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Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Monitor and Manage Your Google Rankings

Building Your Business with Google for Dummies



Monitor and Manage Your Google Rankings With Ease

Every good SEO program begins with keyword development and monitoring.

Keeping track of where your website ranks on Google for important keywords and keyword phrases can be a full time job. Although many tools exist for monitoring search engine position, properly evaluating SEO performance requires a disciplined approach.
There are a variety of ways to measure search engine rankings for your website. Popular website tools like SEO Elite and Web CEO include search engine ranking tools that can track where your site ranks for identified keywords. But what if you don’t own SEO software?
To evaluate search engine rankings, you simply need a means of measuring rankings on a regular basis. Follow these simple guidelines:
Create and maintain a spreadsheet of your rankings. Having a document that you continually update can help you see weekly changes as well as trends over time. Be sure to keep it updated at least once a week so that you are always aware of how you rank for keywords and keyword phrases you are watching.
You can choose your keyword list based on the keyword phrases you’ve selected as important, those your competitors rank well for, or individual phrases identified by SEO software. If you want to get a jump start, you can identify which keyword phrases your site is ranked for in the top 20 on Google using SEOdigger.com. This tool provides a listing of which keyword phrases your site ranks within the top 20 Google search results for and can be a great tool to identify your competitor’s keyword rankings.
Record changes in search engine result placements simply by entering each keyword term in to Google or using SEO software. You can also find free tools online to report your rankings like CleverStat or GoogleRankings.com.

Continue to make changes, build links, and record your results. 
This step will never be completed but rather is an ongoing process. You should strive to become number one on all your SERPs and get so far ahead that none of your competitors will be able to compete. This requires constant and never ending consideration to building links and creating more and more reasons for other sites to link to you.
Consider reciprocal linking, link acquisition, as well as adding free tools to your website, valuable content, and helpful downloads. Access to these tools is ideal if you want to attract links to your website. Once you’ve added these valuable tools, make sure to let others know that they exist. Consider a free press release, email campaign or promotion.
Expand your keyword list. As you improve your overall rankings on major search engines, consider adding other keywords phrases that may be relevant to your website, products or services. Focusing on an expanded keyword list can result in more traffic and broader appeal.

Monitoring and managing your search engine rankings, especially on Google is necessary if you wish to increase the organic traffic to your website. This begins with basic monitoring and evaluation of your rankings on key search engines. Once you’ve developed your spreadsheet, update your rankings each week with free tools or SEO software.
Continue to focus on your rankings and developing inbound links through free tools and resources on your site as well as proactive link requests. Over time, as you improve your rakings for key terms and phrases, expand your list. Improving your rankings is a never ending process, but an important one. Stay the course and you’ll experience the results you’re looking for.
Michael Fleischner is an Internet marketing expert and the President of MarketingScoop.com. He has more than 12 years of marketing experience and had appeared on The TODAY Show, Bloomberg Radio, and other major media. Visit MarketingScoop.com for further details and more marketing articlesincluding tips on how to improve search engine rankings for your web site.
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Thursday, September 29, 2011

5 Search Engine Ranking Factors:



Search Engine Optimization for Dummies




Top 5 Search Engine Ranking Factors: Pay Attention!!!

By Michael Fleischner
As someone who makes a living improving search engine rankings, I can tell you that there is a lot of bad information out there about SEO. What if I were to tell you that the road map for achieving top rankings was within your grasp? The holy grail of rankings is not imaginary. As is true with any major success, it leaves clues.

By working with literally hundreds of small and medium sized websites, I have found that top ranked sites have a number of factors in common. What are they? I'm about to share these factors with you and explain what separates those in the top Google positions and those that are never found on page one of search results.

The first search engine ranking factor has to do with the anchor text of all inbound links to your website. Google and other search engines use the anchor text from other sites linking in to determine what your site is about and what it should rank well for. If websites link in only using a URL, and not your keywords in the anchor text, email them and ask them to update your link. The link should always appear with your most important keywords.
The second most important ranking factor is using keywords in your title tag and other meta tags. Meta tags still have an impact on your search rankings. Although the weight of meta tags may be minimal, they are effective in categorizing your page and identifying what search engines should expect to find when they spider web site pages. Make sure your tags are constructed properly and include you keywords.
The third ranking factor to consider for your web site is link popularity. This phrase has been talked about in search engine circles for a while but can be equated with Page Rank. The concept of Page rank or link popularity for that matter take a number of factors into consideration to identify the quality of web pages from an external perspective. The largest factor that influences search engine rankings is the number and quality of links that are pointing to a web site or web page.

