How To Improve Search Engine Rankings In Less Than 48 Hours!

What if I told you that I've discovered a way to dramatically improve the ranking of any website or  blog in less than 48 hours - guaranteed!  More likely than not you'd be a little skeptical.. and that's a good thing.  Being cautious is natural but simply part of any investigative process.

My name is Michael Fleischner and I've been focused on SEO for over a decade.  You may know me from my appearances on The TODAY Show, ABC World News, or Bloomberg radio.  Not to boast,  but my top-selling book, membership programs, and resources are known throughout the search engine optimization community.  If you want to improve search engine rankings, I can help you.

For a limited time, I'm offering my "Book of Secrets" (which reveals the exact formula I've personally used to achieve top rankings for my many websites and blogs) with step-by-step training videos where you can look over my shoulder and see how to apply simple, yet highly effective techniques for achieving #1 Google rankings.

I'm in the process of launching even more SEO related programs.  As a result, I want to sell my existing inventory of this ebook and training videos.  Normally selling for $297 and up, it's available THIS MONTH ONLY for just $47.  Quantities are limited.  Click here to learn more.

Kind Regards,

Michael

SEO The Easy Way Now Open

I know that many of you have been asking me for information on SEO Training.  Since the launch of my search engine optimization book a couple of years ago (SEO Made Simple), the demand for SEO training continues to grow.  In an effort to accommodate a large number of students, I have partnered with Internet marketing guru Greg Cesar to launch the SEO Training program: SEO The Easy Way.

This online search engine optimization training program is ideal for anyone who want to learn the specific techniques that I use for achieving top organic placements for my web sites, blogs, and affiliate marketing sites.

Greg and I launched the program just a few short weeks ago and you can watch the video of our presentation by visiting http://www.seotheeasyway.com/replayThere you will find our complete Webinar where I reveal some powerful SEO secrets and let you know how you can take advantage of our online training.  If you'd like to access the program immediately, click here.

As is always the case, if you have general SEO questions or would like to know more about search engine optimization, be sure to leave a comment on this post!

Damn... It Really Is All About Domain Age

So an interesting thing happened.  I took on a challenge from a friend to get a new web site ranked #1 in 30 days or less.  After buying a great URL and starting to promote the site, I found that getting indexed was more of a challenge than I thought.  In fact, I used one of my most popular blogs to promote the site using the link text get rid of abdominal fat which included the keywords I was trying to optimize for.

You know what happened?  I get the blog post ranked in the 3rd position.  You might say "great" but that totally wasn't what I was going for.  I'm trying to get the site well ranked not blog posts that talk about it.  As I began to further optimize the site using on page optimization, social media, and inbound linking, I quickly realized that I can't make Google move any faster.

Where does that leave me?  About a week into the challenge, I'm still waiting for indexing.  Now, once I'm indexed perhaps I'll start to see good movement.  However, I am definitely concerned that things are not going more quickly.  I guess the next few weeks will be critical to making my goal.  Personally, I think it all boils down to domain age.  I think I'll have to go over to GoDaddy auctions and buy one of the "aged domains"... that will be next step.

Powerful SEO Techniques In This Exclusive Online Event

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Listen Live on Thursday, December 10th as Best Selling SEO Author Michael Fleischner and Rock Star Greg Rollett chat about making simple SEO moves that can take rock your brand from lame to fame

* Learn why on page optimization matters now more than EVER on your site or blog!

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Improve Web Site Rankings With Key Search Factors

If you're like many people in today's economy you may be thinking about starting your own business. Any new business needs a website and websites are only good if others can find them in search results. All new website owners quickly find a need to focus on the search ranking of their website in all major search engines. Search ranking is the natural placement of your site, also referred to as ranking, on Google or some other search engine.

The challenge for all website owners is learning the key factors for improving search ranking. Getting to the top of search engine result is rather complex and requires more than just a quick study. In fact, website owners will spend more than a billion dollars on search engine optimization this year and much more of that on other forms of Internet marketing like PPC.

One way to effectively meet the needs of your website marketing is through PPC and other paid forms of advertising. However, with SEO you can enhance your ranking on all major search engines. Here are a few strategies that can be applied to your website today to instantly begin raising the position of your website for even the most competitive keywords and keyword phrases.

Build your website with sound search engine optimization techniques. Start your search engine optimization from day one. Don't wait until you've invested tons of money into your website before you find out that it hasn't been built for effective search ranking. Apply on page techniques like meta tags, headers, and keyword density to improve search ranking.

