raise red flags in the this area.
When it comes to finding a web host, you can certainly check cheap web host rankings if you want to pay bottom dollar for a service that offers very little (although it will mean a lot more work for you on the SEO front). But you could also opt to pay a bit more for a host that offers reliability, speed, and extras for those looking to implement SEO practices. In the long run, the ease of use may be worth the money you spend.
Learning the Lessons of Google’s Panda
August 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment
It’s been nearly four months now since Google first released its Panda update out into the wild and webmasters and site owners are still feeling the impact. Despite the fact that Google has adjusted the algorithm two or three times since it was first launched, many sites still suffer from a drop in rankings that they feel is not deserved. Even many legitimate and well-respected sites took hits after Panda and many of them feel that Google has still not given an adequate explanation. And yet in May Google did release a list of pointers and obvious advice as to how a site could avoid being hit by Panda and what a site needed to show to avoid any downgrades in future updates. These included a wide ranging selection of hints as to what a site should include, most of them fairly obvious. In the end however, Panda, and any other update that follows, can be summarized in one simple and obvious idea – fill your site with high quality content.
This is hardly revolutionary but in these days of SEO and keywords, backlinks and PR values, it is still a sad fact that most sites concentrate more on their search engine optimization than they do on whether they are readable and offer good content alongside the services they are offering. So if you want to make certain your site is forever seen as a quality site and never gets downgraded, then every month take a look at it and ask yourself – is the content on this site trustworthy? Is it written to be informative and useful, or is it written just to bring in keyword traffic and adsense revenues? As a reader, are you seeing content that would not look out of place in a magazine or newspaper, is the grammar correct and has the spelling been checked? Have they taken time over the presentation? If your own site answers these questions well then you know you are doing something right.
Next look at the information contained in the content. If you love the subject that you are writing about in your blog and you write about it passionately then that should be all you need. And even if you aren’t a brilliant writer and feel unable to convey that passion, then you can certainly be selective about the guest posts and links you put on your site, making sure that you fill the site with content that you would want to read. It doesn’t matter if your website is to do with collecting old toys, saving money with coupons, or the statistical anomalies of uk phone numbers, as long as you fill your site with passionate, informative, genuine and true content, you will never feel the cold chill of a Google update slap-down. If you look to be an authority on a subject, and you are trustworthy, then you will be ok both with Panda and with any future algorithm updates. The best way to do this is to make sure that all writing is geared towards your audience and not keywords. Make this a rule with your guest writers. Let them have a link to their site, but only if they provide you excellent content in return.
No matter what happens, when it comes to websites remember the phrase; ‘quality, quality, quality’ and you won’t go wrong.
Why You Need a Search Marketing Firm
August 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment
There are many ingredients that go into the making of a business. It needs to have prompt and reliable employees. It needs to have a location that is convenient for both those in the business and customers as well. Among this long list of essentials, it does not occur to many business owners that they also need to invest in search engine marketing, and especially search marketing firms.
1. A Firm Ensures Professional Handling
When a business chooses to hire a firm that specializes in search engines, they are ensuring that their goal to get better exposure on the Internet will be realized. The group will be professional, and they will have a great deal of search engine experience that cannot be spoken for inside the business. Nobody will find it necessary to worry about everything coming together well and whether or not something will be understood by those undertaking the project. The search engine marketing endeavor can proceed without the chance of costly mistakes that can send a business, however big or small, into unexpected problems.
2. A Firm Frees Up Time for Employees
The people that work for a business already have enough to deal with on a day to day basis. They may have to answer phones, type up papers, and so on. With so much to do they will not have time to devote to search engine marketing. To do both would cause them great stress, and employees that are overworked and upset do a business little good. When a search marketing firm is hired, they can give employees time to devote to their own assigned tasks. The employees can focus on what is more important to them.
3. A Firm Ensures a Modern Approach
Many businesses feel that they should not change how they handle finance and other aspects. They assume that the model they have used so far has served them well, and to change it would spell problems for everybody involved; this is an approach that should be avoided. When a company chooses to embrace search engine marketing, they are showing that they are willing to be modern. They display an awareness of how the world is evolving, and what needs to be done in order to catch up and keep profits.
Running a successful business requires great devotion and an ability to adjust to the changing times. When it comes to businesses that have websites on the Internet, it is especially critical to pay attention to what customers both established and potential are doing. If they want to know what people are searching for on search engines, and ensure that they can catch said people, they need to research search engine terms. To do this successfully they need to hire a search marketing firm. The results may not occur within a day or two, but they will come, and a business owner cannot go wrong when they try.
