Web Success Team

Seven Bounce Rate Busters Continued…

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:28 GMT

By: Bob Speyer, President - Web Success Team

Last week, I wrote about Why Visitors Leave Your Site before Taking Action. A high bounce rate is one of the main causes of site underperformance. In this article, I will explain the last three factors on how you can keep your bounce rate at an all-time low and achieve web success with online direct response marketing techniques.

5. Lock and Key: Much of your traffic will come from search engines, so it is important to select related keywords so people can find you. If you use the wrong keywords, you will get visitors who aren’t looking for you. They will bounce off your site. The idea is to drive qualified traffic to your site, not just any traffic. You need to choose and populate your pages with keywords that are relevant to your business. Don’t forget to use your business field and product as keywords.

6. The Match Game: If you are using paid search, one of the biggest mistakes is to create an enticing offer and not deliver on the website. For example, let’s say your add offers the lowest price for a brand of shoes. When the visitor clicks on the paid link and the site says “out-of-stock” or does not carry that brand, you will lose money and a potential customer. If the offer doesn’t match your website content, people will leave as quick as they enter.

7. Black Hat SEO: Black hat SEO refers to tactics and techniques that do not obey search engine rules in order to achieve high page rankings quickly. Sites that use black hat SEO run the risk of being penalized. Make sure your Webmaster tags your site properly. If the message in the page Title and Meta description is not found in the page content, then your bounce rate will also increase. Do not use invisible text, doorway pages, keyword stuffing, or other black hat SEO practices. It’s just not worth it.

Improving Performance
Sometimes we are too close to the problem or too stubborn to see the solution. Improving your website performance is not rocket science, but it does take time and effort. Analyze your site’s flaws and correct them. This will decrease bounce rate and give you a higher ROI. Try to keep an open mind and ask friends and family to read your content for a clear understanding.

SPECIAL: Solopreneur Package – Jump Start Your Business
The Web Success Team's Solopreneur Package includes a 5-page custom direct response website fully branded and optimized for Search Engines with 6-months of online marketing, social networking, blogging, article marketing and much more. Lock in your special pricing now before the rate goes up! Contact the Web Success Team at 818-222-5643 or email bob@websuccessteam.com. To your web success!

Implement Star Keywords to Increase ROI and Page Ranks

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:41 GMT

By: Alyse Speyer – Writer, Web Success Team

By now, we all know the importance of keywords for search traffic. However, having keywords on your website does not mean that you will instantly be searched. Keyword placement and design are specific art forms. For the purposes of this article, I will explain in detail the importance of having varied keywords and how to use your analytics to filter out the ones that are causing you to lose money.

Optimize Your Brand
To optimize your brand related searches, pick a few pages on your website that you want ranked higher. Products and Services page is a good start. Tweak the content to allow for both star keywords and user keywords. A star keyword is a keyword with your brand name attached. If you sell software and your brand is BZ Programs, then a star keyword could be "BZ content management systems." A user keyword is what the general public may find to search for you ie: "content management systems." By implementing the keyword “BZ content management systems,” you get the best of both worlds.

Outsmart the Search Engine Bots
Unfortunately, most search engines do not make connections between brand names and products. We have to spell it out for them. Meaning they will not know the difference between BZ Programs and software. Therefore, "BZ software programs" could be another star keyword.

Brand vs. Non-Brand
Determine how much traffic you receive from brand and non-brand searches as well as the difference in conversion rates for both. If you don’t have one or the other, then it is time that you start looking seriously into search engine optimization (SEO). To help you get started or to update existing words, you can use WordTracker or Google Adwords to find out which keywords are available to you and which ones work best for your brand.

Sometimes we get so caught up in our work that we don’t realize that others might not understand exactly what we do. This is why we have keywords – to help people find us. Therefore, it is important to have relevant keywords on your website, detailing exactly who you are and what you do.

