Archive for November, 2009
Backlink Basics Explained
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It sounds like some place you go after dark that you shouldn’t go. But, backlinks are actually a good thing as far as getting noticed on the Internet. Keep reading and you’ll find out all about them and how they can be useful to you.
Backlink Basics
To put it in the simplest terms, backlinks are links from other websites and blogs back to your website. They increase your visibility on the web and also make the search engines really happy with you. It sounds easy, but getting links can take some time and effort.
Also, did we mention the spiders and bots? They work on behalf of the search engines. These little marvels crawl not just content but also inbound links (backlinks) to your website. So, you’d probably figure that you can go to every website you can and post a link back to your site, wouldn’t you? In the grand scheme of things, this is not always a good idea.
Here’s why. Those bots are smarter than you think. They even evaluate the types of backlinks you get. For instance, let’s say that you are just beginning and are trying to establish yourself. You go to other sites and ask to exchange links with them for free. Some are readily eager so you do it. As it turns out, these sites are offensive, plagiarize content and don’t know the first thing about keyword optimization.
Now, all of these things won’t be true at the same time but it goes to prove a point. A poorly kept website or even a troublemaking one can lower the quality of your backlinks and thus your favor with the search engines. What you want is backlinks that are of the same or preferably better quality as your site.
Quality Backlinks
How do you determine quality? One way is to look at their following. Do they have a lot of readers? Are their articles rated on the first page of search engine results? Does everyone know their name (just like “Cheers”)?
Keep your links within your chosen niche. While there may be some gardening websites with a high search engine ranking, linking here won’t do you any good if your website sells business coaching services to technology companies. The bots look at that too.
So, what criteria do you need to consider when approaching the subject of backlinks?
• Choose similar or better quality websites to use for your backlinks
• Choose websites and blogs with similar topics of interest as yours
Get the word out about your website. Use any resources you have available to you first and then go searching for other high-quality sites to bring you more traffic.
Become an Expert Networker
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You may know a lot about your business niche, but does anyone else know that? If not, it’s time to set yourself up as an expert.
Sometimes it really is who you know that counts, like when you’re trying to accomplish something and need help. Becoming an expert is that type of time. On the path towards expert status, you will need the help of others to reach the destination.
I know, you are not the type of person to shamelessly self promote. Don’t worry because there is no shame involved. To do any less than tell others about what you have worked hard to learn is selling yourself short. That’s the only shame. Even for introverted people, networking with others in the business world can only help. What makes it a bit easier is that both you and those you network with are after a common goal – increased profits.
Why Network?
Networking is important in business and on line networking is becoming very important. Making connections with others in the online world increases your visibility which matters when you want to get noticed. Who do you rub elbows with? Begin with someone with influence in your business area like a guru of sorts. Get to know them by hanging out where they hang out – on their blog, in their social networking groups and by attending events they host or are speaking at.
Networking mutually benefits both parties. While you are getting to know them, don’t forget to let them know who you are. When you comment on blogs, link those comments to your own blog and/or website. If you host a podcast or internet radio show, invite them to be a guest.
Other Ways to Network
Blogs and forums are not the only way that you can make a useful business connection to promote your expert business status. Join local and online
business associations. This is not in name only. Do your part and get involved so that others see your face, hear your voice and notice your work.
Your involvement in these professional organizations is a two-way street. Use the time to give but also to receive. Ask questions when you need to. Sharing business tips, tricks and secrets is a part of the perks.
Don’t neglect the social networking communities. Facebook, Twitter and MySpace are a lot of fun for connecting with old friends, but they are also big forums for sharing business information. You can post new happenings on your website and links. You’ll be surprised who sees and takes advantage of the news. Invite all of your fellow organizational members as well as clients and other business associates to be your friends so they can view posts to your Wall.
Networking can be intimidating especially for business owners who feel they are not good at self-promotion. However once you get started, I’m sure you’ll notice the benefits. It’s effort that really pays off!
HOW to Use Social Media to Grow Your Business
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You hear the talk and you see references to social media everywhere…
Do you know HOW to use it effectively to grow your business?
My clients are overwhelmingly expressing confusion and frustration with trying to use Facebook, Twitter and even LinkedIn for business purposes.
