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RSS Underground For Webmasters Article
7 Search Engine Tips for Non Webmasters
With all of the changes to the search engines these days, you can drive yourself crazy trying to get your site submitted. Unless you are willing to commit yourself to doing it full time, or you are a search engine expert, you won't rank at the top of the engines. However, this doesn't mean that you should neglect this important means of getting traffic to your site.
Unlike most of the methods for promoting your business, which came from the offline world, this method is different. It's unique, and it is changing and growing at a rapid pace. By at least informing yourself of the basics, you can make this a more effective method for driving traffic to your site.
Below are seven tips you can implement to get started:
1. Understand the Relationships of the Various Search Engines. Before you can know where to submit, you need to understand how all of the various search engines are related so that you don't duplicate your work, or worse, get banned from submission.
Now, mind you, I am no search engine expert. However, I have been watching closely what is happening, and here is what I have seen so far:
Recently, Yahoo, a directory, acquired All the Web, Altavista, Inktomi and Overture. Yahoo is no longer going to be using search results from Google as its backend.
Search Engine Sitemaps
Although it remains to be seen what role All The Web and Altavista
will play, Inktomi will only provide limited offerings in Yahoo
because Yahoo announced that Inktomi's paid inclusions would not
be included in its results.
Overture, the number one pay per click search engine, provides paid
results to 80 per cent of the major search engines and will continue
to do so. It will also be providing backend results to Yahoo. Overture
provides results to major sites like HotBot and MSN.
Yahoo is adding its own search engine and will continue to offer
its paid directory at $299 a year.
Currently, MSN and Yahoo, the number two and number one sites respectively
on Alexa, are battling for supremacy. Bill Gates is also working
on a new model for his search engine, but it remains to be seen what
that will be.
Eventhough Google will no longer be providing backend results to
Yahoo, Google is still a major player. It is also the number one
search engine in the world. Google gets some of its results from
the Open Directory Project, a volunteer effort to create a directory
of the best sites on the Internet.
Looksmart is still out there, but it appears to have changed its
model to a pay per click. You can get started for free, but you'll
have to pay for each click. (NOTE: I found this site hard to navigate
to answer the most simple questions. Maybe that's why it's the least
relevant of the options available.)
Finally, you have Alexa, which is in a class all its own. You definitely
want to get your site submitted here because it's a great way to
find out who is linking to you, where you rank, and other statistics
about your site. Back end results for Alexa are provided by Google.
The easiest way to track your site using Alexa, is to download a
copy of the toolbar. You can get it here: http://www.smallbusinesshowto.com/htmlfiles/alexa.html
2. Prepare Your Site for Submission. Now that you know where to
submit your site, you want to prepare your site so that it gets accepted.
The best tool to help you is Good Keywords: http://www.goodkeywords.com This
free utility will let you search for the best keywords to use on
your site.
Key words, however, are only part of the equation.
You will also want to create a good title and description. Take
your time when you create these. You want each to be key word rich,
and the right length.
Once you've written your title, keywords, and description, then
all you need to do is to create the metatags for your web site. You'll
find all the tools you need at Evrsoft - http://www.evrsoft.com/,
including a link popularity checker, submission to over 100 search
engines, search engine analyzer, and a metatag generator.
Once you have used the metatag generator to create your metatags,
then all you have to do is paste it into the header of your web page.
You will want to check your metatags first to make sure they aren't
too long and are search engine friendly. You'll find a metatag analyzer
here: http://www.scrubtheweb.com/abs/meta-check.html
This one is stricter than the one I use, but it works very well.
Let me emphasize here that this step is absolutely crucial to getting
your site accepted. You would be amazed at how many professionally
done web sites skip this step.
3. Submit Your Site. Now that you have your site ready, you want
to start submitting. You will use your title, keywords, and description
again here.
Here is your submission list:
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Free Alexa - http://pages.alexa.com/help/webmasters/index.html#crawl_site Google - http://www.google.com/addurl.html Open Directory Project - http://dmoz.org/add.html Fast Submit - http://www.evrsoft.com/fastsubmit/ - Submission to 100 of the top search engines. (Caution here: some of these sites may ignore or ban you if you are a business site).
