Launching a new website – Days 21-30
September 29, 2009 by Sherry Tingley
Filed under Affiliate Programs, Internet
Launching a new website is not as easy as some would have you think. This is the last article in a series of articles that covered the promotional strategies of the first 30 days in the launching of a new website. Time will help any new website get more traffic and this site is so new that it will have to go through some growing pains for the next four months. Patience is needed to develop and get these new sites to a profitable stage.
The last week of the month showed some solid traffic increases. The total visitors for the month was 1018. As a whole, that wasn’t too bad. Next year at this time, it will be interesting to compare the differences.
Using SEO elite, I checked for the number of backlinks and there were 22 backlinks. These backlinks were acquired by writing articles and making comments on other people’s websites.
I checked the main search engines to see how many pages were indexed with each engine. Google has indexed 104 pages. Yahoo has 38 pages. MSN has only one page indexed and I’m not sure how to get more pages indexed by them. I just found a link to submit sites to MSN: http://www.bing.com/docs/submit.aspx so now I’ve submitted to that website. Alta Vista reported indexing 38 pages and All The Web has indexed 38 pages.
One strategy that I have added to this site is to add a blog. I think that WordPress blogs are very search engine friendly and I believe that adding content to it on a regular basis will be helpful.
I was able to get some help in making my website comply with the W3C, the web standards organization for all web pages. I have tried in the past to get compliant with that website, but my web skills were not good enough to understand how to change things to get into compliance. A friend of mine from the Philippines told me about a fellow named Taylor S. Ripley. He runs a web development and hosting site at http://www.turkreno.com/. I gave him a call and he was nice enough to walk me through correcting all the mistakes that were on my front page. He also helped me create a more useful sitemap and I have submitted that to the search engines. He was so knowledgeable and helpful. I highly recommend him as a person to help you with your SEO efforts. It was so nice to meet someone that was so helpful.
So to wrap things up for this 30 Day Plan, I’d like to review the most valuable lessons that I learned during this time period.
1. When developing a new site, submit a basic sitemap for at least part of your site to Google webmaster tools so you can start getting some traffic.
2. When your site is completed, submit another sitemap to Google so that they will index all of your pages.
3. Submit your new site to Yahoo, MSN, All The Web and Alta Vista.
4. Begin the process of creating a sense of community by visiting other sites that relate to your topic and participate in their conversations on their blogs.
5. Write articles that relate to your product or website and make sure that they get distributed to a large number of directories.
6. Make sure your site is W3 Compliant.
7. Be patient and keep contributing to your site by making it better and offering people more resources and help.
8. Start trying something, anything. Some of what you do will work, and some things won’t. Doing something is better than just dreaming about it.
9. Realize that it takes time for your new project to become profitable and know that it is possible to get your sites profitable enough to support yourself.
10. Network with other people through http://www.meetup.com to find others in your community that are pursuing the same types of business.
I hope that part of this experience has helped you learn what you can do to get your sites started an on to profitability. Good luck with your projects!
Ebay’s Largest Store Owner
September 27, 2009 by Sherry Tingley
Filed under Ebay
Have you ever wondered who owns the biggest ebay store? The powerseller, Buy, has 867,112 successful transactions and is listed on eBay as the largest store there. Upon further research through the help of Google Maps, you can see that the address listed for this seller is in California and is located in the buy.com building.
The powerseller, Buy, is actually a leading e-commerce company that has been in business over 10 years and has over 11 million customers.
They carry millions of products in categories ranging from sporting goods, computer hardware and software, cellular, electronics, movies, music, books and more.
At their website, they even list their most searched for items: 16GB Flash Drive, 1tB external hard drive, 32gb flash drive, Cordless phone, Ipod touch, Micro SD Card, USB flash drive, cordless phones, external hard drive, iphone, iphone 3g,iphone 3gs, ipod classic, ipod nano, micro sd, microsd, netbook, netbooks, nintendo ds, ps3 refurbished, sansa sd card, sdhc, slingbox, webcam, wii, wireless router,zune, zune hd.
