Although search engine optimisation (SEO) is constantly changing, there are a number of techniques which are constantly viewed as against the rules, it has been claimed.
Barry Hurd, president of Social Media Systems, reports that "unscrupulous" SEO methods will result in punishment from the big search engines.
"Making sure that your company is aware of certain basic standards and not accidentally infringing on discouraged techniques is essential to making sure your online brand is a flourishing asset that is building value," he said.
Dishonest- or "black hat"- techniques include hiding a wealth of irrelevant keywords on webpages or page cloaking - showing search engines visually unappealing but maximised keyword pages that it would not intend for consumers.
Submitting identical content on different pages and providing multiple pages with a particular phrase for SEO is also frowned upon, alongside misspelling common words, brands or websites in order to appear when a web user submits a typo to a search engine.
Leading search engine Google has also publicly penalised websites which pay for reciprocal links, branding them unethical.
Source:http://www.epiphanysolutions.co.uk/searchmarketing/18445052/Unethical-SEO-techniques-are-punishable
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Get to grips" with SEO
Firms who have been living on a different planet and have yet to optimise their website need to get up to speed, it has been claimed.
In an article for BizReport.com, freelance marketing consultant Helen Leggatt commented that 2008 is the year to use search engine optimisation (SEO) as a marketing tool.
Ms Leggatt said that pay-per-click adverts can be effective, but that 80 per cent of searchers use natural search results as a way of finding a product or a service.
She recommended that it should be a company's main aim to appear in the top five listed websites, or at least on the first page of search results.
"One thing remains certain - internet marketing is still the fastest, most measurable and direct means of marketing and it is here to stay," she commented.
Florida newspaper the Herald Tribune recently recommended that firms use natural search over paid as pay-per-clicks often attract spammers and competitors rather than potential customers.
source:http://www.epiphanysolutions.co.uk/searchmarketing/18439599/
In an article for BizReport.com, freelance marketing consultant Helen Leggatt commented that 2008 is the year to use search engine optimisation (SEO) as a marketing tool.
Ms Leggatt said that pay-per-click adverts can be effective, but that 80 per cent of searchers use natural search results as a way of finding a product or a service.
She recommended that it should be a company's main aim to appear in the top five listed websites, or at least on the first page of search results.
"One thing remains certain - internet marketing is still the fastest, most measurable and direct means of marketing and it is here to stay," she commented.
Florida newspaper the Herald Tribune recently recommended that firms use natural search over paid as pay-per-clicks often attract spammers and competitors rather than potential customers.
source:http://www.epiphanysolutions.co.uk/searchmarketing/18439599/
Top 11 Money-Wasting AdWords Mistakes
In my daily interaction with search engine marketing clients, I come across bad habits that businesses and individuals continually repeat.
I see a very high percentage of website owners with little to no understanding of how to build a search engine-friendly site. That's typically my first encounter. The cash drain isn't as apparent then as during my second encounter: pay per click, specifically Google AdWords.
This column assumes that you're fairly new to Google AdWords. If you want to educate yourself further, the 10 to 20 hours you can spend at the Google AdWords Learning Center is well worth it. You also can take the certification exam if you meet their requirements. You need to manage at least one AdWords account and keep at least $1,000 "spend" for 90 days to be allowed to take the exam.
For more information, review the following websites:
adwords.google.com/support
adwords.blogspot.com
groups.google.com/group/adwords-help
They contain additional tips, as well as real-world comments from professionals and others in the field.
Once you've familiarized yourself with AdWords and are ready to set up a campaign, be sure to avoid these top 11 money-wasting mistakes.
1. Not turning off the content network.
When first setting up a campaign, turn off the content network. This option is "on" by default, and you're lucky if it works for you in the first run. It's a form of contextual advertising and tries to position your ads on sites like About.com, The New York Times, Food Network and others.
You typically will see high impressions in your system, but often low CTR--click-through-rates, as determined by impressions to clicks--and low-quality clicks. These aren't serious buyers; they're wasting your dollars and time.
2. Using too many keywords.
When creating new campaigns and ad groups, many people begin by entering every keyword under the sun. Don't. Targeting is key; think about your niche and the categories within it. You can use tools like the Wordtracker Free Suggestion Tool to determine which keywords to begin with. Then, when you have a list together, refer to tip No. 6 below.
3. Ignoring the competition.
Analyze your competitors. One way is to use the Google Keyword Tool. Select "site-related keywords" and enter the competitor's website to pull keyword groups from their pages. Also, check their sites for an overall impression and for content. Do some more digging at SpyFu.com to find more on rankings and competitive PPC spending. Look at the search results pages after entering their top keywords in Google, review their ads, think about text and prepare for tip No. 4.