The fourth ranking factor is the diversity of domains that link to your web site. For many search engines, it's not only what links you have to your site but making sure they are from different domains. This represents more popularity associated with you web site and therefore is judged to be a better search result. When link building, try to focus on generating inbound links from different websites.

The final ranking factor is keyword use in root domain. Although it's possible to use subdomain or dedicated pages to get your keywords in a URL, nothing beats having them in your root domain.
All of these factors are important for top search rankings. Don't overlook any of them if trying to improve your search rankings for particular keywords or keyword phrases.
Also, be sure to continually read up on the subject or consider any one of a number of SEO training programs, or even San Diego advertising agencies, that can show you how to have more impact with your optimization efforts.
Michael Fleischner is an SEO consultant and author of SEO Made Simple, revealing strategies guaranteed to improve search engine rankings. Learn more SEO at the Internet Marketing Forum, and learn about SEO training at MarketingScoop.com or contact him via the Marketing Blog at http://marketing-expert.blogspot.com.
©2009 - 2011 MarketingScoop.
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Monday, September 19, 2011

How to Use Article Marketing to Drive Traffic to Your Website



If you want to increase traffic to your website, article marketing is the key.

Are you trying to get more traffic to your website? Article marketing is a powerful way to generate significant traffic to your website. In this article, I’ll provide some details on how to use article marketing in a very specific way to generate a steady stream of qualified prospects to your site.
The first step is to develop an article that is clearly written, provides value, and builds credibility. A clearly written article ensures that readers do more than skim your article. It also provides an “easy read” resulting in a high level of engagement.

To keep your reader’s attention, your article must provide something of value. This is a basic principle of article marketing. An example might be an SEO related article that shows readers how to write an effective “Title” tag for their webpage. A valuable article would first explain the concept then follow with examples – giving readers something tangible to represent each concept.
A result of a clearly written article that provides valuable information is that of credibility. The concept of credibility can be subtle but is very important if you wish to drive the most traffic to your site or affiliate products. Some suggestions for building credibility through article marketing include: injecting your experience into each article, providing references to findings from recent studies, offering facts, providing quotes from industry experts, and so on.
Once you’ve written a compelling article, you can weave a mention of your sites products and services into the text. However, be sure to do it in modest way if you want your article marketing to take hold. Some examples are:
• “I’ve used a number of products that weren’t any good… but I did have some success with the [insert product name here].”
• “I’ve used [product 1], [product 2], and [product 3], but found [insert product name here] to be the cheapest and the best.”
• “Personally I use [insert product name here], but any [product descriptor] will do.”
• “I’m not an expert on [product descriptor] but know that [insert product name here] is quite popular.”
Too often I see individuals using article marketing with a hard sell. This doesn’t work. People don’t like to be told what to do, what products they must use, or rely on the opinions of those they do not trust. So your best bet is to begin with a clearly written article, provide something of value, and use your newfound credibility to generate referrals/sales.
Now that you’ve written your article, here are some tips for “on-page” optimization. This will ensure that once your article is posted, it can be seen by the major search engines and is easily crawled.
Tip #1 Place your keywords in the title of the article. For example, if you’re promoting email software, let’s call it, “Email Management Software” then work it into your title. Here’s and example…
How to Use Email Management Software to Improve Results.
And try to limit your title to about 7 main words. This is how you optimize your article marketing efforts for a given article or page. Now we’ll talk about some other ways to increase your on-page optimization factors.
Tip #2 Use your key word term or phrase in most of your paragraphs. You certainly don’t have to use the phrase in every paragraph of your article, but it helps to use it frequently. Many engines count the number of times the keyword or keyword phrase is used. However, you do not want to over do it. This will turn off many of your readers and negatively affect your credibility. Find a good balance between using your keyword phrase and an appropriate amount of content.
Tip #3 Bold your keyword phrase at least once within the article. It doesn’t matter where you bold your keyword phrase when using article marketing, just be sure to bold it at some point in your article and/or when you post your article online. This provides emphasis and shows the search engines that it’s important to the content on the page.
Tip #4 Italicize your keyword or keyword phrase once in the body of your article. Again, providing a treatment to the text signals its importance and value to the rest of the content on your page.
Tip #5 Use your keyword phrase in the first 25 words of the page and last 25 words of the page. This is essential for on-page optimization and again signals the search engines that your phrase is relevant to all of the content on a given page.
Now that you’ve written your article, what are you going to do with it? When considering the options available for article marketing, consider distribution of your article through online article directories. I personally use those directories that have a high Google PR. If the article directories are favored by other popular sites, they will most often have a good deal of traffic. Article Directories with the highest Google PR (that are any good) include:
Article Central - PR7
About.com - PR6
EasyArticles - PR6
Go Articles - PR6
EzineArticles.com - PR6
ArticleAlley - PR5
A number of these directories are also favored by major search engines like Yahoo! Some allow affiliate links and others do not. Be sure to read the submission policies carefully before submitting your article.
For some directories, you may have to include your website or affiliate link in the “About the Author” section. This is one of the most important aspects of article marketing. Be sure to write your bio very carefully. The added benefit of inserting a link to your product or site in this section is that other webmasters, who repurpose articles from article directories, will include these links – giving you the benefit of viral marketing.
Article marketing is a great way to promote your website or products. By writing an article that delivers value and offers a subtle mention of your website or product, you’re well on your way to getting the proper exposure you’re looking for. Add the on-page optimization factors we talked about, and you’re sure to get noticed. Give article marketing a try and you’ll be glad you did!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Thinking About SEO For A New Website