If you are struggling with the best ways to use the most powerful new marketing tools in decades, then there is a solution.
Join me on Monday, November 16th at 2:00pm ET for the free teleseminar HOW to Use Social Media to Grow Your Business. On this call, we are going straight to the nitty gritty – to the heart of specific strategies to make you successful.
You’ve heard the theory, now let’s look at action steps such as -
- What social media sites work best for different purposes
- 7 tips for using LinkedIn to get more business
- 5 Facebook tools for business promotion
- Strategies for Twitter and how to keep it manageable
- And much more…
Register for the free call with this link.
I really hope you can join me live for this event and get started having success with social media. This will be a highly interactive call, so come with questions, problems and a way to take notes. If you can’t be on the call, be sure to register anyway so that after the call, we can send you the link to listen to the recording.
Again, here’s that registration link.
Why are Relationships with Readers Paramount?
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How do you build trust with others? You get to know them and find out what they are all about. It is easier to do that face to face, yes, but it can also be accomplished in cyberspace if you are willing to work at it. But, why do any of that anyway?
Building relationships with your readers, whether through your blog, your ezine or your social media efforts, is vital to your business. Remember that your goal is monetary benefit and for that you will need people to visit your site. But, visiting is not enough in and of itself.
Think about it in these terms. Let’s say you launch an incredible new product or service. You advertise everywhere that you can think of. In the first months of your launch, your unique visitors go up 100% (it’s possible!) AND the sales go through the roof.
In your bliss don’t forget that the journey towards one-time sales is a short trip. If you made five or six figures in each of those months, it still wouldn’t compensate for the next eight months of basement stats because none of those customers came back. That’s no way to run and grow a successful business enterprise.
Instead, strive for repeat visitors every month of the year. How do you do that? You build a relationship with each one of them. No, you don’t have to know them all by name, but you will want to pay attention and give them what they want to keep them coming back.
Readers are more than just people who come to hear what you have to say, they are looking for something. It could be your product but they won’t stay where they are not appreciated.
Here are a few reasons why reader relationships are so important to your site:
1. They have friends. You never know who is visiting and reading your site content. One thing that you do know is that they have a sphere of influence with someone. That sphere can be yours if they are satisfied with their relationship with you.
2. They have money. What started out as simply a visitor can be converted to a customer who uses your products or services if they trust you. Now you have the potential for repeat business.
3. They represent a portion of the population. Whatever their connections, they can be useful to you in building a better business. Online business owners can provide organic backlinks for you, bloggers can ask you to guest post for them, avid social bookmarkers can help lift you to expert status by linking to your content.
Grow Your Business With Twitter
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Twitter is a social networking site where you can meet up with friends and keep up with loved ones. But, you can also find others there who can help you in your business interests. You can use Twitter to establish a rapport with business owners like yourself and others who may end up working with or for you.
Everyone knows that you can have fun on Twitter but what about the business implications? Twitter has been touted as a way to keep in touch with your customers and staff without having to call a meeting. But, did you know that Twitter can help you recruit business for your company?
It can be hard finding just the right person to work with you and your business. This especially goes for freelancers who you communicate with over the telephone or through email but don’t see in the flesh. You’d like to get to know that person first or at least know that they came highly recommended.
Twitter can be used like an ad in the newspaper but only with more readers who will actually see the ad. Newspapers are great but when marketing to a large audience, you would do better marketing on a forum that gets noticed regularly. The hottest way to do that these days is Twitter.
First, find a niche Twitter community that meets your business needs. If you are looking for virtual assistants, copywriters, graphic designers or freelancers communicating with other business people could bring leads. They may know of someone or where to look. There could even be a community devoted to certain types of business professionals.
With Twitter it is easy to post questions in your tweets. Within these communities, ask if anyone is looking for freelance work. You can post your company name and website for them to find out more information about the position.
People are looking to connect on all levels and business is one of them. It is a good idea to have a separate business and personal account so tweeters can look at your business profile to learn about your business.
Twitter is a useful platform for finding experts to fill out your business needs. You can connect with business professionals who can offer leads on new staff. Also, you can post job opening tweets once you have gauged that there is interest from other tweeters.