4. Not including keywords in the ad text.
Use keywords in the title of the ad, but also in the ad copy. So many ad copywriters forget to include the keyword phrase in the actual body of the ad text. Write clearly and provide relevant content for both users and the Google AdBot. Create a matching, relevant landing page to satisfy users and obtain a higher Google Quality Score.
5. Sending visitors to your homepage.
Most PPC accounts I come across send traffic and visitors to their homepage. But there's simply too much information there, and visitors may leave your site. Read my blog entry on money-making landing page tips and test the pages for content. Realize that narrow-casting is better than broad-casting in almost every case.
6. Using too many broad keywords.
Creating ad campaigns and ad groups with tightly matched keywords is necessary, but most folks don't do it. You should place only a few keywords into each ad group and add more groups to accommodate new "themed" keywords. Google maxes out at 100 ad groups per account; I believe they'll raise this at some point.
7. Using broad match.
When you set up Google AdWords for the first time and input a keyword, the default type is broad match. While broad match can work for you, I always recommend using phrase and exact match types to start and track the performance from there.
AdWords also has a negative match type, which is overlooked most of the time. Examples of match types are:
Broad: leather jacket (any order, any word, not as targeted, more clicks)
Phrase: "leather jacket" (this order, words before and after, more targeted, OK clicks)
Exact: [leather jacket] (this order, no other words, highly targeted, least clicks)
Negative: - pink (this would not show ads for "pink leather jacket")
Yahoo! Search Marketing includes match types as well. Make sure you understand them and where they're different. Begin with the standard match type, which is not the default.
8. Using the default "optimize" option.
The default setup for AdWords is to let Google "optimize" your ads for you. It's better to select the "rotate" option, so you can test your ad performance in a much cleaner manner.
9. Not tracking ads and keywords.
If keywords and ads aren't performing, you're wasting money. You can use the free Google Analytics tool to help you track activity. Keywords should also be tested and tracked with misspellings, plurals and stemming(-ing) options.
10. Not properly testing ads.
A/B testing has been around in the advertising world for decades, and the concept is the same online. Write at least two ads within an ad group, and AdWords will rotate them automatically for you. This will reveal the winning ads based on performance. As you continue, pause the loser and write a new and better one; try to outperform the winner again. Don't change it immediately, though; let it run for a while to get some trending data.
11. Not applying the "conversion code."
Be sure to apply the "conversion code," which is a simple JavaScript set that goes into your landing page or thank you page. This information will show up in a column on your AdWords dashboard when you log in, and is a quick way to check for lead counts and important for tracking return on spend.
The Perfect Google AdWords Model
Now that you've read the tips above, here's how to set up a high-quality campaign.
Set up campaigns using keywords + geo (geographic) targets; content network turned off.
Set up campaigns using keywords + geo targets using Google's own internal selections (regions, territories); content network turned off.
Set up a separate, content network only (Google Search/Network is not checked). Only do this after you have tested the first two items for performance.
Create a new "placement targeted campaign" and use "section targeting" to avoid exposing your ads to "run of site" matching. When you research your keywords, find the top searched phrases and type them into Google. Click on each of the top resulting five to eight listings, and check to see if they have Google ads. If they do, use placement and section targeting to drive traffic with a highly targeted, cost-savings approach.
Create "exact" and "phrase" campaigns to start, and create ad groups with one to four keywords, tightly matched.
Create two ads within each group.
Show ads more evenly (campaign settings) and select "rotate" option.
Google is the most advanced, most used search engine, and the AdWords advertising platform, can generate business for you. The company also has expanded into audio, print, mobile and pay-per-action models. However, make sure to test for performance before scaling out to these additional services. If you're into advanced landing page testing, you can try the new Website Optimizer (video) options, which use advanced page and elements optimization.
These tips have helped me a lot, and although I spent a fair share of my own money to discover them, you can apply these tactics immediately and start saving money. You'll also receive more quality clicks and better tracking for yourself and clients.
Source:http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/141728/top_11_moneywasting_adwords_mistakes.html
I see a very high percentage of website owners with little to no understanding of how to build a search engine-friendly site. That's typically my first encounter. The cash drain isn't as apparent then as during my second encounter: pay per click, specifically Google AdWords.
This column assumes that you're fairly new to Google AdWords. If you want to educate yourself further, the 10 to 20 hours you can spend at the Google AdWords Learning Center is well worth it. You also can take the certification exam if you meet their requirements. You need to manage at least one AdWords account and keep at least $1,000 "spend" for 90 days to be allowed to take the exam.