Search Engine Optimization for Dummies


Are you launching a new website? There's no better time to think about search engine optimization than prior to launching a new site. By giving consideration to your on-page optimization factors, you can increase your chances of achieving top organic search results.
To prepare your site for easy indexing, be sure to follow these basis guidelines:
1. Design your site in html or similar format that minimizes the use of java script and flash. The more complex you make your code, the more difficult it becomes for the search engine spiders to read your content and prescribe the appropriate Google PR to your web page.
2. Make sure that your meta tags are coded properly and include the Robots.txt tag. Many individuals downplay the importance of meta tags. Although meta tags themselves won't drastically change the organic ranking of your site, they do create the display text users will see when your site appears in search results. If your meta tags are search engine optimized and compelling, you increase the changes of improving click-throughs.
3. Apply the proper tags to your page. H1, H2, and H3 tags are a great wall to call attention to your content and promote your keywords and keyword phrases. Try to use each tag at least once, but don't force the issues. You want your text to flow and appear normal.
In addition to ensuring that you've made your page easy to access and presented text that is optimized, you also want to consider other factors that can help long-term with your SEO efforts. So often, web designers get caught up with on page factors, that they overlook the requirements for establishing a foundation that supports long-term initiatives.
In particular, consider adding pages that you can add to over time that support link building and accessibility for search engine spiders. Be sure to include:
1. An html sitemap and an xml sitemap. Including a sitemap on you site makes it easy for search engines to access all of your website pages and index your site accordingly. Your sitemap should be in both html as well as xml. Although users would not access the xml sitemap, search engine spiders use this version to crawl websites. Additionally, key search engine submission resources like Google's Webmasters Tools require xml site map versions.
2. Include a partners page. Previously referred to as a links page, the partners page is essential for reciprocal linking. This strategy isn't as powerful as developing one-way links, but until your site has been assigned a Google PR, one-way links can be difficult to acquire. So begin your link exchange program with a partners page that allows you add or remove link quickly and easily.
3. Submission pages that encourage new content. One of the most powerful seo techniques is the addition of new content. Make it easy for your users to add or submit content to your website. When search engines see new content, they rejoice. Don't underestimate how important it is to make it simple for your browsers to add or submit content.
When focusing on search engine optimization, especially with a new website, follow the basic ideas outlined above. There are a number of other factors to consider as well. However, you should always start with a strong foundation - a site design that meets basic SEO standards but one that also supports your long range search engine optimization goals.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Start Your Own Blog In 3 Easy Steps

