Mobile devices however appear to be catching up to user expectations with the iPhone getting 50 times the amount of searches than the other leading handsets! “Apple couldn’t believe the scale of the searches, neither could Yahoo. Clearly, going down the line a good proportion of those searches will not be for content, they will be for local searches, they will be location-based searches. That will increase searches as a whole,” said Windsor Holden, principal analyst with Juniper. In fact, Google, Yahoo! and AOL recently all announced plans tied to mobile applications and development.

The Juniper report goes on to say:

• Local search is expected to account for 43% of cumulative mobile search advertising revenues between 2008 and 2013, reaching total revenues of $4.8 billion by 2013.
• User response rates to advertising which supports mobile local search are expected to be significantly higher than for advertising on general mobile web search.
• Western Europe currently accounts for the greatest volume of mobile search enquiries, but that will soon change as they will be overtaken by the Far East and China region.
• The so called “advertising overload” might act as a disincentive to consumers and might ultimately limit adoption. Other factor to worry about is the continuing public concern over search engine usage of personal data.

Another interesting fact is that research firm Strategy Analytics predicts 290 million mobile handsets will be sold this quarter, an increase of 12 percent compared to Q2 2007 and forecasts total mobile search revenues to reach $4.8 billion by 2013.

Recognizing the trends, its no wonder advertisers are beginning to take notice and look towards taking advantage of mobile marketing opportunities. One such company is Keller Williams Realty, North Americas fourth largest franchise real estate company, where today they announced a campaign aimed at individuals who are looking for a home, to instantly receive details on the property they are interested in on their mobile phone.

It certainly appears as though local and mobile search has passed the tipping point and will become part of the strategic discussions with clients.

Tom Tsinas - Prior to joining SEP, I spent 10 years with Canada’s original search engine, the Yellow Pages Group. I worked in several key Departments including Marketing, Business Development, eProducts, Local and National Sales.

Designing and creating websites require thorough knowledge of Web specificity as well as an ability to adapt to existing solutions of Internet reality. It is not sufficient to hand in WWW materials, which have functioned in paper form until now, to website designers. Very often, the way designers and graphics think differs from the way users think and act. It is not enough to know a lot about programming, graphic design or to have good taste. First of all, you should set objectives of a realized project and acquaint yourself with the needs and habits of addressees of the website as well as with the way they move around Internet resources. Familiarizing yourself with the research and observations concerning users’ behaviour and preferences, as well as their proper application, is a giant step towards the creation of functional web pages.

Functionality and cohesion

First of all, in order to design a web page, you should take into account not only its aesthetic qualities, but its functionality (ergonomics). Internet users insist mainly on quick access to information gathered on a website. Jakob Nielsen, a guru of functionality, describes a usable website in the following way: “Simplicity with the smallest number of supplements, a clear layout of information and adjusted navigation tools.” Sub-websites need to be coherent. Particular elements should be chosen in such a manner that a user has no doubts as to whether they are still on the same page or if they have moved to another website. In a perfectly designed website, the main part of the page occupies about 80% of the screen, the remaining part is destined for navigation elements. In practice, it is difficult to achieve “a happy medium”, especially with additional elements, e.g. advertisements. That is why, it would not be wrong if we managed to squeeze the main part into 2/3 of the screen. Except for main pages, which play a key role in enhancing navigation on the website.

Good navigation

The system of navigation should be simple and intuitive - users do not like acquainting themselves with non-standard ways of moving around a website. Tips and instructions concerning navigation will not solve problems of a website containing non-standard mechanisms. Easiness with which Internet users move around Web resources makes them exceptionally impatient, and if they do not know how to use a given website in several seconds, they type in another address or close the browser window. The aim of navigation is to provide necessary information to the user, which will let them answer the following questions: Where am I? Where was I? Where could I go? Some elements such as a company’s logo or other signs identifying the website, being at the same time a link to the main page, may help the user determine their current position. So-called information paths play a vital role as well, what place a given sub-website occupies on a website structure.

