Archive for Blog
Top Search Engine Rankings: Look Off-Site and On-Site
Posted by: | CommentsEver notice how some sites rank higher than others? The problem is the higher ranking sites sometimes don’t show any type of SEO optimization or even any thought to quality content on-site.
Now, you might think why is that? You go through all the planning, building optimized site structures and quality content only to get outranked by a site with no seen optimization. Not fair, right?
Well, Matt Cutts, Google’s main man explains this in a video on the Google Webmaster Help YouTube channel. Basically, according to Matt, good rankings don’t just come from on-site optimization; they also come from relevant incoming links and resource content.
So, for instance, a school with good information on study habits may attract quality inbound links and would possibly rank higher than a site that only looks at on-site optimization.
The whole point is this: don’t only look at on-site optimization; off-site optimization is just as important or even more than on-site optimization. This includes attracting incoming links from sites that Google sees as highly respected resources and then gives that “juice” down to your site.
This doesn’t mean you should resort to “black hat” techniques like buying incoming links, but it does mean you need to put emphasis on off-site techniques that get you incoming links. A few ways to do this include:
- Posting quality and consistent content to your blog and site
- Writing quality articles and submit them to relevant directories
- Reaching out to your targeted audience through social media
- Writing relevant press releases and submitting to PR services
No matter how you look at it, search engine optimization isn’t just about on-site work; you need to concentrate efforts on off-site optimization as well.
See video below to view the original video of Matt Cutts on this subject.
What’s your take on this? Do you focus on both on and off-site optimization?
“8 Must-Haves for an Effective Opt-In Page”
Posted by: | Commentsby Ali Brown
There are several ways to build your list, and one of the easiest is to build an opt-in page (that’s a web page with a form that online users can fill out, telling you their name, email address, and other contact information). You can invite people to opt-in to your list right on your homepage, and you can also have more opt-in pages embedded within your site for different courses or offerings. But take warning: The phrase “if you build it, they will come” doesn’t necessarily apply.
If you want people to actually sign up, there are several must-have items you must incorporate into your opt-in page to make sure it works and inspires ACTION.
Let’s say, for example, you are hosting a free teleseminar about a hot new topic in your industry. You need people to opt-in and reserve their spot for this content-rich call, where people will learn something they can immediately apply to their business. Maybe people aren’t interested in signing up for your general list off your homepage, but they are really interested in your FREE teleseminar topic. This might prompt them to opt-in and join your list.
So, what does your opt-in page need? I’ve broken it down into 8 essentials:
1. A memorable domain name. Select a domain name that’s so easy that people can remember it (example: YourDomain.com/help)
2. Welcoming media (video, audio, image). Add a video where you tell visitors about how they’ll benefit from opting in. If you’re not comfortable with video, next best is an audio message. Otherwise, go with an attractive image. Make sure to include a caption explaining why they should watch or listen, and make sure you include your name and introduce yourself in your video or audio message.
3. Opt-in form. Have your web assistant create a small contact form that appears ideally on the top-right portion of the web page. Make “name” and “email address” required fields. I like to ask for “company”, “mailing address”, and a “telephone number”, as optional fields.
4. Powerful copy. Use a memo style for addressing your audience, and make sure you:
- Greet your reader with “To: (Insert their category, such as Small Business Owner),” so they see this is relevant to them. Also include “From: Your Name,” so it seems personal.
- Relate with the audience. Example: “As an entrepreneur, don’t you wish that you had more than 24 hours in a day?”
- Identify with the pain your audience is feeling, such as how you struggled to get clients when you first started your business.
- Let them know you have answers for them.
- Touch on how you have expert knowledge that can help them solve their problem.
- Emphasize what they’ll learn and be able to use right away. Entice them with the benefits, but leave some surprises to be revealed.
- Let them know that you’ll be in touch with more information and resources.
5. Include your bio information. Let your readers know who you are and why your background makes you a great resource. This is more of your standard bio compared to the background you’ll give them in your memo. I put my official bio in a sidebar on my opt-in pages, so it’s part of the template.
6. Privacy policy. Adjacent to your opt-in box, you’ll want to include a brief privacy statement so that your potential customers know that you are not going to share their contact info.
