Different search engines use different rules for determining which pages rise to the top of their results...and the rules are constantly changing. Nevertheless it is still worthwhile to understand the terms that play a part in the big picture:
URL Words = for neweartharts.com they would be new, earth, arts, wear, ear, hart, art
HTML Filename = The actual filenames of your HTML beyond index
TITLE Tag = What shows up at the very top of the browser
META Description Tag = What you see on the search engine listings
META Keywords Tag = A list of relevant keywords and phrases. Less used nowadays.
IMG ALT Text = Text behind the pictures for blind users. (Google likes this)
ANCHOR Text = Text that is highlighted with a hyperlink
H1, H2 and BOLD Tags = (Google likes these also)
All of which contribute to Keyword Density (The total percentage of your important keywords on the page, not to exceed 4%).
So if you have a page consisting of 100 words, you can see that it is only possible to elevate your word counts for 4 or 5 terms (20 or 25 out of 100 total words would be 4%) before your English sounds too repetitive. So there is an upper limit to how many words you can go for on a page.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
The Invisible Elephant for Getting Web Traffic
Standard Methods of Going After Web Traffic
Most people rely on two main strategies to drive traffic to their websites:
Moving up a level, many people rely on:
The Invisible Elephant for Getting Web Traffic & Why I Call It That
Almost everyone remembers the story of the blind men and the elephant: Each one comes away with a different description based on their limited experience and understanding of the creature. One touches the trunk and says "it's like a snake," another touches the leg and says "it's like a tree," etc. In the case of getting web traffic, the elephant is a multi-phase internet presence campaign. Most people get a piece of it, and think they have the whole concept...but they don't.
What's needed is a comprehensive approach and correct implementation of all the various parts such that they work together. When that happens, the website owner becomes like the boy who befriends the giant creature, rides it and moves heavy objects...something that would have been impossible with a limited understanding.
The nasty part of it is that it is possible to mess up with certain mistaken notions. For example: People post their events on Tribe.net. It works a bit and then less and less. What happened? Simple. They forgot the purpose of Tribe.net.
Tribe (and quite a few other social networking sites) are like Student Unions at universities. You can sit at the technogeek table, the mathwhiz table, the artist's table or the sports fan's table but if you stand on a chair and yell, "Vote for me for student body President!" you run the risk of being considered an obnoxious jerk and losing your electability. If instead, you had made a point of being a quiet and helpful drop-in at several tables, and later on let it slip that you were running, you might fare better at the polls.
In subsequent posts we will be going over the many different parts of the elephant and how to integrate them.
© Copyright 2008, New Earth Arts: fostering personal product development and promotion via the digital media production & internet marketing partnership of Wes Wolcott & Mead Rose serving human potential, spiritual transformation & complementary alternative medicine communities.
Most people rely on two main strategies to drive traffic to their websites:
- Onsite Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Pay Per Click (PPC)
Moving up a level, many people rely on:
- An Opt-In Email List/Newsletter
- List Spamming (Announcements to groups)
- Blogging
- Cross-Marketing (with other websites and their email lists)
- Link Bait (Reasons for other sites to link to you)
- Directory Listings
The Invisible Elephant for Getting Web Traffic & Why I Call It That
Almost everyone remembers the story of the blind men and the elephant: Each one comes away with a different description based on their limited experience and understanding of the creature. One touches the trunk and says "it's like a snake," another touches the leg and says "it's like a tree," etc. In the case of getting web traffic, the elephant is a multi-phase internet presence campaign. Most people get a piece of it, and think they have the whole concept...but they don't.
What's needed is a comprehensive approach and correct implementation of all the various parts such that they work together. When that happens, the website owner becomes like the boy who befriends the giant creature, rides it and moves heavy objects...something that would have been impossible with a limited understanding.
The nasty part of it is that it is possible to mess up with certain mistaken notions. For example: People post their events on Tribe.net. It works a bit and then less and less. What happened? Simple. They forgot the purpose of Tribe.net.
Tribe (and quite a few other social networking sites) are like Student Unions at universities. You can sit at the technogeek table, the mathwhiz table, the artist's table or the sports fan's table but if you stand on a chair and yell, "Vote for me for student body President!" you run the risk of being considered an obnoxious jerk and losing your electability. If instead, you had made a point of being a quiet and helpful drop-in at several tables, and later on let it slip that you were running, you might fare better at the polls.