Home | NewsRoom | Software | Mass storage

Marking the option in the menu of the website, which a particular web page belongs to is a solution which helps Internet users determine their position. Furthermore, it is important to provide the subject of the page, as well as titles in the heading of HTML file. The title should be coined in such a way so as to be understood by the user, which entered a web page by means of a browser or any other reference placed outside the website. References to web pages already visited are marked with a lighter colour than those used in references to web pages not visited yet, which will ensure their unambiguous identification. Although browsers possess a return icon, it is better to place on each page a reference to the previous one. The user will focus on the part presenting the information and there they will look for the possibilities of returning. Only when they do not find it on the web page, will they look at the toolbar of the browser. It is recommended (if possible) to give the name of the target page, e.g. “return to product list.” Pages “without exit links”, or in other words, pages which we can leave only by means of a back button in the browser window. The best way to suggest the user what page they can go to is a careful design of the website structure, as well as an appropriate look of references (see also: “References”). In the case of complicated websites, it is more convenient for the user to introduce two types of navigation ‘ vertical ‘ enabling the user to jump quickly to the higher level of the website ‘ and horizontal ‘ giving the possibility of choosing a web page at the same level, e.g. the most current news about ink-jet printers. Links enabling access to subject-related pages, e.g. “see also” play a key role as well. It is a mistake to place a reference to the website displayed at the same time. Reloading the website will stir up negative emotions, especially in the case when it lasts for several seconds. Maps of websites allowing for quick access to its structure have become a standard. However, we should remember about an update of the website “scheme” or even design something which will ensure its automatic change simultaneously, together with the update of the website structure. Solutions based entirely on colour should be avoided in navigation. Not only do they make the user learn the meaning of particular colours, but they may turn out to be useless for people who are colourblind.

References

Text references should be formulated in such a way that an Internet user has no doubt as to where it leads to. Not only does it have to encourage to click, but it should be a keyword. It is not advisable to use general expressions like “click here”. Instead of using the expression “In order to see brand-new digital cameras, click here.”, it is better to use: “Brand-new digital cameras”. The text should not be too long (maximum four words). Underlined text is commonly used for references. Apart from coloured, it is additionally highlighted. Titles of references are a great facilitation for an Internet user. They let surfers predict what kind of information is on the website to which they refer, and simultaneously save time of loading the web page which does not meet the needs of the surfer. The title of the reference should not exceed 80 characters. In case the text in a precise manner describes resources it refers to, there is no need to add another element requiring the user’s attention. The standard colour used for references is blue (pages not visited yet) and purple for pages visited. This principle can be simplified: visited reference should be in lighter colour than not visited one. Especially on web pages with a great number of references, a few of which require additional highlighting, red is acceptable instead of blue. We can use any shade of these two colours. The application of a different colour will make navigation functionality worse and make it impossible for the users to decide what web pages they have already visited. While highlighting a simple text and headlines, we cannot use colours reserved for references and the other way round.

Previously we talked about the importance of headlines to draw your prospects into your site. Once they are in your site and reading your content you can’t drop the ball. Your text needs to continue to compel and excite your visitors.

You need to remind them why they are there (usually your site visitors are looking for something they want or they are looking for a solution to a problem).

Your copy (text) needs to remind them of their pain and talk about the solution you offer.

Although your website is about you and your products and services, your copy needs to always relate back to them. It needs to make them feel like you understand them and have exactly what they need.

When you sit down to write your content you need to consider the following:

1. Why are they buying your product/service? What problem is your product/service a solution for?

2. What motivates your prospect to take action and look for a solution?

3. What is your target demographic? What style and wording will resonate with your prospects?

So, let me take you through this process. Let’s say you sell jewelry.

1. Why are they buying your product? What problem is your product/service a solution for?

You may think that there is no problem here but dig deeper. Why do men and women buy jewelry? They want to look nice. They like pretty things.

They want to apologize for something they did wrong and need a grand gesture such as jewelry. They use jewelry as an expression of love. They use jewelry as a status symbol.

Each of those things has emotions behind them - probably on a subconscious level.

There may be an insecurity, which can be eased by having flashy jewelry to show off to the world. There may be a desire for a reward for hard work.

Understanding the underlying reasons why people want or need your product can help you start to form ideas for your text and write copy that will have an emotional impact on your site visitors.

2. What motivates your prospect to take action and look for a solution?

Understanding the first question will help you understand what will ultimately motivate your prospect.

If there is insecurity the motivator will be the relief of that insecurity and the end result will be feeling happy and special.

If the jewelry is being purchased as an apology gift the motivator is to smooth over a problem and recreate harmony in a relationship - at least on the surface.

You get the idea, knowing why your prospects do things will help you write your copy in a way that will increase their motivation.

