Category: GuestPost

Tips For Choosing A Search Friendly Domain Name

domain names

One thing that many people do not think about when they choose a domain name is whether it is search engine friendly. However, if you are starting a business then you will need to ensure that your website is easy enough to find. After all, the easier the site is to find the more potential customers you are likely to receive.

The good news is, there is very rarely a terribly bad domain name. Some may be a little more search friendly than others, but even if you have chosen a more difficult one then it isn’t the end of the world. There are things that you can do to improve how easy it is to find. Most people opt for a brand-specific domain name. However, you could also choose a keyword driven domain name instead.

Choosing a Keyword Driven Domain Name

Ideally you want to choose an exact-match domain name. This means that a URL has a character for character match of a certain keyword. These types of domain names are pushed high up the search engine rankings. In order to produce an exact match domain name you will need to follow particular criteria. These include:

  • No Hyphens
  • Have a .Com .Net or .Org Domain Extension
  • Identical Spelling and Word Order

You will find that extensions which feature do-com are far more popular than others. They are considered to be more credible and if you plan on selling the website it will have more value than other extensions too. If you use extensions such as .US, .Info or .Edu then they will not always produce high SEO results.

When you are creating a domain name you should try to avoid Hyphens. A domain name which features a hyphen is not an exact match domain name. If you find that the domain name that you want is taken then there are ways to make it unique without placing an hyphen between the words. For example, if your exact match domain name would have been Redial.Com, you could add words such as “Top” or “Best” to increase its popularity and to make it unique.

You will also need to make sure that the spelling of the domain name matches the keyword. For example, it should have the same spelling and be in the same order as the keyword that you are targeting. HairdressingTools.com for example will target Hairdressing Tools. If you were to choose a domain name such as HairdresingTools.com then the spelling error would affect your search engine ranking.

Finding the Best Keywords

One of the best tricks that you can use to get a good exact match domain name is to search for relevant keywords. You can do this through Google Keywords. Use the keywords that you want to target. Once you have typed those keywords in you will be able to see which ones have a .org, .com or a .net extension. Next you should download all of the keywords into a Excel document. Under the keyword tool you should find the word “Download”. Select all from the list and an Excel spreadsheet will open.

Once you have the keywords you can use the most popular ones in a bulk domain search tool. This will tell you which keywords you should use for your domain that is currently not already taken.

Overall creating an exact match domain name can be frustrating but it will help you to improve your search rankings. It is important to make your site as easy as possible to find. Why not follow the above advice and create an exact-match domain name now?

This guest post is by Lior who is an advisor to an applicant tracking software company and also works with an MA in Israel program.

16 SEO Tactics That Will NOT Bring Targeted Google Visitors

By Jill Whalen

In my day-to-day reviews of client websites, I see lots of things done to websites in the name of SEO that in reality have no bearing on it.

Useless
Photo Credit: Bitterjug

In an effort to keep you from spending your precious time on supposed SEO tactics that will have absolutely no effect on your rankings, search engine visitors, conversions or sales, I present you with 16 SEO tactics that you can remove from your personal knowledge base and/or SEO toolbox as being in any way related to SEO:

  1. Meta Keywords: Lord help us! I thought I was done discussing the ole meta keywords tag in 1999, but today in 2011 I encounter people with websites who still think this is an important SEO tactic. My guess is it’s easier to fill out a keyword meta tag than to do the SEO procedures that do matter. Suffice it to say, the meta keyword tag is completely and utterly useless for SEO purposes when it comes to all the major search engines – and it always will be.
  2. XML Site Maps or Submitting to Search Engines: If your site architecture stinks and important optimized pages are buried too deeply to be easily spidered, an XML site map submitted via Webmaster Tools isn’t going to make them show up in the search results for their targeted keywords. At best it will make Google aware that those pages exist. But if they have no internal or external link popularity to speak of, their existence in the universe is about as important as the existence of the tooth fairy (and she won’t help your pages to rank better in Google either!).
  3. Link Title Attributes: Think that you can simply add descriptive text to your “click here” link’s title attribute? (For example: <a href=”page1.html” title=”Spammy Keywords Here”>Click Here</a>.) Think again. Back in the 1990s I too thought these were the bee’s knees. Turns out they are completely ignored by all major search engines. If you use them to make your site more accessible, then that’s great, but just know that they have nothing to do with Google.
  4. Header Tags Like H1 or H2: This is another area people spend lots of time in, as if these fields were created specifically for SEOs to put keywords into. They weren’t, and they aren’t. They’re simply one way to mark up your website code with headlines. While it’s always a good idea to have great headlines on a site that may or may not use a keyword phrase, whether it’s wrapped in H-whatever tags is of no consequence to your rankings.
  5. Keyworded Alt Text on Non-clickable Images: Thought you were clever to stuff keywords into the alt tag of the image of your pet dog? Think again, Sparky! In most cases, non-clickable image alt tag text isn’t going to provide a boost to your rankings. And it’s especially not going to be helpful if that’s the only place you have those words. (Clickable images are a different story, and the alt text you use for them is in fact a very important way to describe the page that the image is pointing to.)
  6. Keyword-stuffed Content: While it’s never been a smart SEO strategy, keyword-stuffed content is even stupider in today’s competitive marketplace. In the 21st century, less is often more when it comes to keywords in your content. In fact, if you’re having trouble ranking for certain phrases that you’ve used a ton of times on the page, rather than adding it just one more time, try removing some instances of it. You may be pleasantly surprised at the results.
  7. Optimizing for General or Peripheral Keywords: You’re not gonna rank for a one-word keyword. You’re just not. You are likely not even going to rank for a 2-word keyword. So stop wasting your time optimizing for them, and find the phrases that answer the searcher’s question. For example, most people seeking legal help aren’t putting the one word “lawyer” into Google. They have a very specific need for a certain type of lawyer as well as a specific location in which they hope to find said lawyer. So rather than throwing the word “lawyer” all over your site, ask yourself this: There are people out there who want what you’re providing. What are they typing into Google? Now focus on those words instead. And don’t even get me started on people who put words on their pages that are barely related to what they do “just in case” someone who types that into Google might be interested in what they offer. You won’t rank for those phrases anyway, but even if you magically did, they won’t make you any sales.
  8. Targeting the Same Keywords on Every Page: The keyword universe for any product or service is ginormous. (It really is.) Even if there are one or two phrases that bring you the most traffic, why the heck would you want to miss out on the gazillions of others as well? Stop focusing every page on the same handful of phrases and start targeting each page to its own specific set that most relate to what you’re offering there.
  9. Focusing on Ads as Links: Banner ads, Google AdWords links and most other forms of online advertising do not create links that count toward your link popularity. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use this form of marketing – just don’t be deluded into thinking that it will have a direct effect on your organic search engine rankings and traffic.
  10. Mad-lib Doorway Pages: While you may offer lots of products or services that are extremely similar to one another with just one minor change, it’s not a good idea to create separate pages for each of them and making only minor keyword changes to each of them. While this may be okay for paid search landing pages, it’s a duplicate content spammy nightmare for organic SEO purposes. (In fairness, I do sometimes still see this technique work, but it’s still not advisable to do it.)
  11. Linking to Google or Other Popular Websites: It’s the links pointing to your pages from other sites that help you with SEO, not the pages you’re linking out to. ‘Nuff said.
  12. Redirecting a Keyworded Domain to Your Real One: So you have your business name as your domain (as you should), but you have noticed the unfortunate fact that Google seems to really like domains that have keywords in them. Buying one (or more) and redirecting it to your actual website can’t provide you with any advantage because a redirected website (and its domain name) is never seen by the search engines. And besides, even if there were something magical about doing this, again, you’re only talking about one keyword phrase.
  13. Republishing Only Others’ Stuff: While it’s fine to republish an article that someone else published first, if that’s all your blog consists of, it’s not going to help your search engine rankings. Instead of republishing entire articles, discuss them in your own posts and provide your thoughts and opinions on what’s good / bad / ugly about what the others are saying. It’s all about adding value.
  14. Making Minor Changes to Freshen Content: This is not going to help a thing. If any old articles or posts need to be updated, then update them. But just changing a date or a few words will not have any effect on your search engine rankings or traffic.
  15. Nofollowing Internal Links: Perhaps you’re not looking for your privacy policy page to be followed by the search engines, so you add a nofollow attribute to it. That’s all well and good, but don’t fool yourself into thinking that this will somehow control your PageRank flow and get you better rankings. It won’t.
  16. Main Navigation That Links to Every Page: If linking to pages in your main navigation gives them more internal link popularity and therefore more possible weighting with the search engines, then surely linking to every single page of the site in your main navigation should be a good idea, right? Wrong! It isn’t. All it does is spread your internal link popularity too thin and confuse the heck out of your site visitors. Don’t do it. Choose to link only to top-level categories and perhaps subcategories (if you have a reasonable number of them) in your main navigation. This allows users to drill down further when they’re in the category sections themselves.