For more information, review the following websites:
adwords.google.com/support
adwords.blogspot.com
groups.google.com/group/adwords-help
They contain additional tips, as well as real-world comments from professionals and others in the field.
Once you've familiarized yourself with AdWords and are ready to set up a campaign, be sure to avoid these top 11 money-wasting mistakes.
1. Not turning off the content network.
When first setting up a campaign, turn off the content network. This option is "on" by default, and you're lucky if it works for you in the first run. It's a form of contextual advertising and tries to position your ads on sites like About.com, The New York Times, Food Network and others.
You typically will see high impressions in your system, but often low CTR--click-through-rates, as determined by impressions to clicks--and low-quality clicks. These aren't serious buyers; they're wasting your dollars and time.
2. Using too many keywords.
When creating new campaigns and ad groups, many people begin by entering every keyword under the sun. Don't. Targeting is key; think about your niche and the categories within it. You can use tools like the Wordtracker Free Suggestion Tool to determine which keywords to begin with. Then, when you have a list together, refer to tip No. 6 below.
3. Ignoring the competition.
Analyze your competitors. One way is to use the Google Keyword Tool. Select "site-related keywords" and enter the competitor's website to pull keyword groups from their pages. Also, check their sites for an overall impression and for content. Do some more digging at SpyFu.com to find more on rankings and competitive PPC spending. Look at the search results pages after entering their top keywords in Google, review their ads, think about text and prepare for tip No. 4.
4. Not including keywords in the ad text.
Use keywords in the title of the ad, but also in the ad copy. So many ad copywriters forget to include the keyword phrase in the actual body of the ad text. Write clearly and provide relevant content for both users and the Google AdBot. Create a matching, relevant landing page to satisfy users and obtain a higher Google Quality Score.
5. Sending visitors to your homepage.
Most PPC accounts I come across send traffic and visitors to their homepage. But there's simply too much information there, and visitors may leave your site. Read my blog entry on money-making landing page tips and test the pages for content. Realize that narrow-casting is better than broad-casting in almost every case.
6. Using too many broad keywords.
Creating ad campaigns and ad groups with tightly matched keywords is necessary, but most folks don't do it. You should place only a few keywords into each ad group and add more groups to accommodate new "themed" keywords. Google maxes out at 100 ad groups per account; I believe they'll raise this at some point.
7. Using broad match.
When you set up Google AdWords for the first time and input a keyword, the default type is broad match. While broad match can work for you, I always recommend using phrase and exact match types to start and track the performance from there.
AdWords also has a negative match type, which is overlooked most of the time. Examples of match types are:
Broad: leather jacket (any order, any word, not as targeted, more clicks)
Phrase: "leather jacket" (this order, words before and after, more targeted, OK clicks)
Exact: [leather jacket] (this order, no other words, highly targeted, least clicks)
Negative: - pink (this would not show ads for "pink leather jacket")
Yahoo! Search Marketing includes match types as well. Make sure you understand them and where they're different. Begin with the standard match type, which is not the default.
8. Using the default "optimize" option.
The default setup for AdWords is to let Google "optimize" your ads for you. It's better to select the "rotate" option, so you can test your ad performance in a much cleaner manner.
9. Not tracking ads and keywords.
If keywords and ads aren't performing, you're wasting money. You can use the free Google Analytics tool to help you track activity. Keywords should also be tested and tracked with misspellings, plurals and stemming(-ing) options.
10. Not properly testing ads.
A/B testing has been around in the advertising world for decades, and the concept is the same online. Write at least two ads within an ad group, and AdWords will rotate them automatically for you. This will reveal the winning ads based on performance. As you continue, pause the loser and write a new and better one; try to outperform the winner again. Don't change it immediately, though; let it run for a while to get some trending data.
11. Not applying the "conversion code."
Be sure to apply the "conversion code," which is a simple JavaScript set that goes into your landing page or thank you page. This information will show up in a column on your AdWords dashboard when you log in, and is a quick way to check for lead counts and important for tracking return on spend.
The Perfect Google AdWords Model
Now that you've read the tips above, here's how to set up a high-quality campaign.
Set up campaigns using keywords + geo (geographic) targets; content network turned off.
Set up campaigns using keywords + geo targets using Google's own internal selections (regions, territories); content network turned off.
Set up a separate, content network only (Google Search/Network is not checked). Only do this after you have tested the first two items for performance.