Digital Communication
Once you begin adding brand related star keywords, you need to set up your analytics page to collect the appropriate data so you can measure the differences between both brand and non-brand related traffic. I call this building a relationship with your viewers. By collecting data through analytics, you can watch your user’s digital body language and see which pages interest them most and what they look at before purchasing.

According to a study done by the Atlas Institute, the “last click” before a user buys gets 100 percent of the credit for that sale despite the fact that the user may have been influenced by a variety of other pages on your site. For this reason, it is vital to keep on top of your data, making sure you have the appropriate keywords and that they are working toward sales.

SPECIAL: Solopreneur Package – Jump Start Your Business The Web Success Team's Solopreneur Package includes a 5-page custom direct response website fully branded and optimized for Search Engines with 6-months of online marketing, social networking, blogging, article marketing and much more. Lock in your special pricing now before the rate goes up! Contact the Web Success Team at 818-222-5643 or email bob@websuccessteam.com. To your web success!

Why Visitors Leave Your Site before Taking Action

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:53 GMT

By: Bob Speyer, President - Web Success Team

The measure of how well a website performs or underperforms has a lot to do with Bounce Rate, the percentage of visitors that leave a website before navigating to another page. I call these visitors “one and done-ers.” If you understand the reasons why they leave, you can improve your website performance and visitor response rates. So let’s take a look at the causes of high bounce rate and how we can fix them.

Seven Bounce Rate Busters

1. The 10 Second Rule: Design for clarity and presentation. First impressions are critical to the amount of time people will spend on your website. If you organize, simplify and optimize your site, people will gravitate to your business and feel more comfortable searching your content. User experience is everything. People are looking for solutions to their problem, not to be wowed or entertained. If your site is cluttered, too colorful, has dueling graphics or jumping flash animations, your visitor will feel intimidated or confused. If they don’t “get it,” they are gone in ten seconds flat.

2. Romancing Your Visitor: It’s what you say that counts. Your web content must capture attention. Headlines and subheads are vital, along with bullets and bolds. The viewer scans your content and doesn’t read from top to bottom, left to right. They read in sound bites, so choose your words carefully. Romance them, create mystery, intrigue and keep them wanting to learn more. Add value to your information. Visitors want to be convinced and to feel comfortable with you brand. They don’t want to leave. Give them a reason to stay.

3. The Road Map: Set a clear course for your visitors. Your navigation should be intuitive and easy to follow. Simplify your navigation bar by keeping only the essential pages that tell your story. People don’t want to be sold to, so don’t over-sell.

4. The Tune-Up: If your site is not functioning properly, the bounce rate will increase. Make certain all pages and links are fully functional. SEOmoz Linkscape gives full reports on which of your links are active and which ones have errors.

The final bounce rate busters – Lock and Key, The Match Game, and Black Hat SEO – will give you added insight on how to improve your site’s performance and keep visitors from leaving. Next week’s conclusion is definitely worth the wait. For a preview, email bob@websuccessteam.com.

SPECIAL: Solopreneur Package – Jump Start Your Business
The Web Success Team's Solopreneur Package includes a 5-page custom direct response website fully branded and optimized for Search Engines with 6-months of online marketing, social networking, blogging, article marketing and much more. Lock in your special pricing now before the rate goes up! Contact the Web Success Team at 818-222-5643 or email bob@websuccessteam.com. To your web success!

Web Success Strategies Learned from the Online Marketing Summit

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:00 GMT

By: Alyse Speyer, Copywriter - Web Success Team

On Tuesday, June 16, I packed up my laptop and headed down to Long Beach, CA to attend the Online Marketing Summit. The main areas covered were Social Media, Search Engine Marketing (SEO & PPC), Web Analytics, Usability, Email Marketing, Digital PR and Integrated Marketing Strategy. This all day event included expert speakers from major online marketing firms such as Ray “Catfish” Comstock, Debbie Qaqish, Tim Ash, Steve Woods, Dana Todd and many more. Each speaker discussed real world experiences; case studies; analysis of what works, what doesn’t and why. The Web Success Team learned many practical applications and cutting edge strategies that will benefit clients.

