I wrote this the other day on my blog as part of my process of teaching search engine optimization: Like any market or trade, the internet and online marketing requires it’s own tools and methods. Your average people in the industry are already familiar with the following terms, but for the new guys on the block, google will become your friend. Sample tools include Auto responders, link building systems and page ranking sites, Search Engine Optimization software and training, content management software, affiliate programs and the list continues with many more tools. For anyone getting wanting to get involved, or already involved, the following quick rundown of several marketing tools may prove helpful for now or in the future.
1. Domain Name
This is the first stop, and the most important, its your online beginning phase. Your domain name is your first internet marketing tool and you should think hard and long about it before just up and purchasing any random one. Pick this right and it can be more than effective, although pick it wrong and all could be over right from the start.Anybody out there giving advice concerning websites and domain names is going to give you one tip right from the start; keep it short, sweet, and to the point. A short but memorable (and keyword-related domain), such as www.food.com, are perfect because it is memorable and it tells you exactly what the website you are going to is all about.
Sometimes though, some self proclaimed internet moguls or marketers are going to suggest you opt for something short and jazzy that can also be easily remembered by your visitors. Some examples include places such as Napster, Google, Yahoo, Ebay, etc. Regardless of the path you choose, just be sure to examine your marketing strategy and potential before you pick your domain name. Always remember that your domain name can be one of your most effective marketing tools on the the internet.
The next tip when it comes to domains if your server it’s going to be connected and setup onto. Many experts (who often think out of their own pocket, not yours) suggest you go with a Dedicated Server for your domain(s). A Dedicated Server literally hosts one domain and one domain only. Shared servers, which are much more inexpensive, allow more more domains on one server and all falling under the same IP address. With this, the only real problems come down to Bandwidth limitations on shared servers along with actual space alloted for your account. Other than that flaw, your other worry should be if one of your fellow shared server mates decides to start spamming sites, your IP is the same as his and your site could get blocked along with his. Even though you might want to go with Shared hosting, most companies will still allow you to opt into having a dedicated IP for a small fee each month.
2. Keywords
Surferes type what are keywords into search engines to find what they are looking for and thus are the building blocks of the web. They are almost the single most important elements in any online marketing adventure. Picking the right keywords puts your site into business and keeps you from failing like so many other sites. Picking the wrong words (or improperly labeling) creates game over from the beginning just like picking the wrong domain name.
Keywords can be challenging to decide if you are new to the idea of internet marketing, but you really have two methods of going about designing them; One being manually learning how to draw proper words out of your text or using special software to help. There are special software packages online and sites/services to help you do this if you choose the latter method. Many online top marketers use such sites as WordTracker, GoodKeywords, etc. A properly designed keyword research product supplies valuable information such as the number of searches made each month, amount of competition to your keyword, and the top sites targeting your keywords.
Always remember, you must target the right keywords with your web site or online marketing practices. Targeted keywords draw targeted traffic (customers) to your sites or products along with properly created content. The right keyword software or programming will have a direct impact to the success/failure in your adventures. So choose wisely and learn to love/appreciate the nature of the internet marketing!
3. Articles
Many of those involved in internet marking only trust in purely “organic” search engine optimization techniques for getting there site out to the masses. One simple way of describing organic marketing is just writing and submitting keyword related articles around the topic(s) of your website with links back to your site from other similar sites. As other sites in your same field begin to display your articles, you gain valuable link backs to your site (which goes back to my previous PageRank article).
As your wonderful website becomes valuable by using outstanding keywords and excellent content, other sites will want to link to your site in order to become optimized for those same keywords. Article keyword marketing is one of the most effective internet marketing tools at your disposal when it’s used properly it can properly position your site(s) in the search engines and bring in all of that highly wanted targeted traffic.
Keep in your head that many Internet marketers have skipped the whole search engine optimization by just buying their way into search engines via per-per-click (PPC) advertising. Google AdWords is one of the biggest programs to show off an example of this method. Marketers basically bid on clicks to their site’s meta keywords and bring in more targeted customers. In the hands of a true internet mogul, PPC marketting is extremely effective as a marketing tool; especially when mixed with great Search Engine Optimization.
4. Blogs And RSS Feeds
Blogging and RSS feeds have become essential marketing tools for savvy online marketers. In all honesty, online journals and weblogs (aka Blogs) are the thing to have these days, especially in the marketing field. Blogging systems such as Wordpress (php system used for this site) are great Content Management Systems (CMS) that will quickly build a content-rich site, pulling in directly targeted readers for your content.
All search engines, as well as online communities, and chock full of blogs and RSS feeds for most any topic you can even come up with in your mind. The main reason for this is because blogs will provide you with fresh content which is the main livelihood of search engines. For this reason, try avoiding creating a site without some kind of normal blog thats updated daily. It will keep your content regularly visited and indexed by search engines across the net. Additionally, all that information added and content being added daily is a perfect tool for drawing potential readers to your content, products, and services.
Along with your domains, content, keywords, and articles—blogs are an highly effective marketing tool that will play an important role in the success of your online marketing adventures. In the right hands, these Internet marketing tools can work magic on any web sites target goals for users, content, etc.
Never count your eggs in one basket, make sure you know and understand them all while fully optimizing them all at one time. Basically make sure you think outside of the normal, but just make sure you understand what you are jumping into :)
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