Full Version: Help Marketing
From: AnthonyC [#11]
2 May 2006
To: Mike (SPACE_ENGRAVERS) [#10] 2 May 2006
Hi Mike,
It really depends. But if you choose your keywords carefully and target locally not that much. Plus you can set your daily budget But before you do that you need to make a couple of changes to your site to ensure you capitalize on any traffic you get to your site. Listen to the teleseminar I did last week and take advantage of the bonus at the end.(It’s in the Marketing folder. Also send me an e-mail or PM me and I’ll send you a link for the best info on keywords. I can’t post here because it’s an affiliate link (meaning I get paid a commission when you buy it) and it will get your post moved and I don’t want that to happen.
Best Regards
Anthony
results@ultimate-marketing-solutions.com
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#12]
2 May 2006
To: Mike (SPACE_ENGRAVERS) [#10] 2 May 2006
I can give you some very basic advice on improving your ranking in the search engines:
1 - Add a "doctype" tag to the very top of your page source code. It comes before anything else and defines the type of document that the page is. Chances are your web authoring program has a checkbox or menu option to insert that.
2 - Remove 3/4 of the keywords in your keywords meta tags. Of the 3 top search engines (Google, Yahoo, and MSN) only Yahoo uses keyword meta tags at all. The others stopped using them. And Yahoo will penalize you if you use too many words. Keep it down to around 20 or so words. Just pick the ones that are most important, and you don't need single words that are also in phrases. For example, if you have "laser engraving" it would not only match that phrase but also match searches on each of those individual words. If you are going to use keywords it is best to use different ones on each page and keep them relevant to the page. You don't need to duplicate keywords that already exist on the page. Use the keywords for alternative words that are related but not already on the page. Even on Yahoo, keywords do not carry any extra weight over words that are readable on your page. They are just additional words. On Google and MSN keywords are completely ignored. They were abused for too many years, so they gave up on them. Google does use keywords to target AdSense ads, if you place Google ads on your site. But not for normal search engine indexing.
3 - This is the most important one. You need text, more text, and lots of text. On every page. Search engines are text based. They can't read graphics. If you make an image with a word in it, the search engine can't read that word. It sees real text in the page. All of those keywords that you dumped in step 2 can all go right back into your page in paragraphs of readable text. Don't just list words or services. Search engines don't like lists as much as readable paragraphs. Spend some time composing paragraphs that read like a human being said them, but mention whatever words a person might search on to find you.
"We provide laser engraving and etching of many products including, but not limited to, awards, plaques, trophies and gifts. We can create designs to your requirements or use your graphics to print images and text on acrylic, wood, metal, and many other materials."
etc...
When you list objects in the sentences (awards, plaques, etc...) keep each grouping down to 3 or 4 items. Then mention a few more a sentence or two later.
Search engines index words, and you need them on all of your pages. You don't need all words to show up on all pages. You can spread them out across the site. But each page needs at least several paragraphs and should contain words important to that page.
The search engines starts at your home page and slowly explores deeper and deeper into your site over time. So you don't have to change the entire site all at once. Work on the home page and get some text there. Then when you have a chance start adding more text to each page that is linked to the home page. Eventually you'll get around to adding text to your whole site.
4 - Add links within the text paragraphs to various pages on your site. Avoid links that say "click here". They should contain descriptive words of what they link to. For example in the text I wrote above you could highlight the word "awards" and link it to your awards page. Don't get carried away. One link per paragraph at most. But those links can be more important to the search engine than your basic navigation links because they are considered "in context".
5 - All images should have ALT attributes describing what the image is. Graphic elements in the page (borders, etc...) should still have alt tags, but with just a pair of double quotes and no text.
6 - All links should have TITLE attributes describing where the link is going. The title and alt attributes are indexed by the search engines and can be used sort of like extra keywords, but keep the text in these attributes short and relevant to the image and links in question.
7 - Here's a bonus one. Add a link to your site in your forum signature. If the search engine indexes the forum, it finds that link and schedules it to be searched. Links leading to your site from other sites can increase your rank (as long as they are not from "link farms", pages full of hundreds of links).
That's enough to get you started. ;-)
EDITED: 2 May 2006 by DAVERJ
From: Mike (SPACE_ENGRAVERS) [#13]
2 May 2006
To: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#12] 2 May 2006
WOW Dave,
Thanks for the insights...I guess it's back to the drawing board for the website again. I was really just trying to get something on the web to start with, now I need to really start getting it noticed. I'll keep everything you said in mind and try to start editing it soon.
