Domain Name Branded
Choosing the right domain name is very important to the success of an internet marketing business. A long and cumbersome name will be hard for people to remember and type in correctly every time. It’s best to choose a domain name that makes use of keywords, but the most important thing is to keep it short and catchy so that people will remember it.
In order to choose a good domain name, you need to take into consideration the basics of your business. For example, your domain name, like all aspects of your site design, should appeal to your target audience and should fit well with your product or service.
This is a situation when you need to be aware of cultural, religious, or other differences. Even people within the same culture with different ages can have completely different definitions of the same word.
Take the word ‘cool’ as an example. An older person may immediately think of a breezy day or a glass of cool water. A young person will think of their favorite pop star or their expensive pair of sunglasses. When choosing words, be aware of your target market and choose accordingly.
Choose the TLD that best fits your situation. .org is very important for nonprofit organizations because of the psychological impact it has on the end user. .com is generally the best for businesses. If the name you want is not available under .com,consider using an alternative such as .net, .biz or .info.
A designation of region to your domain can either help you immensely or greatly interfere with the goals of your operation. For example, 100% Compensation benefits from the use of .co.uk because it is a site specifically targeting that country.The service provided is specifically for the UK as laws are different in other countries.
Furthermore the reason why I chose the domain
http://www.100Percent-Compensation.co.uk
is simply because when someone has an accident or injury they are effectively looking for the end result. The settlement! We achieve 100% compensation for our clients so the domain FITS the purpose of purpose of business.
Ikept thinking of a catchy name but it just never occurred to me. I was thinking on the lines of BIG companies where I could extract ideas, the likes of Autotrader and eBay. But was I surprised to find the perfect fit after the industry had been running for a long time. I assumed it would be taken but mistaken once I checked.
Your domain name must have a meaning… so give it one. Don’t think you’re going to be the next Google if you’re just starting out as it’s like winning the lottery and how often do you win the lottery?
Some search engines will list your site if it is hosted in the country and is linked with
local sites, but others will only include regional domains. If it is important to you to attract local business, be sure to make use of this indication of location.
Search engines are leaning in the direction of tailoring searches to accommodate locality and this is becoming ‘another’ priority for Google and don’t be surprised if others follow too. The end user is becoming more and more important to the search engines so they have to accommodate, provide relevant results in order to stay ahead of the game.
Even if you can think of a catchy domain name that is simple, you run the risk of making it difficult for people to remember. For example, a webmaster may think the name
www.i-like-to-sleep-with-fluffy-pillows.com is easy to remember.
A person who runs across the site may take note and say, ‘I will be sure to remember that. It’s simple enough and I’ll check it out later after the kids are in bed.’That evening, after visiting several other sites, cooking dinner, putting the kids to bed, and paying bills; he may return to the computer to find the site. As he racks his memory in an attempt to retrieve the domain name, he may think, ‘www.i-love-tosleep-with-fluffy-pillows.com’. After a long day, he will probably give up and perform a search.
This time he may choose to use a different site and the fluffy pillows site lost a potential customer.Choosing a shorter name will reduce the chances of mistakes in typing in the URL or simply forgetting it. If you want a long and descriptive domain name, consider using a short name, but add words in the logo, page titles, and similar items.
Domain Registration
Domain registration is the next step to building a web site. Check availability
and register the domain name through a registrar such as
http://www.NameCheap.com.
I have been using this registrar for years and have never had an issue at all. I also use GoDaddy.com occasionally too.
If the name you want is not available with .com or .org, check something else, such as .net,.biz or even .info.Some people spend days and months creating a domain name. They want it to include the keywords, which is a great thing for the search engines. However think of it this way… was eBay a name before they made it famous? It was unheard of but now it’s one of the most powerful brands in the auction industry.They made it famous!Build with Marketing in Mind:
A-Keyword Selection
Keywords are simply words. They are the keys to search engine optimization. Keywords and keyword phrases serve the same purpose,but keyword phrases may be easier to build a strategy around as there may be less competition for search engine ranking than for individual keywords. Also, it may be easier to find phrases to truly fit your niche.There are so many ways to choose keywords and they are shifting, changing, and being upgraded perpetually. The following methods are often employed successfully:
1. Choose different keywords or keyword phrases and assign them to each page of your site.
2. Organize your site based on selected keywords and keyword phrases.
3. Use keyword tools to pick out keywords that meet the needs of your site specifically.
B-Keyword Placement
Once the keywords and keyword phrases are chosen, it is important to use them strategically. To get the most out of your keywords, be sure to use them in the title on your pages. It is best to put the main keywords towards the beginning and to choose short and concise titles that grab attention.