7. Give something away of value. Last and most importantly, make it worthwhile for people to opt in. In our example, it’s a FREE seat at your hot new teleseminar. But, you could also offer a free ebook download, a free CD, or video to people right when they land on your website for the first time.
8. Keep the conversation going by inviting your reader to join you on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, etc. You’ve probably seen the Facebook and Twitter thumbnail icons on pretty much everyone’s homepage these days — and they make it really easy for your readers to go straight to your social media sites and sign up as a fan or follower. Use them!
I just launched a FREE report yesterday, and that opt-in page is live. So you can see this real-life example, here now.
(By the way, on that page, you should opt-in to get a FREE copy of my new report “Grow That List! The 7 Streams of List Building That Are Working Right Now.” It’s chock-full of great tips to help build your list!
© 2011 Ali International, LLC
Millionaire entrepreneur mentor Ali Brown teaches women around the world how to start and grow profitable businesses that make a positive impact. Get her FREE CD and articles at www.AliBrown.com
10 Things to Never Do in Your Blog
Posted by: | CommentsAs blogging has evolved into a platform for building trust and sharing information with prospective clients, there are a few things you should never write in a blog.
These things tend to lesson your professionalism and turn readers and clients away. Keep these in mind as you write your own blog:
1. Share too much personal information. Most of us are already in information-overload. Sharing irrelevant personal information is unnecessary. Save the stories for your friends or choose a meaningful personal story and blend it into a blog post.
2. Not keeping it professional. In the same respect if your blog is intended to attract clients, keep it sounding professional.
3. Express anger or offensive words. A good blog will typically be a positive one with words that are used to educate and inform the reader. Using your blog to express anger at a person or organization could easily backfire.
4. Make up lies. Don’t say things that aren’t true or can’t be proven in your blog. Establish trust with your readers by telling the truth.
5. Plagiarize. Don’t copy someone else’s words. If you use a direct quote from another source, acknowledge the author.
6. Not giving credit. If you’ve cited an online resource, give credit and link to the site.
7. Write in long paragraphs. Make sure your blog has shorter paragraphs that are easy to read on the computer screen.
8. Skip the spell checker. While typos can and do happen, make sure to at least read your post and spell check it before posting.
9. Use too many words. If you have a complex idea for a blog, break it into short pieces or a series of blogs.
10. Leave insulting comments. The art of commenting should be to create a dialogue. If you wouldn’t say it to the person’s face, don’t comment with it on a blog.
While there isn’t an official blog code of conduct, keeping in mind these things you should never do in a blog will ensure you come across as trustworthy, professional, and knowledgeable in your field.
For some tips on what you should include in blogs and articles, read my article, 10 Things You Must Do in Blogs and Articles.
3 Tips to Succeed with Social Media
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Most people are engaged with some form of social media these days and this trend is likely going to keep growing.
As a business owner or consultant, this is the ideal time to incorporate ways to succeed in social media into your marketing platform, and it helps to know some basic dos and don’ts. In the article “How to Succeed with Social Media: A Brian Solis Interview, ” there are some pointers for mistakes to avoid and ways to make social media succeed for you. Here are some tips drawn from that article:
1. Don’t Rely on the Past: Social media is constantly growing and evolving. This is an exciting time as it seems that almost anyone can become an innovator. With social media, you can’t just take a template for what to do in social media and expect it to work just like it did yesterday. Because of this, it’s important to be open to experimenting and creativity, just as if you are a student to social media and learning what works. Basically, you have to keep evolving with what is available.
2. Don’t Forget to Blog: Not only are blogs important to succeed in social media, but if done correctly, they can add value to a website that ultimately has a blog that reads like a good book. The best blogs work to power and inspire others, rather than just add self-serving content or marketing jargon.
3. Do Keep a Facebook Fan Page: If you business doesn’t have a Facebook fan page yet, you’re missing out on crucial ways to build your brand and interact with customers. Not only can you customize the tabs in Facebook, but you can also have your Facebook fan page monitored by Google Analytics. Some experts are predicting that Facebook fan pages could become even more popular than Twitter, but only time will tell.
