Website Analytics Tools

Web analytics can assist you in driving your site in the right direction. Web analytics is the measurement, collection, analysis and reporting of internet data for purposes of perceptive and optimizing web usage. Using Web analytics, you can get an unambiguous understanding where your website traffic is going and how they behave.

There are lots of web analytics solutions available, such as Analog, AWStats, Webalizer and Google analytics and more advanced and in-depth paid / subscription tools like Hitslink.

Google analytics (previously Urchin) is the enterprise-class web analytics solution that provides you rich insights into your website traffic and marketing success. You can see and analyze your traffic data in an entirely new way with the help of powerful, flexible and easy-to-use features. You can write better-targeted ads, strengthen your marketing plans and create higher converting websites with Google Analytics. Google analytics also give free conversion tracking tools for paid search campaigns.

There are a lot of web stats packages available in internet that provides a very high quality reporting system with detailed information. You can determine a wide variety of online activities such as paid search campaigns, email campaigns and display advertising.

Generally analytics support will be done via email, though most providers can provide phone support.

Some Web Analytics Tools

1.     Hitslink: A very helpful web tracking solution and easy to implement. You have to just paste a small tracking script on your site’s pages and you can start viewing reports within seconds. There are two versions available, HitsLink Enterprise and Professional.

2.     GoStats: This provides real-time web statistics and analytics which can give you immediate insights into your website’s performance. Started in 1999, GoStats provides a wealth of data which most free stats systems cannot provide.

3.     Google Analytics: Google rolled out this analytics platform out in 2005. Google Analytics is one of the most powerful free web stat tools currently available and definitely worth a look. One of my favorite features is its custom reporting.

4.     ClickTracks: It is known as one of the higher end web analytics solutions, a good tool for search marketers and search engine optimizers. Click tracks gives the user a deep insight in to campaigns, site navigation patterns, PPC, SEO and ROI stats instantly.

5.     WebTrends: The high end corporate web site statistics / web analytics package. WebTrends have been around for some time now and demand a great deal of respect in the analytics market. A very powerful solution demanding a high price.

6.     Clicky: Clicky prides itself on providing real time analytics. The UI is very clean and functional, and there is also a dedicated iPhone version. Clicky is designed to be the easiest web analytics service.

7.     Reinvigorate : Reinvigorate also provides Real-time, Active Tracking.   It also features heat map technology that lets you see where visitors are clicking. You can get Traffic Reports, Visitor Reports, Search & Referrer Reports, Traffic summary report for each page, Live Site Activity, Live Real-time Dashboard, Heatmaps, Share compared to other site pages etc.

8.     Piwik: Piwik is a downloadable, open source (GPL licensed) real time web analytics software program. What makes Piwik exceptional from the competition? Just see

-         Real time web analytics reports: in Piwik, reports are generated in real time. For high traffic websites, you can choose the frequency for reports to be processed

-         Piwik’s built inside plugins: you can add new features and remove the ones you don’t need. If you are a developer, you can easily build your own web analytics plugins!

-         You hold your data: The data is stored in your own database and you can get all the statistics using open APIs (publishing the data in many formats: xml, json, php, csv)

-         Fully customizable user interface: you can drag and drop the widgets as you want to display and create a report especially tailored to you!

9.     Yahoo! Web Analytics: Yahoo! Web Analytics is a free full featured enterprise analytics resolution with powerful and flexible dashboards, segmentation tools, and campaign management features.

10.            Mint: Mint is an extensible, self-hosted web site analytics program. Its interface is an exercise in smoothness. Visits, referrers, popular pages and searches can all be taken in at a quick look on Mint’s flexible dashboard.

11.            W3Counter: W3Counter demonstrates you what’s happening as it happen. You can quickly get your questions answered like who’s your audience, how they find your site, and what interests them.

12.            W3Perl: W3Perl can use server’s log files and/or be used as a page tagging tool. The perl scripts analyze log files and produce HTML/PDF reports. It can be run from the command line or from the web interface.

13.            TraceWatch: TraceWatch is a Real Time Web Stats and Traffic Analysis tool, which helps you in keep tracking the visitors to your website in real time with detailed statistics and deep analysis using an innovative user interface for FREE and assists you to make your website more effective.  You can be easily installed on any website supporting PHP and MySQL.

Lessons for SEO from the US Military

If we apply some reliable rules from military doctrine to search engine optimization for learning and activity value, it will definitely help in improving our SEO efforts.

