McKenzie-Thorpe

If you pay attention to online marketing, you are constantly inundated with people who sell the so-called “secrets” to brand new marketing techniques on the Internet. Each and every day you are bombarded with new e-books, teleseminars and software alleging to hold the “secrets” of blog and ping, or the “secrets” of the death of Google Adsense or the “secrets” of content is king for Search Engines.

However, the truth of the matter in nearly all cases is that most of these products are expensive and endorsed solely by the gurus who get paid for every item they sell. Real testimonials are rare and the pressure you are under to purchase these products is enormous.

Let’s make a two-fold pact for 2007:

One - We will not be swept away by all the hype on the Internet.

Two - We will primarily use tried and tested, successful Internet marketing techniques that won’t cost us a fortune to use.

To help you off to the right start in launching your own cost-effective marketing strategy for 2007, I want to share some valuable ideas that I’ve used to grow my own business. These marketing concepts are genuinely affordable, truly simple to implement and have honestly helped me gain generous exposure, which has resulted in new clients and increased sales. My top fifteen favourite effective and inexpensive Internet marketing tactics are listed below:

1. Article submissions to online e-zines, directories and newsgroups, and off-line magazines and newspapers (don’t worry about the duplicate content issues … just get as many one-way links to your site as possible to boost your Search Engine ranking). Writing and submitting free reprint articles is a resourceful way to generate increased exposure and will drive traffic to your web site.

2. Create and market your own affiliate program using low cost tools on the Internet, which incidentally, there are numerous tools on the web that are very affordable. Offer affiliates your articles for reprint and allow them to use their affiliate link in your byline. But don’t stop there … submit your program to affiliate program directories so that prospects can find it readily.

3. Write and submit press releases to both paid and free press release sites. Let your target audience know about your company, new products and services you’re offering and also about special company events or promotions. If you’re concerned that perhaps your writing talents are a bit rough yet, hire a ghostwriter to draft your release for you. And yes, there are many talented, professional writers who work on a freelance basis and accept both one-time and ongoing projects at an affordable rate.

4. Register with and actively participate in forums that target your ideal client or customer. Check in at least once a week and offer helpful advice to other forum participants seeking assistance and information in your area of expertise. Be sure to craft and use a compelling signature that will get added to your posts. With just a small investment of your time, you can establish yourself as an expert within your industry, which can result in generous exposure.

5. Offer legitimate comments and articles to blog owners who cover your topic area and target your audience. Create solid and productive relationships, offering to make blog postings for them in return for a byline with a live link to your site. The fact that you’re willing to offer blog owners something of value upfront will make them eager to reciprocate.

6. List your teleseminars, e-zines, live events and books in online directories, e.g. The Best of Market Harborough, in cities and sections that have appeal for your target audience.

7. Research opportunities to be a guest on teleseminars, podcasts and webinars. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the number of opportunities available if you simply take the time to look for them. Keep a list of questions and potential topics ready for your pitch. Keep track of your guest appearances and promote them on your web site.

8. Actively participate in online social networks such as MySpace and LinkedIn. Write compelling copy for your profile and be sure to have a good picture and logo to add where permitted. Including your photo allows people to feel a connection to you, simply because they can put a face to your name.

9. Join and participate in associations and non-profits that attract your perfect client. Find relevant associations by searching for your keyword + association in search engines and visit the American Society of Association Executives. Involvement in organizations such as this, as well as local civic organizations, offers valuable networking opportunities.

10. Place paid advertisements in e-zines that target your audience. If possible, purchase the advertisement when the publisher is running one of your articles in order to gain maximum exposure with this strategy. There are three types of common advertisements available in e-zines: classified, sponsor and solo. Chose the most inexpensive position with the greatest exposure.

11. Write or hire a ghostwriter to create a short e-course that you can give away so long as people provide you with their e-mail address. Make certain that your e-course is relevant to your target audience and not full of fluff and fillers. By offering solid value in your e-course, you can benefit from readers who take notice of your other work/articles and will often seek out additional work you’ve written. Be sure to include a privacy policy and notify those who give you their e-mail address that they will be subscribed to your e-zine.

12. Downloadable white papers are usually longer versions of articles and often include graphics and links to resources. As with your e-course require people who want the white paper to register for your e-zine. Encourage people to send the registration link to their colleagues, friends and family who share a similar interest.