3. What is your target demographic? What style and wording will resonate with your prospects? Is your target market an older or younger crowd? Is there slang that can be used to help you connect with and relate to your prospects? Are they broke, rich, middle-class? Are they looking for prestige and airs of sophistication? Are they likely to pay more because they can? There are people out there that feel if something isn’t expensive it isn’t worth it.

Understanding how they communicate, what they are used to and making them feel like you understand them can help you create a feeling of camaraderie with your prospects.

Learning more about your prospect is one of the best exercises you can do to enhance your copy and really connect with your prospects. Now, keep in mind you aren’t going to address every problem and every need in every page on your site, you’ll need to think about what makes sense and what is likely the strongest motivator for each product/service.

Using the information that we established above, let’s look at 2 samples of web copy.

Sample 1: Produced with no thought for the “reason why” and the motivator.

We offer the best price on sparkling diamonds. We have engagement rings, anniversary bands, sweetheart and promise rings. You’ll be dazzled by the beauty of our diamond rings.

Sample 2: Considering the motivator and the emotions behind the purchase.

When you are looking for the perfect ring for that special moment in your life you want something as pure, clear and breathtaking as your love. Our unique diamond anniversary bands, engagement rings, and promise rings sparkle, although not as much as the sparkle in her eyes when you present her with the perfect ring. Clarity, cut and color are important; and we’ll help you with making the best selection in your price range. However, remember when you look at our beautiful rings that you are selecting a symbol of your love - follow your heart and pick the ring that will look perfect on her finger for a lifetime.

Please note, I’m no jewelry expert and this was just off the top of my head, but you’ll notice in the second sample I wrote the text for a romantic looking for that special piece of jewelry. I’ve tapped into his mindset and conveyed that I understand what it is he is looking for in a ring.

When you are working on your website copy, remember you don’t need to be a professional copywriter with years of training - you know your product/service and you know the benefits of it. All you have to do is take the time to learn a few simple concepts like the one outlined above to make small improvements in your copy that could have a big impact on your bottom line.

Quite frankly, until recently, I didn’t have the money to spend on professional graphics for my sites. Now, as my sites are generating income each day, I can afford to re-invest some of my earnings into professionally produced website graphics.

That’s exactly what I did!

I just wished I had invested funds into these website graphics when I first started online because professional graphics will give you a much better conversion rate. Can’t begin to imagine the revenue I have lost by not having professionally produced graphics by web design specialists or experts. A well-done graphic is worth its weight in gold because you get a much higher response rate.

I am talking from first-hand experience here… for my latest site I invested in some professional graphics and the sign-up rate is much better than for my other sites. Plus, when I added these graphics to my other existing sites, my sign-up rates jumped 25% to 50% - just by adding this graphic beside the sign-up form.

So if you have a product, newsletter, ezine, guide… make sure you place a good graphic or picture right beside your sign-up form… this will increase your conversions and sales. If you’re thinking about creating a new site, consider investing in professional graphics - header, footer, logo… you won’t regret it.

Mainly because most surfers or visitors to your site will be a net-savvy crowd, within seconds they will make the decision if your site is worth their time or not. Unless you instantly project a professional image or site, they will have clicked that back button before they even blink.

Image vs. Trust

In order to have a successful site you must create trust with your visitors. Having custom graphics done will give your site that unique professional look that web-surfers now demand. First impressions are the only impressions you get on the Internet. You must hook your visitor at the first click, or it’s game over. Sad but true.

No matter what kind of site you have, using professional graphics will prove helpful to achieving your goals. These graphics will give your site a fighting chance to at least capture your viewer’s attention and allow time for your brilliant content to reel them in!

Here are some other reasons why you need professional graphics on your site:

- To give and project a professional image

- To give your visitors a tangible image of your product

- To improve the quality of your site for everyone IS a critic

- To help increase your sales or sign-up rates

- To make navigation of your site easier

Always remember, the web has become a very competitive place, you must do everything you can to give your site a competitive advantage over your competition. Professional graphics will make your site stand out; killer graphics will firmly place your site in your visitor’s mind and help them remember your site and entice them to visit it again.

Professional website graphics are very useful tools in creating a consistent overall image of your site. They will aid in your site’s navigation and give your visitor a good impression of your site. Well-designed graphics will help your site project a professional image and keep visitors from instantly clicking that back button. Professional graphics will give your site a fighting chance at making that sale or sign-up. In other words, professional graphics greatly increases your chances of having a successful site. That’s the main reason why you should use them.

