I posted my fourth Tips and Hints on both my regular site as well as my blog. This tip is especially helpful to see whether each page on your site has separate title tags and meta descriptions.
By typing into a Google search box (site:+URL) each page’s search engine results for your site will show.
The Adobe pdf version can be downloaded on the DIYGUIDES page or seen as summarized on the DIYWebJem Blog page.
Website Ratings Free Checking Software
Enter your site URL at http://websitegrader.com/. Put in an e-mail address to send yourself a link. Set up a folder and save the link to a folder to compare to later results. Also save the displayed report as a pdf file for future review. Contact me for a link to a FREE pdf creator if you do not have one. I’ll send a link by return e-mail with instructions!
Is Your Company Listed for Local Search Results?
Go to http://getlisted.org/ enter your business name and zip code. Press and look for your results. You may need to add your listing or to edit one. Contact me for a checklist you will need beforehand. Things such as logos, photos, history, description, contact information, office/store hours, etc.
You can even list if you work from home or have a mailbox drop. It might take a while if you do not have a telephone listed in a business name. Some sites may send a written snail mail confirmation.
For pdf versions of these and other Tips and Hints (with graphics if applicable) go to our site DIYWEBJEM – DIY Guides
Contact us for a no-obligation consultation if you need help interpreting the results or to improve your ratings to increase your traffic and resulting sales through search engine optimization.
“…the majority of small business owners still don’t consider use of the Internet as mandatory in running a small business in America today…” This is what Discover said according to a December 17th article in the Daily Herald. And it is really hard for me to still believe it is such a large number.
Forty-five percent of 22 million small businesses in America had Websites as of August, 2009. The article went on to say: “Forty-six percent of small business owners said it is a myth that every company should have a Web site, 44 percent felt the opposite and 10 percent were not sure.”
Up until about three years ago I was skeptical also. At that time I started seeing the potential sales results from a targeted E-marketing effort. So, from a glass half-full perspective. There are 9.5 million small businesses that DO have Websites. What a large target audience that is!
First type your site’s domain name in a Google search box. Next, click on the search function. Your site should be the first result on the page. Click on “Cached” at the bottom, next to your address. Your Web site’s landing page should open up and it should look as it does on a monitor. Then click on “text-only-version” near the top right. Any graphics and pictures will be eliminated and you will see the text or content as search engine robots do. This is what is read and categorized/indexed so search engines can match your information to their search engine queries. Be on guard if things look strange!
For a pdf version download with graphics, visit our site DIYWEBJEM – DIY Guides.
I received an email newsletter today from a major Search Engine Optimization company with that headline on it. It rang a bell…a light bulb went on…the sun rose in the sky…
I realized I had figured that out many, many months ago. Generating traffic to your site is what raises page ranking because it proves you have good content, or what people are looking for.
But traffic also brings sales. And, unless you are philanthropic or have other income, that is your goal in business.
Prior marketing techniques such as cold calling, telemarketing, e-mail campaigns, direct mail etc., are known as “Outbound” or interruption based marketing. Time challenged consumers and businesses fight back in a “do not disturb me” mode. They use protective shields (spam filters, voice mail screening, etc.) to guard against your attack methods.
Companies must adopt to these changed buying patterns if they are to survive these turbulent times. Realize how people search on their terms, not yours, for information and answers to questions. People gather information when they are ready, at times convenient to them. This is especially true of more affluent and higher educated people.
They turn to the same place you turn to, the WEB, for their answers. Why? Because it is open for business around the clock. Consumers scour Websites, reviews, forums, blogs, and social networking sites such as facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace. Information is dispersed almost instantaneously via Twitter and other broadcasting means.
Adopt this newer key to your Web success bu using “Inbound” or permission based marketing. I define this loosely as being at the right place at the right time. Or, in other words, have a presence when someone searches for your service or product. Make it easy for them to find you, and your information 24/7/365. Prepare your site for free results through Google searches. Then get your self recognized blogging, article marketing, video marketing, press releases, etc.
Your thoughts are welcome.
The author wrote: “This is the number one strategy of all the top producers in this business and can be very tough and daunting, but when done well will generate the MOST leads out of any of your marketing strategies in days. Not weeks or months.”
I wrote just a few minutes ago -
“…au contraire, I disagree with point on #5 for self employed small business owners and those starting out on a limited budget. Pay per click is, at best, a short term solution. You keep paying and paying and paying….
