Creating Search Engine Friendly Pages

There is no point in building a website unless there are visitors coming in. A major source of traffic for most sites on the Internet is search engines like Google, Yahoo!, MSN, Altavista and so on. Hence, by designing a search engine friendly site, you will be able to rank easily in search engines and obtain more visitors.
Major search engines use programs called crawlers or robots to index websites to list on their search result pages. They follow links to a page, reads the content of the page and record it in their own database, pulling up the listing as people search for it.

If you want to make your site indexed easily, you should avoid using frames on your website. Frames will only confuse search engine robots and they might even abandon your site because of that. Moreover, frames make it difficult for users to bookmark a specific page on your site without using long, complicated scripts.

Do not present important information in Flash movies or in images. Search engine robots can only read text on your source code so if you present important words in Flash movies and images rather than textual form, your search engine ranking will be affected dramatically.

Use meta tags accordingly on each and every page of your site so that search engine robots know at first glance what that particular page is about and whether or not to index it. By using meta tags, you are making the search engine robot's job easier so they will crawl and index your site more frequently.

Stop using wrong HTML tags like to style your page. Use CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) instead because they are more effective and efficient. By using CSS, you can eliminate redundant HTML tags and make your pages much lighter and faster to load.

Microsoft May Be Running Out of Time on Yahoo Deal

May 2 (Bloomberg) -- Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer may be running out of time to clinch his proposed purchase of Yahoo! Inc. as the Internet company forges tighter ties with Google Inc.

Microsoft was leaning toward making a hostile bid as of last night, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Yahoo may agree to use Google's Web advertising software within a week, the newspaper reported. The decision would build on a test program the companies ran last month.

After three months of pressing Yahoo to give up looking at alternatives and agree to a deal with Microsoft, Ballmer faces a potential setback. An accord with Google may spur Yahoo's sales and give it a better chance of staying independent, pressuring Microsoft to raise its $44.6 billion bid.

``The board and management of Yahoo are trying to retain independence at all costs,'' said Laura Martin, an analyst at New York-based Soleil Securities Corp. who has a ``hold'' rating on Yahoo shares.

Yahoo's test of Google's ad system initially applied to 3 percent of its search queries. If the company extends that to all of them, it may generate more than $1 billion in incremental cash flow, Citigroup Inc.'s Mark Mahaney said in a report last month.

The San Francisco-based analyst, who advises investors to buy Yahoo, said then that the deal might force Microsoft to boost its $31-a-share bid. Last month, Ballmer gave Yahoo a deadline to negotiate a deal at the original price, which the Internet company ignored.

Walk Away

Ballmer said yesterday that he would walk away from the purchase before he overpays for Yahoo, the Sunnyvale, California- based owner of the second-most popular Internet search engine.

``I know exactly what I think Yahoo is worth to me, exactly,'' Ballmer said in a meeting with employees, according to remarks provided by spokesman Frank Shaw. ``I won't go a dime above, and I will go to what I think it's worth if that gets the deal done.''

Yahoo spokeswoman Tracy Schmaler and Google spokesman Adam Kovacevich declined to comment. Shaw didn't return a call late yesterday.

Yahoo has repeatedly turned down the bid since Microsoft's first approach Jan. 31. Microsoft, the world's biggest software maker, would use the takeover to bolster competition with Google, the leader in the $41 billion online advertising market.

Jerry Yang, Yahoo's CEO, has said the offer is too low. Ballmer, who gave the company until April 26 to agree to a deal, let the deadline pass without taking action.

Microsoft's Options

Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft may make a friendly deal with Yahoo, start a proxy fight to replace Yahoo's board or abandon the bid, Ballmer said at the meeting. The company will make an announcement in ``very short order,'' he said.

``Not getting this done is putting a substantial amount of pressure on him,'' said Rob Enderle, president of the research firm Enderle Group in San Jose, California.

Microsoft rose 8 cents to $29.48 in trading before exchanges opened after closing at $29.40 on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The shares have dropped since Jan. 31, pulling the value of the half- cash, half-stock deal to $29.48, based on yesterday's close. Yahoo climbed 89 cents to $27.70 in early trading.

Google may be using its Yahoo partnership to delay the deal, Enderle said.

``Google wants it to go as long as possible,'' he said. ``The longer this goes on, the happier Google is.''

Google Fights

Yahoo said last month that it would test displaying ads sold by Google next to Internet search results. The trial would last as long as two weeks, the company said.

Google, Yahoo and Microsoft sell text links that appear next to search results, charging advertisers when they are clicked. Google generates more revenue from each search query, so a partnership may boost Yahoo's revenue.