The author is a full-time web marketer who owns and runs numerous websites, including two sites on Internet marketing. He contributes his online affiliate success to using the best Internet Marketing Tools: www.bizwaremagic.com and his proven strategies at List Building: www.bizwaremagic.com/opt-in.htm 2008 Titus Hoskins. This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

People are willing to go out of their way to buy pre-made web sites, purchase or find free ebooks to promote, and place affiliate links on their site to sell other people’s products. But if you really want to make money on the internet, try selling ebooks of your own.

I discovered this very fact out for myself. Much like many other entrepreneurs on the internet, I was moving along ok and making a few bucks here and there, but I certainly was not making the BIG bucks.

And that is when I realized what all of the top internet marketers were doing!

If you pay attention closely to some of the top internet marketers, you will notice that they all have their own products and ebooks to promote. i.e. They are all selling ebooks of their own.

There is no secret to their success. They were willing to put in the time to create fresh and enticing products.

There are far too many sites on the internet that have created duplicate content that is written in different wording. Unfortunately, most internet surfers can identify the same content that has been slightly altered. But if you can create something new, something that nobody else has touched on, or give a subject a different slant, you can have success.

There is nothing wrong with taking an idea that has already been created and going in a different direction with it. In fact, this can give people a different view of the topic. But the important thing is that you include new information and fresh tips and techniques on how to do something. If you can do this, you will sell ebooks that can bring you in a very tasty second (or even main) income.

Once you have ebooks and info products of your own, you can open up a whole new world of internet marketing. These are your ideas you can promote meaning nobody else has touched on them in just the same way. There are not hundreds of other people already approaching the idea in the same way as you are. But eventually there could be hundreds of other people promoting and selling YOUR ebook.

It is a completely different story once you have people promoting and selling ebooks for you because you are getting the credit.

Selling ebooks that are not yours can be difficult because you are selling other people’s ideas. It certainly is not easy coming up with fresh ideas and creating an ebook, but it is far more rewarding and much easier to sell.

So the secret behind selling ebooks is writing your own first. While it can be difficult creating your own ebook, (unless you have a good teacher), it can be even more difficult to sell someone else’s.

Save yourself the trouble and gain more recognition by writing and selling your own ebook.

Writing and selling ebooks of your own is now EASY! Check out the 6 week course that is changing lives! http://www.InfoProductsMadeEasy.com

Except that we’re poised for some serious growth.

SEO - Introduction Stage - Starting about 1998
Companies who were around in the introduction stage often had to build product awareness and develop a market for SEO.

In the early ‘2000’s, many of our clients had just build their first websites. This was a significant investment for them and they thought that now that they have a website, the online sales would just flow in. Many didn’t realize that they had just invested serious coin into an over-priced business card. Because nobody could find them.

At this point, there was little consistency in the product. And as the algorithm got more complex, the SEO offering varied more. Some companies were offering to “submit to hundreds of search engines” (some still are) whilst others were offering usability, analytics and site architectural input in addition to on-page and off-page SEO.

SEO - Early Growth Stage - we’re still just at the beginning of it.
In the early growth stage, smart SEO companies are beginning to think about building their brand and to increase market share.

Demand is increasing as more customers understand the benefits of “getting found”. There is some competition at this stage but because the market is broadening so much, competition is limited and there is still a huge amount of camaraderie within the industry.

10 years into it, it’s easy to assume that our industry is more mature than it actually is.

We’ve only just begun.

Customer Implication
Demand has already started to increase but it is going to skyrocket. And it’s going to come from all types of business from very small customers to Enterprise type of businesses.

Up until recently, the neighborhood dry cleaner didn’t care if someone across the country found their website because they deal within a 5 km radius got very little benefit from optimizing their website. Now as search gets much better at localization, those local business will become much more serious about the opportunities online

It is also likely that we’ll see a lot of growth from Enterprise clients. These clients previously resisted SEO due to the complexity of working within legacy back-end systems. As technology increases and back-end systems become less expensive for more capability, we’re going to see companies replace their antiquated CMS’s with SEO friendly options.

Another change that this stage of the product life cycle will bring is in our relationship with the client. As SEO becomes a bigger part of the mainstream marketing mix, our customers will become more and more knowledgeable about SEO (we’re already starting to see this).

We’ll move from having a sales / consultative role to being a thought partner. Our clients will have a good understanding of what needs to be done but they’ll outsource it to us because we’re more efficient at implementing.

Competition Implication
With high growth in revenues, low barriers to entry, and no certification required, the SEO industry is prime for attracting any and all new entrants.

