Applying and using all kinds of search engine optimization methods has become a necessity in a day and time when the competition on the World Wide Web far surpasses competition in the real world. Some of the main SEO strategies that most webmasters nowadays resort to are directory submissions, building link popularity, increasing text links to raise page rank, using keyword optimized content etcetera. However, many people fail to use one major SEO tool--web site submission. Website submission refers to the process of submitting your website to major search engines and directories. Many services providing site submission services also submit your sites to internet directories, which is necessary if you actually want website submission to work for both you and your website.
Search engine submission is a necessary SEO technique, which should be used much before any other, except perhaps keyword optimization. This is because most websites do not get indexed by search engines until and unless a search engine submission is made with each particular search engine. Needless to say, your website will never feature in search engine results pages unless it is indexed. While there are hundreds of search engine submission services who will readily submit your website to thousands of search engines for a few dollars, it is important to note that most search engines have become smart enough to reject software generated submissions. If you want your website to be actually submitted to search engines, then make sure that you hire a quality service that makes manual search engine submissions.
The same rule applies to directory submissions as well. In fact, it gets even more pertinent because almost all directories have different methods of accepting submissions. On the other hand, almost all good directories say a complete no-no to automated submissions and reject them outright. Another major advantage of going for manual website submission to directories is that you will be able to submit to directories that deal specifically with the content on your website instead of wasting your time and effort on directories that will never list your site because it does not confirm to the genre they operate with. Making website submission to topical directories and search engines will definitely help in generating a large amount of relevant traffic to your web site.
When you are trying to make your website get ahead amidst extremely strong competition, web site submission is a strategy that will definitely help you in getting a significant lead. While it is really not very important to submit to the zillions of search engines and directories that are present on the internet today, it is crucial to submit to search engines and directories that matter. Another thing to keep in mind while making website submissions is that your submissions should be accepted and your website indexed as soon as possible. If you feel you are up to it, then go ahead, otherwise hire a search engine submission service to do it for you before your competition does!
About the Author
Terry is the owner of one of the internet's most popular seo websites - www.iSellPagerank.com. To find out more, please visit www.iSellPagerank.com/website-submission.htm
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
Thursday, 19 June 2008
How to Choose the Right Domain Name for a Successful Web Site
Your great Web site will need a great domain name. Your domain name, or "Web address," is one of the biggest factors affecting how many visitors your Web site will attract. So how do you go about getting the right domain name? This article will show you how.
Choosing a domain name may seem like an exercise in frustration, and you may be tempted to register the first one you stumble upon that isn't already taken. Slow down! It requires more thought than that, and your choice will have a tremendous impact on the ultimate success of you Web site. In this article, we will discuss how to discover a domain name that will work for you.
There are four main concerns when choosing a domain name:
1. Technical Requirements.
2. A Memorable Name.
3. A Descriptive Name.
4. Keyword Research.
Technical Requirements for Domain Names
Let's get the easy part out of the way first.
When we talk about a "domain name," we're referring to the part of a Web site address that comes between "www" and ".com." For instance, in "wwwYourWebSitecom," the domain name is "YourWebSite." You must register the domain within a particular "top-level domain," the part that comes after the rightmost "dot," as in ".com," ".info," ".us," etc. That is, "YourWebSitecom" is a different domain than "YourWebSiteinfo." You might be able to register "YourWebSitebiz," even though "YourWebSitecom" is already registered.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ("ICANN") defines what a domain name must look like. These rules may be summarized as follows:
* 63 or fewer characters.
* Only numerals, hyphens, and English letters.
* Must not begin with a hyphen.
* Must not end with a hyphen.
Unfortunately, it's not quite that cut and dried. There are varying interpretations of the rules. Some say that a domain in a four-character top-level domain (.info, .mobi) can only be 62 characters long. There are several schemes regarding how to encode non-English letters, etc.
We can avoid getting bogged down in these points of confusion by remembering two things:
1. You don't want a long domain name anyway, so don't worry about whether the limit is 64 or 62 characters.
2. Non-English letters, encoded in schemes that might not be universally applied, mean that your domain name may look different (and nonsensical) on various parts of the Internet, so don't use them.