Develop an search engine optimization plan. Those who are most successful with achieving top rankings are those who have a well defined action plan. Your plan can be simple but must be applied on a regular basis. SEO takes time and can only achieve the results you're looking for if you apply it each and every day. Begin with a simple outline and then define tasks to by applied each day. Before you know it, your progress will be substantial.

Search engine optimization needs to be applied for the long term. Many people who are new to website ownership think that getting to the first position and staying there is easy to do. Most sites are trying to enhance their ranking for competitive keywords or keyword phrases. Due to the competitiveness of their niche, achieving the top position and remaining there takes work. Although keeping a top ranking is easier than initially achieving it, applying ongoing SEO can do the trick.

Achieving top search ranking is no laughing matter. Those sites listed in the top 2 or 3 positions get the major of traffic. If you're site is not there, you are not growing your business as large or as profitably as you can. So don't settle for anything less than search ranking dominance. Begin from where you are. Achieving rankings that you can be proud of does take work, persistence and confidence. Do the right things and you will get to where you want to be.

Do you want to enhance the search ranking of your website? If you do, then use the secret tool that leading webmaster's use throughout the world. Check out our SEO Elite tool Review for a complete rating and FREE offer.

Do you want to improve search engine rankings for your website? If you do, then use the secret tool that leading webmaster's use throughout the world. Check out our SEO Elite Software Review today.

Improve Rankings With The Top 5 SEO Strategies...

There's a lot of information out there on the Internet about search engine optimization. Some of it is really good but unfortunately much of the information is either totally inaccurate or just plain wrong. I've taken the time to sort through much of this information and provide you with the strategies that get actual results.

By working with literally hundreds of small and medium sized websites, I have found that top ranked sites have a number of factors in common. What are they? I'm about to share these factors with you and explain what separates those in the top Google positions and those that are never found on page one of search results.

The first search engine ranking factor has to do with inbound links. We all know the importance of generating inbound links to your web site or blog. However, these links are only effective if they include your keywords in their anchor text. Links should always include keywords which help search engines identify your website with these links. Make sure to ask link partners to structure their links to your web site properly.

The second most important factor for having high search engine rankings is to include your most important keywords in your meta tags, particularly your title tag. This is one of the key ways that search engines identify your pages and display information on search results. In addition to your title tag, include your keywords in the keywords and description tags as well.

The third ranking factor to consider for your web site is link popularity. This phrase has been talked about in search engine circles for a while but can be equated with Page Rank. The concept of Page rank or link popularity for that matter take a number of factors into consideration to identify the quality of web pages from an external perspective. The largest factor that influences search engine rankings is the number and quality of links that are pointing to a web site or web page.

The fourth ranking factor is the diversity of domains that link to your web site. For many search engines, its not only what links you have to your site but making sure they are from different domains. This represents more popularity associated with you web site and therefore is judged to be a better search result. When link building, try to focus on generating inbound links from different websites.

The fifth ranking factor is placing your keywords in your root domain. If you are unable to acquire a domain that has www.yourkeyword.com as the format, don't despair. You can vary your domain by including words before or after your keyword. Short of being able to acquire such a domain, place your keywords using a subdomain structure or placing a folder on your root domain. This can have a positive impact on your overall rankings.

All of the top five ranking factors will work for you. I have personally seen them dramatically improve rankings for even the smallest web sites. Make sure that you address each factor. In combination, these factors have the most impact. By addressing the top ranking factors for your web site, you'll be able to add additional search engine optimization techniques to ensure top placement over the long term..

Michael Fleischner is the Author of SEO Made Simple and offers SEO training for small and medium sized businesses. Be sure to get free search engine optimization and Internet marketing support at the Internet marketing forum

Choosing and SEO Company: Tips and Strategies

Here are a few things to consider if you are going to use a search engine firm to design your website or blog.

1. Does the SEO firm set realistic expectations about what they can or can't do? If your design firm is promising number one rankings for even the most competitive terms, then reconsider their abilities. Design alone cannot achieve specific number one ranking outcomes.

2. Can the SEO company prove success? Has the company your considering shown an ability to improve rankings for another client? Was the increase in rankings related to competitive as long as long-tail keywords? Check on previous clients and confirm results.