There have always been new competitors. But the face of our competition is going to change greatly. Up until now competition has focused primarily on small start ups and web design firms who decide to add a search component. Some stick around but many are wiped out with the next major shift in the algorithm.

This phase of the SEO life cycle is going to attract better capitalized, stronger competition from many sectors. These new entrants are attracted to SEO by the potential for profits not by the fit with their offering.

We are already starting to see traditional media firms seek to protect their eroding revenues by grabbing a slice of the online pie. But WalMart has shown us that future competition could be anyone. And it will be.

No all new entrants are attracted by dollar signs. There are also companies that are feeling increased pressure to offer a more well rounded package. As the integration of offline and online marketing services increases, customers are putting more pressure on agencies to handle the full scope of their marketing spend including the online component.

Although we’re already starting to see increased competition, many existing SEO companies aren’t feeling the pinch yet because demand is also increasing.

One implication of increased demand coupled with new entrants to the market is the impact on supply. We’re starting to experience a shortage of experienced SEO talent

SEO talent is a scarce resources. And this scared resource is not yet being renewed at a fast enough pace. Whilst some colleges are starting to offer digital media / internet marketing diploma, these grads know very little about what it takes to optimize a website.

Moreover, what they do know is limited to theory. It’s one thing to know that links are important to ranking. Its an entirely different thing to know how to effectively build links.

So what?

Who cares where we are in the product life cycle?

Although we’ve already experienced a lot of growth, this growth is nothing compared to what we’re about to experience.

In this next stage of the SEO life cycle, we’re going to see shifts in our clients, competition and product offering. Knowing that this is coming, will allow you to prepare.

If we know that face of our competition is going to change from other small to mid sized SEO’s to large Agencies and Enterprise size companies in totally unrelated industries then we can prepare for this by determining how we’re going to differentiate ourselves from the new entrants.

And if we know that there is going to be increased pressure on skilled resources then we should be developing in house training programs now.

The future is now. And it’s only just begun.

If you are relying on PPC as a marketing medium and spending more than $5K per month, then you may wish to consider implementing a cost-effective, long-term organic organic SEO management campaign. This can reduce your dependency on PPC and offset the rising costs of bidding on keywords based on search volume / supply and demand. Organic traffic is natural and is accomplished through building quality content to funnel relevant traffic to your site.

Without observation (market analysis), opportunities for optimal positioning could pass you by, without participation, the competition takes the lead. If you want increases in user engagement, increased traffic, higher page rank, a higher percentage of sales conversion, then first you’ll need more content to increase the probability that someone, somewhere will be drawn to it and find your pages useful.

But before you look beyond the horizon and obsess about results, having a clear understanding to guide your actions is needed. With a blueprint, you can scale results systematically or determine where you are in each stage of the process.

Observing time cycles for content, the rate in which it gains or loses positioning in the SERPs (search engine result pages) is important. Looking at this from the standpoint of (a) where you are and (b) where you want to be, it is all about developing continuity and developing the trust and exposure required to get there.

Organic Search Trajectory Cycles - determining how new keywords fit into the existing theme model of your existing content (just wanting to rank for keywords is not enough, you have to build the content).

Example, if you have a site about frogs and you wanted to rank for insects, you would have to create a logical bridge between the two categories to expand the focus of your site, without diluting or losing relevance for the terms you have developed already.

If done tactfully, and gradually over time while reinforcing certain aspects of your internal linking as well as adding links with authority form the new topic (from related sites), you can enter a market with enough momentum to out rank your competition in a fraction of the time.

The Cycles of Velocity - The idea behind velocity in content development and building links, content and topical relevance simultaneously is the key to stable rankings.

In the beginning it is harder to make the initial impression as you are dealing with the defensive factor of the other more established pages and their SEO efforts, so you have to really push the envelope to make an impression.

After mid phase (5 articles or blog posts tactfully integrated with enough related material to be considered a valid / relevant result by search engines) it’s still a struggle, but at least you can start seeing the fruits of your labor and hit the top 50 organic results in search engines.

Then, in the end-phase of the gestation process, closing in on your demographic and appearing for a number of related phrases as well as making a debut in the high vertical marketing channels (the top 20-30 results) a new tactic is required to polish the relevance score for your pages which can stem into multiple high ranking phrases.