Paid Google Ad Words - http://services.google.com/marketing/links/ads_us/adwords/ - Pay Per Click Inktomi - http://www.inktomi.com - Yearly Fee Per Url LookSmart - http://www.looksmart.com - Pay Per Click Overture - http://www.overture.com - Pay Per Click
4. Check to make sure you are listed. After about a month, you want to go back and make sure that your site is listed in the appropriate search engine. The way to do this is to go to the search engine and type in your domain name. You don't have to include the http://www to do this.
If you are not listed, then go to the next step.
5. Resubmit if Necessary. If your site is not in the search engine you have selected to search, then resubmit your information for inclusion. It's important to remember that unless you are using paid inclusions, it is up to the discretion of the search engine whether or not your site is listed.
Your chances of success will increase if you include some quality content on your site that is dense in your key words. You also want to have as many quality links as possible. You can build your links by contacting other webmasters who have sites that complement yours.
6. Reevaluate. If your search engine strategy isn't working, it's time for a change. However, you need to consider that submitting to the search engines is a very long term strategy, and it isn't something that will occur over night. Only if you are using pay per clicks can you see an increase in traffic almost immediately.
For your free inclusions, you just want to make sure that you are included. Quality content and quality links can help here in raising your rankings.
For paid inclusions, you want to make sure that you are getting the click thrus you need. Unlike free inclusions, you should see results immediately. If you aren't getting enough traffic, consider changing your key words. Good Keywords will help you here.
7. Stay Informed.
If you want to continue to use this strategy in your business, then you need to stay abreast of industry happenings because things change so quickly.
The best place to get information on this constantly changing industry is here:
http://searchenginewatch.com/
They offer three different newsletters to cover the industry. At a minimum you should be reading the daily newsletter.
Althought is is only one of the many strategies I use to promote my business, it can be very effective when done correctly. Take your time, be patient, and learn what you need to do before you use this strategy. It will become an effective tool in your marketing arsenal.
About
the Writer of this Article
Jinger Jarrett is a former newspaper reporter and military journalist who currently spends her time writing, marketing, and consulting. You can get her free ebook/ecourse, "How to REALLY Start Your Business in 30 Days" free here: http://www.smallbusinesshowto.com
Why Web Designers & Webmasters Should Promote Themselves as Problem-
Wouldn't it be great if all you had to do to make money designing web sites is create your own site as a shining example of your creative talent, and then sit back and wait for the offers to come pouring in? Don't hold your breath.
There are thousands of competing web site designers promoting their services. Unless you get your site ranked among those on the first page or two of the search engine listings, most prospective clients will never even see it. But this isn't an article about how to get better search engine rankings.
There is another way to find clients - advertising. More specifically, advertising focused directly at your target market, which is small business owners looking for your services.
Here's a tip: do not follow the advertising examples you see in newspapers, the Yellow Pages, or on the Internet - most of them are ineffective. They feature nice graphics and have attractive layouts, but they use phrases like "Database development, Interactive Forms, HTML/ASP/XML services..." Put yourself in your prospect's shoes. Do those words tell him anything useful? What if he's not "Internet-savvy," doesn't know if he needs a database, or has no clue what HTML is?
Instead, explain how your service will give your prospect what he needs. For example, "Increase your sales and profits by promoting your products and services online with a well-designed, effective web site…" Describe the benefits of having a web site. Use terms that will appeal to the prospect (save time, save money, increase profits, etc.). Instead of trying to convince people that you are the best designer, convince them that you understand their needs and can solve their problems!
Here are some more advertising tips:
• Tell EVERYONE that you are starting a web site design business and are looking for clients. • Contact your local newspaper and tell them about your new business that offers services to the community. Sometimes human-interest stories like this are just what they're looking for. • Write articles about the importance of web sites in promoting business on the Internet, and submit them to the newspaper, Chamber of Commerce newsletters, and any other sources you can think of.
You must understand the importance of promoting yourself and your services; it's a key element of a successful business. But don't spend all of your time talking about your business; spend most of it listening to other people. Build rapport. Get people to identify you as someone who understands their business needs. Keep the focus on them, find out what they need to make their business better, and then tell them how you can help them get it!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bonnie Lowe is a copywriter specializing in web site marketing. For more information on how to build or enhance your web site design or webmaster business, download the comprehensive and FREE "Webmaster Business Master Course" from the following link: http://webmasterbusiness.sitesell.com/propelprofits.html
Wouldn't it be great if all you had to do to make money designing web sites is create your own site as a shining example of your creative talent, and then sit back and wait for the offers to come pouring in? Don't hold your breath.