Descriptive headers and sub headers on each page should contain keyword phrases that are much like those used in the page. Also use primary keywords in meta tags, including variations on your main keyword.
When you use keywords, try overlapping them to get more keyword phrases at a time. You need to be careful not to pack too many keywords into a page, but you can get more results from your keywords if you overlap them so that they result in several keyword phrases.
For example, if you have a website about thinning hair products, you could use the phrase, ‘hair thinning shampoo’ because it would encompass several keywords including, ‘hair thinning’, ‘thinning shampoo’, and ‘hair thinning shampoo’.
Below is the html version of a webpage.
<TITLE> INSERT THE TITLE OF THE PAGE </TITLE>
<META name="description" content=" INSERT DESCRIPTION OF WEBPAGE " >
<META name="keywords" content=" INSERT KEYWORDS FOR THE WEBPAGE " >
<META name="robots" content="index, follow">
<META name="distribution" content="global">
Still not satisfied?
Here’s a tip… go to the webpage you like for whatever reason. The higher in the search engines the better simply because they have done all the hard work to get there in the first place.
Now do this…
1-Firefox version – Click on View then Page Source
2-Internet Explorer version – Click on View then Source
So what is this telling you? This is revealing exactly what your competitors or a particular website has done. You can see what they have been doing to get such high rankings.
The Home Page
The importance of the home page cannot be underestimated. This page is necessary to tie a site together and set the tone. It should create the atmosphere that promotes the purpose of the site.For example, if the site is light hearted and sells toys to little children,make sure the home page reflects a whimsical mood.
Choose colors, images, and words that draw people in while also establishing itself as a professional site worthy of trust. In the case of 100% Compensation, I promote a feeling of professional credibility while offering comfort to those suffering from accidents. In this case,Ibalance warmth with a clean, proficient ambiance.
The home page lends organization to a site so that the user can easily find their way to the information they need and highlight the parts of your site that you most want to promote. Make sure that a user can click directly to the home page from any place in the site, so that they can easily navigate.
Put your main keywords and keyword phrases in your home page. Use the home page as the front door to your website. Make sure people can find your front door readily by incorporating the right keywords.Encourage people to come into your site by making it inviting, and make sure that the front door leads to all of the main pages in your website.
I change my homepage every 6 months simply because I want to make it more and more appealing and definitely more inviting. If my site is presented in such a professional manner then I won’t have difficulties in converting visitors into clients.
There is just one person (ME) beside such a large and professional site. I employ a large base of solicitors (lawyers) that handle clients for me. The site looks professional plus I get new solicitor applications every week to join my site as panel members.
Actually, I get bombarded with emails from lawyers wanting to be involved with my site. If they don’t get a response, it’s not because I’m rude as they’ve already received an email saying we are FULLY booked. I then receive postal mail with over-the-top bright, glossy and colorful brochures asking me to reconsider.
That’s the power you get IF you present your website right!
1-Determining the Size and Structures
The website itself must be designed so that it makes sense. It should have a floor plan that makes it easy to find one’s way around. If it is difficult to find what is on the site, people will leave and go somewhere that is user friendly. A well organized site will also do better with the search engines.
Always remember that while a site is designed to increase visibility for search engines, it must remain easy and pleasant to use for the visitor who will be using the site. The point of achieving high rankings is not merely to get people to come to the site, but to keep them there and encourage them to take action.
The only way to accomplish this objective is with a well organized site with great content. You can guide people deeper into your site from the active content area by linking to content.
Web Hosting Powered
Reliable web hosting can make or break a website. If a customer or client goes to a website to find that it is temporarily unavailable, or that it is loading very slowly, they are likely to leave immediately and hesitate to return. Make sure the host is able to accommodate your projected traffic and the technology built into your site.
Selecting the most expensive web hosting does not ‘guarantee’ reliable service, but choosing the lowest priced provider without checking into their dependability can backfire. All of the preparation and optimization in the world will not help you if your site is down.Some hosts do not regulate what they put on their servers.