Thanks!
Mike
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#14]
2 May 2006
To: Mike (SPACE_ENGRAVERS) [#13] 3 May 2006
Hope it helps. Adding text is by far the most important of those tips.
I spent several years helping web designers to build better sites, and those tips just scratch the surface, but are enough to make a huge difference in ranking. As an example, type Dave Jones into Google and my "Dave Jones Design" site comes up 5th out of 60 million pages returned (it's 2nd in Yahoo and MSN). It used to be #1, but I haven't updated most of the site in 3 years. ;-)
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#15]
2 May 2006
To: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#12] 2 May 2006
Dave,
I can see you practice what you preach. Your page ranking is quite impressive. That level is not easily achieved. Your success is deserved, and we all appreciate your sharing this information with us.
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#16]
2 May 2006
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#15] 2 May 2006
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#17]
2 May 2006
To: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#16] 2 May 2006
Dave,
I've been quite impressed with your knowledegable participation and contributions toward the comraderie we've always tried to promote and have become known for.
Thereby:
By the powers vested in me, as Grand Poobah of Engraving Etc., let it be known across the land, that Dave Jones is hereby decreed our MVN (most valuable newcomer). :-)
EDITED: 2 May 2006 by DGL
From: Bieb (HABIEB) [#18]
2 May 2006
To: Mike (SPACE_ENGRAVERS) [#3] 3 May 2006
Mike, if you go to Google and type in a search for "how to get listed on Google", there are ways to do it without paying a service. There are also things that will get your site skipped by Google, like having 10,000 keywords in white text at the base of your page.. that is a google no no. There is also a book by O'Reilly publishing "Google Hacks" that has some good pointers in it, if you want to use PayPal on your website to allow customers to pay you with CC, the "PayPal Hacks" book is great also. I keep a copy right next to my computer.
I am in the process of rebuilding my website and will be including the PayPal options. I have another site that I use PayPal for and the scripts that were found in the book work great.
Hope this helps!
Harold
PS.. IM or email me, I would like to find out what they are charging you to advertise in the base paper and what type of regulations they have. I am a Marine Corps vet and have thought about advertising in the base papers where I was stationed.
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#19]
2 May 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#17] 2 May 2006
Wow. :O
Thanks.
(now I need to get one of those water buffalo hats like Fred Flintstone wears)
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#20]
2 May 2006
To: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#19] 3 May 2006
Sorry. I gave the last Water Buffalo hat to our previous MVN.
Don't worry. I've placed an order with a prison workshop for more.
I get the feeling there may be a delay, because my call to the order desk was interrupted by a voice over the loudspeaker, saying:
"Dead Embroiderer Walking!"
We'll see. :-)
EDITED: 2 May 2006 by DGL
From: Mike (SPACE_ENGRAVERS) [#21]
3 May 2006
To: ALL
Well, I signed up for the pay-per-click service through Google. It was only a $5 reg fee and you can set your monthly budget to whatever you like...So we will see how that works out. Until I figure out why my sight doesn't ever come up when I do a search for it (even when I search for the name itself) I'll have to go with this method of advertising.
So many little things that keep you busy you can't take care of the big ones...
Mike
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#22]
3 May 2006
To: Mike (SPACE_ENGRAVERS) [#21] 3 May 2006
Spend some time reading the help files and there are some tutorials you might find on the web. I know people that hit their monthly limit in a matter of hours by picking the wrong words to match. And remember that you can exclude words from the match. For example, if you exclude "free" then you won't pay for clicks from people looking for something like free clipart.
I'd suggest starting with a very small cost per hit. Remember that only a small percentage of those that click through are going to actually end up buying anything, so if you pay too much per hit and it takes a lot of hits to make one sale, there goes the profit.
See if your library has a copy of "Building Your Business with Google for Dummies" (not to be confused with other similar sounding Google for Dummies books). It has sections about AdWords and AdSense in it.