Choosing a Memorable Domain Name
Your domain name must be something that people can remember and that they can type in readily, or recognize at a glance when they see it as a clickable link.
Among other things, this means that your domain name should be short. All of the genuinely short domain names are already taken. Virtually every single word in the English language has been registered as a domain name, as has every combination of up to five letters. So, don't get too hung up on "short." As we will discuss later in this article, you want to find a balance between "short" and "descriptive."
Although a domain name may include hyphens, you are better off without them. If you wanted to register "YourDomainNamecom" and found it was unavailable, you will not be doing yourself any favors by registering "Your-Domain-Namecom." Users will confuse the two Web sites, and will be more likely to go with the shorter version.
Choosing a Descriptive Domain Name
Your domain name should describe what the user will find on your Web site.
Look for a descriptive phrase about your chosen specialty. Is your Web site about baby care tips for working mothers? For parents of babies with special needs? Whatever specific area you intend to address, put together three or four words that say it. You don't have to say it very well, at this point. As we will discuss shortly, there are tools to help you refine your descriptive phrases. For now, just come up with a few phrases that describe your Web site's content in three or four words.
Keyword Research when Choosing a Domain Name
You want your domain name to be short and descriptive. That means that each word in it must have value.
Keyword research can identify powerful keywords for your Web site's content, but it can also find words to use in your domain name. There is one difference, as will be discussed below.
Keyword research identifies the words and phrases that people are using when searching for information related to your planned Web site. You will use these keywords in your Web site's content and in any pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns, but you should also use them in your domain name. A keyword-rich domain name is more likely to rank high in search engine results.
When researching keywords for use in your Web site content or in PPC advertising, you want search terms that are frequently used but rarely matched. These are the high-value keywords that can make the content of your Web site stand out in the search engines.
However, when you are looking for keywords to use in your domain name, you should concentrate on frequently used keywords, and not necessarily those that are rarely matched. This is the difference alluded to earlier.
Keyword research can not tell you whether a domain name is available. It can only tell you what people are looking for and what they are finding in the content of Web pages. So, identify terms that people are looking for, then determine what domain names are available that use those terms, and you will have a winning domain name.
Take the list of descriptive phrases you identified in the last section, and use each one as the starting point for keyword research. From your keyword research, build a list of phrases that people are searching for when they want to find the kind of content you plan to offer.
From that list, focus on the shortest phrases that are relevant and clearly descriptive of the content you intend to offer. Now, check to see which of these phrases are available for you to register as domain names.
What if you find two or more keyword-rich domain names available? Register all of them! Choose the one you like best as the main name for your Web site, but keep the others. You can use them as "redirect" pages, and you always have the option of using the alternate names later.
For the same reason, register your domain name in various top-level domains if they are available, such as .com, .info, etc. Lock in your options on those alternate names, and lock out your competitors from stealing the results of your research.
Conclusion: What to Do Next
Before you rush out and register the first available domain name you come up with, do your homework.
* Think of a short list of descriptive phrases about the Web site you intend to build.
* Do some comprehensive keyword research on each of those descriptive phrases, and build a list of more keyword-rich descriptive phrases.
* Choose the shortest, most memorable phrases from your list, and check which ones are available to register as domain names.
* Register as many of these keyword-rich, descriptive domain names as you can.
About the Author
Charles J. Bonner is the founder and principal project manager of www.FreeLanceSubmit.com. For more tips, techniques, and services for creating, maintaining, and promoting your Web site, including keyword research to identify a great domain name, visit www.FreeLanceSubmit.com.
Choosing a domain name may seem like an exercise in frustration, and you may be tempted to register the first one you stumble upon that isn't already taken. Slow down! It requires more thought than that, and your choice will have a tremendous impact on the ultimate success of you Web site. In this article, we will discuss how to discover a domain name that will work for you.
There are four main concerns when choosing a domain name:
1. Technical Requirements.
2. A Memorable Name.
3. A Descriptive Name.
4. Keyword Research.
Technical Requirements for Domain Names
Let's get the easy part out of the way first.
When we talk about a "domain name," we're referring to the part of a Web site address that comes between "www" and ".com." For instance, in "www
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ("ICANN") defines what a domain name must look like. These rules may be summarized as follows:
* 63 or fewer characters.