Did I miss any? I’m quite sure I’ve just touched the surface on waste-of-time SEO tactics. How about you? Do you agree with the above? Disagree?

Jill Whalen

Jill Whalen is the CEO of High Rankings, an SEO Consulting company in the Boston, MA area since 1995. Follow her on Twitter @JillWhalen

USA Student Internet Guide

For the modern American college student, having easy access to the Internet is a necessity for both your studies and social activities. However, many American students live off campus where a university computer network is not readily available. Therefore, acquiring Internet access from a service provider is crucial. Here are some options:

Types of Internet Service

Satellite

This type of service is pretty straightforward. Your Internet service is provided from a signal that’s sent via satellite. Satellite tends to be just as reliable as DSL or Cable, with the exception of inclement weather. However, phone lines and cable lines are not found everywhere but satellite can be set in any location.

Dial-Up

For those who are willing to wait a couple of minutes for the internet to load, don’t use the phone line often, or tend to use the internet more on campus, then having a dial-up service is useful for the convenience of having internet at a lower cost than its satellite, cable, or DSL counterparts. Internet Service requires a phone line and an Ethernet cord. However, when one uses dial up to access the Internet your phone line will be disabled unless your housing has multiple phone lines.

DSL

DSL also uses phone lines like dial-up for internet access but unlike the latter; having the additional phone service is not required. However its availability is not as widespread like other Internet providers. However, when this type of service is available, the speed is comparable to its satellite and cable counterparts.

Cable

This type of Internet service uses the cable lines that are installed underground and within the walls of your housing. If you have a TV, you can opt for a cable-internet package, which can be less expensive than buying the services separately. Very common and its reliability is on par with its DSL and Satellite counterparts.

Speed vs. Cost Analysis

High Speed Internet access options for American students are many. If you are a student who likes to open multiple browser windows or use multimedia often, a higher bandwidth speed would be beneficial. However, having a higher Internet speed will also mean a higher bill at the end of the month. Also, if you are living with roommates, having Internet access with a higher bandwidth might be a necessity.

However, living with some roommates will keep the costs down and within budget, even with a higher bandwidth speed. It is a possibility that your college or university might have some information on what Internet service provider previous students favored and if certain providers provide discounts for students at your institution.

About the author: Firespin Jay is a Tech and Eco writer and enthusiast also enjoys chucking big fiery balls around attached to chains. Come and converse with me on my broadband twitter page @FirespinJay chat soon.

Boomerang: Schedule Your Emails and Enjoy Stress-Free Communication

Boomerang for Gmail

Gmail is probably the most popular email service available today. It seems everyone has a Gmail account. I know I do and most of the people I know do as well. After all, Gmail as some of the best spam filters of any email service. It comes with a wide range of features including an instant messenger service attached to your mail and tools to organize your emails, allowing you to be more productive. However, until now, one area where Gmail didn’t deliver was the ability to schedule outgoing emails. With the launch of Boomerang, a Chrome and Firefox extension, things are about to change.

How Does Boomerang Work?

Since it’s a plugin, Boomerang is easy to install. Simply visit the Firefox or Chrome extension sites and search for Boomerang. Click install and your browser will download and install the software. You will most likely have to restart your browser after installation is complete. Once you navigate to your Gmail account, you will find a new button available with a drop-down menu in the Compose mail window, right next to the “Send” button. You won’t be able to miss it because of the colorful boomerang icon.

