ProBizTips Newsletter
** ISSUE #294 **

Tuesday, October 19th, 2004

A Word From Diane

ProBizTips Mid-Sponsors

ProBizTips Feature Article
7 Search Engine Tips for Non Webmasters

Ask Me Anything
Answers For Ron

ProBizTips Guest Article
7 Things You Must Do If You Want To Increase Your Traffic

ProBizTips Business Tidbit
10 Effective Ways To Reduce Your Business Costs

Discount Mania

Weekly F*R*E*E*B*I*E
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Leaving With a Laugh

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Hey!

Good Day to you and I hope your day is going well so far! :)
Welcome to all our new subscribers this week and I hope you grow
to love us as so many have... we couldn't do this without you!

Sorry the issue is a little late. Although I had my connection working well, turns out I need a few more tweaks before it will be up to par. :P

Otherwise, everything is going OK. Trying to keep up has become a challenge, though so bear with me! :)

Sit back, relax and enjoy today's issue!

Your Friend,

Diane Hughes
ProBizTips Weekly

P.S. Just a reminder -- you can check out all the special deals,
business ventures, and the Tidbits Issues on our Online Archive.

P.S.S. Also don't forget to check out the *FORUM*... :)

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7 Search Engine Tips for Non Webmasters
by Jinger Jarrett

With all of the changes to the search engines these days, you can drive yourself crazy trying to get your site submitted. Unless you are willing to commit yourself to doing it full time, or you are a search engine expert, you won't rank at the top of the engines. However, this doesn't mean that you should neglect this important means of getting traffic to your site.

Unlike most of the methods for promoting your business, which came from the offline world, this method is different. It's unique, and it is changing and growing at a rapid pace. By at least informing yourself of the basics, you can make this a more effective method for driving traffic to your site.

Below are seven tips you can implement to get started:

1. Understand the Relationships of the Various Search Engines. Before you can know where to submit, you need to understand how all of the various search engines are related so that you don't duplicate your work, or worse, get banned from submission.

Now, mind you, I am no search engine expert. However, I have been watching closely what is happening, and here is what I have seen so far:

Recently, Yahoo, a directory, acquired All the Web, Altavista, Inktomi and Overture. Yahoo is no longer going to be using search results from Google as its backend.

Although it remains to be seen what role All The Web and Altavista will play, Inktomi will only provide limited offerings in Yahoo because Yahoo announced that Inktomi's paid inclusions would not be included in its results.

Overture, the number one pay per click search engine, provides paid results to 80 per cent of the major search engines and will continue to do so. It will also be providing backend results to Yahoo. Overture provides results to major sites like HotBot and MSN.

Yahoo is adding its own search engine and will continue to offer its paid directory at $299 a year.

Currently, MSN and Yahoo, the number two and number one sites respectively on Alexa, are battling for supremacy. Bill Gates is also working on a new model for his search engine, but it remains to be seen what that will be.

Eventhough Google will no longer be providing backend results to Yahoo, Google is still a major player. It is also the number one search engine in the world. Google gets some of its results from the Open Directory Project, a volunteer effort to create a directory of the best sites on the Internet.

Looksmart is still out there, but it appears to have changed its model to a pay per click. You can get started for free, but you'll have to pay for each click. (NOTE: I found this site hard to navigate to answer the most simple questions. Maybe that's why it's the least relevant of the options available.)

Finally, you have Alexa, which is in a class all its own. You definitely want to get your site submitted here because it's a great way to find out who is linking to you, where you rank, and other statistics about your site. Back end results for Alexa are provided by Google.

The easiest way to track your site using Alexa, is to download a copy of the toolbar. You can get it here: http://www.smallbusinesshowto.com/htmlfiles/alexa.html

2. Prepare Your Site for Submission. Now that you know where to submit your site, you want to prepare your site so that it gets accepted.

The best tool to help you is Good Keywords: http://www.goodkeywords.com This free utility will let you search for the best keywords to use on your site.

Key words, however, are only part of the equation.

You will also want to create a good title and description. Take your time when you create these. You want each to be key word rich, and the right length.

Once you've written your title, keywords, and description, then all you need to do is to create the metatags for your web site. You'll find all the tools you need at Evrsoft - http://www.evrsoft.com/, including a link popularity checker, submission to over 100 search engines, search engine analyzer, and a metatag generator.

Once you have used the metatag generator to create your metatags, then all you have to do is paste it into the header of your web page.

You will want to check your metatags first to make sure they aren't too long and are search engine friendly. You'll find a metatag analyzer here: http://www.scrubtheweb.com/abs/meta-check.html

This one is stricter than the one I use, but it works very well.

Let me emphasize here that this step is absolutely crucial to getting your site accepted. You would be amazed at how many professionally done web sites skip this step.