* Only numerals, hyphens, and English letters.
* Must not begin with a hyphen.
* Must not end with a hyphen.
Unfortunately, it's not quite that cut and dried. There are varying interpretations of the rules. Some say that a domain in a four-character top-level domain (.info, .mobi) can only be 62 characters long. There are several schemes regarding how to encode non-English letters, etc.
We can avoid getting bogged down in these points of confusion by remembering two things:
1. You don't want a long domain name anyway, so don't worry about whether the limit is 64 or 62 characters.
2. Non-English letters, encoded in schemes that might not be universally applied, mean that your domain name may look different (and nonsensical) on various parts of the Internet, so don't use them.
Choosing a Memorable Domain Name
Your domain name must be something that people can remember and that they can type in readily, or recognize at a glance when they see it as a clickable link.
Among other things, this means that your domain name should be short. All of the genuinely short domain names are already taken. Virtually every single word in the English language has been registered as a domain name, as has every combination of up to five letters. So, don't get too hung up on "short." As we will discuss later in this article, you want to find a balance between "short" and "descriptive."
Although a domain name may include hyphens, you are better off without them. If you wanted to register "YourDomainName
Choosing a Descriptive Domain Name
Your domain name should describe what the user will find on your Web site.
Look for a descriptive phrase about your chosen specialty. Is your Web site about baby care tips for working mothers? For parents of babies with special needs? Whatever specific area you intend to address, put together three or four words that say it. You don't have to say it very well, at this point. As we will discuss shortly, there are tools to help you refine your descriptive phrases. For now, just come up with a few phrases that describe your Web site's content in three or four words.
Keyword Research when Choosing a Domain Name
You want your domain name to be short and descriptive. That means that each word in it must have value.
Keyword research can identify powerful keywords for your Web site's content, but it can also find words to use in your domain name. There is one difference, as will be discussed below.
Keyword research identifies the words and phrases that people are using when searching for information related to your planned Web site. You will use these keywords in your Web site's content and in any pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns, but you should also use them in your domain name. A keyword-rich domain name is more likely to rank high in search engine results.
When researching keywords for use in your Web site content or in PPC advertising, you want search terms that are frequently used but rarely matched. These are the high-value keywords that can make the content of your Web site stand out in the search engines.
However, when you are looking for keywords to use in your domain name, you should concentrate on frequently used keywords, and not necessarily those that are rarely matched. This is the difference alluded to earlier.
Keyword research can not tell you whether a domain name is available. It can only tell you what people are looking for and what they are finding in the content of Web pages. So, identify terms that people are looking for, then determine what domain names are available that use those terms, and you will have a winning domain name.
Take the list of descriptive phrases you identified in the last section, and use each one as the starting point for keyword research. From your keyword research, build a list of phrases that people are searching for when they want to find the kind of content you plan to offer.
From that list, focus on the shortest phrases that are relevant and clearly descriptive of the content you intend to offer. Now, check to see which of these phrases are available for you to register as domain names.
What if you find two or more keyword-rich domain names available? Register all of them! Choose the one you like best as the main name for your Web site, but keep the others. You can use them as "redirect" pages, and you always have the option of using the alternate names later.
For the same reason, register your domain name in various top-level domains if they are available, such as .com, .info, etc. Lock in your options on those alternate names, and lock out your competitors from stealing the results of your research.
Conclusion: What to Do Next
Before you rush out and register the first available domain name you come up with, do your homework.
* Think of a short list of descriptive phrases about the Web site you intend to build.
* Do some comprehensive keyword research on each of those descriptive phrases, and build a list of more keyword-rich descriptive phrases.
* Choose the shortest, most memorable phrases from your list, and check which ones are available to register as domain names.
* Register as many of these keyword-rich, descriptive domain names as you can.
About the Author
Charles J. Bonner is the founder and principal project manager of www.FreeLanceSubmit.com. For more tips, techniques, and services for creating, maintaining, and promoting your Web site, including keyword research to identify a great domain name, visit www.FreeLanceSubmit.com.
Thursday, 12 June 2008
Landing, Squeeze and Sissy Pages - Oh My!