1. Transparency of intention. One of the fundamental rules of military operations is to have a distinct, over-arching goal that encloses every action. This helps with decision making, keeps troops motivated, and acts as a standard for measuring achievement. In SEO, the same rule applies: Everyone is happier and more proficient when the goals are clear.

2. Vital training for everyone. Each and every member of the military be present at basic training and learns basic combat and survival skills. The funny thing is, most members of the military don’t go into combat…yet they get this training anyways. The reason: In addition to being great exercise and teaching self-discipline, sacrifice, devotion, and more, basic training helps everyone in understanding the most essential military tasks.

In SEO, visualize how much easier your job would be if every client understood the standards of search engine rankings and the importance of content and links. Teaching our clients and their staff SEO basics can be a challenging task, but it makes meeting our goals a little easier.

3. Analysis every action. After action reviews (AARs) are conducted at every level of the military—from squad leaders to the joint chiefs. The intention of an AAR is to review the goal(s) of a particular action, discuss what actually happened, reflect on what can be learned, and estimate how we can improve our process. In SEO, you can improve your processes by conducting an AAR of every link-building effort.

4. Specialization is the key to a big success. While there are super-human military commandos who take on big missions all by themselves, most members of the armed forces specialize in one very definite task. Put another way – Rambo exists in the movies, not in real life.

When your SEO assignment target is a competitive term, it’s best to break SEO tasks into chunk and then utilize specialists to complete each task. This allows you to keep quality while also working on a large scale.

5. Search engine rankings are just the tip of the spear. A common military analogy is that combat troops are at the tip of a very long spear, and that support troops are both the strength and length of the spear. The point is that soldiers who fight at the front lines are no more important than the soldiers who drive fuel trucks, do laundry, etc.

SEOs must keep in mind that web designers, developers, content writers, video editors, etc. are important to the success of any SEO campaign. All jobs matter when it comes to achieving top rankings.

6. If it’s slow but it works, it’s not stupid. Many SEO experts would agree that emailing hundreds of random link exchange requests is stupid. However, I think that this stupid link-building approach works because I get these emails all the time. I’m not saying that we should start spamming webmasters, but it never hurts to reconsider “stupid” ideas.

7. Remember that important things are always simple and the simple things are always tough. I like to tell new clients that success in SEO is really pretty simple: create great content and then get people to link to it. The hard part is doing it.

8. If the enemy is within range, so are you. One of the things I love about SEO is that, given enough time and resources, most search engine rankings are up for capture. As a result, while we’re working on ranking a client website for a valuable term, there’s a good chance another SEO expert is attacking your client’s top terms right now. Therefore, SEO is an ongoing task.

Written by Jason Lancaster – the President of Spork Marketing, a Denver Internet marketing company specializing in search engine optimization, marketing, and web design.

Marketing Tips for Classified Ads

Classified ad is a type of advertising which is mostly common in newspapers, online and other periodicals.

You can use free classifieds for getting targeted traffic because when you post an ad on classified sites people view your ads.

Free classifieds are easy to use, but there are some tips and tricks that you can do to get the most out of your earning potential.

Things that you should keep in mind before submitting an ad in a classified sites

1. Post your ads on high traffic sites. This is essential because there are tons of free classified sites out there; however, many are pure junk. You want to make sure that your ads are on sites that people visit on usual basis. I would recommend doing a Google search for “free classified sites” and do a little examine from there.
2. Write a catchy ad titles. Think outside the box a little. Really ask yourself “would I click on this ad”. If you can honestly say yes to this question, you maybe have a good title.
3. Try to keep your ad short, engaging and strange. Do not try to sell in your ad. So when you are writing your ad, write it like a really good teaser.
4. Post as frequently as you can as many places as you can. I suggest you to sign up in lots of free classified sites. Then, post as many as you can on each site. You will see some pleasant results by doing this.

How to Writing Appealing Product Descriptions

You must concisely express the benefits and selling points of your product within a typical 60 to 70 words and you should include search engine keyphrases that hold your target audience.

By following some straightforward steps, you can quickly be the master of ecommerce copywriting. Once you do, you will be able to generate attractive copy that drives sales and increase search engine positioning.

1. Bring yourself into the light with the target audience

Don’t ignore your target customer when writing product descriptions. However, the site visitor is the key to how the copy is shaped, the tone it takes and which angle is used to be in touch the benefits. For example, let’s take a look at a box of gourmet chocolates.