In subsequent posts we will be going over the many different parts of the elephant and how to integrate them.
© Copyright 2008, New Earth Arts: fostering personal product development and promotion via the digital media production & internet marketing partnership of Wes Wolcott & Mead Rose serving human potential, spiritual transformation & complementary alternative medicine communities.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Keyword Research Tools
My favorite keyword research tool is WordTracker. Here's the URL for the free tool...
http://freekeywords.wordtracker.com/
A few things you should know:
Also, the Overture tool sucks. Since they got bought out by Yahoo, they have been phasing out the keyword suggestion tool. How lame. Now, if you want to do pay-per-click with Yahoo, you need to run blind. I can help. I can teach you how to optimize Yahoo pay-per-click. But watch out! The defaults are designed to get you to make mistakes and spend money you don't need to spend. Call me and let me walk you through the setup. 415-251-0457 My $60 consulting fee will be money well spent in terms of making the most of your PPC dollars.
http://freekeywords.wordtracker.com/
A few things you should know:
- Their pay-for-usage front end is awesome for finding keyword combinations for immediate traffic. Pay attention to this blog. I will tell you how to make the most of it!
- Start by using single-word terms. You will likely discover that people are doing searches you haven't thought of!
- Don't just pay attention to the high-traffic numbers. As a newbie, you can gain a foothold with terms that list in the 10's rather than the super-competitive 100+ combinations.
Also, the Overture tool sucks. Since they got bought out by Yahoo, they have been phasing out the keyword suggestion tool. How lame. Now, if you want to do pay-per-click with Yahoo, you need to run blind. I can help. I can teach you how to optimize Yahoo pay-per-click. But watch out! The defaults are designed to get you to make mistakes and spend money you don't need to spend. Call me and let me walk you through the setup. 415-251-0457 My $60 consulting fee will be money well spent in terms of making the most of your PPC dollars.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Open Letter to Carl Icahn regarding Attempts to force Yahoo/Microsoft Merger
Bad Idea.
You must be unacquainted with the issues.
Microsoft engages in reprehensible business practices and I for one will terminate any and all business with Yahoo if the merger goes through. (And recommend similar action to all my associates).
Ever wonder where all the viruses that attack Windows vulnerabilities come from? Simple: Top-notch engineers that Microsoft put out of work while disregarding the public interest.
Microsoft won the case for having its own version of Java in court. But because they disregarded 5 layers of the 7 layers of protection afforded by adoption of the Java standard, they could not protect their users from attacks. Eventually Microsoft had to delete its version of Java as an "upgrade." They won in court, but lost in the real world.
Your attempt to force Yahoo's hand demonstrates a lack of understanding of the issues at hand. Microsoft is a sinking ship. All rats would do well to jump.
You must be unacquainted with the issues.
Microsoft engages in reprehensible business practices and I for one will terminate any and all business with Yahoo if the merger goes through. (And recommend similar action to all my associates).
Ever wonder where all the viruses that attack Windows vulnerabilities come from? Simple: Top-notch engineers that Microsoft put out of work while disregarding the public interest.
Microsoft won the case for having its own version of Java in court. But because they disregarded 5 layers of the 7 layers of protection afforded by adoption of the Java standard, they could not protect their users from attacks. Eventually Microsoft had to delete its version of Java as an "upgrade." They won in court, but lost in the real world.
Your attempt to force Yahoo's hand demonstrates a lack of understanding of the issues at hand. Microsoft is a sinking ship. All rats would do well to jump.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Internet Marketing, Keyword Research and Identifying Your Tribes
"Tribes" is the term I am using to refer to aggregations of internet users that:
For example, let's say that you have invented a really cool way for factory workers to invest their retirement funds which is not only safe, but maximizes returns so they wind up with far more money by the time they retire. The only problem is, you keep using the term "increased earnings" and within a factory worker's vocabulary that translates to something accomplished by working overtime. So your own best audience misunderstands and is turned off.
What is needed is a combination of keyword research outside of industry insider terms together with a focus on understanding the terms your potential customers use. Instead of focusing on the jargon of your own particular tribe (and you may not even know it's jargon!) you need to think in terms of the benefits of your particular product or service and the problems that you supply the solutions for. Once you have identified those terms, you might do well to look for an online discussion group around a particular set of problems and "lurk" to learn about their terminology and concerns.