3. Will the SEO company document everything? Once the search engine company or consultant is long gone, you're going to want to apply what you've learned. If there is no documentation or knowledge transfer, you'll be exactly where you started. SEO takes time and a consistent effort to achieve success.

Finally, does the company you're considering use manual methods of link building and improving rankings or are they fully automated. The best companies use both. Consider the techniques the company will use (white hat or black hat) and make a decision based on honesty and previous results. These are the best factors to consider before you spend a dollar on search engine optimization.

Wow.. That Was A Shocker!

A couple of weeks ago I decided to start offering an SEO training course. As with any new venture, I decided to put together a program, post a marketing page, and focus my efforts on SEO. I really don't want to start with PPC just yet.

In just 2 weeks, I reached the #16 spot on Google. Now I've been hanging there for about a week and I'm getting anxious. How am I going to break into the top 10 (my next goal) and then eventually reach the #1 position? Well, I think I'm going to focus on unique article distribution and commenting on do follow blogs.

So what's my plan? I'll put together one article to distribute each week for the next 4 weeks and comment on do follow blogs at least 3 times each week for the next 4 weeks. Each week I'll update you on my progress to see how we're doing. In addition, I'm going to check out who's linking to the number one competitor and inquire about links on those site.

Slow And Steady Wins The Race

A common issue I often come into is that a number of website owners get so pumped up about SEO that they being optimizing with a frenzy. They update their pages, start building links, and so on only to actually hurt their search engine ranking.
How can this be?

The reason this happens is because Google looks for inbound links to be built consistently over time. As more and more links are created quickly, Google begins to question how these links are being created so quickly and may consider them spam.

A word to the wise. SEO is essential for success. However, when building links to your website, start slowly - be consistent. You want to build links over time. This wont set off any triggers and will allow you to build the website popularity you need to succeed.

Search engine optimization is ideal for anyone who wants to improve the search engine ranking of their website but it must be done carefully. Remember that slow and steady wins the race!

Okay, I'm Frustrated With Online Advertising

I know that I generally talk about SEO on this blog, and that's definitely my focus, but I have to tell you that today I logged into my Blogger account(s) and couldn't believe my eyes. My posts automatically had words that were double underlined.

Apparently there was code added to all of my blogger templates for a link advertising type of service. Boy.. those hackers think they're so smart. So I used my limited html experience to find the code and delete it. What did they think? They were going to make money off of my blog?

So I guess the take-away here is that online marketing, seo, etc. is not set and forget... you need to look at it each and every day. The day that you don't, something can happen and it most likely will. I'm fortunate in that you, the reader, have been very helpful in keeping my blogs active, commenting, and giving me a heads up when something doesn't look right - the power of community.

This week, make sure to set up and SEO calendar. What activities do you do daily, weeekly, and monthly to market sure your SEO campaigns continue to add value to your web sites? Follow the schedule and you'll be successful!

Improve Web Site Rankings In Only 48 Hours

I was recently asked if the claims of achieving top 10 rankings in only 48 hours is possible. There are a number of web site services that offer such "amazing" results. Here's how they do it.

1. They find a keyword phrase that is related to your website that isn't very competitive. Keyword research makes the difference here. You're not going to get top ten rankings for highly competitive terms.

2. Leveraging existing sites. When third parties link to your website, it boosts the ranking of your site on search result lists. Companies offering these services have well established sites they use to begin improving the ranking of your website.

3. Other inbound links. In addition to adding links from their own properties, these sites leverage directories, press releases, and article distribution sites to improve your ranking.

The real issue I have here is that if a company is going to improve where you rank for certain keywords, great. However, if those keywords aren't competitive, won't generate traffic or create the targeted visitors you need, then it's not worth it. Think about this fact before you spend your hard earned money on some seo service.

New: I've started offering SEO training for small to medium sized businesses. Learn more at MarketingScoop.com.

How To Reach The Top of Google

Google is it. If you can achieve the number one position on Google, you'll get all of the organic traffic you need for success. As a result, billions of dollars are spent each year on search engine optimization and web site development.

Improving your ranking is a journey. Whether you have a website or are planning on building one, you have to consider what resources you need for ranking on top. The good news is that no matter where you are today, it is possible to generate positive results online.

Two areas of focus: On page optimization and Off page optimization. To really make a significant impact on search results, you must focus on what you're doing on your web pages as well as off. Start by analyzing your own website and determining if SEO best practices are being followed.