If your target audience consists of gourmet chocolate lovers, you’ll want to focus on the uniqueness of your flavors, the quality of the features or perhaps the luxurious texture. What if, on the other hand, your target audience consists – in part or in whole – of those seeking gluten-free treats?

It’s not exceptional to get chocolates on the open markets that are gluten-free. However, the added elements in gourmet chocolates may cause problems for those with celiac disease. They are on a regular basis forced to stick with ordinary, plain chocolate candies and bars due to their condition. Since gluten-free items are the most trendy, up-and-coming grocery products, you’ll want to make certain this segment of your gourmet site visitors understands you have something that meets their dietary needs.

Knowing your audience as a whole, and understanding each segment is imperative to creating ecommerce copy that hits the mark every time.

2. Make a list of the main benefits of the product

The steps in this process are progressive. So, while still keeping your target audience and its needs in mind, make a list of the benefits which are very fundamental to your customers. You may want to include various segments in your list.

Continuing with the example above, let’s form a mini-list for a boxed collection of international chocolates.

• Gourmet chocolate lovers – unique ingredients imported from across the globe.
• Health conscious – organic ingredients, premium dark chocolate, high quality nuts.
• Special dietary needs- gluten-free. Other collections available that are sugar-free, vegetarian, vegan and kosher.
• All customers – 100% pure ingredients, no artificial colors, flavors or additives.
• Gift givers – attractive, boutique-style gift boxes wrapped in a silk bow. Gift card included at no additional cost. Appropriate for both personal and business gifting.

3. Imagine the future

Good copywriters look past the buying expertise toward the future. After the customer purchases this product, how will his/her life be different and/or better? What will the exact end result of their purchase be?

In the case of gourmet chocolates, the end result for those purchasing for themselves might be breathing a sigh of fulfillment as these divine confections melt in their mouths. For gift givers, the end result could be impressing the recipients (whether business or personal) with a truly distinctive collection unlike any they have ever received.

Whatever be the end result, it is important to give your site visitors a quick look into the future so they can see how purchasing from your company will make their lives better.

4. Identify the limits of your CMS

Content management systems (CMSs) can be annoying at times. Before you set out to write product copy that’s 150 words long with a catchy headline, you’ll want to verify what can and cannot be accomplished within your system. Some have limited room in the copy field. Others force the headline, pulling from information you enter into the product specifications. For example, the headline on each product page would be automatically fed from the title of the product.

Knowing what quirks must be overcome will make the process of writing copy much easier. A few common areas to check include:

• Maximum word or character count in the product copy field.
• Additional fields below the fold (if you run out of space in the product copy field, then you can add a link for “more information” that drops the reader to a space further down the page.)
• Forced information (headlines that are automatically inserted, product copy automatically fed to the category pages, etc.)

5. Include search engine keyphrases

Depending on your site design and your CMS, your product descriptions could conceivably be hundreds of words long. Generally speaking, however, you’re most likely looking at around 60–80. That doesn’t leave much room to incorporate keyphrases.

While longer web pages benefit from the use of multiple search terms, I recommend sticking to one keyphrase for short product descriptions. Start with the framework of your page including the title tag, description META tag, and file name, page name in the navigational structure, breadcrumb trail, forced page headline and other elements. Then move on to the content. Use search phrases in the:

Headline – if your headline isn’t forced by your CMS, make a point to include your keyphrase provided it doesn’t detract from the message. It is usually very simple to add in a keyphrase into a headline, but – if for some reason it just doesn’t flow – leave it out.

Product image caption – too many ecommerce sites simply shove “Product #12345″ below graphics. Instead, underneath the hero shot of your product, enter a short, keyword-rich sentence that briefly describes the item. This assists your visitors with learning about your product and gives a little nudge to your rankings.

Product copy – even within 60–80 words, you should be able to comfortably work your search term in two or perhaps three times. Read the text out loud. If it sounds unnecessary, take out one instance of your keyphrase.

6. Write down the copy

It’s time to put all the pieces together. Look back over the previous five steps. We have our target customer, profits, end results and keyphrase. Merge everything you have to create a compelling product description that will capture lots of clicks.