Boomerang allows you to schedule an email to go out at a future time and date. You can choose from several presets, including in 1 hour, 2 hours, the following day, or even the following month, or you can set your own time and date.

The Benefits of Boomerang

The ability to schedule emails is vital to the productivity of any Internet marketer. For one, you can prepare emails that are to go out to your subscribers whenever the inspiration hits you and then scheduling them to go out at the appropriate time. This way you avoid writer’s block, which most of us suffer from at one time or another, and also avoid the risk of forgetting to send out your emails at the appropriate time.

I also find Boomerang useful for those times when I have to rush out of the office unexpectedly. Sometimes, life just happens and there isn’t much you can do about it, but working online means that you have to keep your word and if you promised a client to send them an email at a certain time, you had better do it. With Boomerang, I know that I can simply write the email and then schedule it for later, and then I can relax and not worry about getting back to the office in time.

The same goes for vacation time. After all, we all need to take a break now and again and we don’t always have Internet access. When I’m on vacation with my family, the last thing I want to worry about is sending emails. Boomerang takes this weight off my shoulders because I can schedule all my emails before I leave, whether they are messages to my list of subscribers or to clients. This way, I know my business is taken care of and I can relax and enjoy some quality family time.

About the author: This was a guest post by Danny Cohen who works for an MBA school from Israel and also is a consultant to 123 neon signs.

7 Things You Need To Know About Server Virtualization Beforehand

servers

Server virtualization is the process of running more than one virtual machine on the same server. This consolidation of server hardware reduces hardware, space and maintenance costs. However, a virtualization setup is a huge investment and needs to be assessed thoroughly before migrating. The following considerations must be taken into account before moving to a server virtualization setup.

1. Not all virtual servers are created equal.

Like any other tool in the software market, there are a lot of server virtualization software. Not all of these are suitable to the price or performance range that a particular organization might be looking at. Therefore, it is advisable to conduct thorough research into the comparative benefits of each of the virtualization tools available. If the intended virtualization setup is a small one (3-5 machines) then it is advisable to choose low-cost software like Microsoft’s Virtual PC. On the other hand, if the required server setup is for a large establishment where safety, security and reliability is paramount, then it is recommended to use time-tested solutions like the ESX servers provided by VMware.

2. Software license costs must be taken into account.

The concept of software licensing in server virtualization setups is a bit complicated. Some vendors consider each and every virtual machine that you will be running as a separate system. This means that you will have to purchase licenses for all of the systems. There are yet others which do not allow the use of their software in a virtual computing environment. Make sure you read the software documentation carefully to avoid any legal hassles.

3. Make sure that your software works properly in a virtualization setup.

Since most software is not typically created for use in a virtual computing environment, there may be some performance issues. Some software may refuse to work altogether, while others may work sluggishly or unreliably. Make sure you perform extensive research and testing before purchasing software applications.

4. Windows isn’t the end-all solution.

There are lots of options available in the virtualization market that offer excellent performance. There is no need to limit your options to Windows. Virtuozzo by Parallels Inc. is a great application that offers good performance on both Windows and Linux Platforms. Open VZ is another operating-system level virtualization technology that you might consider. Xen is another powerful hypervisor tool that you can use in your virtualization setup.

5. Invest sufficiently into resources.

There is no point in migrating to a server virtualization setup if you are not able to extract your required level of performance from the system. Since each of your servers is going to be running several virtual machines, you must consider the hardware requirements of each of them. Powerful servers need high RAM, greater disk space and faster CPUs to be able to handle virtual machines effortlessly. Calculate the number of server machines you will need to invest in to properly provide the performance that your setup needs.

6. Do not ignore system security and recovery.

A server virtualization setup inherently increases the security due to its virtual machines. Since each machine runs independent of the other, it is at once easy to administer and difficult to intrude into. A virtualization setup also makes recovery easier since you are working with less hardware. Make sure you invest enough into backup disks and servers to provide complete redundancy for your setup in case of a crash.

