Blogging is taking the online world by storm. It is the fastest rising new activity on the internet. It is allowing people to post their thoughts not only about personal things but also about the world at large.

Blogs, otherwise known as web logs, is both an online diary and a guestbook. Anyone can set a blog account or function on their website and then post entries on it. As part of the blogging function, it can either be set up as a private journal where people can just read what is posted or it can be set up in such a way where readers can get together and then place their own comments on your entry or to each other.

Blogs can be considered as opinion pieces on a particular topic or field. There are topic specific blogs where entries are limited to the topic set by the blogger. There is also an area specific blog which can be a resource on particular place. There are also blogs that are set up as a source for news on a highly specialized topic of field that would otherwise be ignored by the general media. Blogs can be used by internet marketers and business owners to promote a website or use the internet traffic generated by the blog to promote a product, service or an affiliate program (as a separate source of income).

Internet marketing professionals highly encourage website and business owners to start their own blogs because they acknowledge that it is a powerful tool for internet marketing.

Here are some reasons why starting a blog is a great business move:

Blogs allow you to stay in touch with the subscribers and clients. A blog allows you to keep communication lines open with so that you can always interact Continue Reading »
Reasons to Start a Blog

This is the first in my series of articles that explain the Online Publishing Model and how small-time authors and/or self-publishers can use the OPM as a viable alternative to the often archaic and dysfunctional traditional book publishing model.

Typically, you will create your book/ebook in a source word processing program such as MS-Word or WordPerfect. Once you have converted it into PDF format youll be ready to start selling it via the three primary channels that make up the Online Publishing Model: 1. Sales-Mini-Sites, 2. Digital Download Distributors, 3. Print-On-Demand (POD) Distributors.

This article explains the three primary channels of the Online Publishing Model (OPM).

After a number of disappointing experiences using the traditional book publishing model I decided to see if I could find a way that would eliminate all or most of the downsides of that conventional approach to publishing. After almost three years of trial-and-error experimentation (not to mention a few thousand dollars), I did manage to come up with a real, viable alternative to the old way.

It?s called the Online Publishing Model and its pretty exciting!

Based on my experience using the OPM since that time, I am truly convinced that it is the KEY to publishing success for small time authors and/or self publishers in the Internet age.

THE ONLINE PUBLISHING MODEL - THE NEW WAY
The Online Publishing Model is a combination of online digital download delivery and print-on-demand (POD) paper book publishing that sidesteps most of the pitfalls of the traditional book publishing model.

It offers small-time authors/publishers an excellent alternative that will give them more control, and will increase their sales and profits by using little known online channels when publishing their books/ebooks. Here’s how it works…

OPM: THREE MAIN DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS
Using this model, once your book/ebook is written, there are a number of online channels through which you can distribute and sell your book/ebook, as follows:

1. Dedicated Sales-Mini-Site
First and foremost, once your book/ebook is written you need to create what’s called a “mini-Website” (i.e. sales-mini-site) for the sole purpose of selling your product. Trust me, this is the only way to go. You MUST have a site dedicated to the sale of Continue Reading »
Boost Your Sales With Online Publishing

This is another in my series of articles that explain the Online Publishing Model and how small-time authors and/or self-publishers can use the OPM as a more lucrative alternative to the often archaic and dysfunctional traditional book publishing model. In short, using the OPM you’ll make more book sales and you?ll net more profits, faster.

Typically, you will create your book/ebook in a source word processing program such as MS-Word or WordPerfect. Once you have converted it into PDF format you?ll be ready to start selling it via the three primary channels that make up the Online Publishing Model: 1. Sales-Mini-Sites, 2. Digital Download Distributors, 3. Print-On-Demand (POD) Distributors.

This article explains Channel 3, Print-On-Demand (POD) distribution.

I have to tell you that I was already pretty darn excited when I found out about Channel 2 of the OPM, the digital fulfillment channel. However, when I found out about how I could ALSO take advantage of Channel 3, the print-on-demand channel I was ecstatic!

POD FULFILLMENT: DEFINITION
It’s important that you understand exactly what I’m talking about when I use the term “POD fulfillment”, as opposed to “digital fulfillment” which I explained in another article that I have written about the OPM.

Print-on-demand (POD) fulfillment refers to when your book is delivered to the customer strictly in printed paper form as a standard book. With POD, when a single order (or low volume order) for your book is placed, just that small quantity is printed, bound, and drop-shipped directly to the customer by your POD fulfillment company. Hence the term, print-on-demand, or POD as it is widely referred to..