7. Tweak, test & track

There is always room for enhancement. Change a word or two in the headline. Alter the focus to one particular segment of your audience. Slowly but surely make small tweaks to your product descriptions and test them against the original version of the copy. Track your results in order to gain the best conversion ratio possible. This is an all-too-often skipped step that – when done correctly – frequently brings about tremendous gains.

Once you realize the components of good product copy, it’s easier than you think to put together descriptions that garner more sales. Maintain this simple outline handy and you’ll quickly gain speed when writing high-converting ecommerce copy.

By Karon Thackston

Tips to Fix Keyword Woes

Dig out the right keywords for a page confirms to be much more of an art than an exact science, requiring patience and trial and error. At most, you just enhance the chance to rank your page in search engine listings. There could be other problems with your market or page holding you back as well.

Problem 1

Pages are do not ranking though you followed the Step-by-Step Keyword Guide

Keep in mind the two factors touched upon, code to text ratio and domain age? You might want to see if the current pages listed in a search query for your keywords hit yours in these two categories.

To find out the code to text ratio testing, you can use the tool of the following website:

http://www.seochat.com/seo-tools/code-to-text-ratio/

The lower percentage is better.

Look it up in WHOIS to check the age of a domain,  

http://domains.whois.com/domain.php?action=whois

Note: Some owners hide this information.

Problem 2

Your webpage is ranking on the first page for a particular keyword, but you aim is to get more traffic and so want to use more competitive keywords.

You never need to be pleased with your existing keywords. Most people start their activity with low competition keywords. You should try to improve phrases with higher monthly traffic volumes in the long run. If you get more inbound links then your website will begin to build some stability. Test your page against others listed for the terms receiving more searches. You might find you now have a possibility to rank for the better keywords!

Problem 3

Even though your page is ranking in the number 1 spot for a keyword, but it carry you no traffic!

A few issues could be effecting to this problem. First off, you need to make sure that the keyword does narrate to your content and your title. If it’s not significant, it’s not going to work for you. You must also make sure your meta-description or page description. Change your description such that it more positively reflects the content of your page. The description appears underneath page titles in search listings and is your second most useful search marketing asset.

Always stay in your niche.

Problem 4

You find out you cannot rank for any of your keywords!

This happens to many people and should not dishearten you. Online Markets tend to be very competitive and you might need to do some ground work before you can start taking benefit of the power of search engines.

Before you put your keywords on hold, make sure you exhausted all possible phrases. Sometimes the difference between something like “weight loss” vs. “fat loss” can be huge and introduce you to an entirely new list of keywords to work with.

If you completely reviewed all the terminology you could think of, you need to start networking and marketing instead.

• Share your pages with a good keyword on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and to your business associates.
• Find related sites in your market and ask them to link to you. Blogs work wonders!
• Link to relevant resources from your page and hope those writers will return the favor in the future.

Once you create enough inbound links, you can go back and test your page against the competition again.

Problem 5

I took all your advice, double checked my efforts, and still no results!

Implementing keywords and Search engine optimization can be a long and tedious process. As mentioned earlier, no one truly distinguishes all the elements that come into play when search engines decide how to rank pages.

If you’ve tried all the above and still cannot rank your pages, you might need some additional hand-holding and more personalized training to help pinpoint your dilemma and remedy it.

 Know about Some Keywords Tools for Keyword Research and Trends

Tips to Optimize a Dynamic Website

A web page that has been prepared with fresh information (content and/or layout), for each individual viewing is basically known as Dynamic web page. As it changes with the time (ex. a news content), the user (ex. preferences in a login session), the user interaction (ex. web page game), the context (parametric customization), or any combination of the foregoing, so, it is not static page.

One of the most popular examples of dynamic web pages is Google Earth™. Users input the address they are traveling to, and the page returns with directions and a map to the location.

Another example of a dynamic web page is a search engine. Web site searches, where the user is looking for information on just one site, are also dynamic pages.

Today, most dynamic web pages are created using various technologies such as DHTML, JSP, ASP (Active Server Pages), Cold Fusion technology, Perl and so on and so forth.

Therefore, for successfully optimize a dynamic website it is necessitate to have some complex search engine technology and ways that are significantly different and much more sophisticated than the latest SEO techniques used for ordinary, more conventional “static” web sites. So it becomes essential to know also about how to optimize a Dynamic Website?

In fact, it is difficult to get dynamic web sites properly indexed in the major search engines except they are professionally optimized. Even most search engines claim that they now index the majority of dynamic web sites but still only in some cases and it is limited to a number of URLs.