Once you've made sure that your site is grounded in SEO fundamentals, focus on off page optimization. Off page is really all about building links to your web site. Start building links and you'll achieve the results you're looking for.

The Power of SEO Combined With Search Engine Marketing

Sometimes there is a great deal of confusion between search engine optimization and search engine marketing. Although these online marketing techniques are quite different from one another, they share a number of similarities.

Let us begin by focusing on search engine optimization also referred to as SEO and comparing SEO to search engine marketing which is referred to as SEM. Both SEO and SEM require a firm understanding of how they work and where they fit in the online marketing mix. SEO requires a strong knowledge of how search engines work and what it takes to achieve top search engine placement. Search Marketing requires a firm understanding about online advertising, keywords, and ROI.

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Both internet marketing methods may appear as difficult subject matter but they are relatively easy to understand. The complexity comes in the actual implementation of SEO and SEM programs. SEO can be explained as techniques that used to drive your search engine ranking. Simply state, where your site is ranked on major search engines is based on your understanding and implementation of SEO best practices.

SEM success is based on an understanding of running online marketing campaigns across various advertising networks. The largest networks are Google, Yahoo! and MSN. Each works differently but at the same time, the general premise is the same. You place an online ad that displays when users type in specific keywords that you identify. If a browser clicks on your display ad, you pay a fee regardless of whether or not they convert into a customer.

Search engine optimization is unique and different from search engine marketing because the organic result which appears in search engines is driven from your optimization techniques. These techniques are broken down into on page optimization and off page optimization. On page optimization is closely tied to web site design and off page is more associated with in bound links to your website.

The purpose of SEO is to generate natural traffic to your website. After a browser completes a search on Google or other major search engine, the resulting list is based on each search engines algorithm. When users click on these results you do not pay. Organic search is usually referred to as natural or free traffic.

Search engine marketing differs in that you pay when users take an action. Unlike traditional advertising you do not pay for your ad to display. You do however pay when a browser clicks on your ad. The amount you pay varies on the competitiveness of your keywords and the position in which you want your ad to display.

Doing business online requires a firm knowledge of both search engine optimization as well as search engine marketing Both internet marketing disciplines can support your online success. If you are not currently comfortable with SEO or SEM, begin with some simple research, explore SEO and SEM products, or subscribe to an RSS feed. Doing so can improve your knowledge and expertise in both of these areas.

How To Earn A Full Time Income Selling Affiliate Products

If you want to make a living online, selling products that have already been created is a great way to start. This is often referred to as affiliate marketing and is a great way to earn extra income. Some affiliates are referred to as super affiliates and make their living selling products on the Internet.

Lets begin with a definition of affiliate marketing. Not the textbook definition but an actual definition that breaks down the difference between affiliates and publishers. Publishers create products and affiliates sell them. Its that simple.

Affiliate marketing is a great to make a living online. You don't need to create your own product, store that product, hire a sales force, or pay any overhead. In fact, all you need to do is find products you wish to sell and sell them.

Affiliate products are sold by placing an affiliate link on your website or blog. You can even include your affiliate link within the author section of articles or forum postings. Each time the link is clicked and users are converted through the publisher's website, you earn a commission.

A question I often get is where to find publishers products to begin selling with affiliate marketing. Fortunately, there are a number of websites that bring together buyers and sellers such as Commission Junction. You can browse publisher's products and their affiliate programs. Find one that is aligned with your niche or level of expertise, and start selling.

There are many ways to choose a product that's right for you to sell via affiliate marketing. The best place to start is with what you have. Do you have a website? A blog? If you do, look for products in the same niche. You can easily add a link to your website or blog, promoting an affiliate product. This is the quickest way to earn affiliate commissions.

What if you don't own a website? At this point, you have a couple of different options. The first is to launch a site or blog. There are a number of resources available to help you do this. One suggestion is to visit template monster or Wordpress and build your own online web page. You can then begin to promote this page and include affiliate offers.

The other option you have is to begin publishing articles on a topic that you already know a lot about. I have seen a number of affiliate marketers earn a significant income by writing articles and reviews about products in their niche and then submitting those articles to article directories.

Begin by thinking about all of the different ways you can start promoting your products online. Your resources may be a simple website, online account or profile. Make a list and consider all of your online experience and assets. The next step is to research affiliate products and choose one that meets a need of the audience you face. Post a link and begin earning an online income.