Create a new "placement targeted campaign" and use "section targeting" to avoid exposing your ads to "run of site" matching. When you research your keywords, find the top searched phrases and type them into Google. Click on each of the top resulting five to eight listings, and check to see if they have Google ads. If they do, use placement and section targeting to drive traffic with a highly targeted, cost-savings approach.
Create "exact" and "phrase" campaigns to start, and create ad groups with one to four keywords, tightly matched.
Create two ads within each group.
Show ads more evenly (campaign settings) and select "rotate" option.
Google is the most advanced, most used search engine, and the AdWords advertising platform, can generate business for you. The company also has expanded into audio, print, mobile and pay-per-action models. However, make sure to test for performance before scaling out to these additional services. If you're into advanced landing page testing, you can try the new Website Optimizer (video) options, which use advanced page and elements optimization.
These tips have helped me a lot, and although I spent a fair share of my own money to discover them, you can apply these tactics immediately and start saving money. You'll also receive more quality clicks and better tracking for yourself and clients.
Source:http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/141728/top_11_moneywasting_adwords_mistakes.html
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Affiliate marketing experiences dramatic growth
Affiliate marketing is experiencing dramatic growth in the UK, according to figures out today from E-consultancy1. The findings are echoed by the UK’s largest independent affiliate network, buy.at, which has seen turnover increase by seventy per cent.
Kevin Cornils, CEO of buy.at explains, ‘Performance marketing has grown as marketers increase their knowledge of new marketing channels and demand greater efficiencies from their online activity. Search engine marketing has arguably reached its peak but affiliate marketing is still in a high-growth phase with 78 per cent of merchants planning to increase their spend. Merchants and their agencies are gaining expertise and becoming increasingly strategic in their use of the affiliate channel. We have seen investment increase by approximately 70 per cent on our network over the past year with brands such as John Lewis, M&S, Egg, Virgin Media and British Telecom adopting our innovative technology, such as dynamic product feeds to affiliates, combining different affiliate segments to maximise CPA and improving their tracking and analysis of the results. This represents a huge opportunity for both affiliates and marketers that understand the channel and appreciate the benefits of true pay-for-performance advertising.’
Today’s report from E-consultancy follows research sponsored by buy.at2 which discovered that 78 per cent of merchants had increased their spend on affiliate marketing between September 2005 and September 2007 and the same percentage planned to increase it further in the next two years. 75 per cent of gaming companies said they had increased spend since 2005 followed by 71 per cent of travel companies, 68 per cent of financial services companies, 64 per cent of telcoes and 62 per cent of retailers.
85 per cent of the UK agencies surveyed by E-consultancy3 confirmed that they now manage more affiliate marketing for clients than they did two years ago with the channel representing 20 per cent of turnover. 92 per cent of agencies expected to be managing more affiliate marketing in two years’ time, and 90 per cent of them see affiliate marketing is a way of growing their agency or differentiating it.
One reason for growth is because the channel is the most cost-effective channel for driving customer acquisition. The research2 found that 95% of UK advertisers (merchants) said that it is ‘very cost-effective’ or ‘quite cost-effective’ for acquiring customers. Paid search was seen as the second most cost-effective followed by email marketing with these marketing channels viewed as ‘very cost-effective’ or ‘quite cost-effective’ by 90% and 82% of merchants respectively.
Affiliate marketing was also revealed as a highly effective channel for driving volume with three quarters of respondents (73%) saying that it drove either ‘high volume’ or ‘medium volume’. The travel industry was found to be making the most successful use of affiliate marketing.
A total of 239 UK merchants completed the survey in September 2007. Half of the respondents who were aware of their company’s turnover said it was in excess of £50 million per year. 100 agencies completed the Affiliate Marketing Agency Survey.
Kevin Cornils, CEO of buy.at concludes, ‘Affiliate marketing has proved itself as a particularly cost-effective way to drive a volume of customer acquisition which has resulted in increased investment in the channel. We have had a particularly successful year at buy.at with new customer wins including Match.com, dial-a-phone, Seatwave, O2 and BT. We have also developed new partnerships with Atlas and Doubleclick, launched new technology, acquired a lead generation company, recruited industry experts such as Louise Green from OMG and expanded our network into the US. We expect this growth to continue even faster in 2008 as technology and account management become more sophisticated and affiliate marketing becomes an increasingly strategic marketing channel for UK businesses.’
sourcehttp://www.responsesource.com/releases/rel_display.php?relid=36443&hilite=
Kevin Cornils, CEO of buy.at explains, ‘Performance marketing has grown as marketers increase their knowledge of new marketing channels and demand greater efficiencies from their online activity. Search engine marketing has arguably reached its peak but affiliate marketing is still in a high-growth phase with 78 per cent of merchants planning to increase their spend. Merchants and their agencies are gaining expertise and becoming increasingly strategic in their use of the affiliate channel. We have seen investment increase by approximately 70 per cent on our network over the past year with brands such as John Lewis, M&S, Egg, Virgin Media and British Telecom adopting our innovative technology, such as dynamic product feeds to affiliates, combining different affiliate segments to maximise CPA and improving their tracking and analysis of the results. This represents a huge opportunity for both affiliates and marketers that understand the channel and appreciate the benefits of true pay-for-performance advertising.’