13. Create your own blog, update at least every other day and include links to your web sites. Ping blog directories and Search Engines every time you make a post for verification that your blog is turning up results.

14. Sponsor contests and submit them to contest directories. Give away a book a month or an hour of your services and encourage people to register for your e-zine. If your business involves selling a product rather than a service, you can offer specific products for prizes with contest entry automatic when people signup for your e-zine. Be creative with your contests, but always make the winning prize something of value that is relevant to your business.

15. Testimonials and referrals can be obtained from the same people. Offer to include a picture with testimonials and a live link to your client’s web site. This strategy is a win-win marketing tactic for both you and your client. No satisfied client would refuse such an opportunity! Instead of e-mailing referrals send a professionally written letter via postal mail with some of your most popular articles and invite recipients to call you for a free fifteen minute consultation.

There are dozens of free marketing techniques in the online and off-line world. These fifteen are not the only ones I use but they are my absolute favourites and have been used successfully by thousands of people, including Internet gurus. Don’t fall for every new marketing scheme; instead, spend your money selectively on marketing products. If you are pressed for time hire a virtual assistant to handle the free and low cost marketing techniques listed here and carve out some time in your schedule every month to research and evaluate new techniques.

Happy Marketing!

Tags: Information by stevecas
No Comments »

Many business owners would give their left arm to have the same brand recognition as Oprah, Microsoft, McDonald’s, Starbucks or Amazon.com. But you don’t need the marketing budgets of these behemoths to promote your company and get your piece of the pie. A creative approach to self-promotion will put you face to face with your prospects and, properly executed, can help you become a well-known name.

The first step is to focus your marketing efforts - otherwise known as target marketing. A topic that has nearly been discussed to death, target marketing is essential for just about every company, no matter how large or small. You don’t see advertisements for Oprah’s show on ESPN because that’s not her target market. And while a household name like McDonald’s appeals to almost everyone, their advertising efforts tend to be targeted toward specific marketing trends. Their latest marketing campaign is focused on the youth market that, these days, have much more of their own money to spend than the youth market of yesteryear.

If you are faced with a limited marketing budget, you must be creative and persistent in your efforts. Here are a few ideas that are alternatives to the more traditional, higher-priced marketing approaches that will get your company some exposure and won’t break your budget.

Networking:

We’re all familiar with print, radio and television advertising. And as the innovations of cable and the Internet have become more prominent in our lives, infomercials, banner ads and other Internet advertising avenues have been added to the mix. However, if you really want to connect with your target market, getting out and meeting them through networking is probably the best way to do it.

Joining professional organizations such as your local chamber of commerce or civic organizations such as your area Rotary club will put you in touch with the movers and shakers of your community. These people are likely to become colleagues that you can learn from as you watch them grow professionally and you watch your company grow as well. And while they may be able to connect you with potential clients and opportunities, you should approach these relationships prepared to give without motive. If you join these organizations with a “what’s in it for me?” attitude, you will likely be spotted as such and left out in the cold.

Partnerships and Sponsorships:

Another great way to not only get your name in front of your prospects, but also learn more about them, is through partnerships and sponsorships.

When a community is unfamiliar with your company or organization, one of the easiest ways to build trust is through a partnership with a more established and successful company. But keep in mind you’re going to need to be offering a product or service that is so useful to their customer base that your partner is willing to risk their reputation by endorsing you. If you don’t partner with a well-established firm, at least partner with a non-competitor that offers services similar to yours. If you sell shoes, and your partner company sells mortgages, that won’t make sense to the customer and will raise their suspicion of you.

Supporting community and civic organizations through sponsorship is another way to reach your audience. Your efforts can range from the local little league baseball team to a fundraiser for any sort of worthy cause. From the local chapter of the American Heart Association to an organization that raises money for any needy population in the area - abused women and children, the homeless, the mentally ill, disaster victims, etc. - this is a two-for-one opportunity for your company. A chance for you to satisfy your civic conscience by getting involved with that organization that you’ve always wanted to volunteer with, and you get exposure for your company at the same time.

A Trade Show on the Cheap:

Trade shows are the ultimate in target and network marketing. But when you begin to calculate the cost of you trade show display, the fees for attending the show, the cost of travel to the show, hotel accommodations and the cost of someone to run the booth, you may be ready to scratch this marketing tool off of your list.

