We’re making a couple changes to our blog that you’ll see over the next couple weeks.

Specifically, we’re adding content to the sign up” box over there <<<. When you leave your name and email address, you'll begin to regularly receive “Inside Internet Marketing” tips.

We’re also excited to say we’ll soon have a bit of extra reading to keep you occupied, our free “Twitter for the Tweeple” report.

So, we invite you to come back often.

Karen

Search engines

They’re the most important tool on the web for bringing new customers to a site.

Many people who have never heard of your site will use a search engine to find what they are looking for either at your site or that of someone else.

Unfortunately, though, a search engine is not psychic.

Nor is it too intuitive. They will not be able to find what people are actually looking for but rather what they are asking for.

But just how do you know what people are looking for?

There are a number of different ways to get ahead of the competition relative to people’s search habits. One of the many effective tools to do this with is Word Tracker, which can be found at WordTracker.com.

You are able to license this program either by the day, week, month or year. The Word Tracker provides feedback in relation to key phrases you submit to it.

It will also make recommendations relative to similar key phrases. You are then able to test them against the most important search engines and directories on the web.

What Word Tracker then does is tell you just how many people are searching for a particular phrase, and how much competition there is from other sites. Once this is done, Word Tracker assigns each phrase with a Keyword Effectiveness Index (KEI) ranking.

So by using the phrases that attract the most interest, but the least competition appropriately throughout your site in both copy and page titles, it will be more receptive to the search engines and directories. Then people looking for a particular product or service should see your site as one of the first in their search results.

The best time to do keyword or key phrases searches is when you first build your site.

This will also keep you from having to rewrite your copy later on. But really, you can do your searches at any time.

It is also important to remember that if you are not diligently keeping abreast of what your customers want, your competition will be making up for it.

Finally!

My blog, Kreative Ramblings, is fixed.

Now I can say good-bye to all the malicious, rogue html code that had insidiously worked its way into the back end of my WP application. The html code that popped up in my Page Source – View and caused my blog to be out of sorts.

The code that showed up in Google under my given name and my business name–advocating “Viagra”, antihistamines, and Zoloft to name a few.

While I was getting that fixed, I also also switched Kreative Ramblings to a new host (the one this blog is on), and KR now has it’s own URL.

While I was at it, I learned that after this I need to “back up” my blog regularly and I must update WP versions in a timely manner.

Karen

You’re a web site owner and know how precious your domain name is.

It gives visitors a way to find and get to your site. And if your domain is a business domain, it adds to your company’s brand. That’s why you’re especially careful to protect your domain name. You choose it carefully, mark the renewal date on your calendar, and often check to see who is linking to you.

When you have a popular Web site, it’s important to protect your traffic and good name.

But if someone registers a domain name that is very similar to yours, he could profit from the popularity of your site. Which is a bad thing! He could even set up a site that looks like yours, in an effort to scam visitors who mistakenly end up there.

Worse yet. He could post derogatory statements about your business. Or he could simply set up a site that is filled with advertising in an effort to make money. And it might be a site you might not want to write home to mother about.

Checking for registration of domains similar to yours can alert you to such activity when it might otherwise go undetected. If you catch it early, you might even be able to prevent the domain from being used. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Make a list of common misspellings and typographical errors of your domain name.
If you are having trouble with the typos, imagine how others might make the same mistakes typing your domain name. Especially if you’re typing it quickly and over and over.

2. Do a Whois check on all the misspellings and typos you make.
(You can find Whois information at http://whois.domaintools.com.) And run a check on your domain name using other extensions (.net, .in*fo, .us), and so on.

Make note of any new registrations.

3. Type any newly registered, similar domains into your browser’s address bar and see what happens.
Take screenshots of anything you find that’s “interesting” or out of the ordinary.

What you do next will depend on what you find at the site.

If the domain owner has used your trademark, or copyrighted your material in any way, you can take legal action. If he has set up a site intended to scam visitors, get yourself to the authorities as fast as you can to report his actions.

If the domain name itself is not infringing on your trademark for the purpose of financial gain, you may not have any recourse through the courts. So there is little point in filing a lawsuit.

But if your trademark is being exploited in anyway by the domain, you can take legal action. Your first step is to send a cease-and-desist letter. If that does not produce results, a lawsuit may be warranted.

Checking for domain likeness is quick and easy.
And it’s worth every minute you take to check it!

If you take the time to check your domain on a regular basis, like every couple months or so, you are protecting your brand and your Web site.

Which simply is another way of “investing in your business”.

If you’ve been looking for my blog, “Clicking for Change”, it’s missing–for a day or so.

I was adding a post and a page to it from my C-panel and, unfortunately, moved the public_html folder.

Moved it so much, I seem to have lost it.

I have contacted my web host and am crossing my fingers he can find that folder. Since right now, everything seems to be gone!

Woe is me!

Karen McGreevey

Become your own expert

If you’re launching a new information product, obviously you need to be your own expert in whatever topic you’re writing about.

This is crucial to your sales success
Whose product would you rather read: the pseudo expert who doesn’t offer any new information or the true expert who practices what he preaches and has success doing so?

To become an expert, do your studying
Conduct market research and really pinpoint EXACTLY who will be your customers. Learn everything there is to know about your customers and how your info product will help them.

Check out your competitors’ Web sites and online stores
How will YOUR info product be different from theirs? Offering a different point of view or a unique solution to a problem will set your info product apart from the competitors.

Share your message with others
You want to build a buzz around the launch of your info product and the best way to do that is to become active in social media groups and forums, which reach your target market.

Being a guest on some targeted podcasts will also allow your message to be heard.

What makes you so special?
If other people already know about your expertise prior to launching your product, then ask for their testimonials to add to your sales page.

Ask their opinions about what makes you and your info product unique and how it can help others. Offering people a free copy of your product to review will get you many volunteers.

To become an expert in your field means studying your market, staying up-to-date with your market’s needs, and offering innovative solutions to their problems.

If you have a genuine interest in solving these needs, then your market will embrace you as an expert, and your product sales will likely increase as a result.