Google Blogger for Dummies

By Michael Fleischner | Marketing ExpertInternet Marketing Secrets*
Blogging is a great way to reach your audience, share your thoughts, and even help you with your Internet marketing. I’ve been blogging for nearly 3 years and continue to enjoy the benefits of not only communicating with an audience, but engaging in meaningful dialog. Starting a blog is easy to do and pays huge dividends.
There are a number of free services available that offer free blog services. Sites like Blogger and WordPress only require a brief registration and set up. Once you determine a theme for your blog and a template, you’re ready to begin posting. Posts are entries you make on your blog that are published instantly.
Some bloggers post comments to their blog each and every day, others once a week. Regardless of how frequently you post to your blog, content can be focused on a specific theme or random topics. The most popular blogs focus on a specific niche and provide valuable information, content, and commentary that encourage interaction with blog followers.
Sign up for a blog service. Begin development of your blog by signing up for Blogger or WordPress. Once you have an account, you can quickly set up your blog. Consider the goal of your blog and what type of commitment you are willing to make. Start small and be consistent.
Determine how you will monetize your blog. If you want to use your blog to generate revenue, there are a few techniques you can apply depending on which platform you’re using. One of the most popular methods of monetizing your blog is with the help of Google Adsense. This is a popular option and very easy to add to your blog. Not only does it generate a small amount of revenue for you on a weekly basis, but it also provides relevant links based on your posts.
Another great way to monetize your blog is through paid links. The concept of offering paid links is pretty straight forward. You create a section of you blog that lists recommended sites. In this list, you only place links that people have paid you to post. There are some tools you can use to automate this process. I simply add a link to a post that says, “How to post your link” with directions and a pass through to a Paypal page. You can set up a single time payment or subscription, allowing would be advertisers the opportunity to purchase a link on your blog monthly or for a longer period of time.
Many individuals are monetizing their blogs by using pay per post or other blogging network. Essentially, advertisers search for bloggers who are willing to write a post to promote their product and services or brand. You can sign up for one of these networks quite easily and be contacted when advertisers feel that your blog would be ideal for distributing a message. You write a blog post and get paid for doing so.
One thing to keep in mind is that the success of you blog is based on a number of factors. I believe that having a targeted blog that offers original content is ideal. You will build a large following. This is essential because most of the monetization methods are based on having enough traffic to make your blog appealing to advertisers as well as blog readers.


About the Author
Are looking for SEO help? Learn more about today's leading SEO software with MarketingScoop's SEO Elite Software Review and turbo charge your search engine optimization.
©2009 MarketingScoop.
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Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Tips For Improving Your Website's Search Ranking


Marketing Kit for Dummies [With CDROM]

By Michael Fleischner | Marketing ExpertInternet Marketing Secrets*
If you’re like many people in today’s economy you may be thinking about starting your own business. Any new business needs a website and websites are only good if others can find them. All new website owners quickly find a need to focus on the search ranking of their website in all major search engines. Search ranking is the organic placement of your site, also referred to as ranking, on Google or some other search engine.
The challenge for all website owners is learning the key factors for improving search ranking. Getting to the top of search engine result is rather complex and requires more than just a quick study. In fact, website owners will spend more than a billion dollars on search engine optimization this year and much more of that on other forms of Internet marketing like pay-per-click.
You can pay for traffic or you can focus on improving search ranking across all major search engines. Here are a few search ranking strategies you can apply to your website to improve traffic and build your business for the long term.
Build your website with sound search engine optimization techniques. Start your search engine optimization from day one. Don’t wait until you’ve invested tons of money into your website before you find out that it hasn’t been built for effective search ranking. Apply on page techniques like meta tags, headers, and keyword density to improve search ranking.
Construct a search engine optimization plan. Don’t assume that because you build a website you are going to have top a top search ranking. It takes a website that is built on sound principles as well as a significant effort in off-page optimization. Off page optimization is the process of building links to your website from third part websites. The higher the Google PR of these sites, the better your search ranking will be. Be sure to include your keywords in the actual link text.
Make search ranking improvement an ongoing focus. Leaving your search engine ranking to chance is not a good strategy. You must focus on SEO if you are going to make progress and ultimately dominate search ranking for you website. Follow your plan and work that plan until you are in the number one position. Once you’ve achieved your desired outcome, put a maintenance plan into place so that you hold and retain that position over the long term.
Achieving top search ranking is no laughing matter. Those sites listed in the top 2 – 3 positions get the major of traffic. If you’re site isn’t there, you’re not growing your business as large or as profitably as you can. So don’t settle for anything less than search ranking dominance.
Begin from where you are. Achieving rankings that you can be proud of does take work, persistence and confidence. Do the right things and you will get to where you need to be.

About the Author
Are looking to improve the search ranking of your website? Learn more about The Webmaster's Book of Secrets and download your FREE search engine optimization lessons to instantly improve search ranking!
©2009 MarketingScoop.
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Sunday, June 19, 2011

Building Back Links

Web Marketing All-In-One for Dummies
Building backlinks to your pages is an essential part of SEO (short for Search Engine Optimization) for two reasons. The first reason is that it helps your pages get indexed faster, which is very important because you want the search engines to find them as soon as possible and crawl them regularly. The second reason is that it helps your pages get higher search engine rankings for the keywords of your choice. The more backlinks you have, the better. Period.