Michael Fleischner offers helpful Internet marketing advice online and is the author of SEO Made Simple. For an example of an online affiliate program, go to Clickbank Bonus Domination and see an actual affiliate product being sold online.

The Number One Secret to Top Rankings

Hello all... quick post today. I recently received a question from a reader, "What is the number one secrets for top search engine rankings." The answer is actually quite simple. Keyword research. If you want to rank high in any given area, make sure it's possible.

Find a niche with low competition. Review the top ranked websites. What is there Google PR? How many sites are linking in? Do they take advantage of best practices for on page optimization? Do your research correctly and your rankings will virtually take care of themselves. Okay, not entirely, but having reduced competition can help your rankings improve much more quickly than they would otherwise.

For more info on SEO, sign up for FREE search engine optimization lessons at The Webmaster's Book of Secrets: Improve Search Engine Ranking.

How To Design Your Web Page For Top Search Engine Rankings

When you begin and SEO campaign, start by focusing on your on-page optimization. The practice of on-page optimization is all about what you do on your web page to help search engines understand your content and what your site is focused on. Even though off-page optimization is an important factor in the rankings equation, on page optimization builds a strong foundation for all SEO efforts.

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Below are a few helpful search engine optimization strategies you can use right now to make your web site more accessible to search engines and as a result, improve your search engine rankings.

Optimize Your Website Name. If you have not yet picked a URL for your website then consider purchasing one that includes your keyword but is broad enough to represent your business. Additionally, try to find a website name that is memorable. This helps with word of mouth and repeat visitors. Include your main broad keyword into your URL.

Optimize Your Page Title. Develop a website title that is relevant to your site and is limited to only 60 characters in length. The reason you want to limit the size of your title is because larger titles cannot be fully displayed on search engine results. You do not want your titles to be cut off when browsers are searching.

The first headline that appears on your site should include your most important keywords. It is best to have your title display with an H1 tag. An H1 tag provides emphasis and signals each search engine that you deem the content as important. Other titles on your web page should be displayed using an H2 or H3 tag, indicated once again, the importance of the keywords being used.

Do Not Forget To Optimize Your Meta Tags. Search engine optimization professionals continue to question the true value of meta tags. I know that meta tags are based on a number of core tags but can include many more. The core tags are for a page title, description and keywords. These tags are less important than in years past but should still be included.

Search engines use meta tags as a reference for search engine crawlers that view your website content. Your meta tags need to be correlated to your content and also include your keyword phrases. Doing so creates consistency, something that search engine spiders weigh heavily when determining website rankings. Make sure you fully develop your description and keywords.

Optimize your keyword density for Google, Yahoo!, and MSN. Creating a keyword rich content page is essential but do not get carried away. Your keyword density should be between three and five percent in order to appeal to all major search engines. Some people believe that you could go as high as six percent for Yahoo! optimization but Google seems to like pages that have a smaller keyword density. In addition to keyword density, focus on H1 and H2 tags and place keywords at the beginning, middle, and end of your web page. This variety is helpful when signaling search engines as to the keywords that are important to your web page.

Varying Your Keyword Phrase. Each time you list your keyword phrase, change it up a bit. Rather than stuffing your site with the same keyword phrases again and again, use keyword variety. One way to do this is to add a word or two before your keyword phrase and after it. Creating variety is critical because it shows each search engine that your site is really about the core content you are promoting.

The most vital part of any search engine optimization campaign is to create a site that utilizes SEO but doesn't over due it. Make your web site appear natural, include valuable content, and follow on-page optimization best practices. This will keep your site ranked well among most major search engines.

SEO and SEM For Improving Search Engine Rankings

What is SEO? How does search engine optimization apply to your business? Search Engine Optimization is where guys like me use writing tools to improve your website, boosting its position in the search engine rankings. We know the right keywords for your business to refine your site so that when people type into their Google search engine the words 'emergency plumber in London', your name is at the right end of the search engine rankings.

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It's never an exact science, of course, as the search engines are constantly shifting goalposts in terms of ranking criteria but, with a bit of work, you can move quickly up the search engine rankings and, in turn, increase your market share. So that's SEO. Search engines are moving away from keywords to more of a concentration on overall website content and customer relationship building which, ultimately, helps with your link building.

Search Engine Marketing is the new buzz phrase. Engaging customers on a personal level - blogs, social media, it was all there before, but now people are beginning to understand the merits of using networking sites like Twitter (which we'll look at a little later) to promote your business to the world.

