8 steps to higher search engine rankings

Interested in getting your website in the top 10?  You are not alone!

The world wide web is a great way to gain exposure in whatever you do. Having a website gives you the ability to have publicity and to be seen by people from all over the world.

Just having a website does not get you instant recognition.  It is earned by strategically marketing your business and website.  Remember, by putting up a website you are immediately entering yourself into a competition. The World Wide Web has become so saturated with websites, it's nearly impossible to be noticed… unless you have a plan.

The easiest way to be found on the web is to be listed in the search engines, such as Google or Yahoo.  You can easily do this by paying to be seen by using Google Adwords or Yahoo Marketing.   This can be effective, but expensive.

Ultimately, you want to have your website to show up naturally on the front page of the search engines.  Follow these 8 simple steps towards optimizing your website and you will see a positive difference in your website ranking.

1.  Comprise a list of search terms you want people to find your site with.  For starters, this should be 3-5 word search strings.  i.e. McDowell Mountain Ranch Real Estate or Toledo Organic Dry Cleaners.  Something that is specific to your business or hobby.

2.  Load your website with original content.  Take the time to write the information in your own words.  Search engines will not give you credit for someone else's work.

3.   Add the key words from item 1 to your content on several different pages of your website.  For example, it is better to have 500 pages with your key words listed once than to have 1 page with your keywords 500 times.

4.    Know your target market.  Write content that will interest them and bring them back for more.

5.   Add fresh content daily or as often as possible.  Ideas to keep your site fresh include blogging, writing articles, interviewing people, and adding polls or RSS feeds.

6.   Keep your site for an extended period of time.  There are many sites that come and go on the world wide web.  The longer your site is around, the higher the search engines will rank you.

7.  Drive people to your website by sending out flyers, sending out mailers, emails, writing articles, blogging, linking to other sites and gaining as much exposure as possible.

8.  Submit your site to the search engines on a monthly basis.  There are many search engine submission websites. Some are free and others charge a fee.  Google "search engine submissions" to find one you like. Either way, you must submit to the search engines or your site will not be seen.

As your site ages and gets more information, you will see a higher ranking for your website.  This does not happen overnight, but by consistently adding information, you will create a website that provides value to the end user.  And ultimately, that is what the search engines are looking for… Providing good information that the end user wants.

To see an example of a relatively young site, 9 months old, that is getting great recognition - visit www.MMRTrailTalk.com.  It is loaded with information that the end users love.  The owner has added information on a regular basis and before long, it was loaded with useful information that the consumer loves.

Website are fun to own, work on and benefit from.  However, they can take a substantial amount of time.  Have a strategy and work your strategy.  You will see the best results and have the most satisfaction with your website.  Enjoy!

7 Reasons You Need to Market with Articles Now

Looking for a simple way to get an edge on your competition?
Successful businesses who are in it for the long haul continually apply innovative marketing strategies and tactics to differentiate themselves and get that edge.  Two such killer marketing strategies are positioning and relationship building.  And guess what?  Article marketing is a proven tactic that just happens to address both of those marketing strategies.  Is it the “be all, end all” of positioning and relationship building?  Absolutely not.  However, it is an excellent step in the right direction.  And on top of that, there’s probably a good chance that your competition is not using this tactic.  Face it.  It takes some time, skill, and effort to write and effectively use articles, that’s why the masses don’t do it however, those looking for an edge do.
So why choose article marketing as one of you marketing tactics?  Here are 7 exceptional reasons:
1.  It is quite simple.  People love to buy from and deal with the best.  Writing and effectively marketing your articles helps you position yourself as the expert in your field.

2.  Let's take this first concept a step further for reason #2.  Let’s be blunt here, as an expert, you can justifiably increase your rates and charge more for your products.

3.  If your articles are good and distributed properly, they can spread like wildfire and literally cause a viral marketing frenzy.  Ultimately driving business your way.

4.  A big part of Internet marketing has to do with the Search Engines like Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc.  It’s critical that we play their game.  That being said, Search Engines love content such as articles!  Many Internet marketers try the latest fad to trick Search Engines into getting a better ranking.  If you have a lot of time and/or money on your hands to keep up with the latest trends and the ever changing Search Engine rules, then do what you feel is right.  However, one tactic still holds true with improving Search Engine ranking, and that’s article marketing.

5.  People love to be and feel well informed – It helps them make better decisions.  Your articles can serve as the source for the input they seek.  And who better to buy from then the source that provided the information in the first place.

6.  Talk about getting major bang for the buck, articles can easily be repurposed in a variety of ways.  For example:
     ==> They can become content for your or someone else's newsletter;
     ==> Used as free giveaways to prospects/clients, in seminars, at networking events, etc;
     ==> Used to spark conversation in a blog or an online networking group such as Ryze;
     ==> Combine multiple articles into an eBook, book or info-product that can be sold or given away in exchange for contact information;
     ==> Become the basis for a live seminar or teleseminar;
     ==> And we can go on and on and on.

7.  Articles when distributed properly are a great way to stay in touch with clients and prospects.  Studies have shown that on average it takes around 7 touches before a prospect buys.  Why not use articles as some of those touches?  This will help continually boost your prospect’s perception of you as someone who consistently adds value.

We live in an age where information is king.  We all know something others would be interested in knowing.  Share your knowledge and like a magnet you’ll draw your prospects towards you.

© 2006 Online Marketing Muscle -- All Rights Reserved.

Autoresponder Training Sessions

Autoresponders work very well when it comes to
training others. This is why autoresponders are the
perfect way to conduct email courses. But there are
other types of training that can be done with
autoresponders as well.

Even college professors have found a use for
autoresponders. They can use them to remind
students about upcoming tests, or to deliver study
guides. Since the information in that professor’s
course is taught over and over again each time a
new class comes in, this saves the professor a
great deal of time.

Autoresponders are also used by colleges to remind
faculty and students about upcoming events.
Because events are scheduled in advance, these
autoresponder messages are set up in advance,
and nobody has to depend on a secretary to get
those notices out!

Many businesses use autoresponders to keep their
employees trained. When new equipment is brought
into the office, and employees need to know how to
operate it, an autoresponder can be set up with
training instructions.

No matter what kind of business you are in, there is
a way that autoresponders can be used. The use of
an autoresponder will save quite a bit of time, and it
can also serve to make the people in your
organization much for effective.