However, building backlinks can be a time-consuming, boring process. You can outsource the process to an agency and pay a lot of money... Or you can do it yourself with SocialMonkee! SocialMonkee is an instant backlink builder allowing you to build 25 unique backlinks, every day, FREE! All links are on unique C-Class IP addresses and domains. Imagine being able to create 25 unique backlinks every day, with the click of a button, FREE! Well, you can stop imagining...

So, 25 unique backlinks every day... That's a total of 175 backlinks every week, 750 every month. If you upgrade, you will be able to build 100 uniques backlinks, 3 times a day! That's a total of 2,100 backlinks every week, 9,000 every month! The good news is... you can get a Premium Account, FREE! All you need to do is to refer 12 members, and your account will automatically be upgraded. If you're not really into referral marketing, you may upgrade right now for a low one-time fee.

Submitting a page to SocialMonkee via the members area takes under two minutes, but there's an even faster way! They created a Firefox plugin that allows you to submit your page to up to 100 sites in just a few clicks, using nothing else than Firefox! If you have a Premium Account you will also get access to link reports and RSS feeds, which are great to keep track of your backlinks and get them indexed fast. Submitting your RSS feeds to RSS submitters is actually a very important step in link building.

So what are you waiting for? Join SocialMonkee now while it's still free!

http://www.socialmonkee.com/index.php?af=44311

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Advanced Selling For Dummies


Advanced Selling for Dummies


Advanced Selling For Dummies(R) is a terrific resource that can energize your business performance and boost your bottom line. An excellent guide for both seasoned salespeople who want to take their productivity to the next level and small- and large-business entrepreneurs who are missing the advanced selling strategies that they really need to generate business and revenue.
This book is packed with practical advice on how to boost sales, productivity and profits through the full-court-press approach to marketing and sales. Unlike other books that claim to reveal the "secret" to selling, "Advanced Selling For Dummies" is based on the premise that no single secret exists. You need a positive attitude, a strong work ethic, a creative mind, and the "sticktoitism" to survive and thrive in today's competitive marketplace.
In the book, Ralph R. Roberts and a select group of the top sales people and trainers across the country give readers the necessary tools to become top-producers. Stressing the importance of focusing on your innate skill sets and creating a distinctive brand for yourself, "Advanced Selling For Dummies" teaches the tricks and habits that can benefit you both in your professional and personal life--things like:
- Believing in and motivating yourself
- Planning the work and then working the plan
- Techniques for honing your sales skills
- Hour of Power-100 phone calls, one hour a day
- Personal branding through shameless self-promotion
- Credibility building through websites, blogging, and social media
- Personal partnering for inspiration and accountability
- Tapping the un-served and under-served multicultural marketplace
- Embracing change and taking risks
- Implementing the latest productivity-boosting technologies
- Hiring an assistant so you can pursue your passions
- Tapping the power of R-Commerce (Relationship-Commerce
Roberts also tackles the process of running a sales operation, which requires deft maneuvering. Here, you'll learn to create solid partnerships with like-minded, talented people; set the right goals and reward yourself properly when you reach them; embrace change in your industry (and the world at large) to grow your business; create your own USP, a kind of personal resume and mission statement; "seed" your business cards; take a weekly "Hour of Power" to keep in touch with your contacts; and use the latest technology such as the Internet and blogs to grow sales.

Friday, June 17, 2011

E- Mail Marketing For Dummies


E-mail Marketing for Dummies



E-mail seems like a terrific marketing tool -- until you think about all that spam clogging up your own inbox. But of course YOUR message isn't spam. So how do you use e-mail to market without becoming a spammer?
Done properly, e-mail marketing is highly effective. "E-Mail Marketing For Dummies" can help you send your message to the inboxes of the world while observing professional standards, improving your deliverability, and executing your e-mail marketing strategy in line with current laws. You'll discover the secrets to creating professional and inviting e-mail messages, locating receptive respondents, tracking the results, and finding out whether your program is working. You'll be able to: Combine e-mail with other marketing media Develop a winning strategy, build a quality e-mail list, and find success Comply with anti-spam laws Set reasonable objectives Decide whether to use an e-mail service provider Brand your e-mails Build relationships with your customers Increase your "open" rate and find out who's actually opening your e-mails Use e-mail to improve search engine optimization
And if you're not a bona fide, pocket-protector-carrying geek, this book is perfect. It's written for business people who need to get return on their time as well as their marketing efforts. Whether you read it straight through or dive right into the part you need most, "E-Mail Marketing For Dummies" is all about using e-mail to help your business prosper.