| Let me start off by saying I'm not a marketing guru | | | | if you're doing a PPC campaign. Remember that tag |
| or work for a fortune 500 advertising company. I | | | | word K.I.S.S.? I'm changing it to "Keep Is Specific |
| don't even have a marketing background. But if you | | | | Stupid". Also have the first sentence on your page |
| don't have money to blow on optimizing your site, | | | | say Suzuki speedboats. When those little web bots |
| then listen up.Search engine optimization guidelines are | | | | come strolling to your page they will see the term |
| more mysterious than Michael Jackson's bedroom. | | | | Suzuki speedboat in the store name, first keyword |
| About once a week I read about how Google's | | | | and first sentence in the page body. A very relative |
| algorithm is changing. They must have a dozen mad | | | | site to the web bots. Here's a perfect example. I did |
| sciencetists working around the clock. Google just | | | | a search on "Suzuki speedboat" and this site came up |
| wants to be the perfect search engine. That's all well | | | | number four. The URL is You will notice the word |
| and good, but gives us a breather here! Maybe | | | | Suzuki as part of the company name. Now if you |
| they're trying so hard cause they no longer hold 80% | | | | right click on the page and view source code you can |
| of online searches. MSN and Yahoo have built their | | | | see that the title tag says "Suzuki" and close to the |
| own proprietary software, leveling the playing field a | | | | top of the body are the words Suzuki. Do you think |
| bit. A study done by shows Google under 50% for | | | | that's a coincidence? Also, if you do a search in MSN |
| US online searches. Yahoo is second with 21% while | | | | for "reverse balding" or "stop DHT" you will see my |
| MSN ended third at 12%.So what does that mean? | | | | site in the top four and three spot respectively. Feel |
| Actually...not much. Unless you're ready to do a PPC | | | | free to view my source code to validate what I'm |
| campaign or your company is a household name the | | | | saying. It took a little over a month to get my page |
| odds of getting listed right away on the big three are | | | | listed on MSN.Make sure to use the H1 tags on your |
| pretty slim. But don't despair. With a little patience | | | | main page. Primarily as a header for your product. |
| and some hard work you will get listed.So here are | | | | Web bots see this tag as an important item. Now |
| the steps:Submit submit submit. Forget about the big | | | | don't misuse these tags and place them all over your |
| three along with their affiliates for now. Instead | | | | site. You might get penalized for that. Given that the |
| submit to the multitude of search engines that will | | | | H1 tag is so large it may not look quite right on your |
| post your site for free. If you like I can send you my | | | | page, don't fret there is a fix. All you need to do is |
| list free of charge. Just email me at with the subject | | | | place the tag between your H1 tags. Use whatever |
| title "Free List". Remember, you're playing the | | | | font size you feel is right for your page.Links will still |
| numbers game here. Most of them are free with | | | | be an important part of your marketing. Again be |
| incentives to pay if you want your site reviewed | | | | selective. If you sell computer books don't link with a |
| quickly. Also submit to directories and comparison | | | | site that sells lingerie. This may seem like common |
| shopping portals such as Here's a tip when submitting | | | | sense but I've witnessed these errors. Stay clear |
| to directories. Directories such as don't rank your | | | | from those free for all links commonly referred to as |
| sites. They place them by category alphabetically. | | | | link farms. You'll get bombarded with e-mails |
| Just because your company name is Zachs Toy | | | | requesting to exchange links. And those links may not |
| Zebras, doesn't mean that's what you have to name | | | | have anything to do with your site. There are |
| your site when submitting it. You can call it #1 Toy | | | | legitimate companies such as that provide you with a |
| Zebras. Now your site will be placed right on top for | | | | network of sites for you to choose from and special |
| all to zee, I mean see.Fine tune your keywords and | | | | features that enable you to design your links page |
| they will come. Make them as relevant as possible. | | | | with little HTML knowledge. The downside is cost. |
| For example, let's say you sell Susuki speed boats | | | | They charge about $300 a year.By using these |
| and your company name is Jacks Suzuki Speedboats. | | | | techniques you'll be on your way to upping your rank |
| Your first keyword should be Susuki speedboat, not | | | | in the search engine battle within a few weeks.William |
| speedboat or boat. You're selling to a specific market | | | | Cortes is a freelance writer and entrepreneur. His |
| that will search for a specific item. If your keyword | | | | parent company NetAd owns which is a re-seller of |
| terms are too broad you'll probably get more traffic | | | | an amazing hair growth product. |
| but not necessarily more sales. This could get costly | | | | |