“It is akin to opening a retail storefront years ago. There you rented space for the privilege of working 80 hours a week, hung out a shingle (that you paid your sign maker to do), send monthly checks for your rent and utilities, pay insurance and other business related expenses to the site location (snow removal, cleaning, etc.), pay help, employment taxes, etc. And, if you are lucky to do business, there was, of course, the override on the gross sales to the landlord. Bottom line was everybody else got paid before you did! NO thanks! Been there, done that!
“Although more time consuming, search engine optimization in the long haul is more cost effective and produces far more results. If you do it right at the get go, all the statistics point to better results from Organic (free) search engine marketing. That is unless you want to make your landlord (Google) even more rich!”
Linked in group members of Start-Up Phase Forum can join the discussion.
I just added this reply to a LinkedIn discussion thread asking the question in the title. I thought you might be interested:
“Blogger – free platform, can monetize, limited plugins/widgets. Alternate themes , plugins and information available from many sources. (I advise to stay away from Google Adsense.) Blogger, is of course a Google tool!
“WordPress.com – free platform, cannot monetize, loaded with plugins/widgets, great analytics – watch it everyday and can tell what people will be calling about/ordering within days! Video tutorials abound. Open Source.
“WordPress.org – for inclusion on sites or stand alone site through a Web host (mostly paid). Free platform and lots of free and professional themes. Caution: Mostly “blog” face if intending on using as a Website. Professional (fee and non-fee based) themes available.
“Would strongly advise installing it on your desktop to play with it!!!!!
“I have affiliate links to what I think are the two best professional (fee based) WordPress themes, one for blogs, one for a small storefront business site, on my site at http://www.diywebjem.com/affiliates.html Low cost, lifetime upgrades, support, forums, tutorials, and more!
“You want your site to be dynamic, not static (again). That means content must be ever changing so the search demons will constantly be revisiting and looking for new information and backlinks. (Who says search engine optimization is NOT a never ending battle!) If your site is dynamic, you can use a blog, especially WordPress.com, to send traffic there.
“If the site is static, or if you have a developer you must pay or constantly nag to upgrade, keeping it dynamic is much easier through an on site blog!”
Did you ever get an e-mail from another Webmaster asking you this question? It’s an attempt to exchange links or what is often referred to as reciprocal linking.
Just a few days ago CNN.com reported that link building through exchange of reciprocal linking is still an OK way to build rank as long as it is done within Google guidelines.
Google’s official advice: “The best way to get other sites to create relevant links to yours is to create unique, relevant content that can quickly gain popularity in the Internet community.”
But Evan Duffield was quoted in the article as saying: “To start a new business you need PageRank, but to get PageRank you need links to your service. You have to get the ball rolling.”
Read the complete article named Link exchanges: The poor man’s SEO.
I had a discussion about (static) store front retailing as versus (dynamic) Web marketing with a friend over lunch on Sunday. He talked about him not getting (static) the right potential customers to visit his location. Only when the “right” conditions are met does he seem to do even marginal business. But the Web does not rely on right day, right weather, right foot traffic….
As a former retail store owner I empathize with him and know so well of his lament. Our woman’s junior size clothing store did an exceptional amount of business for a few brief months. This was during a construction phase at the Harlem-Irving Shopping Center years ago. Foot traffic was directed right across our doorstep.
Prior to that, and afterward, we did not have the natural foot traffic. We were located in what I might call a cul-de-sac off the beaten path. The traffic walked by but really could not see us hidden there, behind the bushes.
And, as an independent small business, we just did not have the advertising resources to attract enough potential customers. Our “typical” special sales ran their course and eventually we admitted defeat, cut our losses and closed the store.
I take this into consideration in light of the Chicago Tribune article I cited yesterday. Consumers are better informed through the Web and are leery of the constant discount sales pitches. They are saving more and spending less, especially on discretionary items. One must be unique and creative in today’s economy to attract more potential customers.
That’s what do-it-yourself (dynamic) E-marketing on the Web is all about. Target a niche market and use your time to advertise with the available free Web resources. Do this instead of spending advertising dollars or sitting around doing nothing waiting for the customers to walk through the doors (or for you to hit the lotto!).
Learn more about DIY E-marketing.