Today’s report from E-consultancy follows research sponsored by buy.at2 which discovered that 78 per cent of merchants had increased their spend on affiliate marketing between September 2005 and September 2007 and the same percentage planned to increase it further in the next two years. 75 per cent of gaming companies said they had increased spend since 2005 followed by 71 per cent of travel companies, 68 per cent of financial services companies, 64 per cent of telcoes and 62 per cent of retailers.
85 per cent of the UK agencies surveyed by E-consultancy3 confirmed that they now manage more affiliate marketing for clients than they did two years ago with the channel representing 20 per cent of turnover. 92 per cent of agencies expected to be managing more affiliate marketing in two years’ time, and 90 per cent of them see affiliate marketing is a way of growing their agency or differentiating it.
One reason for growth is because the channel is the most cost-effective channel for driving customer acquisition. The research2 found that 95% of UK advertisers (merchants) said that it is ‘very cost-effective’ or ‘quite cost-effective’ for acquiring customers. Paid search was seen as the second most cost-effective followed by email marketing with these marketing channels viewed as ‘very cost-effective’ or ‘quite cost-effective’ by 90% and 82% of merchants respectively.
Affiliate marketing was also revealed as a highly effective channel for driving volume with three quarters of respondents (73%) saying that it drove either ‘high volume’ or ‘medium volume’. The travel industry was found to be making the most successful use of affiliate marketing.
A total of 239 UK merchants completed the survey in September 2007. Half of the respondents who were aware of their company’s turnover said it was in excess of £50 million per year. 100 agencies completed the Affiliate Marketing Agency Survey.
Kevin Cornils, CEO of buy.at concludes, ‘Affiliate marketing has proved itself as a particularly cost-effective way to drive a volume of customer acquisition which has resulted in increased investment in the channel. We have had a particularly successful year at buy.at with new customer wins including Match.com, dial-a-phone, Seatwave, O2 and BT. We have also developed new partnerships with Atlas and Doubleclick, launched new technology, acquired a lead generation company, recruited industry experts such as Louise Green from OMG and expanded our network into the US. We expect this growth to continue even faster in 2008 as technology and account management become more sophisticated and affiliate marketing becomes an increasingly strategic marketing channel for UK businesses.’
sourcehttp://www.responsesource.com/releases/rel_display.php?relid=36443&hilite=
Monday, January 21, 2008
Affiliate marketing in UK drives more than £3bn in sales in 2007
The UK market for affiliate marketing grew by an estimated 45% in 2007, taking the total value of online sales generated by this channel in 2007 to more than £3 billion.
According to a research published in E-consultancy's Affiliate Marketing Networks Buyer's Guide, the £3.13 billion total for 2007, compared to £2.16 billion in 2006, illustrates the healthy state of this digital sector which will continue to grow strongly during 2008. The company added that sectors such as retail, travel and financial services continue to be the bedrock of affiliate marketing, with both Blue Chips and SMEs ramping up their investment.
E-consultancy's Head of Research Linus Gregoriadis said: "Affiliate marketing continues to gain momentum because the performance-based model is so popular with advertisers. When the biggest consumer-facing brands in these industries do not have a well-defined affiliate strategy, it now tends to be an exception rather than the rule."
He added: "The whole industry is getting more professional and 2007 was definitely a big year for affiliate marketing. The channel has become much more strategic and boardrooms are starting to take notice. Media agencies are becoming increasingly involved in this sector as a consequence of its increased profile."
According to the research, commissions and fees paid out to affiliate networks (covering payments for both networks and affiliates) amounted to £186 million in 2007, up 40% from £133 million in 2006 (and compared to £83 million in 2005).
The growth of affiliate marketing reflects the buoyant nature of online retail in the UK. According to the IMRG, the UK's online retailers generated around £46.6 billion in sales last year.