Who are the companies surviving this recession? It's the brand names who have built up a loyal fan base, who are talked about with fondness on the web, the brands who ask their customers what they need during tough times and then deliver it. Driving through a recession is not about price cutting (although this is important in terms of cash flow), it's about identifying what customers really want and giving it to them. The companies that are surviving are adapting…and fast. Most weren't, sadly, prepared for how severe the recession would be and many paid the price (Viyella, Woolworths, etc). Business survival is about listening. Then delivering to the right place at the right time.

So what is Search Engine Marketing and how does it differ from SEO? Well, think of SEO as a slice of your favourite pie. It's delicious, right? You can't wait for another piece. Suppose there are six of you and each one loves pie but one loves custard on his, another is vegetarian, another likes cherries on top, etc. SEM gives you all a piece of pie and it's exactly as you like it.

Ah, organic, natural online growth, don't you just love it? SEM is the pie, being baked again and again to adjust to the particular preferences of Mr Cherry On Top and Miss Custard. SEM focuses on on-site and off-site adjustments in order to maximise rankings in SERPS (Search Engine Results Pages). SEM uses all types of strategies (SEO, Pay Per Click, web visibility strategies, etc) to market your products online via search engines like Google and MSN.

Prepare to Be Crawled: Optimize Your Site For Search Engine Spiders

As you may be able to guess by the name, search engine crawlers are little bots that travel the internet looking for new websites and ranking them based on a given algorithm.

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When they come across a new website, they rank it in different ways, taking many things in to consideration. These ranks help to determine where the site is going to end up in a search done on a search engine.

The first thing that you have to do for these crawlers is to get noticed by them, and that is the hardest part of SEO, or at least that is what SEO consultants want you to think. The truth of the matter is, you can get your website noticed by simply visiting different popular search engines and adding your URL to their submission forms. A little known secret but 100% truth.

Additionally, you must get links from other web sites pointing to your site in order to obtain link popularity and credibility with the major search engines. This way, search engine crawlers will know where your site is, and find it more quickly. They will also consider your site a relevant source of information if other sites link to you.

After that, it's all about marketing your web site on the internet through search engine optimization techniques. These little crawlers are programmed to look for certain things on your web site, these are things that SEO experts study and have an understanding for.

Using the services of SEO Consultants to help in your marketing, however they can be very costly, so you should hire a service provider that is talented and can provide a portfolio to ensure you get quality work.

Before hiring someone to work on your web site you should make sure they use ethical search optimization and marketing tactics and also make sure that they can provide results.

The first and most important thing that crawlers look for is, of course, keywords. Keywords on your web page and throughout your web site's content is important. More important though are keywords in the links pointing to your site. When it comes to search engine optimization, use keywords wisely. Don't over-saturate your web site with keywords because you can get docked as a spammer. These keywords have to be worked into the web page and not just listed there.

You should integrate keywords into your content, page titles, meta tags and URL. Also, it will help the marketing of your web site if you work them into the titles of your web page as well.

There are many more techniques you can use to optimize your website and most have been well documented (The Webmaster's Book of Secrets: Improve Search Engine Rankings) so do some research and apply these techniques whenever possible.

Don't leave your SEO to chance. Not only should you be prepared to be crawled, but you should also focus on optimization each and every day.

Great Tips on Driving Targeted Traffic to Your Website

We all need traffic. It's the life-blood of an online business. But what are the best ways to drive targeted traffic directly to your website? Here are seven great tips to help you decide.

1. Offline advertising Equals Online profits

Whatever you're trying to sell online will most likely link to a relevant or appropriate media section offline. For example, if you're selling bicycles from your website, there will undoubtedly be a suitable offline magazine, in which you can place an ad. The purpose of the ad is not to sell your products, but to get prospects to visit your website. So your ad need only consist of a few lines, which should work out to be quite inexpensive.

Your bicycle ad could read like this: Looking for a new bicycle? We stock a huge range at discount prices and can deliver within 48 hours. To learn more visit our website. www. bicycles4u.com - Your ad could be placed in cycle mags, sports magazines or even national and local newspapers. Wherever you think your most likely prospects will look for your products or services offline is a means to getting them to go online.

2. Press releases for the inquiring minds

Some people just have to know what's new, what's in and what's out. To stay ahead in this information age, online and offline press releases can offer newsworthy titbits that could even be picked up by the national press. If you're just starting out in your online business, launching a new product or creating a new service, people will want to know about it.