Creating islands of content is one method that is effective for this strategy; this method relies on making each related segment just as strong as the one above it. So, instead of having flat architecture and having your root folder strong, all of your sub folders and other categories each have the capacity to rank well and elevate the entire site as a result. This requires internal and external links, diversity, topical modifiers and a tactful direction of how those links distribute their weight.

Holistic Nurturing through Consistency - Ensuring you make your rounds to schedule routine internal link audits or check to see how each segment of your site is evolving. The key here is to go back and track your progress as you break into the upper echelon of an industry.

SEO is a process of tilling the soil (keyword research), planting the seeds (content and links) and being patient enough to see the results rise through the surface and achieve relevance from consumers invoking the pages from the index with related search queries.

Search engine optimization, organic search in particular is all about managing multiple miniature campaigns holistically as part and parcel of a larger marketing strategy. It truly boils down to positioning and relevance.

If your positioning is strong in search engines, then you have the potential to be discovered on accident (much like an impulse purchase). You never know exactly which key phrase combinations a search engine query might latch onto, which is why it is important to write quality topical information.

So, appearing in the same genre of results at the right time, for someone seeking a related query is ideal. Through tactfully promoting your content purposely through organic SEO in this fashion, not only does your traffic, branding and exposure reach new heights, but you truly start to appreciate and understand the infrastructure of what drives an industry (through tracking and analytics) and how to hone your pitch to reach each audience with a unique message.

An aggregator works by scanning the worldwide web with latest postings based on the RSS code (containing the website’s URL) provided or added by the user. When it finds a new posting, news, or update, it will publish the RSS feed on your home page containing the title of the posting, which also serves as a clickable link to the website source. This RSS feed may or may not contain the whole article, a summary, and photos, depending on what RSS aggregator you are using.

Aggregators come in two types: the downloadable program or desktop-type and the online or web-based type. The desktop aggregator usually charges a certain amount for its services; this would include regular updating in the form of upgrades or patches to the original version. This type of RSS reader allows more customization of RSS feeds as well as page format or design over its on-line counterparts. But of course, price can be a drawback.

On-line or web-based aggregators are free of charge. All you need to do is register an account with them then you can start enjoying their services. Depending on the “brand” of the aggregator, customization is more limited. Some even do not allow you to customize at all.

Product and service advertisers are realizing the potential of RSS aggregators in internet marketing. In fact, several submit RSS codes to several popular web-based aggregators to reach the growing technophile and internet-based market. My Yahoo has been instrumental in popularizing RSS technology to both users and website owners and advertisers.

At present, there are many aggregators to choose from and newer versions of the same aggregator are constantly developed by its programmers.

Below are some of these desktop and online aggregators: Desktop Aggregators 1. AmphetaDesk Advantages: - free - supports Linux, Mac, and Windows - easy addition of RSS feeds

Disadvantages: - not maximized use of screen display - few options for customizing

2. FeedDemon Advantages: - user friendly - free trial version - contains prepared popular feeds - allows filtering of RSS feeds - configurable “watch list” to manage junk RSS feeds - search channel feature that incorporates other RSS services e.g. Feedster - allows feed storage for future use - tabbed browsers for channel navigation - built-in podcast receiver

Disadvantages: - supports only Internet Explorer (embedded) - paid software (`$29.95)

Online Aggregators 1. Bloglines Advantages: - all major browsers supported (e.g. Netscape Navigator, Internet Explorer, Firefox) - user-friendly especially for beginners - free, web-based aggregator - easy registration - no advertisements - contains its own directory of RSS feeds of thousands of websites - personal email account for subscribing to newsletter emails (optional) - allows privacy adjustments for personal blogs - allows saved searches - mobile version available - 10 languages supported - Additional add-on tools for automated blogrolls and subscription buttons

2. NewsGator Advantages: - free (consumer-standard version) - provides personalized news channel - allows translation of RSS articles into email format - synchronization of feeds in several devices possible - browse and search feed capabilities save time on surfing - allows keyword filtering - blog headlines - button-click automatic subscription to news feeds

Disadvantage: - Outlook-based thus limited to Windows

3. My Yahoo Advantages: - Free web-based aggregator - user-friendly - customizable home page design - button-click subscription to RSS feeds - built-in directory and search tool for feeds - wide variety of feeds e.g. news (science, technology, local), weather - connects to all Yahoo features and services

Disadvantage - banner advertisements

There are also lightweight RSS aggregator extensions which are actually plug-ins to existing internet browsers. An example of which is Sage aggregator.