Source:http://www.m-travel.com/news/2008/01/affiliate-marke.html
According to a research published in E-consultancy's Affiliate Marketing Networks Buyer's Guide, the £3.13 billion total for 2007, compared to £2.16 billion in 2006, illustrates the healthy state of this digital sector which will continue to grow strongly during 2008. The company added that sectors such as retail, travel and financial services continue to be the bedrock of affiliate marketing, with both Blue Chips and SMEs ramping up their investment.
E-consultancy's Head of Research Linus Gregoriadis said: "Affiliate marketing continues to gain momentum because the performance-based model is so popular with advertisers. When the biggest consumer-facing brands in these industries do not have a well-defined affiliate strategy, it now tends to be an exception rather than the rule."
He added: "The whole industry is getting more professional and 2007 was definitely a big year for affiliate marketing. The channel has become much more strategic and boardrooms are starting to take notice. Media agencies are becoming increasingly involved in this sector as a consequence of its increased profile."
According to the research, commissions and fees paid out to affiliate networks (covering payments for both networks and affiliates) amounted to £186 million in 2007, up 40% from £133 million in 2006 (and compared to £83 million in 2005).
The growth of affiliate marketing reflects the buoyant nature of online retail in the UK. According to the IMRG, the UK's online retailers generated around £46.6 billion in sales last year.
Source:http://www.m-travel.com/news/2008/01/affiliate-marke.html
Thursday, January 17, 2008
What is a Feed and RSS?
Recently I was wondering how many of the website users are familiar with subscribing to "Feeds" and understand what "RSS" really is all about. I don't often bring you technical advice because it is not the nature of the site, but I believe that this is a useful and time-saving technology that people should understand the basics.
So I've decided to do a short and informative little post about this technology and how it can make your life a little bit simpler.
Quick Introduction to RSS
RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication" and is a technology that allows a website to announce and share it's updates to a large audience. The "Feed" is a document containing the update information which is shared out. So when you are subscribing to a website's "feed" you are asking it to inform you of updates.
This is not quite the same as an e-mail subscription which sends you a message directly. RSS is a passive technology which you must ask the website for this update file. It sounds a bit complicated but once you get in to the swing of things it becomes a real time saver.
How do I use a Feed
There are several ways to use feeds to your advantage. You can integrate them in to your homepage, such as Yahoo or Google. You can subscribe to "Live Bookmarks" if you are using Firefox web browser, and you can also use a web-based news reader application.
Adding a Feed to my Homepage
Most websites have a little orange icon which is the internationally known image for RSS. The large image on this article is one example, and there is another example on the right side of the page which is much smaller.
By clicking on that icon you can add the feed to your homepage or news reader application.
Adding Feeds with Chicklets
Chicklets are simple graphics that help the user add the feed to their homepage or reader. They must be created and provided by the website owner.
Live Bookmarks in Firefox
Firefox is a very popular web browser that gives you a lot more functionality than Internet Explorer. One of it's many popular features is the Live bookmarks. A "Live Bookmark" a kind of website subscription that automatically downloads links to the latest articles from your favourite websites.
To add a live bookmark simply click on the "Bookmarks" menu at the top of your screen and then select "Subscribe to this Page"
Now when you open your bookmarks you will have a folder containing links to all the latest articles from that website, which is dynamically updated.
News Reader Programs
Probably one of the most common programs for reader the news is Google's News Reader. It is quite an easy application to use and it allows you to keep track of many websites all in one place. It automatically scans all the websites you add for updates and then presents only the latest articles for your review. It's my personal favourite option and the one I use daily.
There are many other options such as BlogLines, NetVibes and NewsGator available, but I find Google makes the process incredibly simple and easy to use.
Source:http://www.masonictravels.com/2008/01/what-is-feed-and-rss.html
So I've decided to do a short and informative little post about this technology and how it can make your life a little bit simpler.
Quick Introduction to RSS
RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication" and is a technology that allows a website to announce and share it's updates to a large audience. The "Feed" is a document containing the update information which is shared out. So when you are subscribing to a website's "feed" you are asking it to inform you of updates.
This is not quite the same as an e-mail subscription which sends you a message directly. RSS is a passive technology which you must ask the website for this update file. It sounds a bit complicated but once you get in to the swing of things it becomes a real time saver.
How do I use a Feed
There are several ways to use feeds to your advantage. You can integrate them in to your homepage, such as Yahoo or Google. You can subscribe to "Live Bookmarks" if you are using Firefox web browser, and you can also use a web-based news reader application.
Adding a Feed to my Homepage
Most websites have a little orange icon which is the internationally known image for RSS. The large image on this article is one example, and there is another example on the right side of the page which is much smaller.
By clicking on that icon you can add the feed to your homepage or news reader application.