But trade show attendance is crucial to building brand recognition and getting ideas from colleagues and competitors. One area where you can curb your trade show attendance is in the price of the trade show display. But be careful - your exhibit will say a lot about you and your company; you want to save money, but not at the expense of quality. Most companies offer low-cost trade show display options, such as table top displays. They are easily transported and assembled, and typically range between four and eight feet in size. While the more elaborate custom trade show displays can cost several thousands of dollars, you can purchase the table top versions for only a few hundred dollars.

Above and Beyond Customer Service:

Before you roll your eyes, because we’ve all heard the speech about providing outstanding customer service, keep in mind that these days excellent customer service is an experience that is few and far between. Everyone talks about it, but nobody’s doing it. So, why don’t you be one of the few who actually walk the talk? Ask for customer feedback - and actually act on the feedback you’re given. Do something extra for the customers who do a lot of business with you. Recognize and thank your customers during the holiday season. Look for other opportunities to extend beyond the customer’s expectations, because going the extra mile is an investment in your company’s future success.

Economical marketing can be easily achieved - it just requires some innovation and concentrated effort. Start with these ideas and others are sure to come forth - and then you can expand your budget to include more traditional marketing if you want.

Tags: Information by stevecas
No Comments »

Check your PC health for free

Introducing the Windows Live OneCare safety scanner. It’s a free service designed to help ensure the health of your PC.

• Check for and remove viruses and spyware
• Improve your PC’s performance
• Get rid of junk on your hard disk

Use the full service scan to check everything or customize your scan to meet your specific needs.

Link to Check your PC health for free

Tags: Information by stevecas
No Comments »

Article printed from SEO-News: http://www.seo-news.com
HTML version available at: http://www.seo-news.com/archives.html

Seven Often-Missed SEO Opportunities
By Donald Nelson (c) 2007

If you have good content and present it in a reasonable way,
then you have an excellent chance of achieving good positions in
search engine queries for your main keywords and keyword
phrases. You don’t have to resort to any trickery to get your
site noticed. However, many web designers and web masters fail
to take advantage of opportunities to get high search engine
rankings by mishandling a few crucial components of their web
pages.  Here is a list of the seven most frequently missed
search engine optimization opportunities:

1. You’ve Got to Display Your Text as Text!

This sounds elementary, but it is not. Many designers want their
site to look good and replace headlines with gif images. The
headlines (or headers) are one of the most important elements on
any printed page. If you want to know what a magazine article is
all about, then you just have to glance at the headline and the
sub-headings to get a good idea. Similarly, search engines place
great importance on headers, which are usually marked with the
html codes <H1> <H2> or <H3>. If you are selling blue widgets
and want to be found in the search engines by people who make
the query “blue widgets” then you should put these words in a
text headline, properly marked, at the top of your page.

Some website building programs often render entire paragraphs of
text as images. A person viewing such a page will be able to
read it, but a search engine’s robot will not see the text. So,
check your web pages, and if vital text is being replaced by
graphic images, then it is better to substitute the images with
text.

2. Put a Good Amount of Text on Your Pages

It’s not just headlines that count, body text is also needed.
It’s true that a picture is often worth 1000 words, but
following this strategy is not good when it comes to search
engine optimization.  If your page is about blue widgets, then
an opening headline saying “Get the Best Blue Widgets from the
ACME Widget Company” is a good start, and a picture of a blue
widget would be OK, but why stop there?

People come to the web looking for information. They come to
find a solution to their problem or to find something that will
benefit them in some way. If it takes you a few paragraphs or
even a whole page to explain all the benefits that your widgets
offer, then by all means add that text to your page. It will
help your users, and in the process you will be repeating your
keywords and phrases again which in turn will tell the search
engines that this page is truly about blue widgets. So, more
text is good for search engine recognition and for the end users
alike.

3.  Don’t Use the Same Title Tags on All the Pages

Title tags are even more important than headlines in letting the
search engines understand what your web page is all about. The
title tag is displayed as the first line of text in the blue row
at the top of the browsing window. The code for the tag is in
the <head> section of the html document and is labeled
<title></title>.