The www.buy.com website is ranked by Alexa.com, a web monitoring site, as number 238 in the United States. The lowest numbers indicate the most popular sites. There are some bad reviews about this site on Alexa, but eBay seems to have nothing but positive feedback for them. Apparently their customer service is outsourced to India which causes problems for United States customers.
Buy.com has been listed by Internet Retailer as one of the top 100 retailers on the internet. Apparently the top 100 retailers are responsible for 55.3% of retail web sales.
Amazon.com is the leading retailer on the net with $19.2 billion dollars in sales. Internet retail selling is here to stay. People are becoming more and more comfortable ordering online. How comfortable are you with online ordering?
10 Tips For Making Money on Craigslist
September 26, 2009 by Sherry Tingley
Filed under Craigslist
By now you have probably heard of one of the nets’ most dominant classified ad websites; Craigslist. It makes no difference whether you are purchasing goods or selling goods, Craigslist is vital for any entrepreneur looking to make good money. First before you choose to surf the net and make money on Craigslist, you need to understand that there are a few critical guidelines to follow to help you become successful.
Why? If you don’t have the proper knowledge about Craigslist rules you might be blacklisted or banned. What am I going to share with you are the things you must know in order to learn how to make money on Craigslist and to use it in the right way.
Step 1 – Categories
You must advertise or sell items in the correct category. In case you don’t know, items posted on Craigslist are easily sorted by search engines and people surfing the net can view your listings when they are placed in the proper category.
Step 2 – Headlines
Create attractive headlines. This will be the main appeal of your ad and this will be the first thing that will attract the attention of your buyers. Write attention grabbing words and list a reasonable price for the items you are selling.
Step 3 – Use Photos
Post pictures. Listings that have pictures are easily getting noticed. Add as many pictures as possible to give the buyer a good understanding of what you have for sale. Pictures are worth 1000 words.
Step 4 – Respond Promptly
Don’t procrastinate your responses to inquiries. Respond to your inquiries as soon as possible. Remember that all inquiries are from potential buyers. Lastly be sure to follow up with your customers so that you can sell quickly.
Step 5 – Don’t Duplicate
Please don’t duplicate your ad. Craigslist can easily notice the same ad being posted multiple times and might consider it as a spam. You can be blacklisted permanently if you don’t stick with the guidelines.
Step 6 – Get Notified
Stay current with the new listing information you are interested in by using software such as AdNotifier.com. This program sends you automatic updates and messages every time a new ad is advertised in your category.
Step 7 – Resell Products
Purchase low cost items and resell them. This is so big since the resale industry is fast growing. If you have the skill for buying goods and reselling them at reasonable prices then Craigslist is a good match for your needs to start a business.
Step 8 – Use Links
You may create links in your ads. Like perhaps a link at eBay or your personal website easier to create access to your item. This will increase your chances for additional sales and possible upgrades.
Step 9 – Use HTML
Maximize the use of HTML in your ad to direct buyers to your link. This will help the buyer to get additional information about your products and services. Craigslist uses basic HTML which is not too difficult and can be learned at w3schools.com.
Step 10 – Use RSS Feeds
Use RSS feeds to stay current. When you find the search results that you are most interested in, scroll to the bottom of the page and in the right corner you will see the words RSS. Just click on that and you will get the link that you can bookmark to easily see what is current on that search. The nice thing about this is that you can see all of the ads in that category without opening up individual links.
Spend some time learning how Craigslist works. This means you’ll want to investigate what is selling in different parts of the world. Read other people’s ads and get some ideas of what you might want to do.
Of course nothing is easy at first. You need a lot of patience and hard work for your business you grow. I hope that these guidelines will help you with your money making endeavors.
Here are some good articles about Craigslist that you might enjoy.