A typical example of POD fulfillment in action would be when you provide your POD electronic files to a digital fulfillment company that distributes POD books to booksellers like amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com, for example. Such booksellers would then offer your paperback POD book to those of its customers who prefer a standard printed version of your book.

POD FULFILLMENT: A REAL-LIFE EXAMPLE
For a real-life example of this, take a look at my Instant Recommendation Letter Kit book which is listed at amazon.com. To do this, go to the amazon.com Web site.

Do a “book search” on the phrase “recommendation letter”. Instant Recommendation Letter Kit will show up in the first few search results (usually number one or two). Click on the title to the right of the cover and it will take you to the details page. Look immediately below the cover and you will see the heading “Other Editions”. The link there will say “paperback” or “digital download”, depending on which version you are currently looking at.

The point here is that, via amazon.com customers can ALSO order the paperback version of that book if they prefer it to the digital version.

Once the customer places their order online, the amazon.com electronic ordering system immediately sends an electronic order to my POD distribution company which instantly begins their internal print-on-demand process to produce ONE single copy of my paperback version for direct drop-shipping to the paying customer’s address.

This sure beats paying to print and store into inventory, 1,000 or 2,000 copies, or more, up-front doesn’t it!

WHY Continue Reading »
Online Book Publishing - Print-On-Demand Will Double Your Sales

1) Eliminate hyperbole - people want concise information not an artistic story
2) Start every paragraph with a different word to enhance sentence creativity
3) Use popular keyword and key phrases for your target market in your article
4) Edit unnecessary prepositions and phrases to make sentences more powerful
5) Sparingly add adjectives to make Continue Reading »
Fifteen Tips for Writing an Interesting Article

Lets clarify first, the basics of linking strategies. Then lets take a look at how to use this linking strategy to have a high rank on the search engines lists.

Some elements must be clarified first of all: an outbound link is a link going out of a website. An inbound link is a link coming in from another site to yours. Reciprocal links are the links between two sites, often based on an agreement between the owner of the two websites. A link checker is a tool to check for broken links. Deep linking means linking to a web page other than a sites home page.

Inbound links are sending visitors to a page from a website. It is a very good link, increasing the sites traffic and fulfilling an important requirement for search engines algorithms. Outbound links are sending the visitors away from a website. Website owners are in very different positions facing the outbound links.

New windows can be opened, some are linking freely. For commercial websites, outbound links losing time and money. Outbound links can be a risk if the site is losing visitors and potential clients.

Other opinions are totally opposite: outbound links can improve the site ranking, increase the visitors? number and there are also chances for the returns of many visitors.

As the web is becoming more commercial, deep linking becomes an important matter too. As the internet strength is to make a contact between a public document and information to another public document or information, the home page becomes very important Read the entire article

Getting The Most From Your eBay Store

How much profit you want to make is entirely up to you. Depending on what you sell, if your products are priced too low you?ll be working for peanuts, price it too high and you won?t be selling any.

You need to factor in all the individual line item costs before you set your retail price. eBay takes a percentage of the final sale price (final value fee). If you use Paypal to accept payments electronically they’ll take a percentage as well, plus a small transaction fee. eBay does not include shipping costs when they calculate their final value fee while Paypal does.

Other eBay fees include auction, buy it now, store inventory and those for additional pictures as well as any optional listing features.

However, you can save on the eBay insertion fees by pricing items just at or under the break range. For instance, if you want to sell an item for $50.00 then price it at $49.99 (instead of $50.00) and you’ll save 50% on the insertion fee. (eBay Basic Fees)

You must also consider the cost of your shipping material. By knowing the exact weight of each item including the shipping material, you can tell if a buyer is being truthful if they claim that an item was not included with their order since the shipping weight is printed on the postal receipt.

Some sellers set up their listing to use the shipping calculators while others use the flat rate option. It may boil down to a matter of choice, but on some items one be better to use than the other and sometimes the calculator is unavailable which can result in a lost sale.

If you use eBay’s Turbo Lister, you can easily make a duplicate copy of a listing, one with flat rate shipping and the other with the calculator. Experiment with each to see which give you the bst results. Stores with a large volume of products should use the calculator.