Capitalize or Survive

The day stated off on a high note with morning Keynote speaker Aaron Kahlow who broke the ice and set the mood of the day by talking about the basics of what we online marketers need to do during the recession: Capitalize or Survive. Do we want to just keep our jobs or excel in our field and prove to ourselves and the world that we can market just about anything and be successful.

Planning and Strategy

The first class I attended was a lecture by Catfish on Planning and Strategy for SEO. This was my favorite lecture because not only was he informative and detailed but he left us with a call to action. However, this call to action wasn’t to promote himself or his business, but rather to encourage us to use the skills and tools that we have as marketers to improve ROI for our own companies.

The key points in this lecture were:

Measure and set up analytics to acquire the necessary data
Maximize long-tail keywords – small optimization changes can have big effects
Use data from bounce and conversion rates to figure out how people look at your site and where you can improve or guide viewers to the right content
Differentiate between brand and non-brand keywords and take advantage of opportunity

Digital Body Language

The day carried on successfully, with Steve Woods speaking about the importance of measuring Digital Body Language, which is viewer interaction with different parts of a website. Learning how to read between the lines and understand what your viewers and customers are really telling you. Woods also handed out copies of his book to those who asked comprehensive questions.

A Day of Web Success

Some of the courses I attended were a bit too basic for my area of expertise, but were great for those who are starting out in the marketing world or who need a reminder of what they should continue doing. At the end of the day, there was a panel of speakers that talked about aligning sales and marketing teams, tools to use, blogs to read, as well as B2B and B2C strategies.

Afterward, we had the opportunity to meet and network with other marketers over drinks on OMI. The day was a success and provided all of us with valuable information on how to boost business and increase ROI. Keep an eye out for future articles on tips, tactics, strategies and best practices learned from this event

SPECIAL: Solopreneur Package – Jump Start Your Business
The Web Success Team's Solopreneur Package includes a 5-page custom direct response website fully branded and optimized for Search Engines with 6-months of online marketing, social networking, blogging, article marketing and much more. Lock in your special pricing now before the rate goes up! Contact the Web Success Team at 818-222-5643 or email bob@websuccessteam.com. To your web success!

The Dark Side of the Internet: What to Do If Your Site Is Attacked!

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:34 GMT

By: Bob Speyer, President – Web Success Team

Imagine one morning you log on to your website only to find it has been suspended by Google. Without warning, your informative home page has been replaced by a Google Red Alert page that reads:

Reported Attack Site:

“This web site has been reported as an attack site and has been blocked based on your security preferences. Attack sites try to install programs that steal private information, use your computer to attack others, or damage your system. Some attack sites intentionally distribute harmful software, but many are compromised without the knowledge or permission of their owners.”

This article is not intended to scare you, but rather to show you that the Internet can be a very nasty environment and that this could happen to your website at any time.

Internet Wars: May the Google Force Be With You

Generally, malware is installed onto a website because someone hacked into the FTP server or got the login information from the owner’s email. More often than not, a website is hacked through your own email account. Therefore, it is extremely important to remove any sensitive information from your email.

Unfortunately, one of our client websites, not hosted by us, was attacked and suspended two months after launch when it was previously Google compliant and functioning perfectly. The site was compromised by a hacker who placed a malicious script or virus (badware) into the coding which could then cause users’ computers to be infected. Google then informed us that the solution would be to remove the offending (and usually hidden) content from the web pages, and identify the problem and correct the vulnerability.

Once the site has been fixed and secured, you can request that the warning be removed by visiting My Site’s Been Hacked and then asking for a review. If the site is no longer harmful to users, Google will remove the warning and the site will be reinstated.

The Solution to Stopping Badware!