A landing page is the first page a visitor arrives at on your site after inputting a specific address or clicking a link in an email or at another site. At one time, the home page was the primary landing page for many online marketers. But as marketing on the internet has developed, landing pages designed specifically to have a visitor take a specific action, have become more popular.
Seth Godin, well known marketing expert, states that a web page can cause a visitor to take one of only five actions:
1. Click and go to a different page
2. Make a purchase
3. Give permission for follow-up
4. Tell a friend
5. Learn something that may prompt the visitor to provide feedback
Squeeze page is the term frequently used to describe a landing page designed to capture a name and email address. On a traditional squeeze page, if you don't take the action the web site owner wants you to take, you have no other option than to close the page.
In the past, more technically oriented visitors could check source code and figure out how to get around the squeeze page and find the pages behind it. As a result, many web site owners now encrypt the page so that there is no back door to sneak through.
A squeeze page that allows the visitor to go to another page without taking the action the web site owner wants them to take is called a sissy page. I'm not sure how this phrase came to represent this action. Merriam-Webster defines "sissy" as a timid or cowardly person. So I guess someone thinks you're afraid to not let a visitor find out what you have to offer!
The intent of my landing page is to get my visitors to request the special report. But if they decide they don't want to, or they have already ordered the report, there is a big red button near the bottom of the page that says "Enter Site". Guess that makes me a big sissy!
More online marketers are using landing pages to narrowly focus on their target audience and to prequalify their prospects. Landing pages are ideal for product or service launches because you only need to convey one message - there are no other distractions like there can be on other types of web pages.
From a marketer's standpoint landing pages are a good time and budget investment. That's because since you know this is the first page a visitor will see, you can confidently spend your time, energy and money on developing the page into one where the visitor will take the action you want.
This includes researching keywords, creating an attention grabbing headline and including graphics that support what you want your visitor to do.
Single page web sites will continue to be popular as long as visitors continue to take the action their creators want.
About the Author
Nancy D Waring, Internet Communication Strategist and owner of OnPoint Communication Solutions, assists coaches and other service professionals who are not internet experts more effectively manage their online marketing so they can spend more time on their business. For more information about solutions to expand your business using the web, pick up her special report at http://www.onpointcommunicationsolutions.com
Seth Godin, well known marketing expert, states that a web page can cause a visitor to take one of only five actions:
1. Click and go to a different page
2. Make a purchase
3. Give permission for follow-up
4. Tell a friend
5. Learn something that may prompt the visitor to provide feedback
Squeeze page is the term frequently used to describe a landing page designed to capture a name and email address. On a traditional squeeze page, if you don't take the action the web site owner wants you to take, you have no other option than to close the page.
In the past, more technically oriented visitors could check source code and figure out how to get around the squeeze page and find the pages behind it. As a result, many web site owners now encrypt the page so that there is no back door to sneak through.
A squeeze page that allows the visitor to go to another page without taking the action the web site owner wants them to take is called a sissy page. I'm not sure how this phrase came to represent this action. Merriam-Webster defines "sissy" as a timid or cowardly person. So I guess someone thinks you're afraid to not let a visitor find out what you have to offer!
The intent of my landing page is to get my visitors to request the special report. But if they decide they don't want to, or they have already ordered the report, there is a big red button near the bottom of the page that says "Enter Site". Guess that makes me a big sissy!
More online marketers are using landing pages to narrowly focus on their target audience and to prequalify their prospects. Landing pages are ideal for product or service launches because you only need to convey one message - there are no other distractions like there can be on other types of web pages.
From a marketer's standpoint landing pages are a good time and budget investment. That's because since you know this is the first page a visitor will see, you can confidently spend your time, energy and money on developing the page into one where the visitor will take the action you want.
This includes researching keywords, creating an attention grabbing headline and including graphics that support what you want your visitor to do.
Single page web sites will continue to be popular as long as visitors continue to take the action their creators want.
About the Author
Nancy D Waring, Internet Communication Strategist and owner of OnPoint Communication Solutions, assists coaches and other service professionals who are not internet experts more effectively manage their online marketing so they can spend more time on their business. For more information about solutions to expand your business using the web, pick up her special report at http://www.onpointcommunicationsolutions.com
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