- Interview with Craig Newmark, Founder Craigslist – Craig Newmark talks to us live at the Inman Real Estate Connect conference in NYC about what’s up with Craigslist these days. Craig discusses why they started charging for rental ads in New York, how he fights spam listings and what his …
- Craigslist Vs eBay | I’ve Paid For This Twice Already… – I had a comment last week on one of my older posts about selling items on Craigslist asking me what I thought about Craigslist and …
- How to use Postlets to Improve Your Craigslist Posts – There are quite a few features that Postlets offers, some fee-based and some free. com does most of the work for you. However, in relation to my previous post, I’ll also show you how you can create the illusion of an embeded YouTube property video.
- Save Money on the Web – I’ve mentioned before that I’m a software engineer living in Silicon Valley. Such an occupation forces you to stay alert with all the technology advantages in.
- Subtraction.com: Our Craigslist – The cover story for the September 2009 issue of Wired takes a look at the current state of Craigslist and the challenges it faces as it continues to evolve. In a sidebar, the magazine’s amazing art director Scott Dadich invited several …
How to Promote Your Website
September 24, 2009 by Sherry Tingley
Filed under Checks
You know that you should be helping with your own SEO by promoting your website and providing opportunities for back links, but HOW? Here are a few ideas I shared with one of my Real Estate clients:
CRAIGSLIST and OTHER FREE CLASSIFIEDS
Craigslist is an amazing place to post advertisements for your services with a link pointing to your website. You should try it! Also, writing little articles in your Blog about what you do not only will be good for Search Engines, but they can be used on Craigslist, Backpage, and on Article Submission sites.
DON'T FORGET TO PUT LINKS TO YOUR WEBSITE!
Never waste a Blog Posting by not having links pointed back to your website. Without links you shouldn?t be wasting your time! Think of every link you place online as a vote for yourself. If your search term is ?Colorado Springs Real Estate? and you have that term set up as a link pointed to your site, as top agent Brandon Smith does at ColoradoSpringsHomeSite.com, the more links like this that appear on the web, the higher your Google ranking will be. One by one, post by post, week in and week out, think about how you can insert the keywords and keyphrases you want people to find you when searching in Google and other Search Engines.
VIDEO IS REALLY REALLY EFFECTIVE!
Think about the Video idea as well. Create your own little commercial. Using a Webcam or a little Flip Videocam is so easy now.
The best part is that it doesn?t need to be long. In fact it?s better if it isn?t. When I scan through videos and audio podcasts, I?m looking for bite-size nuggets that won?t take too much of a bite out of my day, because I just don?t have that much spare time. Think 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Talk directly into the camera about what you do for a minute. You can do that. Keep doing takes until you have ?the one.?
YOUTUBE IS FREE AND GOOGLE LOVES IT (THEY OWN IT)!
Once your completed video is on your computer and you?ve done any editing you wish to do, upload it to YouTube for Free. If you don?t have a YouTube account, set one up now. It will take just a few minutes. Once you have uploaded successfully to your YouTube account, I will point you the way of putting it on your website.
Just think how amazing it would be if you would record 30 second spots for each page on your website. Google likes to feature YouTube videos on Page 1 of their search results. If you took just a minute to add the main search words that you would want people to find your video with in YouTube, you may be rewarded for your efforts with Page 1 placement. (It happens all the time!)
FOCUS ON YOUR LOCAL MICRO AREA INSTEAD OF THE BIG METROPOLIS
Perhaps trying to throw a whole swath over a big marketing area (let?s say ?Dallas?) are not going to be as effective as focusing like a laser on the actual smaller community that they really want to market to, like ?Plano, TX.? There are thousands of people all trying to get that big market key search term placement on Google. To get that will certainly cost you a lot in paid premium search engine placement. By focusing smaller, your competition for that high Google placement is reduced significantly.
KEEP BLOGGING!
If you have been blogging, Congratulations! DON'T STOP! It's not a “get rich quick” type of operation. Think of it as a mountain building exercise and each post is a shovel of dirt. One by one you will create your mountain until it towers above all others in your field who are not putting in the time, or who only put money into the Pay-Per-Click programs.