Adding Feeds with Chicklets
Chicklets are simple graphics that help the user add the feed to their homepage or reader. They must be created and provided by the website owner.
Live Bookmarks in Firefox
Firefox is a very popular web browser that gives you a lot more functionality than Internet Explorer. One of it's many popular features is the Live bookmarks. A "Live Bookmark" a kind of website subscription that automatically downloads links to the latest articles from your favourite websites.
To add a live bookmark simply click on the "Bookmarks" menu at the top of your screen and then select "Subscribe to this Page"
Now when you open your bookmarks you will have a folder containing links to all the latest articles from that website, which is dynamically updated.
News Reader Programs
Probably one of the most common programs for reader the news is Google's News Reader. It is quite an easy application to use and it allows you to keep track of many websites all in one place. It automatically scans all the websites you add for updates and then presents only the latest articles for your review. It's my personal favourite option and the one I use daily.
There are many other options such as BlogLines, NetVibes and NewsGator available, but I find Google makes the process incredibly simple and easy to use.
Source:http://www.masonictravels.com/2008/01/what-is-feed-and-rss.html
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Search Engine Optimization is a Continuous Process
Many of us must have heard the saying 'Plan your work and work your plan', and that the one who actually believes and works on it succeeds in the rat race of proving his or her worth. This certainly stands true for the corporate world which is continuously upgrading itself with the latest technology and where every organization faces new competition in every aspect of the business world. Marketing is an integral part of all these aspects. No business enterprise can survive without marketing and promotion of its products and services. The main reason for this promotion is the fact that 'out of sight is out of mind'. This is why, it is essential to maintain the visibility of the business enterprise in the eyes of the potential customers.
With the Internet coming up with new conveniences and benefits, both for customers and for business enterprises, it has become a perfect marketplace in the present-day scenario. Along with many benefits such as the potential to find customers worldwide, it also has many drawbacks to it. The challenge involved in online marketing is to combat the competitors from all over the world. The internet has meant that restrictions of geographical boundaries do not hold true anymore. This is where the visibility of the website comes into question. Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process that rates the website based on various factors and delineates their rankings. Business organizations therefore have to recognize these factors that affect their rankings with search engines and make the required amendments in their websites accordingly. Once a website has achieved a higher ranking, one can say that the business organization is almost halfway through on the path of success. We can say that diverting traffic to a website by way of higher SEO ranking via search engine optimization is a key to reaching the zenith of success.
The better your research, the more improved your website's ranking. The main aim of search engines is to satisfy Internet users by providing them the exact information that they were looking for. They want content that is not only relevant, but also upgraded according to the latest developments. This is the reason why search engine optimization is also known to be an ongoing process. That is to say, providing the relevant information and achieving a higher ranking once is not enough. The website has to be continuously updated to maintain that high position with the search engines.
The content of the website holds the most important position when it comes to improving search engine rankings. 'Content is king' is a phrase that each one of us, who is acquainted with the workings of SEO, must have heard. This is primarily because this is the basic requirement of the user. The content should always be relevant and easily comprehensible. Plagiarized content is not required at all. Ensure that you do not stray from the topic or repeat points. The keywords that will be used should fit in well with the flow of the text. Enlighten Internet users with your knowledge and impress them with your interesting writing style and do not bother about the consequences after that. It is necessary to make the content rich in keywords. Though one should also be cautious not to exceed the ideal keyword density, otherwise it may draw the suspicion of spam towards the site and may lead to the site being banned.
There is a need to conduct constant and extensive research to find the keywords that potential users are expected to submit in the search engines. The keywords chosen should be such that it best describes the crux of the entire website. Also, the keywords selected should draw fewer competitive website results, but it should not be so unique that a general user would not even think of that keyword while searching. Technically speaking, it is advisable to go for keywords that draw less than 5000 competitive websites, but is searched at an average of 1000 times per month. Do not forget to incorporate the selected keyword in the header tag, keyword tag, title and in the description tag, including a few times in the actual content of the website.
Apart from the content and keywords, there are some other factors that greatly influence the rankings of a website on the search engines. Interlinking is a method of promotion that mentions the link of your website to the visitors of another site that has the same theme, and vice versa. This could be a reference link for the users of that website. Uploading numerous articles related to the theme of the website is another standard component included in SEO strategies to enhance the rankings with search engines. These articles can also be submitted with famous article directories that will drive more traffic to the site as the hyperlink of the website can be mentioned in the resource box at the end of the article. At times, the site map of a website can also be of great help in achieving a higher ranking. As the site map lists all the content mentioned on the website, when the SEOs trace the required keyword on the sitemap, they simply index it with the search engines. This enhances the ranking of the website.