If this is something you haven't done before, take a look at some existing press releases by going to Google and typing 'press releases' into the search field. Once you get the idea, write out your press release, including your contact details and website URL, then go back to Google and type in 'press agencies'. Most will charge you for this service but your press release could get maximum coverage on and off the internet.

3. Opt-in mailing lists

Opt-in mailing lists can provide one of the most effective means of generating repeat business from your existing customer base. If your customers have bought from you once and that buying experience was satisfactory, there's a very good chance they will buy from you again because they trust you. Capture emails by encouraging your customers to sign up for your newsletter or other promotional information. Alternatively, you could rent an opt-in email list. A carefully worded e-mail message to people who have expressed an interest in receiving further information about your products or services could lead to extra sales, but be prepared to pay a princely sum.

4. Getting your message delivered direct to your customers

For as long as anyone can remember, direct mail has been one of the most effective and profitable forms of marketing ever. Many people have made millions from direct mail and it's still as successful today as it was 50 years ago. It's also relatively easy and inexpensive. First, create a single page introductory sales letter or brochure, detailing you products or services and all the benefits. For maximum effect, offer your new customers a discount or something for free, when they first purchase from your website.

Don't forget, you want them to visit your website, so give them more than a good reason to do so. Next, rent a targeted mailing list from a reputable list broker. There are lists available, which cover every conceivable geographic and demographic statistic, so whatever business you're in, there will be one that's suitable for you. Send out your 'invitations' and wait for your hit counter to melt.

5. Referral marketing

This is a simple strategy of referring your own customers to a related but non-competitive website in return for them doing the same for you. Let's say you are selling printers. Find some quality sites that sell printer inks and contact the webmaster. Ask them if they would be willing to send their traffic to you in return for you doing the same for them. Most will agree. Between you, you will have to decide whether to display an ad on each other's site or go for a written recommendation. Either way, it will increase the chances of you getting more traffic to your site because you have been recommended. You could seek out many related websites and have numerous streams of traffic coming directly to you.

6. Traffic merchants

Paying a company to send traffic to your website is an easy option, so long as the traffic is targeted. There are many companies who specialize in selling traffic. You could say they are traffic traffickers. They use all forms of online advertising to get people to visit your website and usually guarantee the numbers. At around $20 for 10,000 visitors, it certainly looks tempting.

Although there are many merchants to choose from, beware the scamsters operating in this market. Some will take your money and put your ad on a Free For All (FFA) website, leaving you to deal with hundreds or thousands of spam emails from everyone and their dog trying to sell you their products. A good place to start would be SafePartner.com. They offer a variety of packages and are very affordable. TrafficCircuit.com is another company offering this service but charge a little more. However, they offer tracking services, so you can see where the traffic comes from. If you're into stats, you may find this service very useful.

7. Affiliate programs

You just can't afford to ignore affiliate programs. Getting other people to sell your products for a commission is a tried and tested, successful and very rewarding exercise. It doesn't work very well if you're selling a service, but it's overwhelmingly awesome for shifting your product range. The best part is, once set up it works on automatic pilot. All you have to do then is monitor its success, because affiliates do all the work for you. They advertise your products and send the traffic to your website to buy them.

Another thing is you don't have to pay your affiliates until you've been paid. Plus you save on advertising costs, and the increased activity to your website helps your search engine ranking. There's an array of affiliate program tracking software available to track your sales and commission payouts or if you prefer, you can hire a company to look after all that side of the business for you.

Building Links with Directories

Link building is an effective way to increase search engine ranking and one way links have more impact then simply trading links. Search engines are constantly changing their criteria but there are a few things that are very consistent. One of these is driving the Search Engines back to your site as much as you can through external links.

The real value is that links on other sites to yours pass the Google PR of that particular page to your page. This is called a transfer of page rank and has been one of my closely held secrets over most of my Internet marketing career. If you'd like to see the value of this information, do a Google search for "Internet Marketing Expert" and you'll find my site (MarketingScoop.com) ranked in the #1 position.

Posting to directories is a great way to accomplish this goal of building in-bound links. There are 100’s of directories to submit to and some cost and others are no charge. Each time you are approved and the search engines crawl the directory, it sends the search engines back to your site.

When posting to directories it is also important to position anchor words to improve your keyword relevancy. Using this tactic effectively can support your link building with real juice. Start today with directory submission to deliver value to your search engine optimization campaign.