When our client brought the Red Alert to our attention, we thoroughly reviewed the site. We found no obvious badware scripting, but something external triggered the alert. Since we always keep a clean back-up copy of clients’ websites, we decided to upload the original files to their ftp site and replace the entire web contents — in essence, performing a clean install. Then we resubmitted it to Google and their partner, Stop Badware for a new review and approval. Even before Google’s approval, the site was live at once and functioning properly as soon as we replaced the corrupted files. The offending Red Alert page was gone (hopefully forever).

The Best Place to Find Help

In order to help prevent future attacks, we attached Google Webmaster Tools to monitor the site and its activity. We submitted the site to BadwareBusters and informed the client to change his password on their FTP site as a further precaution.

Please understand that badware (aka spyware, malware, adware) can also come in the form of malicious user-contributed content or content from an ad network that has an offending advertiser. If you have unwittingly downloaded badware and your computer is compromised, please visit the Stop Badware site for information on how to remove the offending content. The site is also excellent for tips on cleaning and securing your site and, as in the case of our client, how to submit your site for review and re-approval by Google.

Prevention Tips

There are a few things you can do to prevent badware:

Use Mozilla Firefox instead of Internet Explorer, which is more susceptible.
Keep your anti-virus software up-to-date
Put a firewall on your computer
Use physical firewalls by not connecting directly to public IPs

Many hosting providers typically do not find out about malware users until the site is already infected. This is because their security systems are not actively monitoring the system’s activity. For trusted hosting providers, we recommend for Apache environment: Web Hosting Logic and Twintel Solutions. For Microsoft environment: Digital Housing.

Knowing that attacks could happen to any site at anytime is a bit disconcerting. It would be great if Google would identify the offending content, or give us 24 hours to correct the problem instead of just a surprise suspension and red alert notice. Never-the-less, being aware of what to do and to act quickly will save you time, worry and money.

SPECIAL: Solopreneur Package – Jump Start Your Business
The Web Success Team's Solopreneur Package includes a 5-page custom direct response website fully branded and optimized for Search Engines with 6-months of online marketing, social networking, blogging, article marketing and much more. Lock in your special pricing now before the rate goes up! Contact the Web Success Team at 818-222-5643 or email bob@websuccessteam.com. To your web success!

Need a Website But Don’t Have the Money? Marketing for Small and Local Businesses

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:47 GMT

By: Alyse Speyer, Writer - Web Success Team

More and more businesses are signing on to the Internet bandwagon. These days if you don’t have a website, you’re missing out on one of the biggest markets in the U.S. However, building and marketing a website takes time, money and a lot of effort, especially if you are competing with big name companies. So how can local businesses on a budget compete with large consumer sites?

Package Deals
A website itself isn’t that expensive, ranging from $1500 to $2500 for a basic website. Consider looking into local businesses that offer web design or online marketing services. Shop around and you’ll find that many of these businesses are offering special solopreneur packages or other discounts.

A business website can be your virtual storefront and is an effective method of attracting new clientele and helping return customers to purchase from you. What’s more important than just having any old website is marketing. So make sure that your web designer is also an SEO expert. Having a website with no marketing is like having a pool with no water.

Virtual Marketing
If you’re just not ready for a website, get your hands wet with social media marketing. Networks like LinkedIn, Facebook and MerchantCircle are great for promoting your business even if you don’t have a website. Establishing your business through the social web will give you the benefit of being online without actually owning a website.

MerchantCircle was invented for this purpose. You can manage sales, coupons, ads and blogs as well as connect with customers and build your network. What’s great about MerchantCircle is that you may already be listed, which means all you have to do is claim your listing and start marketing.

Use Your Resources
The Internet is a useful resource for any business. You can learn about your target markets while expanding on newer markets. One big mistake is to ignore the web just because you aren’t ready for a website. Promote yourself and make your voice heard. When you are ready to take the leap into the virtual world, you will have well-established marketing connections on the web that will be patiently waiting for the launch of your new website.

SPECIAL: Solopreneur Package – Jump Start Your Business
The Web Success Team's Solopreneur Package includes a 5-page custom direct response website fully branded and optimized for Search Engines with 6-months of online marketing, social networking, blogging, article marketing and much more. Lock in your special pricing now before the rate goes up! Contact the Web Success Team at 818-222-5643 or email bob@websuccessteam.com. To your web success!