So in our example of factory workers, you might wind up joining a group who is concerned about "pension plan ripoffs" and by simply being a "fly one the wall" in the group, you might discover not only how to talk about what you have to offer, but even greater unmet needs within that particular tribe.
Next installment: Keyword research tools
- Share a common interest, problem or point of view
- Might benefit by whatever product you have to offer
- Share a particular vocabulary
For example, let's say that you have invented a really cool way for factory workers to invest their retirement funds which is not only safe, but maximizes returns so they wind up with far more money by the time they retire. The only problem is, you keep using the term "increased earnings" and within a factory worker's vocabulary that translates to something accomplished by working overtime. So your own best audience misunderstands and is turned off.
What is needed is a combination of keyword research outside of industry insider terms together with a focus on understanding the terms your potential customers use. Instead of focusing on the jargon of your own particular tribe (and you may not even know it's jargon!) you need to think in terms of the benefits of your particular product or service and the problems that you supply the solutions for. Once you have identified those terms, you might do well to look for an online discussion group around a particular set of problems and "lurk" to learn about their terminology and concerns.
So in our example of factory workers, you might wind up joining a group who is concerned about "pension plan ripoffs" and by simply being a "fly one the wall" in the group, you might discover not only how to talk about what you have to offer, but even greater unmet needs within that particular tribe.
Next installment: Keyword research tools
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
A YouTube Video About Making Interesting YouTube Videos
The first of what will likely be several on this subject.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Checking Out The Competition Is Not What It Seems
The interesting thing about using keyword research to check out the competition is that keyword competitors can be potential partners as long as they are not direct competitors.
How does this work? Let's assume that you have actually gone to the trouble of generating a list of keywords that are applicable to your market niche:
You might discover that your your dream business is simply too competitive, in which case it's good to find that out before you dump a bunch of cash into something that ultimately won't work.
Next Installment: Identifying Your Tribes
How does this work? Let's assume that you have actually gone to the trouble of generating a list of keywords that are applicable to your market niche:
- Perform several searches based on the most applicable keywords for your niche
- For each search, visit each of the sites listed on the first page of the search engine results and assess what they are about (make notes)
- Keep an eye out for complementary offerings (If you are offering yoga lessons, complementary offerings might be yoga mats, blocks, clothing or music, for example)
- Consider the possibility that a you could have an article on your site that they could link to, thus adding value to their site while helping your traffic
- Consider the possibility that you could make a commission selling their stuff or they could make a commission selling your stuff or both
You might discover that your your dream business is simply too competitive, in which case it's good to find that out before you dump a bunch of cash into something that ultimately won't work.
Next Installment: Identifying Your Tribes
Saturday, May 3, 2008
How To Discover Niche Markets Using Keyword Research
Keyword research to discover niche markets is pretty simple, really. The first thing you need is a keyword suggestion tool. The purpose of a keyword suggestion tool is to give you some idea of how people are trying to find people like you.
There are several such services out there. Just Google "keyword suggestion tool." My favorite is:
http://freekeywords.wordtracker.com/
I type in a word related to an area of interest and I receive back the number of recent searches for keyword phrases that include the word I typed in. For example (just using the top 5):
"car" got me:
and "automobile" got me:
...which demonstrates how different markets use different words for the same thing.
If you want to do some relevant homework, build lists of ALL the terms related to your business, and if you haven't got a business, build lists of ALL the terms related to ALL your interests and you might discover a business waiting to happen.
Warning: This is a boring chore and I don't expect you to actually do it. However, if you do you will be miles ahead of your competition because you did your homework. Otherwise, you can call us at New Earth Arts.
Next Installment: Checking out the competition
There are several such services out there. Just Google "keyword suggestion tool." My favorite is:
http://freekeywords.wordtracker.com/
I type in a word related to an area of interest and I receive back the number of recent searches for keyword phrases that include the word I typed in. For example (just using the top 5):
"car" got me:
| 54860 | play car racing games |
| 38257 | cars |
| 16560 | used cars |
| 14363 | play race car games |
| 11614 | car |
and "automobile" got me:
| 6033 | citizens automobile finance, inc |
| 1160 | citizens automobile finance, i |
| 763 | automobile insurance |
| 638 | automobiles |
| 630 | automobile |
...which demonstrates how different markets use different words for the same thing.
If you want to do some relevant homework, build lists of ALL the terms related to your business, and if you haven't got a business, build lists of ALL the terms related to ALL your interests and you might discover a business waiting to happen.