There are thousands of competing web site designers promoting their services. Unless you get your site ranked among those on the first page or two of the search engine listings, most prospective clients will never even see it. But this isn't an article about how to get better search engine rankings.
There is another way to find clients - advertising. More specifically, advertising focused directly at your target market, which is small business owners looking for your services.
Here's a tip: do not follow the advertising examples you see in newspapers, the Yellow Pages, or on the Internet - most of them are ineffective. They feature nice graphics and have attractive layouts, but they use phrases like "Database development, Interactive Forms, HTML/ASP/XML services..." Put yourself in your prospect's shoes. Do those words tell him anything useful? What if he's not "Internet-savvy," doesn't know if he needs a database, or has no clue what HTML is?
Instead, explain how your service will give your prospect what he needs. For example, "Increase your sales and profits by promoting your products and services online with a well-designed, effective web site…" Describe the benefits of having a web site. Use terms that will appeal to the prospect (save time, save money, increase profits, etc.). Instead of trying to convince people that you are the best designer, convince them that you understand their needs and can solve their problems!
Here are some more advertising tips:
• Tell EVERYONE that you are starting a web site design business and are looking for clients. • Contact your local newspaper and tell them about your new business that offers services to the community. Sometimes human-interest stories like this are just what they're looking for. • Write articles about the importance of web sites in promoting business on the Internet, and submit them to the newspaper, Chamber of Commerce newsletters, and any other sources you can think of.
You must understand the importance of promoting yourself and your services; it's a key element of a successful business. But don't spend all of your time talking about your business; spend most of it listening to other people. Build rapport. Get people to identify you as someone who understands their business needs. Keep the focus on them, find out what they need to make their business better, and then tell them how you can help them get it!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bonnie Lowe is a copywriter specializing in web site marketing. For more information on how to build or enhance your web site design or webmaster business, download the comprehensive and FREE "Webmaster Business Master Course" from the following link: http://webmasterbusiness.sitesell.com/propelprofits.html
Picture this... You've started, or are about to start an online business. Your aim is to eliminate your debt, create your wealth and have the lifestyle and freedom you've always dreamed of. You have high hopes and dreams of being able to do what you want, and whenever you want. Sound familiar? So, how is it going so far? Have YOU been successful? You must develop habits... Here are six habits of highly successful webmasters:
1. Plan Your Life: Take the time to plan important events in your life. Also, plan your tasks and goals for the next day. This helps keep you organised.
2. Set Deadlines and Block Out Time for your Tasks and Goals: Use your time well. You only have 24 hours in a day, so use it to work for you and not against you. Devote a certain amount of time to various tasks throughout the day.
3. Surround Yourself with Smart, Successful People: You are a direct reflection of the people you surround yourself with, so surround yourself with smart,successful people. By doing this will challenge you and raise your standards.
4. Concentrate on your Circle of Influence, not on your Circle of Concern: Everyone has a circle of influence, and a circle of concern. In other words, things that you have influence over and concerns that you have no control over.
5. Model Successful People or Successful Businesses: This will help accelerate your success by avoiding the mistakes made by the people or businesses that failed. So, learn from other people's mistakes, as well as your own.
6. Take Action! This has got to be the most difficult "habit" of all. If taking action were easy, you would already be wealthy, healthy, and wise. As I said earlier, we all have plans, but, we don't always take the action necessary to implement those plans. Therefore, our goals are never achieved. YOUR INABILITY TO TAKE ACTION IS THE PROBLEM!
Chances are you are currently working for someone else at this time. When you are working for someone else, you are not really in control. By working for someone else, you don't have the freedom to do what you want to do, when you want to do it. As an employee, you get paid hourly or a salary.... but if you stop working, you stop getting paid.
What you really want is the ability to make money while you are sleeping, taking time off, or even on vacation for a month. The only way this is possible is if you own your own business. If you have a business, then develop these six habits of highly successful webmasters and you'll be well on your way to success.
Anthony Farrell will provide you with the full free report on... "The Six Habits of Highly Successful Webmasters!" Do you want to live the rest of your life talking about being successful and never achieving success, or will you start taking action? If you want to learn about The Six Habits of Highly Successful Webmasters, we recommend it: http://the6habits.com/59127/index.htm
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