The Importance of Time Management in Website Development

Thu, 28 May 2009 10:26 GMT

When clients are busy, taking on web development can be problematic. One of the most common concerns web developers and clients have is moving a project to a timely completion. This article will address client time constraints by using a recent case study of a successful law firm whose busy practice previously prohibited them from developing a website. The client’s dilemma: current business practices dictated that they could no longer postpone the inevitable – a website that would be the face of their firm on the Internet.

Moving the Process Forward
The law firm Goshgarian & Marshall PLC contracted The Web Success Team to develop a site that would fully represent the scope of their practice and capture the personality of their firm. In our initial meeting, the partners identified their practice areas and emphasized their time constraints. Because the Team is a full service web development company, we felt confident in creating a system in which the client’s interaction could be kept to a minimum. The key to a successful and timely outcome is to first outline the components of the website: the branding and positioning of the firm, the navigational structure and the content. Then set up a task by task approach with approval cycles and timelines for completion.

Brand Positioning and Design Factors
After reviewing numerous law firms’ websites, we noticed that they were very graphic and had little differentiation. For the overall design of our client’s site, we rolled up our digital sleeves and selected a more muted approach, using softer subliminal tones that would not overwhelm the viewer or take focus away from the content. Professional photos were taken of the firm and the attorneys for a more personalized branding effort. These images were then blended into the banner compositions for each page.

Client - Team Interaction
We developed the home page content and properly incorporated relevant keywords for the search engines so as not to loose the quality of the presentation. One of the partners prepared a summary of the company, which the Team edited for appropriate balance and effect. The client was comfortable with their limited involvement and felt the home page was a good representation of their firm’s first impression to visitors. In order to maintain this level of comfort and maintain the momentum, clear communication and a steady flow of information were essential to set the tone for continued progress.

Next was to build the interior pages, focusing on the firm’s 9 main practice areas. Here is where web content reigns. When writing a web page, quality is necessary. Since our client did not have the time to research and write copy, the Team did the research and writing for each page, integrating client input and keyword research with our content and gave it to the client for review and comments. The client vetted and tweaked the copy, sending it back to us with approval to build each web page.

Writing on a Time Budget
If you are writing your site, do your research. This will prevent discrepancies and help you brush up on industry knowledge as well as help you write clearly. Sometimes it is better to hire a copywriter or SEO expert to get a cleaner perspective. If you do hire someone, like in this case, you should make sure they are dependable and read everything they send to you. Give your writer tips, ideas and direction, if you have any.

Working Strategies
As the site took life, our client was even more motivated to see it completed and was instrumental in facilitating the process. Their time involvement was still kept to a minimum and they were able to focus on their practice while providing valuable input for site development. Because the site was properly optimized for the search engines, when the Team submitted it, the site was indexed by Google in a matter of days, not weeks!

Projects can get stalled for a variety of reasons, but if the developer understands the client’s concerns and creates a working strategy the project will have a greater chance of going live. Experience in dealing with clients and blending the disciplines of good design, content and execution are key ingredients to ensure the success of a web development project.

SPECIAL: Solopreneur Package – Jump Start Your Business
The Web Success Team's Solopreneur Package includes a 5-page custom direct response website fully branded and optimized for Search Engines with 6-months of online marketing, social networking, blogging, article marketing and much more. Lock in your special pricing now before the rate goes up! Contact the Web Success Team at 818-222-5643 or email bob@websuccessteam.com. To your web success!

Common Sense Marketing: Get a Check-Up

Tue, 19 May 2009 11:00 GMT

By: Bob Speyer, President – Web Success Team

Mark Twain had said, “There are lies, damn lies and statistics.” Marketing is no different. In this Internet age, information is at your fingertips for everything from A to Z to Google. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with the information overload and yearn for simpler times or just want the plain, simple truth.