Keep in mind that savvy buyers know if they are being overcharged for shipping. Don’t risk losing a repeat customer by overcharging for shipping. A small handling charge is an acceptable industry standard.

GUARANTEE:

Just what is your guarantee? Your guarantee and any store policies should be clear and well defined. Wishy-washy policies are sure to confuse your buyers. Work with your buyers. Consider bending the rules for a valued customer or a large order if it will mean future business.

FEEDBACK:

Open any business and you automatically have a reputation. It is within your power to create a good reputation or a bad one. For eBay sellers and buyers your feedback page is your reputation and is one of the most widely viewed pages.

Trying to keep a 100% positive feedback is the ultimate goal. However, there are some things that may be beyond your control, for instance, a buyer may have had a bad day and decided to take their frustration out on you.

Still certain buyers may have their email accounts set up to block spam, AOL and hotmail accounts are notorious for this. Avoid including any links, pictures, attachments and/or HTML code in any emails sent to these accounts.

If you need to contact a buyer with an AOL or hotmail email address, first send a basic text only email to let them know you are contacting them and then follow it up with an email that contains HTML.

Lapse a store policy if it could mean the difference between getting positive feedback and negative feedback.

If an item is out of stock, email the buyer as soon as possible. Include an estimated shipping date.

SHIPPING:

Some sellers use UPS while others use the USPS. The Laundry Bag Store Online uses the USPS so these tips are based on shipping with the USPS. Some of the information you may already be aware of.

The USPS offers several types of free shipping boxes, mailers and envelopes. However, some of these can add extra weight and thus add extra cost to your shipping. Aside from using postal rate calculators you can print or ask your local post office for Notice 123, rate fold. The notice includes all the current postal rates. You can print Notice 123 in PDF format by visiting http://pe.usps.gov. (do not include the www.)

You will also need a Postal Service Zone Chart, which is not included in Notice 123 but is available at: postcalc.usps.gov/zonecharts/ (do not include the www.)

13.1 oz. is where First Class postal rates ends and Priority Mail or Parcel Post rates begin up to 70 lbs. The cost of shipping most items Priority Mail vs. Parcel Post is small and can be the difference between getting positive feedback or negative feedback, a satisfied customer or a dissatisfied customer.

Depending on the weight and size, some items may be best shipped via Parcel Post instead of Priority Mail. The saving amount between Priority Mail and Parcel Post increases significantly as the weight increases and you can pass this saving on to your buyer.

Shipping Parcel Post takes a few days longer so make sure your buyer is willing to accept the delay. However, keep in mind that there are specific guidelines when shipping packages via Parcel Post. Notice 123 and the USPS web site lists all the required criteria.

Another shipping option offered by the USPS is Priority Mail Flat Rate. You can ship to any US destination regardless of weight for a specific cost. The post office offers free flat rate boxes in two sizes as well as a flat rate mailer.

If you buy your own shipping boxes the size of the box may exceed the USPS shipping limits and you may have to pay additional shipping. The combined length and girth of a piece (the length of its longest side plus the distance around its thickest part) may not exceed 108 inches.

However, to be safe in most cases the combined length and girth should not exceed 84 inches. The formula is simple. It is 2x the height + 2x the width + the Read the entire article

BUILDING LINKS

It has well been established that having or not having link popularity is vital to the existence of any website. So how do we find the ways and means of establishing this. Building links can be time consuming, frustrating and sometime with little or no results but it is unavoidable if we wish to establish pageranks we must build links.

Many may ask what is link popularity and why the fuss?
“Link popularity is a measure of the quantity and quality of other web sites that link to a specific site on the World Wide Web. It is an example of the move by search engines towards off-the-page-criteria to determine quality content. In theory, off-the-page-criteria adds the aspect of impartiality to search engine rankings”(source:wikipedia.org)

Please note that quality of the websites linking to you overides the quantity, thus it is better to have a few quality sites linking to your site versus a few hundred spammy sites or link farms. There is no easy to quickly and easily build links, the use of link farms is frowned upon by many search engines and will only succeed in getting your site banned or penalized. Best quality links with be from high ranking pages and those that have some relation to your own site.

WAYS OF GETTING LINKS

I have been repeatedly told by seasoned webmasters that sometimes a simple email request could suffice. A nice well thought out email to the webmaster of a site that is similar to yours. Of course include details about your site and how they can benefit by linking to your site. e.g have their site featured on your website write a review or article about their site, take time to look over the site of the webmaster that you are requesting backlinks from, maybe suggest where the your link could be placed.