7. Hire efficient personnel and train your staff thoroughly.

For people who have never worked on a virtualized setup before, the entire process can seem quite intimidating. When you migrate to a server virtualization setup, conduct intensive training programs for your staff to familiarize them with the system. Hire experts to maintain and administer the servers on a day-to-day basis.

In summation, server virtualization is a process that offers tremendous benefits for organizations that choose to employ it. Keep the aforementioned considerations in mind to ensure that the operation of your setup is as smooth as possible.

About the Guest Poster: This post was written by Roko Nastic of WebmasterFormat, a webmaster info website. He enjoys sharing his knowledge about website promotion, development, blogging, CMSs and best web hosting providers.

Photo by Michael Connors.

Increase Your SEO Knowledge in 2011: Must Read Blogs

For almost as long as there have been blogs, there have been blogs about finding ways to rank higher in the search engines and get more traffic.

Search engine optimization (SEO) has been a popular topic for bloggers for some time and though countless have tried, few have risen to the top to create truly useful and long-lasting SEO blogs.

For those interested in SEO, whether they are newcomers or veterans, following these blogs is critical for staying on top of the latest news and trends in the industry. However, choosing which blogs to follow can be a daunting challenge, especially for a newcomer, as there are dozens, if not hundreds, to choose from.

But while there are countless good SEO blogs, here are five solid ones to start with, blogs that should be in your reader if they aren’t already and blogs that are at the heart of the SEO industry.

SEOmoz

seo moz logo

Probably the best known and the most-respected SEO blog, its inclusion on this list goes almost without saying. Most of SEOmoz’s postings deal with practical, how-to type of articles focused on achieving specific goals in the field. However, there is also a smattering of news and reviews as well. Most of the content is targeted at beginner and moderately-experienced SEOs but there is plenty of content even for the most experienced in the field.

SEOBook

seo book logo

A community and SEO training site, SEOBook also has a great, free blog with up-to-date information on changes at Google and the SEO landscape. Staying focused on news, SEOBook provides a very front lines view of what is happening with SEO and how changes at Google are affecting websites.

Graywolf’s SEO Blog

gray wolf logo

Highly opinionated and always interesting, Michael Gray’s blog focuses on basic how tos and guides for novice SEOs. The blog also has a large number of reviews, including everything from rank tracking tools to themes, and a few guest posts as well. Though some of the information may be a bit basic for experienced SEOs, the sites reviews alone make it worth following and there are always new tips and tricks to learn.

TopRank

top rank logo

For seven years TopRank has been providing SEO and information with an aim at the slightly more advanced SEO crowd. With articles and content aimed at those already experienced with marketing but needing help with SEO, TopRank focuses not just on getting the higher ranking possible in the search engines, but how to integrate SEO activities with other marketing efforts.

Small Business Search Marketing

sbsm logo

As the name indicates, Small Business Search Marketing is an SEO blog aimed entirely at small businesses, often focusing on search opportunities such as Google Places that most sites don’t bother with. The site is aimed at businesses that want to market online but do so on a tight budget, focusing on practical ways for business to reach customers through the search engines.

The beautiful thing about the new year is that it’s a chance to see where we are and look back over the past 12 months. It’s also a chance to get caught up and, possibly, a little bit ahead.

All in all though, these blogs are just the tip of the SEO blogging iceberg with dozens of other great sites that didn’t make the list. Still, these are the sites that led the way for SEO blogging in 2010 and, most likely, will be the ones to lead it onward in 2011, meaning if you aren’t following them now, you definitely need to start.

If you don’t want to start 2011 off behind the competition, these are the blogs to read and the ones that can make sure you’re in first place come 2012.

This was a guest post written by Lior who is a marketing advisor to iAdvize, a live chat support software company.

How to Find the Right Online Shopping Cart for You

coins

An efficient and user-friendly online shopping cart is an essential tool for any business or website owner involved in e-commerce product sales. But with so many online shopping carts available, it can be hard to decide which cart application will be up to the task at hand.

To begin with, there is the issue of selecting a free product or opting for one that has service charges. Naturally, everyone would choose the free option if they could, but there are occasions when free software may not possess the level of sophistication required. If this is the case, then purchasing a licensed product may be necessary, but then which one will be the right shopping cart for your transactional requirements?