Warning: This is a boring chore and I don't expect you to actually do it. However, if you do you will be miles ahead of your competition because you did your homework. Otherwise, you can call us at New Earth Arts.
Next Installment: Checking out the competition
Friday, May 2, 2008
The Very First Task In Internet Marketing: Keyword Research
The previous article was entitled "How to get started on the internet." It was actually a warning not to deal with the learning curve of internet marketing by paying someone else to do it for you. That would be sort of like asking strangers if they would please manage your finances.
However, if you are serious, here is the best first step:
Do your Keyword Research!
...and I mean do it before you have a website, before you pick a domain name and before you even decide what business you are in. Quite a few people put up a site first and then learn about keywords as an afterthought. They might even hire a graphic artist to make it pretty, only to discover they have what amounts to a Picasso on a desert highway.
Keywords not only get you found, but they can tell you what business you need to be in.
We'll go into more depth in the next installment.
However, if you are serious, here is the best first step:
Do your Keyword Research!
...and I mean do it before you have a website, before you pick a domain name and before you even decide what business you are in. Quite a few people put up a site first and then learn about keywords as an afterthought. They might even hire a graphic artist to make it pretty, only to discover they have what amounts to a Picasso on a desert highway.
Keywords not only get you found, but they can tell you what business you need to be in.
We'll go into more depth in the next installment.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
How To Get Started On The Internet
I am writing this in response to a horror story I have witnessed more than once: An internet newbie getting ripped off on their first website. I suppose I shouldn't complain since website rescues mean more business for me.
Case in point: Lynn Grasberg of Denver, CO
When I started working with Lynn, her site had been through several webmasters and hosting iterations and had wound up with a service that killed her search engine page rank.
Case in point: Mare Simone of San Diego, CA
Mare was paying in excess of $300 monthly for a site on a server that was frequently down. She had been sold on the idea by a telemarketer. I got her migrated and rebuilt for far less than what her hosting bills would have been for the quarter.
Anyway, if you are paying more than $10 per month for internet hosting of a startup site, you'd better have a darned good reason! One good reason might be that you can build and manage your own site without needing to know HTML. There are a number of great services out there for self-starting. To name a few:
In the next installment I'll tell you what to do...
Case in point: Lynn Grasberg of Denver, CO
When I started working with Lynn, her site had been through several webmasters and hosting iterations and had wound up with a service that killed her search engine page rank.
Case in point: Mare Simone of San Diego, CA
Mare was paying in excess of $300 monthly for a site on a server that was frequently down. She had been sold on the idea by a telemarketer. I got her migrated and rebuilt for far less than what her hosting bills would have been for the quarter.
Anyway, if you are paying more than $10 per month for internet hosting of a startup site, you'd better have a darned good reason! One good reason might be that you can build and manage your own site without needing to know HTML. There are a number of great services out there for self-starting. To name a few:
In the next installment I'll tell you what to do...
Sunday, April 27, 2008
You're An Expert On...Something?!?!?!
One of the great things about the internet is that it levels the field. In the old days, credentials or a break were often required. Nowadays you can be an expert just by being yourself. It helps to have a unique angle on things, though.
Some of us have a lifetime of experience or specialized training. This make us experts.
Others who may find themselves lacking in training or experience might discover they are clued-in to current trends.
Almost everyone has advice for their friends. Why give it away to friends who listen? Why not sell it?
The point is that you are an expert on something already. The next task is to come up with a way to turn your expertise into a product.
Some of us have a lifetime of experience or specialized training. This make us experts.
Others who may find themselves lacking in training or experience might discover they are clued-in to current trends.
Almost everyone has advice for their friends. Why give it away to friends who listen? Why not sell it?
The point is that you are an expert on something already. The next task is to come up with a way to turn your expertise into a product.
Friday, April 25, 2008
First Steps to Self-Promotion
Many of us have heard, "Do what you love and the money will follow" yet quite a few of us are stuck doing what we must to make ends meet. How to make the transition?
Take heart. The good news is that by putting in a little time every day, by the time a year has passed you could be making passive income simply telling people what you know about what you love.
So, what do you love? Make a list. In the next installment I'll tell you what to do with the list.
Take heart. The good news is that by putting in a little time every day, by the time a year has passed you could be making passive income simply telling people what you know about what you love.
So, what do you love? Make a list. In the next installment I'll tell you what to do with the list.
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