Tackling SEO In An Efficient Manner
August 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment
You should plan your SEO efforts so you get them done as quickly and efficiently as possible. The time that a company spends doing search optimization could be spent dealing with customers or creating great new services. A company that does not have a department whose sole focus is SEO has to borrow from one department to cover the creation, maintenance and link building of their website.
One reason that SEO companies are so popular is that they know what to do, how to do it and have the staff to accomplish all the tasks. That is why a successful Internet Marketing Company has no shortage of customers and can charge a hefty price.
DIY SEO for Small Businesses
Ok so you do not want to pay that hefty price and would prefer to do it yourself. You can do that if you have a plan of action. An SEO campaign should include
- A start and stop date
- What you want to accomplish
- Who will be working on the campaign
- How much money you are willing to devote to the project
- How much content do you need and where will it be placed
You should assign your best writers to the project. Content plays a vital role in SEO. The writers will be cranking out quality content to place on your website and other websites. Prior to beginning the online marketing campaign, you should determine where you plan to place the links that will come back to your website.The websites that you will place your new and fantastic content on include blogs that accept guest posts and multi-author content sites. You may discover that finding those sites are more challenging than writing the content in the first place. Many webmasters spend more time trying to find new websites on which they can place their content then they do writing it. There are plenty of places out there but you only want to use the best sites available.
Maybe I Do Not Want To DIY After All
Once you have your first SEO campaign completed, the idea of paying someone else to do it does not sound so bad. It is hard work but the rewards are fantastic. SEO companies know where the best places are to put your links. They often buy professionally written content and understand Internet copywriting. Your employees may be able to write an article but it may not be the best web copy.
Asking many questions of your search engine optimization consultant will help you to ensure that they know what they are doing and have the added benefit of teaching you something new about SEO. Over time, you might want to tackle a new SEO campaign on your own.
Author Bio
Keith Barrett is a leading UK search engine optimisation expert. He works will businesses of all sizes, helping them to rise up the search engine rankings.
Link Building: Directory Submissions
August 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Submitting your website to directories is a very simple way to begin building your link equity. Granted, the value of getting into directories isn’t what it use to be – but you need to start somewhere. There are still a few directories that hold a bit of weight on the internet. DMOZ data for example, is used by many sites throughout the web (including Google). Getting into top web directories can improve your authority and search engine rankings.
Many new publishers don’t take the time to read the guidelines on each directory. This leads to their website being declined without a fair review from the editors. Knowing where and how to submit your website will make the process painless. Rather than risking your money to pay for a website submission service, learn how to do it yourself.
Choosing Quality Directories
A lot of people aren’t aware that not every directory is worth submitting to. Actually, some of them are a complete waste of time. What to look for:
- Are “free” directories still accepting free submissions? Many of them will eventually stop paying attention to free submissions, with a backlog of thousands of sites.
- Are they established? Many directories are started, and sold soon after – only to be abandoned. Check to see how long the directory has been around.
- Do they have authority themselves? A directory with a PR 0 won’t do much for you.
- Do the directories allow Do-Follow on your links?
Here’s a good list of directories to start with.
Guidelines
- Choose the correct category for your site. Be sure to check out other links inside that category, and make sure that your site would be a good fit. Directories tend to have many very similar categories, so it’s best to take a look at the trend of accepted sites inside each one.
- When entering your url, do not place a forward slash at the end of the address. Some directories have filters that will automatically decline these links. For example,http://www.mysite.com/ should be entered as http://www.mysite.com
- The title should only include your business name, or the name of your website. Some directories allow additional text, such as your tag line – but if you plan to add additional information to the title, you should read the guidelines to that specific directory.
- Do not use all capital letters, anywhere in your submission. Avoid capitalizing every word in a sentence.
- Do not use fluff, or promotional language in your website description, or anywhere else in the submission. The description should be objective, and well-written (complete sentences, correct spelling, proper grammar, and punctuation). Using phrases such as “the best” or “the ultimate” is a sure-fire way to annoy editors.
- If the directory allows you to add keywords to your submission, do not enter more than ten.
Additional Factors
- Your site design should keep content organized.
- A good load time helps.
- Editors look down on a site that is difficult to read or navigate with broken links.
- Affiliate sites, or even a site with quality content that has too many affiliate links could be declined.
- Your website should be complete – not under construction.
- Illegal content will most likely be declined.
- Some directories do not accept links to porn and/or gambling.
- Content should be unique.
- Keep your content up-to-date.
- Do not spam multiple submissions – once is enough.
- Do not submit a url that redirects.
About the Author: Jason Bacchetta is the founder of i7oMedia and recently launched Lifed.com, your resource for life hacks, health, finance and productivity tips.
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