3. Submit Your Site. Now that you have your site ready, you want to start submitting. You will use your title, keywords, and description again here.

Here is your submission list:

Free Alexa -
http://pages.alexa.com/help/webmasters/index.html#crawl_site
Google - http://www.google.com/addurl.html
Open Directory Project - http://dmoz.org/add.html
Fast Submit - http://www.evrsoft.com/fastsubmit/
Submission to 100 of the top search engines.
(Caution here: some of these sites may ignore or ban you if you are a business site).

Paid Google Ad Words -
http://services.google.com/marketing/links/ads_us/adwords/
Pay Per Click Inktomi - http://www.inktomi.com
Yearly Fee Per Url LookSmart - http://www.looksmart.com
Pay Per Click Overture - http://www.overture.com
Pay Per Click

4. Check to make sure you are listed. After about a month, you want to go back and make sure that your site is listed in the appropriate search engine. The way to do this is to go to the search engine and type in your domain name. You don't have to include the http://www to do this.

If you are not listed, then go to the next step.

5. Resubmit if Necessary. If your site is not in the search engine you have selected to search, then resubmit your information for inclusion. It's important to remember that unless you are using paid inclusions, it is up to the discretion of the search engine whether or not your site is listed.

Your chances of success will increase if you include some quality content on your site that is dense in your key words. You also want to have as many quality links as possible. You can build your links by contacting other webmasters who have sites that complement yours.

6. Reevaluate. If your search engine strategy isn't working, it's time for a change. However, you need to consider that submitting to the search engines is a very long term strategy, and it isn't something that will occur over night. Only if you are using pay per clicks can you see an increase in traffic almost immediately.

For your free inclusions, you just want to make sure that you are included. Quality content and quality links can help here in raising your rankings.

For paid inclusions, you want to make sure that you are getting the click thrus you need. Unlike free inclusions, you should see results immediately. If you aren't getting enough traffic, consider changing your key words. Good Keywords will help you here.

7. Stay Informed.

If you want to continue to use this strategy in your business, then you need to stay abreast of industry happenings because things change so quickly.

The best place to get information on this constantly changing industry is here:

http://searchenginewatch.com/

They offer three different newsletters to cover the industry. At a minimum you should be reading the daily newsletter.

Althought is is only one of the many strategies I use to promote my business, it can be very effective when done correctly. Take your time, be patient, and learn what you need to do before you use this strategy. It will become an effective tool in your marketing arsenal.

---------------------------------

Jinger Jarrett is a former newspaper reporter and military
journalist who currently spends her time writing, marketing,
and consulting. You can get her free ebook/ecourse, "How to
REALLY Start Your Business in 30 Days" free here:
http://www.smallbusinesshowto.com

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Hi Diane,

I've been looking for either the HTML code or JAVASCRIPT to perform a specific task. Here's what I'd like to accomplish.

Let's start with a web page with an ezine subscription box (for example, my site http://www.gothrive.com).

What I'd like to have happen is when a visitor fills in their contact information and clicks the "submit" button, they would see a smaller pop up box (no toolbars, no menu items)that thanks them for subscribing without interupting their visit to my main site.

I understand the use of hidden tracking codes within the form to take someone to a thank you page, but I've yet to figure out how to make this happen as a pop rather than replacing the main page in their browser.

Any assistance you can provide will be greatly appreciated. I love your ezine. Keep it coming. You're awesome.

Ron Hutton
Plug-In Profit Toolbox
http://www.pluginprofittoolbox.com

-------------

Ron,

I'm not too sure if it will work, but I did some searching and found Pop Up Master Pro. You might contact the owner and see if this can be done...

http://popupmaster.com

Hope this helps!

Diane

------------------------------

Just as the name implies, ask me anything.
If I don't know the answer, I'll find it.

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7 Things You Must Do If You Want To Increase Your Traffic
by Jo Han Mok

Gary Halbert once said that the ONLY advantage he wanted when it came to selling burgers was not a better sauce, or better grade of beef, but a STARVING CROWD.

It' s a simple concept, but not many people get it.

#1. Find and Know Your Starving Crowd

You can have the greatest product in the world, but still sell squat if no one wants to buy your product. Who are your potential buyers? Do you know them like the back of your hand? KNOW your buyers. Head down to http://www.Overture.com, type in your keywords and take furious notes!

#2. Power Position Yourself

Understand that people online are looking for information. They don't want information from just anyone. They want good, solid information from people who have been there, done that. If you can provide valuable advice to your prospects, you can be sure that they'll begin to trust you and develop a RELATIONSHIP with you. And just how do you position yourself as an expert? Easy, Become one.