This again is an example of the Assets vs. Liabilities theory talked about by Robert Kiyosaki in Rich Dad Poor Dad. Premium Pay-Per-Click campaigns are Liabilities; once they?ve been clicked on, they?re gone! Building your own empire online of Blog Postings containing links pointing to your website can stay up forever, and their exponential nature can build and build and bring you the benefits for years to come!
How to Make Money Online With Craigslist
September 23, 2009 by Sherry Tingley
Filed under Checks
Craigslist is the best marketplace for buying and selling of products in your local community. It is a good marketplace to find hot jobs, real estate, books, electronic items or anything you need in your daily life. But it requires lots of skills to make money online with Craigslist, one of most visited classified website on Internet. Here is how one can make some good amount of money using Craigslist:
- Submit product or items that you want to see in the proper category. You will not get the benefit if you submit your items in the wrong category and even your entry will be rejected for submitting in the wrong category.
- Create an eye catching heading for your listing and if possible include an attractive price in your heading section.
- Include maximum pictures that you can add about the product you are listing on Craigslist. Listings with pictures perform better compared to only text listings on Craigslist.
- Also you can include your e-mail id your listing if you want buyers to contact you about the listing you have added.
- Follow-up immediately with the buyers who shows interest in your items. Buyers who show interest in your items are surely in the position to buy that item. So don't miss this money making opportunity whenever you get it.
- You should read Craigslist rules and regulations before start submitting your stuff here. Submit a well formatted and error free ad copy on Craigslist. Because if you do something wrong against their policies, you can get blacklisted. Never try to submit the same ad copy frequently.
- You can remain in touch with what other people are posting in your category with AdNotifier.
- Use HTML code to direct people to the link from where they can buy the product you have listed on Craigslist.
So if you are really aiming at making some good amount of money on Craigslist, never do the following:
- Never try submitting the same Ad copy over and over on Craigslist. This way you are just spamming Craigslist
- Don't post too frequently. If you must do multiple postings, keep a gap of some minutes in your postings.
- Don't submit your ad copy in the wrong category
- Don't submit an ad copy with grammatical and formatting errors
- Avoid including affiliate links in your ad copy
Learn how to make money online at home with Scopeformoney.com where you will get all easy to follow methods that will help you earn some fast money online with your website.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anil_Garg
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Make-Money-Online-With-Craigslist&id=2497056
Learning Personal Finance With Investment Clubs
If you are someone who would like to know more about investing, joining or starting an investment club can be a rewarding and educational experience. Many people feel more comfortable about learning about investing with other average folks when compared with talking to an expert.
Is it a good fit for you?
If you have been putting off learning about investing and setting any money aside, the discipline of a club could be ideal. Many people join a club to have a group that they can talk to about investing and apply what they learn to their own portfolios. If you have $20-$50 a month to set aside and invest through a club, you might find membership is for you.
Even experienced investors use a club to gain information about stocks that they do not have the time to research. Many hands make light work. All members benefit from the work of other members. Work? Yes you need to contribute more that cash. Don’t think that you can take a free ride. The pooled account may not be significant when compared to your 401(k) but everyone has a stake and needs to commit.
How Do These Things Start?
Groups of friends, neighbors or co-workers start talking about investing and find that a starting an investment club is the next step. Setting up a club takes some work but the National Association of Investors Corporation (NAIC) has all the information you need to get started.
How Do They Work
Successful investment clubs focus on learning as well as investing. Guest speakers, like a local broker or investment analyst, may be invited from time to time. Most people join a club to explore new ideas and discuss investing issues. In the early sessions of a club’s life, education might be very introductory, covering how to read a balance sheet, an earnings report and the club’s financials. Soon the club might be learning new ways to value stocks or discussing a book about Warren Buffett.
Clubs Are Work: Why Not Try a Money-Free Club?
Many clubs have fallen by the wayside when members realize that the time involved is significant. Often the treasurer feels this first. Because of this, groups that want to get started but are a bit intimidated at the paperwork, try a money-free club.
Some money-free clubs will focus on education only. Others will set up fantasy portfolios on a web site and buy and sell and do all the work, but with no real money in.