However, there are many SEO consultants who claim to provide top rankings with search engines within a few days and they undoubtedly, prove themselves right in claiming that. But, one should remain alert not to be carried away by such claims as there are two techniques of SEO that gives higher rankings - white hat and the black hat SEO technique. While white hat makes use of ethical techniques, black hat employs unfair strategies to achieve the top position with the search engines in a matter of a few days. The latter technique is the one that is also employed by SEO consultants who claim a quick higher SEO ranking. For long term benefit, one should always look forward to white hat techniques to avoid any inconveniences such as spamming and other related things. Hence, we can say that SEO serves a two way purpose by providing the user with the required information, and business organizations their soaring profits.
Source:http://www.promotionworld.com/se/articles/article/080116searchengineoptimization.html
With the Internet coming up with new conveniences and benefits, both for customers and for business enterprises, it has become a perfect marketplace in the present-day scenario. Along with many benefits such as the potential to find customers worldwide, it also has many drawbacks to it. The challenge involved in online marketing is to combat the competitors from all over the world. The internet has meant that restrictions of geographical boundaries do not hold true anymore. This is where the visibility of the website comes into question. Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process that rates the website based on various factors and delineates their rankings. Business organizations therefore have to recognize these factors that affect their rankings with search engines and make the required amendments in their websites accordingly. Once a website has achieved a higher ranking, one can say that the business organization is almost halfway through on the path of success. We can say that diverting traffic to a website by way of higher SEO ranking via search engine optimization is a key to reaching the zenith of success.
The better your research, the more improved your website's ranking. The main aim of search engines is to satisfy Internet users by providing them the exact information that they were looking for. They want content that is not only relevant, but also upgraded according to the latest developments. This is the reason why search engine optimization is also known to be an ongoing process. That is to say, providing the relevant information and achieving a higher ranking once is not enough. The website has to be continuously updated to maintain that high position with the search engines.
The content of the website holds the most important position when it comes to improving search engine rankings. 'Content is king' is a phrase that each one of us, who is acquainted with the workings of SEO, must have heard. This is primarily because this is the basic requirement of the user. The content should always be relevant and easily comprehensible. Plagiarized content is not required at all. Ensure that you do not stray from the topic or repeat points. The keywords that will be used should fit in well with the flow of the text. Enlighten Internet users with your knowledge and impress them with your interesting writing style and do not bother about the consequences after that. It is necessary to make the content rich in keywords. Though one should also be cautious not to exceed the ideal keyword density, otherwise it may draw the suspicion of spam towards the site and may lead to the site being banned.
There is a need to conduct constant and extensive research to find the keywords that potential users are expected to submit in the search engines. The keywords chosen should be such that it best describes the crux of the entire website. Also, the keywords selected should draw fewer competitive website results, but it should not be so unique that a general user would not even think of that keyword while searching. Technically speaking, it is advisable to go for keywords that draw less than 5000 competitive websites, but is searched at an average of 1000 times per month. Do not forget to incorporate the selected keyword in the header tag, keyword tag, title and in the description tag, including a few times in the actual content of the website.
Apart from the content and keywords, there are some other factors that greatly influence the rankings of a website on the search engines. Interlinking is a method of promotion that mentions the link of your website to the visitors of another site that has the same theme, and vice versa. This could be a reference link for the users of that website. Uploading numerous articles related to the theme of the website is another standard component included in SEO strategies to enhance the rankings with search engines. These articles can also be submitted with famous article directories that will drive more traffic to the site as the hyperlink of the website can be mentioned in the resource box at the end of the article. At times, the site map of a website can also be of great help in achieving a higher ranking. As the site map lists all the content mentioned on the website, when the SEOs trace the required keyword on the sitemap, they simply index it with the search engines. This enhances the ranking of the website.
However, there are many SEO consultants who claim to provide top rankings with search engines within a few days and they undoubtedly, prove themselves right in claiming that. But, one should remain alert not to be carried away by such claims as there are two techniques of SEO that gives higher rankings - white hat and the black hat SEO technique. While white hat makes use of ethical techniques, black hat employs unfair strategies to achieve the top position with the search engines in a matter of a few days. The latter technique is the one that is also employed by SEO consultants who claim a quick higher SEO ranking. For long term benefit, one should always look forward to white hat techniques to avoid any inconveniences such as spamming and other related things. Hence, we can say that SEO serves a two way purpose by providing the user with the required information, and business organizations their soaring profits.
Source:http://www.promotionworld.com/se/articles/article/080116searchengineoptimization.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