Good linking practices would be to place a link of the site you are planning to trade with on your site first and include this in your email where their link can be found along with your site information, with good keyword descriptions, this gives a much better chance of a reciprocal. However be prepared for denial,no replies or play the waiting Read the entire article

Before answering the question, let us discuss about the primary aim of any website. In spite of the subject or ideological differences, every website has a unanimous basic interest, to attract most number of people to view the site. Yes, web directories play their role in this mission to enhance the popularity of website. Now, the number of web directories is increasing enormously, because of its enhanced relevance in the present scenario.

Web directories are the platforms in which the websites are compiled according to their respective category. The main difference from a search engine is the fact that the individual websites are edited by human editors in a directory, where as search engines are tackled by programmed crawlers. In directories, the websites are categorized on the basis of their contents, into a particular category such as arts, sports, humanities, travel, parenting, automotives, news, and regional. Web directories attract more web viewers, as it can provide reliable and focused information regarding a topic. Remember, no machine is as powerful as a human; human editing will definitely improve the quality of the information listed in the category. Read the entire article

What is RSS?
You probably have seen this three-letter acronym in the course of your internet surfing. RSS stands for
Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary; syndicating means republishing an article that comes from another source such as a website.

An RSS is a means of publicizing updates about websites. It may or may not include a summary and photos of the latest posting. But those that provide summaries (thus Rich Site Summary) allow users to skim through the article so that they could decide later on if they want to access the website source. The RSS feed usually contains the title of the update
originating from the website. It is also usually the link to the website source.

What are the benefits of RSS? RSS gives benefits to both readers (users) and web publishers.

1. It gives you the latest updates.
Whether it is about the weather, new music, software upgrade, local news, or a new posting from a rarely-updates site learn about the latest as soon as it comes out.

2. It saves on surfing time.
Since an RSS feed provides a summary of the related article, it saves the user’s time by helping s/he decide on which items to prioritize when reading or browsing the net.

3. It gives the power of subscription to the user.
Users are given a free-hand on which websites to subscribe in their RSS aggregators which they can change at any time they decide differently.

4. It lessens the clutter in your inbox.
Although your email address will be required to enjoy the services of online RSS aggregators, RSS does not use your email address to send the updates.

5. It is spam free.
Unlike email subscriptions, RSS does not make use of your email address to send updates thus your privacy is kept safe from spam mails.

6. Unsubscribing is hassle-free. Unlike email subscriptions where the user is asked questions on why s/he is unsubscribing and then the user would be asked to confirm unsubscribing, all you have to do is to delete the RSS feed from your aggregator.

7. It can be used as an advertising or marketing tool.
Users who subscribe or syndicate product websites receive the latest news on products and services without the website sending spam mail. This is advantageous to both the web user and the website owner since advertising becomes targeted; those who are actually interested in their products are kept
posted.

What are the drawbacks of RSS? The disadvantages of RSS use are brought about by its being a new technology and some user-preference concerns.

1. Some users prefer receiving email updates over an RSS feed.

2. Graphics and photos do not appear in all RSS feeds. For conciseness and ease of publication, RSS feeds do not display the photos from the original site in announcing the update except for some web-based aggregators

3. The identity of the source website can be confusing. Since RSS feeds do not display the actual URL or name of the website, it can sometimes get confusing on what Read the entire article

To be noticed or successful in the World Wide Web one needs to apply sound business sense and practices. When a surfer uses a search engine to find information he will get what he needs within the first 7-10 results displayed. This means that sites that are ranked higher than 10 are hardly ever noticed. Most of the traffic is enjoyed by those who rank within the ?top ten.?

Here are a few pointers that may get you a ranking within 1-10:

1. Use relevant target key words for your pages. Ensure that the key words are more than two words long. Put yourself in the shoes of the surfer and list what the likely search terms will be which are relevant to the content.

2. Use keywords frequently through the page but with relevance. Higher placements are recommended. Ensure that target keywords are placed in the HTML title tag. Include target words in the titles. Write titles that capture interest and attention. These are what appear in search engine listings and only if they convey the content of the pages clearly will a user access the web page.

3. Every page must have a title tag, Meta keywords tag, and Meta description Continue Reading »
A Dozen Great Search Engine Placement Tips