Advantages: - free of charge - beginner-friendly - reeds both RSS and Atom feeds - allows feed discovery - can be assimilated to Firefox bookmark (storage and live) - allows OPML feed lists imports and exports - customizable style sheets - supports a wide range of locales e.g. Catalan, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Korean, Polish, Slovenian, etc. - easy installation

Disadvantages: - good for about 12 RSS feeds - limited use to Mozilla-Firefox and Mozilla-Firefox supported browsers

RSS developers promise better features in future versions of their aggregators. Microsoft is planning to include a built-in aggregator in their next Windows version. These developments are definitely something to look forward to by all internet aficionados.

Brad Ro - I make over $10,000 every 2 weeks. How? Click here to find out: http://www.itshelpful.com/brainlessbucks

Having trouble creating your own killer website? Try: http://www.itshelpful.com/adsensebig

What students quickly discover in the 5-Day classes is that the optimization skills are not nearly as hard as many people make them out to be (even for the most competitive phrases,) once you’ve been trained and understand the full scope of influences that are at work. The biggest advantage that we have had is all about the “accuracy of information.”

1. Write content that your audience is already looking for within the last 90 days.

True keyword research is not about “guessing at keywords” but its all about researching actual data. How are your SEO research skills using Wordtracker or Keyword Discovery? At the SEO Workshops we teach much more than the traditional “keyword research” methods. We help students learn “Keyword Forensics” and how to quickly tap into the hidden niche trends that 99% of most Webmasters never even notice.

2. Does your Web copy speak to the reader or does it speak about yourself?

Remember that your Web site should be focused on your audience first and appeal specifically to a niche interest. When writing your Web copy, you need to dialog in an appropriate tone and format for the right audience. Some of the most interesting content will have more appeal if it speaks to your audience in terms of “you.” You can, you might, you will, yours, your and youâ€^TMre INSTEAD of we, ours, weâ€^TMre, we will, we can, etc.

3. Focus on writing for the human audience first and search engines second.

While search engine optimization is important to your visibility, try writing your content first. Most people donâ€^TMt write their best when trying to optimize and create content at the same time. Focus on creating highly useful content that is extremely focused on one topic per page. Once you have completed your writing so that you are pleased with it, then go in to do a mild re-write for the search engines.

4. Tips for triggering idea generation and giving your strategies a unique twist.

While many people seem to spend time exploring their competitor’s Web sites, we encourage you to lead the way with new ideas. Try not to be obsessed with what the competition is doing, but be creative and start your own new trends. Spend just a little more time working on your projects this week than you did last week. Setting yourself apart from the competition is easier than you might think and gives you a huge advantage over others.

5. Creating your content so that it “speaks” to a specific audience of visitors.

Think of how your Web copy reads and ensure the dialog flows smoothly. Read your work out loud and see if you can improve the tone of your message With natural expression. Keep your specific audience in mind. How you write for senior citizen (in tone and in format) may differ considerably from writing for an audience of for example “new parents.” Always ask yourself “what is important to these readers?” Rely on researching accurate data to eliminate guess work.

6. Remember strong calls to action

Without a firm call to action, donâ€^TMt expect the reader to naturally guess at what you want them to do next. Plain ordinary dialog that asks the reader to take the next action will usually work best. Dialog that is written for voice (similar to the way a broadcaster writes to project their personality.)

7. Build your search engine optimization skills in the beginning with the “stress free” approach.

If you are new to SEO, you may want to focus on the long tailed niche phrases since most searchers are doing fairly descriptive and intelligent searches these days. Ideally You want to attract those who already know what they are looking for and just need to find your pages more easily. With practice and the right training you can go after highly competitive phrases too but youâ€^TMll find that the best conversions nearly always come from the niches. Also remember that it is the basic SEO skills that carry you through and must come before any of the advanced strategies. The result will be stable top rankings that stand the test of time with minimal fuss.

8. Give your readers a non-threatening reason to respond right now.

What is the objective for your page and does your Web copy work effectively at fulfilling that objective? It may not always be about trying to sell a product or a service. It should not be about fulfilling your needs first but it should be about meeting the needs of why that searcher first conducted a search. Meet their needs and deliver up something that satisfies their search first and then give the visitor a non-threatening reason why they might respond to you. Do you want their e-mail address? or do you just want them to pick up the phone and call? Never lose sight of the fact that the Web is a marvelous two way interactive experience, if you want it to be. Make your Web site a vehicle for relationship building and remember that many readers may actually have the desire to interact and participate through Blogs or other “User Generated activity.” Give your visitors something that involves their participation.