Yahoo and Google may strike a nonexclusive partnership, meaning that the system could display ads from competitors, including Microsoft's, the Journal said. That approach is designed to keep antitrust authorities from blocking the deal, the newspaper said.

The U.S. Justice Department is reviewing the initial test, Mountain View, California-based Google said last month. The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee would examine any formal partnership between Google and Yahoo, Chairman Herb Kohl, a Wisconsin Democrat, said last month.

``Regulators will not allow this,'' Soleil's Martin said. ``It would put all of Internet advertising into the hands of Google, the predominant search marketer on the Web.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Amy Thomson in New York at athomson6@bloomberg.net; Jonathan Thaw in San Francisco at jthaw@bloomberg.net

Blogs Build Up Back Links in Search Engines

One of the most powerful online tools that any online entrepreneur can use to quickly build up back links pointing to their sites is a blog or web log as it used to be referred to in the early days.

Actually there are very few other online tools that can be as effective as a blog in helping a webmaster build up the number of back links pointing to their site at high speed. Link Bait Articles and Blogs One of the most effective techniques to use with blogging is to create a link bait article on your blog.

Link bait articles as the name suggests is the kind of article that provokes others to link to it. To succeed with link bait articles, you will need to be very focused about what you want to achieve because there are various techniques and the worst mistake you can make is to try and combine several of them instead of selecting one.

The most common technique is to target the most popular blogger for a well orchestrated campaign. You can contradict them on a certain controversial issue for instance. The idea here is to create a buzz around the controversy. The more people discuss the issue the more they will want to link to your article as they refer to it. If you have access to explosive industry news that nobody else has, this is yet another way to create a link bait article or post.

It will help if your news item is closely related to a hot topic of debate or discussion that is going on at the moment. Remember that the objective here is to accumulate a high number of back links as quickly as possible pointing to your site.

The effect of this will be to dramatically increase traffic to your site immediately and gradually to help improve your ranking with search engines so that you get even more traffic coming in directly from search engines. Using Blogs to Create a Presence and Winning Image Yet another way in which you can use blogs effectively is in creating a presence for yourself and an effective image. This is very easy to do. All you need to do is to launch a blog that shows off your expertise. And then to attract attention to yourself visit other blogs that cover a similar subject to what you are an expert in. Give free advice and useful incites but make sure that you do not link back to your site in your comments.

Just concentrate on building up the right image you want as an expert in your field. If you do this effectively, two things will happen. Firstly sooner or later those reading your comments will start to look for your site. Finding it should not be too difficult because most blog software links back to your site using your name.

The blogs that do not do this like blogger will link back to your profile and so all you have to do is update your profile and it will be very easy to find your site. The last resort is to use your name on a search engine which most folks are able to do very easily.

The second thing that will happen is that as traffic to your blog grows, so will the back links to your site Link to Other Blogs to Receive More Links Than You Can Handle This strategy may look suspect but it usually works like a charm. It is based on the simple golden rule of life that to receive, one has to give first. All you have to do is to create a useful blog with plenty of valuable information and then link to other blogs and sites that are useful resources for further information concerning what you have discussed on your blog.

Now while it is true that not every site you link to will link back, the truth is that some will and if you continue with this practice for a reasonable period of time, you will end up with a sizeable amount of back links pointing to your site. Blogs are very valuable online tools for helping any webmaster quickly build up their traffic and back links.

Why it's a BAD Idea to Promote Hot Selling Products on eBay

Do a quick search on Google, Yahoo, or your favorite auction resource site, and you'll quickly discover there are several software programs targeted to vendors who want to promote hot selling products on eBay.

The infatuation with hot selling products exists because sellers believe if you target items that have a robust sales pattern, you'll have a better chance at profiting on eBay. This is both true and false.

Yes... hot selling products can improve your bottom line. But unfortunately by the time the average eBay seller (a) realizes what the hot selling products are, (b) purchases stock to sell on eBay, and (c) actually puts the items up for sale, the demand is already being met by other eBay sellers who probably started the hot selling product trend some time ago.

Not only that, with thousands of people also having access to the same hot selling product lists, you'll have to contend with other eBay vendors who have the exact same ideas that you do. So you'll be up against the original sellers who are currently feeding the demand, AND doing the tango with newer sellers who have jumped on the same hot selling product bandwagon that you did.

Okay maybe this won't happen to you. But suppose it does. What if competition becomes so great that prices start dipping below the wholesale cost that you paid for the item? (It happens all the time on eBay.) And what if you lose $100, $200, or even $1,000 on inventory that you thought would be flying off the shelf? Suddenly that hot selling item is looking rather cold sitting in your garage collecting dust.