Free Shopping Carts versus Paid E-Commerce Platforms

There are many well designed and functional free online shopping carts available. Most of these are open-source and operate under a GPL (General Public License). A lot of high-end shopping cart designers also produce free versions for smaller businesses or individual users.

Businesses or websites that have a larger product base or high sale yield may need to opt for a more substantial e-commerce platform. This will be a commercial licensed product that has advanced features and greater transactional control. Some of these platforms will charge a reoccurring monthly fee, while others may simply charge a one-off license payment.

The first decision should be whether the online business or product-based website can justify the price of a fully-fledged e-commerce platform, or will a good free GPL product suffice? This depends on stock levels, projected sales and expected consumer interaction. Once this decision has been made, it is then time to evaluate available products that meet the necessary criteria.

Online Shopping Carts: The Essential Features

In order to clarify things, it is probably best to initially outline a few necessary features that every online shopping cart and e-commerce platform should possess. This will help eliminate some feature-deficient products and help focus on only those products that meet, or surpass, the primary criteria.

  • Catalogue Support – The ability to arrange products into accessible sections
  • Customer Database – Keep track of customer information
  • Order Management – Real-time status of current orders and refund organization
  • Payment Processing – Wide range of commercially acceptable payment options
  • Shipping & Handling – Email notification of orders and delivery fee calculation
  • Statistical Analysis – Analyze orders, sales and conversion rates
  • Multi-Lingual Capability – Translate into other languages
  • Localization – Accept foreign currency and calculate taxes
  • SEO Consideration – URL rewriting and provision for sitemap creation
  • Security Measures – Secure logins. SSL compatible.
  • Efficient Administration – User management and site maintenance
  • Optional Customization – Advert insertion and featured product options

These features should come as standard, even in free versions. The more exceptional e-commerce platforms will come incorporated with more advanced features. Many of these full-feature platforms may charge for their product.

Advanced Features

  • Additional Levels of Security – PC DSS (Payment Application Data Security Standard) compliant. This is a regulation enforced by the PCI SSC (Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council). You can find more information about these regulations and standards at the official PCI DSS website.
  • Gift Card and Coupon Facility – Customers can purchase physical cards and use coupon codes
  • Store Credit Available – Issue store credit for refunds etc.
  • Rewards Systems – Ability to encourage return custom by awarding customers with redeemable loyalty points
  • Customer Subscription – Allow customers to subscribe to newsletters, promotional emails etc.
  • Advanced Analytics – Geo-location statistics, integration with Google Analytics.
  • Social Media Compliant – Ready for integration with your favorite social media sites
  • Advanced Customer Assistance – Breadcrumb trails and one-click bookmarking features

This is not an exhaustible list. Nor should a product be penalized if it happens to neglect one or two advance features, but then excels in most of the others. These are simply guidelines to help weed out the lower-quality shopping carts and e-commerce platforms.

Recommended Shopping Carts and E-Commerce Platforms

Now that the required and desired features have been highlighted, here are a few products that readily possess the above features and functions. (Note: Some of the free versions may not possess advanced features).

Shop Around to Find Your Ideal Cart

The selections above are an ideal place to start looking for an online shopping cart. But there are many alternative options. For anyone that has never used e-commerce software, it may be prudent to start with one of the free platforms and see what features and functions are preferred.

Every platform will have its own user interface and different modules and sometimes finding the best online shopping cart is a matter of locating a respectable product that you feel comfortable with. It is true that some versions will require more interaction and individual development while others will be more novice-friendly and possess almost one-click functionality. Finding a platform that you can use with ease is a large part of the selection process.

Don’t be afraid to try before you buy. Many paid versions will offer limited-time trials and even if that option does not appear available, in many cases the designers will gladly allow you a free test if you contact them directly.

Finding the right e-commerce platform will optimize you online business, help you to organize your storefronts, generate return business, and efficiently process and manage sales and transactions.

About the Author: This guest post is contributed by Roko Nastic of WebmasterFormat.com, a website focused on delivering advice and actionable tips on writing, website promotion techniques, best web hosts and the latest trends in web development technologies.