9. Remember that your readers always want to feel like they are in control of their Web experience.

People often use the Web for researching topics of interest or doing preliminary price comparisons or for looking up information. While most people explore the Web for their own purposes, the more that you put them in control of their experience the better. If appropriate, you may want to consider adding addition tools or functionality to your Web site in order to enhance its usability for your specific audience.

10. Did you know that if you write your content so that it naturally “reads very well.”

You will naturally gain some bonus for having created content of quality. By this, I mean content…that reads well to a human being. Don’t stuff keywords all over the place. Instead, use moderation in everything you do. One of the things you need to understand is that “theme based” search engines like Google, are actually using a measure of artificial intelligence (AI) to measure how well your article “reads” based on all of the overall context of your body text (other than the keywords) based on data that a search engine has gathered concerning a specific topic. This is great news for writers because if you are making a transition to writing for the web, you’ll find some search engines are literally rewarding pages that are “well written.”

John Alexander has taught live SEO Workshops since 2002 at http://www.SearchEngineWorkshops.com as well as Online Webinars at the SEO Workshop Resource Center at http://www.SEW-WRC.com

The truth is, when you do your email marketing right, not only is it an excellent source of income for you, but your subscribers and customers will actually appreciate hearing from you!

Here are three tried and tested ideas for successful email promotions:

Damaged or returned stock promotions - Offer damaged or returned stock for 50% off! Everyone gets returns, it’s a part of doing business. And of course damaged stock is unavoidable. Why not take advantage of email to clear out your stock that’s otherwise going to take up space, while at the same time offering your customers deals that they’re sure to appreciate?

Limited time offer - By offering a great discount on your products for a limited amount of time, people who receive the email feel like it’s urgent they respond, so there’s less chance they’ll close the email to “think about it” and never come back.

Limited quantity offer - Similar to the limited time offer, the people who receive this email will also feel a sense of urgency.

If you go with “limited time or quantity offer stick with the offer. If you write in your email that a product is available for a limited time, then stick to it.

Sometimes you see that a product is available till midnight, 14 days later it’s still available till midnight.

And those are just a few to get you started. Use your imagination, and I’m sure you’ll come up with all kinds of things to send your list that they’ll really ENJOY having. And if you find an email promotion that really works for you.

Do you panic at the thought of writing your own promotional email?

Here’s something you should know: writing an email is 95% rules, and only 5% creativity. So as long as you stick to the rules, you’ll write an email that’s suitable for sending to your customers every time!

Hypnotize the reader with compelling benefits - The most effective email promotions grab readers’ attention with compelling benefits that speak directly to the readers’ deepest desires and greatest fears. Benefits build the value you need to drive people to act when presented with your call to action.

Write your email like you were talking to a friend. Be informal, use contractions, and don’t be afraid to start a sentence with “and” or “but.”To transfer ownership, you want to make sure your reader can actually picture themselves using your product

Use automation to create personalized offers - Nothing is more appealing to people than the ’sound’ of their own names, and nothing grabs someone’s attention faster than something that affects them directly!

We don’t recommend you try to get yours subscriber to purchase directly from your email. Instead, you should ask them to “click here now to learn more,” or something similar.

How it LOOKS makes a big impact on readers, too. Here is how to format your email.

Width - Be sure to format your email message in a table that is not over 60/65 characters wide. If you exceed that, your message may be cut off on the right side of the screen — or at the very least, not print properly

Images - Try to avoid using graphics whenever possible. People with slow connections will have trouble downloading them, and people reading your message offline won’t see them at all.

Bolding - Use bolding just to emphasize the biggest and best benefits in the offer. You should be able to scan the message and instantly understand the biggest benefits

Bullets - Using bulleted points is one of the best ways to break up your copy and make some of your key points really stand out. As will all formatting techniques, make sure to don’t swamp your email with bullet points.

Finally, once you’ve written the letter, give it a final “scan test.” Set it aside for an hour, then return to it with fresh eyes BUT don’t read it word for word. Scan over the letter and see which sections jump out at you. Make sure that those sections contain the key benefits.

Stick to these few simple rules, and you’ll have no trouble turning out emails that get a response, because your customers actually WANT to receive them!

Bjorn Brands is a successful entrepreneur who transitioned from having his own building company to a great online business. Check out his site and see for yourself how his FREE course can help you do the same. http://www.moneyacces.com