So if not hot selling products on eBay, then what? Do what the majority of PowerSellers do. Sell what you want, instead of what's hot. Repeat after me, "Every day ordinary items sell extremely well on eBay... Every day ordinary items sell extremely well on eBay... Every day ordinary items sell extremely well on eBay." Allow this to become your mantra, because it is very much true.

I know this from first-hand experience as I analyze top sellers instead of hot products. And my research has continuously shown me that mediocre products don't necessarily translate into mediocre sales. For instance, there's a seller right now who clears about $1,000-$2,000 a week selling magnets. And that's AFTER eBay and PayPal fee's. Another seller promotes homemade CD's to a specific audience and clears $900-$2,000 a week.

A few sellers make $500-$700+ a week - after expenses - promoting public domain information. And the cool thing about public domain information is that anybody can sell it because it's free. So that's pure profit by selling something they never paid for. Talk about the ultimate arbitrage opportunity!

The ultimate key in succeeding no matter what product you end up selling, is to build a successful strategy. To figure out 'how' to profitably market what you have, instead of chasing after the next great thing. Because once you have the strategy part down, you can sell anything on eBay and make it a hot seller to your bank account.

What Does a Good Sales Web Page Need?

I have a background in sales and public relations which transfers nicely to the internet, which is just another form of media with the same human beings with the same wants, needs and reactions as those who read the newspaper and watch TV.

As a means of increasing my affiliate products income, as of the date of writing this, I've been going to topic related websites in order to secure interesting products and services I may offer to others for a commission. Because I'm already Clickbank merchant, using them to pay my own affiliate partners and take my orders, I did my search for other merchants using the same service.

What I found is this: The great thing about the internet is anyone can try to start making money by making a sales web page. The bad thing about the internet is anyone can try to start making money by making a sales web page.

That's right folks, with no training whatsoever you to can get started and make many of the same mistakes I've seen on some of these websites some of which may still even be uncorrected on my huge whatever you need discount type site.

Here are some of the conclusions I developed while studying these sites for product inclusion and sales potential:

1.Use Your Title Tag Home Page doesn't give anyone including search engines enough with which to work. Would you open the door to a building without sufficient signage? Then why should a prospective buyer click on the link on a search engine that says Index?

2.Description tags Come Second to Importance
This is the description that search engines will use. It's your job in your description not just to describe, but to sell me on the idea of clicking on your link to visit your site. If your sales pitch sounds better than your description then put some of that pitch into your description tag!
Two book stores happen to be located side by side. Both have attractive store names, but one is offering comfortable chairs and coffee as you browse. The other store may offer the same thing but how do I know that without the description of the benefits of going into that book store? Which store would I go into? Which link would you click? The one describing benefits or the one with just the title?

3.A Large Font Descriptive Compelling Title
Okay, I'm at your page, you have about five seconds to get me to stay on your page and keep reading, listening, watching etc..
How to Take Strikes and Counter-Attack Even When You're Hurt http://KirkhamsebooksMartialArt/Martial_Arts_Videos/
This title obviously attracts martial artists, boxers and those interested in self-defense.

Graphics
Due to an experiment in making my sales pages copy and pasteable into emails some of my pages are lacking graphics. Graphics include a book cover please. Some of my older books still lack book covers and I'm finding a good titled, colorful book cover will attract attention, give prospects more confidence in your product and therefore potentially increase sales.
Samples

When I go to an off line book store, I'll read the cover, read the inside flap, table of contents and flip through pages. Admittedly, I'm still correcting this in some of my own ebooks, but I see the importance in giving the public the same options as they would in an off line book store. Providing a downloadable free version of your ebook would give your prospects the same privileges as if they trekked through the rain, paid $3.00 per gallon for gas and drove to their local book store. An on-line version with the page linked should be considered as an alternate option.

This will help with search engines and help with a problem I myself have. I will often download a sample of a product and sometimes not look at it for over a month. 'What's the hurry', I think to myself, 'it's on my hard drive.' Sometimes I feel reading it online will tempt me faster to buy.
Customer Service

Okay you're at the book store and you have a question about a book or you can't find the book you're looking for. So you look for the staff, which are no where to be found. What do you do? Well hopefully go to my book store, but probably go to the the next book store down the street, find an attentive staff member, get your questions answered and buy your book there. By the way, which book store will you refer your friends to?

My fellow authors and business friends, all of this is true on the internet, only your competitors are only a click away not a block away.
Don't worry about spam, you have filters just like a book store may have a staff member to screen calls. Worry more about having better communication with your guests than your one click away competitors have with theirs.

Post Visit Contact
Ever notice how book stores will do everything possible to stay in contact with you and get you to come back. They know you may not buy that expensive book, CD or DVD on your first visit. Being a multi-product store as opposed to a single product as some of you are including myself, the book store will send you offers and discounts in both snail mail and email. Every book store and coffee shop I walk into has a card for me they punch every purchase I make and after a set number I get a free product.