Where do you go to get the appropriate advice to help promote your products or services? Sometimes the “marketing truth” is in front of you. For those building a business online or wanting to take it to the next level, the good news is you can use common sense marketing in your assessment of what has worked and what needs work. No, you can’t do everything and sometimes it is hard to be objective. But if you have a product or service that is under-performing or has potential, then have a marketing check-up. There is help out there and, better yet, a solution to every problem.

So how can you deliver effective marketing material that will significantly improve sales and see if you are on target? Here are a few simple tips:

1. Solving a Problem: Is the Solution Quick to Understand?

Keep it SIMPLE. Credibility is a key factor in offering a product or service. Online your potential customer needs to see exactly how these benefits can solve their problem. Give them problems/questions they can relate to and answer their concerns plainly.

2. Does It Make Sense?

Keep it REAL. You only have a few ticks of time to catch viewer interest. So you need to have your marketing make sense. No contradictions and no over complicated offers.

Do your family, friends, colleagues, and strangers – old and young – understand what you are offering and how valuable it is? Can you explain it to them in 30 seconds or less and have them repeat it back to you? Remember, they are a cross section of a larger market with more or less attention.

Distill your message to basic features and benefits without complex concepts or terminology. You will be more impressive if you keep it real!

3. Spring Cleaning – Visual Clarity

Keep it CLEAR. When developing a new website or reworking an existing site, keep in mind your target audience: young, old, male, female, occupation, education and buying habits. Once you have determined the demographics, use appropriate visual stimulation – colors, images, graphics and offers – to enhance your content.

Chunk or subdivide your home page so people can go through the portal of choice to the appropriate interior page. If you are grocery shopping and don’t know the store, you need visual stimulus or signage to help you find that can of beans. Same holds true for a website. Visual clarity translates into longer page views and deeper interest.

4. Do You Have a Roadmap to Your Destination?

Keep it SEARCHABLE. I know you already know this, but it needs to be hammered home. Even the best-developed site can under-perform if the traffic is not there. Your site must be constructed with content rich keywords and then optimized for search. This is where you need to allocate resources in your budget.

A properly optimized site will rank higher on Google and drive qualified traffic, generating more leads and sales. Your ROI will go up. Hire an SEO expert to review your site so you can quantify the effectiveness of your optimized site. It will be well worth it; and, incidentally, that’s where the statistics don’t lie.

5. What More Can I Do to Increase Sales?

Keep it MARKETABLE. Take advantage of all your marketing resources. The more noise you make, the more attention you will generate. Social media marketing has finally come into its own. You need to be active on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, as well as article marketing, blogging and developing email campaigns. In short, be in front of your potential customers.

Connect with your list and become a familiar fixture on the net. People are more apt to buy from someone or something they know. Off-page marketing helps give you that street credibility.

People often react to straightforward answers to solve their problems even though they can be wooed by all the marketing extras, the value added incentives, and ironclad guarantees.

SPECIAL: Solopreneur Package – Jump Start Your Business The Web Success Team's Solopreneur Package includes a 5-page custom direct response website fully branded and optimized for Search Engines with 6-months of online marketing, including social networking, blogging, article marketing and much more. Lock in your special pricing now before the rate goes up! Contact the Web Success Team at 818-222-5643 or email bob@websuccessteam.com. To your web success!

Selling Peace of Mind at Home and on the Road

Fri, 15 May 2009 11:03 GMT

By: Bob Speyer

The Web Success Team has just launched Benchmark RV, a website branded to project consumer confidence by treating the customer’s RV as a member of the family. The RV community is a sub-culture of independent family-minded people that love the outdoors and cherish their road warrior adventurist image. With this understanding, the Web Success Team took advantage of Benchmark RV’s unique positioning as a family owned and operated “one-stop RV service center.” The website was purposely designed as a clean cut no nonsense website that gives viewers a wholesome image and a place where the care and feeding of their RV is paramount.