Once you develop a reputation as an expert, the traffic will come in flocks. People NEED help. Help from experts. Are you an expert? : - )

#3. Create an Epidemic

Imagine this. What if you could get a super salesman to spend 24 hours everyday, 7 days every week, 52 weeks every year, for the rest of your life... a salesman who never gets sick or tired and all he does is direct hordes and hordes of targeted traffic to your site?

Don't even try to estimate the astounding value someone like this would bring to your business.

It is possible, and it's called viral marketing. It's the most powerful concept on the Internet. Many have tried using it and many have failed miserably.

People have this misconception that as long as they have an ebook that is "brandable", it constitutes a viral marketing campaign.

They are dead wrong.

#4. Steal Traffic from Someone Else

Got you. Of course, there are ethical ways to do that. The most powerful way, is through a JV or Joint Venture. A JV does not mean shooting an email to someone in your field of high repute saying "Hey, wanna do business with me?"

You're in for a big disappointment if you think that's gonna work. Your potential JV partner is a human as well, and chances are, he/she is a SOMEBODY in your field. So make your JV proposal as benefit laden, and "hands free" for your potential partner as possible. Recognize your JV partner's accomplishments, be generous with your praise and above all, be sincere.

But never be afraid to ASK. If you don't A-S-K, you will never G-E-T.

#5. Become A Marketing PI

Here's Industrial Espionage 101. The magic word?

Forums.

Forums will show you exactly what your target market is unhappy about and the problems they have. Lurk around forums. LISTEN. Forget about YOUR problems and listen to other people's problems. Solve those problems. I guarantee you'll become rich. Zig Ziglar said, the way to achieve success is to help others get what they want.

#6. Expired Domains Do More Than Expire

You can always use expired domain names as a great source of traffic. Search the expired domain databases, look on EBay. Some web hosts now allow multiple domains to park on a single account. Take advantage of that.

#7. Transform Words into Traffic

Articles are the best "Traffic Machines" that work for ANYONE- no matter what product, service, or information they're selling.

You get 100% targeted traffic, FREE! And, they position you as an expert, and improve your link popularity. Plus, articles are really easy to write as
well.

If you have never written an article, go try writing one NOW!

All 7 steps above seem really easy. It's one thing to read and go "ahh" and another thing to read those steps and actually take solid action. Nothing will happen until you take action. No action equals no traffic, equals no sales, equals no money to pay the rent.

---------------------------------

Jo Han Mok is a frequent guest and featured speaker at Internet
Marketing bootcamps and conferences on subjects such as
copywriting and Joint Venture Marketing. Find out how Jo Han's
latest web tool can help you get laser targeted traffic in the
next 7 minutes! ==> http://www.InstantVisitorSurge.com

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10 Effective Ways To Reduce Your Business Costs

1. Barter
If you have a business you should be bartering goods and services with other businesses. You should try to trade for something before you buy it. Barter deals usually require little or no money.

2. Network
Try networking your business with other businesses. You could trade leads or mailing lists. This will cut down on your marketing and advertising costs. You may also try bartering goods and services with them.

3. Wholesale/Bulk
You'll save money buying your business supplies in bulk quantities. You could get a membership at a wholesale warehouse or buy them through a mail order wholesaler. Buy the supplies you are always running out of.

4. Free Stuff
You should try visiting the thousands of freebie sites on the internet before buying your business supplies. You can find free software, graphics, backgrounds, online business services etc.

5. Borrow/Rent
Have you ever purchased business equipment you only needed for a small period of time? You could have just borrowed the equipment from someone else or rented the equipment from a "rent-all" store.

6. Online/Offline Auctions
You can find lower prices on business supplies and equipment at online and offline auctions. I'm not saying all the time, but before you go pay retail for these items try bidding on them first.

7. Plan Ahead
Make a list of business supplies or equipment you'll need in the future. Keep an eye out for stores that have big sales. Purchase the supplies when they go on sale before you need them.

8. Used Stuff
If your business equipment and supplies don't need to be new, buy them used. You can find used items at yard and garage sales, used stores, used stuff for sale message boards and newsgroups etc.

9. Negotiate
You should always try negotiate a lower price for any business equipment or supplies. It doesn't hurt to try. Pretend you are talking to a salesman at a car lot.

10. Search
You can always be searching for new suppliers for your business supplies and equipment. Look for suppliers with lower prices and better quality. Don't just be satisfied with a few.

---------------------------------

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A girl has brought her fiance home for dinner. After dinner, the fiance and the girl's father go into the study for a man to man talk.

"So, what are you doing right now?" asks the father.

"I am a theology scholar," replies the fiance.

"Do you have any plans of employment?"

"I will study and God will provide."

"What about the children?" asks the man.

"God will provide."

"And your house and car?"

"Again, God will provide," says the fiance.

After the talk, the girl's mother asks the father, "So what did you two talk about?"

The man replies, "He has no plans of employment, but on the other hand, he thinks I'm God."

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