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Hello,
Welcome to this week's edition of Etips.
Although you've probably received
a number of email messages in regard to the CAN-SPAM Act, for those who haven't
heard, the US Federal Trade Commission is currently accepting feedback in
regard to the rules used to implement the CAN-SPAM Act.
The FTC is currently considering rules that would require the use of suppression
lists. This rule would require anyone who promotes any products via email
(including those using completely opt-in lists) to remove any email addresses
from each mailing that is promoting a product, service, or specific brand
that anyone had previously unsubscribed from.
In other words, if you're getting ready to send out your publication and
you're promoting widgets, you would first need to contact the widgets company
and remove any email addresses from your list that previously unsubscribed
from the widget company's list. Once your publication is mailed out, you
would then need to send the widgets company a list of those who unsubscribed
from your publication.
Although I strongly oppose unsolicited email, and support the CAN-SPAM Act,
the use of suppression lists would seriously damage legitimate Internet
businesses.
If you're doing business online, I ask that you please send an opposition
letter to the FTC today regarding Suppression Lists. However, you'll have
to hurry, as your feedback must be submitted via email or courier by April
20th.
For further information and complete instructions that will assist you in
voicing your opinion, visit the following web address:
http://www.yousubscribed.com/canspam/
--------------
In today's edition of Etips, I will be featuring an informative article titled,
7 Search Engine Tips for Non Webmasters, written by Jinger Jarrett.
I hope you'll enjoy the publication.
To your success!
Sponsor Message
 7 Search Engine Tips for
Non Webmasters
By
Jinger
Jarrett Copyright © 2004
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.
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.
Even though 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.
Keywords, 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 keyword 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:
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
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.
Although it 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 Author:
| Jinger Jarrett
is co-owner of the new marketing site Killer Marketing Arsenal. She and Russ
Moore will show you how to get maximum traffic and sales. Grab their free
monthly newsletter here:
http://www.killermarketingarsenal.com
Includes the free report: 7 Free Traffic Generators for Maximum Traffic
and Sales. |
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