Advantages
No monthly contributions.? No need for a treasurer.? No accounts to keep and taxes to pay.? Great for people who are hesitant to commit to a regular club.
Disadvantages
People often lose their discipline if they’re not bound together by pooled money.? Often people take a money-free club less seriously. ? It’s less fun and exciting for some people, if there’s no real money involved.
For more information on personal finance and bank rates, visit http://www.selectcdrates.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Russell_Seed
http://EzineArticles.com/?Learning-Personal-Finance-With-Investment-Clubs&id=2853797
Personal Finance Blog Recommendations
September 17, 2009 by Sherry Tingley
Filed under Personal Finance
This is just a short post today to recommend some places to read about helping you with your personal finances. Enjoy reading.
- How to be debt free – How to be debt free is a question I get asked often via email. The process of getting of out debt is easy…but actually doing it is hard.
- Educate yourself on personal finance and money A survey done in 2006 by Entrepreneur magazine revealed that “70% of Americans say they are good or excellent at managing their finances.” Did that statistic shock you? It did me. Statistics from a 2006 government survey show …
- Weekend Personal Finance Links – Giving Congrats Edition – I opened up this month’s Money Magazine and found a surprise. On page 68, there’s a mention to two of my favorite blogs: Get Rich Slowly and Consumerism Commentary. If you’ve been reading this site for some time, it should be no surprise …
- My picks for emerging influential blogs – I’m honored to be included in such great company! I couldn’t agree more with your selections, and would include you in tha group as well. Wow Thank you! I’m really moved that you would nominate me. I never quite thought of my blog as influential.
- Personal Finance Blogs: What I Read, Link to, and Why – Here is a little background about my blog – why I write, what I read, what I link to and why: How I Got Started Reading Personal Finance Blogs: I have always had an interest in money and personal finance issues, but it wasn’t until …
- 10 Personal Finance Blogs You NEED To Subscribe To – Knowledge is power, so part of my plan to take charge of my finances is to read up on personal finance. You could read some personal finance books; unfortunately most of them suck. That’s why I get most of my personal finance info and …
Personal Checks With Footprints In The Sand Poem
September 16, 2009 by Sherry Tingley
Filed under Checks
If you cherish the footprints in the sand poem and enjoy reading its message, then why not give it away to others to enjoy every time you write out your checks to pay bills. This is a great way to spread hope to the world and to people you wouldn’t ordinarily meet.
During these trying times in our economy, everyone could use a little hope especially the kind of hope that the footprints in the sand poem gives. It gives people that need encouragement more encouragement and also strengthens their faith in God.
Most everyone has heard about the footprints in the sand poem but many haven’t read it in a while. Just think when you write out a personal check and put it in the mail to be delivered, who knows how many people will stop and read the poem after its been opened. You’re spreading hope and helping encouraging many when you send inspirational words of encouragement like this while paying your bills at the same time.
Inspirational checks are a way to reach people all over especially on jobs. The most stressful places for the average person is at work and if you are sending your footprints in the sand poem check into retail stores or regular bill collectors, you will no doubt help someone’s day when they see your check.
Take the time to consider changing the way your personal checks look. Stop buying the same old boring standard bank checks. Consider inspirational checks that cost the same or many times are cheaper than the regular bank checks. This is a small way you can contribute to society and help lift a total strangers day by buying customized checks like the footprints in the sand poem personalized checks.
Suggested Links
- Sprinkle Some Magic with Tinkerbell Checks – Don’t let the former high cost of ordering personal checks in the past keep you from purchasing yours today. Now, if you order online from a safe website, you can save as much as 50% off the price that you might have paid in the past at …
- » Artistic Checks Designs : Personal Checks, Business Checks … – The designs offered by the online check printing companies are available for personal checks, as well as business checks. However, the designs are more in numbers for personal checks in comparison to business checks. …
- Personal Checks – A great way to stand out is by getting personal checks. Put a picture on your check, and you ensure that your check is unique; it makes a statement of its own.