You do not want to be placed with a spammy domain that will get the entire server blacklisted. If this happens, everyone faces the same problems as the offender because of the server.
I personally have been using
http://www.Hostgator.com
for several years and not once have they let me down, so I can honestly recommend them and they are one of the cheapest too. Even this book you downloaded is off of Hostgator’s server.
SEO 101
First I’ll go through what you need to know about SEO then switch your mindset completely and you won’t even notice the difference of how to apply it naturally without even trying.When a person begins testing the waters with SEO (oh SEO means search engine
optimization) it can be overwhelming. There are shifting search engine algorithms which are apparent every 3 months, a tangle of methods, free and paid services, piles of good and erroneous information, and enough acronyms and jargon to confuse anyone.
The good news is that you can start simple and as you grow your business, you will grow your understanding of internet marketing. Over time you will learn to creatively and dynamically use SEO with other marketing techniques to expand your business and increase your visibility. SEO doesn’t mean anything on its own. It needs to applied across every possible traffic source.
Understand the following concepts:
1. Search Engine Algorithms
Priority number 1: Search engines make more money when they keep their searchers happy. They are constantly reviewing and changing the algorithms they use to determine rankings. To find the websites that their searchers are most likely to find the information they are looking for.Search engines try to weed out sites that are merely posting words to get high volumes of internet traffic and give high rankings to sites that provide quality information that fit the needs of the searchers. Priority number 2: Quality information.
2. The Importance of Relevance and Networking
The best way to keep your site fresh and growing is to expand the exposure of your site across the internet as a whole. It is a dynamic and fickle environment where news gets old quickly and new and fresh information spreads like wildfire.
What worked yesterday might not be effective today. Using the static techniques and methods will restrict your ability to go with current trends and keep up to date. Ask yourself what is hot; what is getting attention; what stories, jokes and information are spreading; and how you can tap into those things.
It is important to work with the information in a way that is relevant to your site; however, by using disconnected content, you will not score well with readers or search engines in the long run.
SEO Graveyard
Common mistakes can be avoided through awareness of the SEO pitfalls.The following problems with SEO strategy may cost you money and time.
1-Exclusively Using Formula Based Marketing This type of marketing tends to leave a trail that is very easy to decipher and follow.This leads to poor results with search engines. Even if it did produce good results initially, competitors would be able to easily replicate your methods, thereby decreasing the effectiveness.The real disadvantage to limiting marketing to formula based techniques is that you are not able to capitalize on the attributes of your business that makes it unique.
By targeting a niche market, exploring creative ways to appeal to customers, and using new and cutting edge techniques of marketing, you will lead the pack rather than trying to catch up.Always stay ahead of the competition and solidify business contacts with ethical and socially responsible marketing. In this way, you will not only rise to the top of the search engine rankings, but you will become a leader in your field; which will open doors that could never be opened with a ‘cookie cutter’ marketing attempt.
Think about the person who started a video rental store in the 1980’s.They were on the top of the heap and were destined for success as people knocked their doors down trying to get in to rent movies.In time other and more efficient ways of getting movies took over and
many of the video stores went out of business.
People who adapted to the market and adjusted to the changing times were able to shift their businesses to something that stayed competitive. People who could not shift with the new developments were left to close up shop.
In the world of the web, this is even truer. Changes are fast and sweeping. If you cannot stay on top of current trends and the needs of an ever changing market, you will close up shop too. For example …
Blockbusters was a HUGE success offline, then NetFlix came along.NetFlix was so creative and aggressive with their marketing methods that they physically ‘hammered’ Blockbusters to the bottom of the leader board. Stay ahead or get wiped out.
Being Too SEO Obvious
A ‘real’ web page will not have a perfect header that is identical to the titles and links. A web page that is created to appeal to real people rather than search engines is not usually so leading. Because of this,some search engines may penalize a web site for being too obvious in their SEO attempts. In other words, search engine algorithms have been developed to try to reward websites that are using so called approved SEO strategies and penalize those who are more concerned about the search engines than the quality of their content for the end user.Keep your site natural and use some creativity to boost your rankings.
We’ll get to SEO applications later on where you will learn how to apply it without even trying for both search engines and the end user. |