Learn to Market on the Internet 33 posts by 10 users

Posted: 01/26/2008 at 08:27PM

If you want to share... why not share with everyone?

Why don’t you post some of your ideas here for everyone to see?

Posted: 01/26/2008 at 09:14PM

Ok then... Thanks!

Here we go...

Would you suggest that someone use Yahoo, Google, or both to buy key words to generate traffic for thier site?

Posted: 01/26/2008 at 10:57PM

Good topic. FYI - I had one issue with my site where an online function didn't allow google to search keywords within a specific area. This was a huge SEO issue. Got it fixed in the meantime but watch those automated functions to insure that they don't hurt your SEO efforts.

Posted: 01/27/2008 at 07:32PM

By the way, what does SEO stand for?

Thanks,
Mike Fajen

Posted: 01/28/2008 at 04:25PM

As previously stated SEO Stands for Search Engine Optimization.

Essentially this is making your Website relevent to keywords you wish to rank for in the organic searches on search engines (unpaid searches).

So for instance, if you wanted to SEO a page for Real Estate Investing, you would create a page that has relevant content, relevent title tags, header tags and tagged images. This type of optimization is known as On-Page Optimization.

Another form of optimization is Off-Page Optimization. This type consists of getting quality backlinks to your site from high page ranked websites that are related to your niche industry. Using the real estate investing keyword example, you would want a backlink from a real estate investing site such as BiggerPockets.com. However, a simple http link is not enough, the particular keyword you wish to rank for must be hyperlinked to your page for ranking. Make sense?

Sorry if that was confusing, but that last little bit of advice concerning the hyperlink is the magic to backlinks. Too many people miss that little gem.

Hope this helped,

Chris

Posted: 01/29/2008 at 06:03AM

Are You talking about SEO or PPC?

Posted: 01/29/2008 at 06:42PM

These are some big questions, but here's a down and dirty explaination.

1) How would one go about finding the key words best to use?

To find keywords you must think like your prospects. Try and step outside of yourself and into the shoes of your target market. For instance, someone facing foreclosure is going to have a different mindset when looking for relief as opposed to a REI looking to help foreclosure victims.

Keyword tools can be used to cultivate ideas, but unfortunately they dont have emotion. Use tools to generate ideas, but use your noggin to see if these search terms are coming from your target market or not. No matter what they may claim, keyword tools are not all that accurate.

Another thing you can possibly do is do is go to yahoo answers and search for people facing foreclosure and what they are asking, what terms are they using, what emotions are they feeling. After this position yourself in front them and help them out. when you understand your target market, the rest falls into place.

2) What opt in form / email marketing services do you like or suggest?

The autro responder service I use and recommend is www.Aweber.com. I have tried Shopping Cart, Get response, and a host of other free services that had poor deliverability. Aweber has by far the best deliverability and in my experience is extrememly user friendly.

For most of my ventures I go with a straight opt-in form. I have found pop ups, pop unders, and the like dont seem to have the same effectiveness as they used to. Just put an inline form with a clear call to action and you should do fine. The key is to try out a few methods and see what converts best for you and your situation.

3) How does one get help setting up a Google campaign?

One of the best places to start are the tutorials that Google actually provides. There are also all kinds of manuals out there that will teach you all you need to know about the adwords game. The thing with adwords is not to rush in, you can get burned, I have seen horror stories of people bidding on a broad keyword, not setting their daily limit correctly and losing $2000 in about 3 hrs, and to boot the destination page they were sending all this traffic to was wrong!

So yeah, as with anything, take your time, learn it right the first time and it will pay dividends later. Also, if you have any more specific questions you can shoot me a PM. I would be more than happy to help out.

Hope this helped,

Chris

Posted: 01/31/2008 at 09:36PM

I wanted to make everyone aware I have heard recenlty that SEO with meta tag keywords & descritpions don't work anymore with the major search engines. I have a very good friend who actually does SEO & PPC, I asked her about this information and she agreed. If anyone is interested I can give you her contact information. She actually optimizes your website and you can predetermine how much you want to spend every month on your PPC. The other really great thing is her program comes with lead capture information. So you can track people and even have their information.

By the way I'm in the process of getting a new website so please don't judge my site yet!!!

Got to love the internet!!

Twyla Craven

Posted: 02/02/2008 at 07:58AM

In response to the comment made about SEO not working anymore, that is totally false. Organic optimization CAN be done absolutely, it has just become a very difficult and expensive thing to do. PPC is definitely considered the easy way but can be less effective because people do recognize that it is sponsored. Real organic SEO results can be achieved but at major costs like 20-40k per year or more depending on what you want. It can also take years to achieve the desired results if done correctly. Many companies offer SEO inexpensively but be wary as optimizing your site for quick results and incorrectly can get you penalized and/or thrown off google and other engines. PPC is the easiest and most inexpensive method of advertising if done correctly.

Posted: 02/09/2008 at 10:06PM

A simple way to find targeted keywords is the following:

You are the consumer. What would you type in google for a given subject?

I want info on bank owned homes in seattle.

I might as a consumer type any number of the following keywords - and remember many people are now using long tail keywords to dial into more accurate results.

bank owned properties seattle
seattle foreclosures
seattle bank properties
hud properties in seattle area
va owned homes seattle metro
reos seattle
seattle no down foreclosures
no money down houses
zero down reo's seattle washington

and etc.... plus there are online keyword sources you can use to develop keyword lists. Another way to help is by looking at your site stats and see what type of phrases people type in when searching and than build off those phrases.

I highly recommend using wordpress as a platform as you can create content easily and if you use the correct themes which have been scrubbed of spam links, etc... the optimize very easily for the spiders.

It is very common for my sites to be on page one of google within 4 hours or less of a new post made. I also have a drill I go thru for each post that gives it a bit of " power" . But, needless to say it shows how much the spiders love fresh content.

Make each post title your exact keyword phrase. Make sure you are using a wp theme that is structured to optimize well. Not all do. Do not expect to get on page 1 with a competitive keyword without a bit of work. That is why you want to go after keyword phrases and long tail keywords.

You will have a hard time ranking for " seattle homes" without quite a bit of work in the SEO channels. But, once you start naming subdivisions in seattle your work becomes a bit easier. Than, I will also use a tactic I call keyword concantonation and that so far has been a real powerful strategy.

It is not the same as a phrase or a long tail keyword. It is the method the site is setup that causes the effect. Than, when making a post the full force of this strategy comes into play. Oooh...there's so much more but that will have to wait for another post.

In the meantime chase down less competitive. The engines are very savvy to spam sites going after major keywords and they have plenty of technology in place to slap someone around. You may get a fews days in the sun and think you hit a jackpot until you find your site has dropped out of view for that term.. That's when you have to earn your way back to the game.

Regards,

David