EDITED: 3 May 2006 by DAVERJ
From: jeanettebrewer (JEANETTEBREWER2) [#23]
3 May 2006
To: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#19] 3 May 2006
Dave,
Though we've yet to meet, I feel honored to have recently worked with the EE's MVN! Congratulations! B-)
EDITED: 3 May 2006 by JEANETTEBREWER2
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#24]
3 May 2006
To: jeanettebrewer (JEANETTEBREWER2) [#23] 4 May 2006
I'm sure we'll meet some day. And I'm certainly glad you were there to help me through that whole deal.
I'm also sure that you're one of the EE HVMs (Highly Valued Members)
From: AnthonyC [#25]
3 May 2006
To: Mike (SPACE_ENGRAVERS) [#24] 3 May 2006
Google adwords & website conversion
Websites
This is s very quick overview and I probably will have people telling me I’m wrong simply because it goes against conventional wisdom.
There are different uses for a website the main ones being.
1. Sales. Actually selling a product online
2. Lead generation.
3. Online portfolio.
4. Education.
When you try and do all of these with 1 website it generally gets confusing. This means any traffic you get to your site generally doesn’t achieve the goal you’ve set for it. So you’ve wasted your traffic and possible your money.
If the prospect decides to leave without doing what you want because they’ll “come back later to do itâ€ÂÂÂ, you’ve wasted your chance to talk to them. Or as I like to say romance them about your product.
The sales process online is very much like the romance between a man and a woman. You generally wouldn’t jump in bed right away as soon as you meet. A lot of times you may just be looking for a what I call a “Shy Yes†That is capturing a name and an e-mail Minimum e-mail) so you can follow up with them later. Take the seduction to the next level.
Sorry if this is to brief but I have to run.
Google.
David MVN has given some amazing advice and I like to talk to you more later about passing it on to my clients.
My advice for right now is make sure your website converts the current traffic you are getting before you go and pay for traffic.
"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread!â€ÂÂÂ
I have seen people loose a lot of money by paying what we in the industry call the “idiot taxâ€ÂÂÂ!
Great example would be bidding on Laser Engraving .
Currently max bid is $4.50. That will kill your daily budget. You have to remember you are competing against the Laser Manufacturers who are selling $50,000. Machines.
I’m not trying to dissuade anyone from using Pay Per Click advertising. It’s a great tool But you have to make sure the site works well so you can capaitalize on the traffic.
Sorry for the rant but I really do care about the people here and I’d hate to see people loose a lot of money. For little or no return. Google is very smart. They won’t tell you you are screwing up. Adwords can be a very sophisticated way to max out your credit card.
I have to run as I’m starting to get really swamped with work.And I need to meet these deadlines.
Quick math. Ad position 8’s bid I currently 0.76 per click and it takes 100 clicks to get a 2% response rate. It’s costing you $76.00 just to get 2 people to buy, or contact you.
Best Regards
Anthony
results@ultimate-marketing-solutions.com
PS Yes there are ways to get better position with CTR but that would just confuse things more.
PPS DGL Sorry for the typos.
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#26]
5 May 2006
To: Mike (SPACE_ENGRAVERS) [#1] 5 May 2006
Mike,
I have only had time to briefly scan the thread so I may repeat something someone has already said.
I'm only about 2 years into this, and I had the very same conversation.....I was frustrated, discouraged, tired and wondering why. BUT I kept going...and all of the best marketing came from WORD OF MOUTH. It takes longer, but it is THE BEST referral system you can get.
Also important in marketing is to get involved. This is tough when you have a full time job as well, ( I am also running my upholstery business to pay the bills while American Pacific Awards continues to grow) but at a minimum join your local chamber, if you military obligations ( thank you for seving by the way) do not preclude you from that. Or better yet join a Rotary Club or other service organization.....not only will you meet new people, make new friends, you will serve your community while all the time BUILDING your business.
Another marketing tool is to follow up IMMEDIATELY when someone enquires about your products/services. I am guilty of NOT doing that and it has cost me some contracts and sales.....so I am getting better at that.
Sometimes it seems there are not enough hours in the day, BUT it all seems to come together at the end of the day.
When I got started, I was impatient, hurried, and being a typical American I WANTED IT NOW!!!! Well, it didn't happen, BUT it IS happening now.....and each day it happens a little faster, and a little faster.....and it will happen for you
Oh, one more thing, right behind word of mouth the yellow page ad I have is my biggest contact generator.
Good luck Mike, you WILL succeed, it will just take some time.
Sorry for the long post........
Just my two cents. Want change?
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