Normally you will want your site to rank well for a variety of
phrases and keywords. You can’t stuff all of these keywords and
search phrases in one headline or in one title tag. It will
cause “indigestion” for both your viewers and for the search
engines. A better strategy is to organize your website into
different pages, with each page emphasizing a certain aspect of
your activity.

In fact, most websites are built this way. But the problem is
that instead of emphasizing the unique aspect of each particular
page with a properly crafted title tag, many websites repeat the
same tag on all the inner pages. This is truly a missed
opportunity to get ranking for a large number of different
keyword phrases. So, don’t miss this one: make a separate title
tag for each of your pages

4. Don’t Try to Do Your Branding in the Title Tag

Unless you are already well known it makes no sense to overly
emphasize your company name in the title tag. People are not
searching for the XYWZ MP3 Player Company. They are searching
for MP3 players. The first words in a title tag are the most
important. If you are Coca-Cola, then maybe it makes sense to
have these as the first words, but if you are yet-to-be-famous
then it makes more sense to put your most important keywords and
keyword phrases in the forefront of your title tags. Your
company’s logo at the top of the pages can do the branding for
you, but leave the title tag for the more important task of
being found in search engine queries. You can consult my
previous article “How to Write Title Tags”,
http://www.a1-optimization.com/how-to-write-title-tags.htm , for
more suggestions.

5. Your Link Structure Should Be Easy for Search Engines to
Follow

Even if you have great text and well-written headlines and a
unique title tag on each of your pages, it will not do you that
much good if all of your pages are not indexed by the search
engines. Normally a search engine robot will visit one of your
pages and then look for more links and if it finds those links
it will visit those pages and add them to the search engine’s
data base or index. If your links are easy to follow then all
of your inner pages will end up in the search engine index and
will be displayed when they match queries made by searchers.

Some site navigation structures are not search-engine friendly.
Links found in java-script, which is used in many drop-down
menus, may not be followed by the robots. Similarly, links on
image maps (particular segments of graphic images) may also be
missed by the robots.

The best way to make sure that your links are followed by the
robots is to make a simple text navigation menu at the bottom of
your pages. This kind of navigation bar can supplement your drop
down menu or other navigation system and it has multiple
benefits. It helps the search engines follow the links, and it
reminds your users, as they reach the bottom of the page, where
they can go next. On top of that, it helps you with opportunity
number 6.

6. Use Your Site’s “Anchor” Text to Your Advantage

Just as the title tags and headlines give a good indication
about the content of your pages, so do the descriptive words in
the internal links on your website. The clickable portion of a
site’s text links are known as “anchor text.”  Instead of having
all of your anchor text read “Click Here,” find a way to put the
words “mp3 Player,” “Blue Widgets,” “Illinois Real Estate” or
whatever your keywords are in the text links of your site.

Once again this works to the advantage of your readers as well
as giving the search engines better information about the
content of your pages. The more descriptive your text links
are, the better they are for your users. In fact, one of the
best methods of site navigation is to refer to the relevant
pages of your site from within the text on your page, linking to
the pages using descriptive keywords.

7. Use Keywords in Your File Names

Instead of naming your files as if they didn’t matter, such as
page1.html, page2.html, put your keywords and keyword phrases in
your file names. If you do a search on Google for any particular
item, you will see that wherever your search keyword appears it
is listed in the Google results in bold text. Usually you will
see this bold text in the title that is displayed, and in the
descriptive text that Google displays underneath the title. You
will also see it in the URL. If  you already have some of your
keywords in your domain name, then that is helpful. But even if
you don’t, you can still make file names such as
www.xyzwcompany/blue-widgets.html .

Do the keywords have to be separated by hyphens? Once again if
you look at Google results you will see keywords in file names
are displayed as bold text even if they are part of a longer
stream of text. This is a process known as stemming, where the
search engine can recognize keywords within longer text blocks.
Still, I personally like to use hyphens just to make sure!

So, check your web pages and do whatever you can to help both
search engines and your end users enjoy and benefit from their
contact with your web pages. Take advantage of these seven SEO
opportunities to improve your site’s performance.
================================================================
Donald Nelson is a search engine optimization specialist. His
SEO company A1-Optimization provides affordable search engine
optimization (http://www.a1-optimization.com), website
copywriting, article marketing and other web promotion services.
================================================================

Technorati : SEO, keywwords, search engine

Tags: Web Design by stevecas
No Comments »