Keeping it Simple for Maximum Effect
The owner’s personality is also reflected throughout the site as they are avid racing enthusiasts, supporting and participating in the racing circuit. Customers can follow their exploits on the site and identify with their passion. And because the main bread and butter of the RV center is to service and maintain RVs, there is an impressive array of repair and maintenance services, along with extensive storage facilities. The emphasis is on customer service and convenience.

The direct response website also includes an extensive online catalog for RV accessories and a shopping cart for purchases. Now that the website has launched, the Web Success Team turns its sights onto phase II – the marketing of the site and driving qualified traffic. Because the site is built in CSS, optimum coding for the search engines to follow the keyword rich content, the site is already very marketable. The Team’s proven formula for “web success” is to develop a blog to market the site along with article marketing to position the client as an authority in their field and have the content spidered by Google.

Socialize It!
Another online technique is to develop a fan base using social media marketing, such as the extensive use of Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Industry competition is fierce and what better way to attract new customers than to make them familiar with your products and services. If they know who you are and are confident in your reputation, then the sales will follow.

SPECIAL: Solopreneur Package – Jump Start Your Business
The Web Success Team's Solopreneur Package includes a 5-page custom direct response website fully branded and optimized for Search Engines with 6-months of online marketing, including social networking, blogging, article marketing and much more. Lock in your special pricing now before the rate goes up! Contact the Web Success Team at 818-222-5643 or email bob@websuccessteam.com. To your web success!

Link Building vs. Content: Get Your Site to Rank Higher on Google

Wed, 13 May 2009 12:31 GMT

By: Alyse Speyer

In the last few weeks, I’ve read tons of articles detailing why link building is better than content. It’s true, there are some sights on the web that have little to no content and are still on the top of Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) as Terri Wells writes in her article. So why not do both?

Link Building – How to Look at Link Profiles
Link building will certainly help your website’s rankings; however it’s the quality of your links that will take you to the top. In order to understand proper link building techniques, you need to do some research on link profiles. Unfortunately, no tools have been made to help online businesses assess link profiles. Most of the research should be done by a link specialist or a marketing team.

Link with Authority
The search engines have grown wise to reciprocal links, thereby making them fairly ineffective in page rankings. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t have them. Reciprocal links can help your rankings and web success as long as there are authority links. That means if Google decides to link one of your articles to their news site, you better link back! Still, one way backlinks tend to be better than reciprocal links. The key here is to know which sites have more weight.

Keep Links Young and Fresh
Another aspect to consider when revamping a link building campaign is to reassess old links. Often times, old links fall backward into old/supplemental results especially on article aggregators, which is why new campaigns need to be timed in order to maximize their effectiveness.

Content Connection
Content remains one of the best ways to get noticed by search engines and consumers looking for information. Even though authority backlinks are an important key to higher SERPs, content can help you further your link building campaign. The truth is that link building and content work hand-in-hand for page rankings.

Create Effective Backlinks with Your Content
If you have hundreds of pages of content, chances are your backlinks are strong as well. If not, then you need to start distributing your content to relevant aggregators and social networks. This is known as off-page marketing. Make sure that the article directories to which you submit are significant, meaning that they are indexed by Google and are related to your business. It will do you no good if you sell coaching skills and submit articles to tech-dominated directories.

Use Other Marketing Resources
In order to market your site effectively, you need to find a balance within your overall internet marketing strategy. Remember link building and content are not the only online marketing tools needed to improve SERPs. Bear in mind that on-page and off-page marketing strategies play strong roles in creating direct response websites as well as attracting customers and search engine spiders.

SPECIAL: Solopreneur Package – Jump Start Your Business The Web Success Team's Solopreneur Package includes a 5-page custom direct response website fully branded and optimized for Search Engines with 6-months of online marketing, including social networking, blogging, article marketing and much more. Lock in your special pricing now before the rate goes up! Contact the Web Success Team at 818-222-5643 or email bob@websuccessteam.com. To your web success!