Do not forget about your prospects after they buy or after they leave your site.
The big point here being you're losing a lot of sales and future sales without offering incentives to stay in contact with your previous visitors as well as making it to their advantage to revisit your site due to fresh content. Do you archive your newsletters on your website with a link to those archives on the newsletter you're sending out? Do all of your newsletters contain a clickable link to your sales page. Giving prospects a chance to read your archives could peak their interest enough to buy your product. The links to your sales page will help your search engine ranking a bit as well.

Conclusion
Familiarity leads to comfort, comfort leads to confidence, confidence leads to increased sales and happy clients confident enough to buy again from you and refer others to your website. The next time you go to a successful book store or comparable off line store similar to your product or service, think to yourself, are my guests offered the same benefits?

How to scrutinize your web design professional when building your accessible website

In all extent, creating something by with a tiny basic knowledge can be stunning and exigent task for all in any view. Stunning because, you are going to produce something by holding elfin knowledge on it and exigent because of the ways and means that one needs to take in order to finish the development.

When you're starting a new online business your first wish to create a website that will looks to be specialized and decipherable. Then you have to search for the best web design professional who will guide you the traditions to build the creative website design which will represent you and your business theme. What are the symbols for a graceful professional website builder? How to identify affordable and accessible web design? Who will save you wealth by combining numerous features of a traditional website program into attractive website? These may be your thoughts arises in your mind but it is viewed that ethical productive website builders are also easy to use. They offer you a way to fabricate a small business website design without the need of knowing a lot of technical stuff or html.

When choosing a cheap professional website builder, just remember to judge the following features which are crucial when building a productive handsome web presence for your business:

1. To build a professional-looking website they must have little bit basic knowledge on FTP, HTML, web designing styles and java script. If these are all new to you, you should learn them through different online resources and tutorials.

2. They should identify your target market and then made a vast RND on it. Remember, they will be creating your website for that market. They should realize the criteria and features of the visitor’s means what they would like to see on your site, as well as the content.

3. Advice them to study your competitors. Recommend them to visit the websites of your competitors and identify the things they used to effectively attract visitors.

4. Plan ahead. Write down the sections and features you would like to be included in your website and discus with them. Combine your ideas with the demands of your potential clients.

5. Navigation should be in first preference when they build your website. Make sure that your website is easy to navigate. Make sure that all buttons and links can be easily located. Also, put a link on every page that will take your visitors to you homepage.

6. Suggest them to consider effective color combination. You can't simply use pink and red on your website just because they are your favorite colors. Advocate them, to build your website look professional; you will need to stick with neutral colors.

7. Advice them to make your homepage tantalizing. This is the first page that will be presented to your visitors. Thus you have to concentrate on it vastly. Make sure that it is eye-catching so your visitors will be convinced to explore the whole website.

8. Advocate them to seal your website with unique quality content. Make your website will be a great resource of information to entice your visitors to visit again that site.

9. Shopping cart - When someone is fascinated in a product or service on your site, you'll need to have a shopping cart for them to place that item. Consult with your web design professional about this function. If the builder you're looking at doesn't provide this, you might want to look elsewhere.

10. Templates and image libraries - Some website builders have templates and they will suggest you to use any of them, and some even provide gallery images that you can add to your site. However, a really good professional website builder will have more than just a few. It is better to you to create just what you have in mind. Efficiently designed websites might be a little costly issue but it is a good to one time investment. Online business is fast grabbing up and more and more people turn to shop online as it is time saving and cost effective views. Thus you have to consider the emotions of those visitors who will visit your website and your simple idea to restrict them into your site in long time basic.

Strategic Domain Name Selection for Increasing Traffic and Conversion Rates

The days of a domain name being just a web address are long gone; today, domain names are a critical element of your marketing toolbox. In this presentation, learn how you can build a portfolio of traffic-generating “Direct Navigation” domain names to drive additional traffic to your web site while simultaneously increasing conversion rates.

“Direct Navigation” domain names—essentially highly-targeted descriptive domain names that users type directly into their browser—are one of the fastest growing advertising channels: in 2007, nearly 10% of all paid search clicks—an estimated $1 billion worth—were derived from direct navigation portals.

Do you know how to take advantage of direct navigation traffic? Who are these users who search via domain names rather than Google, and how can you best sell to them?Via case studies and empirical research, Johnston will help attendees learn:

What is direct navigation traffic?

How does your choice of domain name effect search engine placement?

How does your choice of domain effect your ad click-through rates?

How can you capture traffic from users “searching without a search engine?”

How can you build a portfolio of descriptive domain names that will generate targeted traffic for
many years to come?