One of the most important reason behind having problem with dynamic sites to get indexed by major search engines is that Search engines often consider a dynamic URL as a set of infinite number of links.

There are two major problems with dynamic web site when it comes to search engines:

1. Dynamic web page does not exist when search engine Robots are crawling the pages.
2. The search engine Robots usually do not read character such as “?”, “%”, “$” “#”, “&”, “*”, “!”

The main cause behind it is because all dynamic pages do not even live until a user actually goes through a query or variable that generates the pages. Often search engine spiders are not programmed to select or choose any of query or variables. In this way, those dynamic pages do not get generated and that is why pages are not getting to be indexed.

As a direct consequence that most search crawlers have major problems “reading” any level into a typical dynamic database, most of these search engine spiders have been programmed to initially detect and then ignore most dynamic URLs.

Dynamic pages can be optimized by making database access well-organized, making page code more efficient, and performance testing while trying different optimizations.  This can involve quite a bit of work, testing, and analysis.

How to optimize a dynamic website to get it indexed by major search engines:

1. Convert dynamic URL’s to search-engine friendly URL’s-

Use some URL Rewriting Tools and software available on the web that converts a dynamic URL to Static URLs.

For an example- webconfs.com helps to change the dynamic URLs to static ones.

In this way, changing a dynamic URL to static URL assists it to get easily indexed by search engines.

2. Use CGI/Perl Scripts –

You can use CGI/Perl scripts. By using CGI/Perl scripts your dynamic sites can get indexed by search engines easily. Path_Info or Script_Name is a variable in a dynamic application that contains the complete URL address. When you are using CGI/Perl scripts, the query part of the dynamic URL is assigned a variable.

3. Configure your web servers -

You can use Apache Server. Apache has a rewrite module that facilitates you to turn URLs containing query strings into URLs that search engines can index. This module is known as “mod_rewrite”, and it isn’t installed with Apache software by default, so you need to check with your web hosting company and see if it’s available for your server.

ColdFusion - If you are using Coldfusion to develop your websites, you have to reconfigure ColdFusion on your server so that the “?” in a query string is replaced with a ‘/’ and pass the value to the URL. So when the search engine spider approaches to index the page, it will not encounter the “?”, and go ahead and index the complete dynamic page.

4. Create mirror static web pages of your dynamic content, so that the search engines can spider them–

Just create a static page linking to all your dynamic pages. Submit this static page along with all the dynamic pages in various search engines, conforming to the search engine submission guidelines. The search engine spider of course cannot index the entire dynamic page, but will catalog most of the content from it, because of this link on a static page.

5. Directly Submit Dynamic Pages through Paid Inclusion Programs

By directly submitting specific dynamic web pages to AltaVista, you can increase the chances of getting picked up by that search engine. If you submit your dynamic pages to AltaVista or Inktomi via their paid inclusion programs, it definitely ensures they will get in.

Only some Search Engines have the courage to stand up and say, “We Accept Dynamic Pages into our directory!” Two of the most popular search engines which allocate Dynamic pages are Infoseek and Hotbot.

If you are going to optimize a dynamic website then all above SEO tips can help you.

Some Keywords Tools for Keyword Research and Trends

To focus on your website content, advertising, and affiliate links to improve your conversion, you can use free trend reports and keyword suggestion tools. These tools help you to find what people are looking for.

These are the best free ways to find the most popular keywords (on Google, Microsoft Live/MSN (Bing), and Yahoo) and trends.

Keyword selecting is the first step in Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

You can use a variety of good methods to find the hottest trends of what people are searching for, buying, and doing. By using these free keyword reports and tools, you can not only improve your website or pages so they come up better in the searches, but also for coming up with the most searched for topics, thus leading to potentially more traffic.

Some of the coolest keyword tools are-

• Google Trends
• Google Search-based keyword tool
• Google Search to Find the Best Keywords
• Google Adwords Keyword Tool
• Google Insights for Search
• Google Keyword Suggestions
• Google Battle
• Hitwise
• Wordtracker Free Keyword Suggestion Tool
• Microsoft’s Keyword Forecast Tool
• Trellian’s Keyword Discovery
• Trends Buzz
• Amazon Movers and Shakers
• Ebay Hot Trends
• Trend Hunter

Google Trends

Google Trends help you to find the latest searches for each day.

Google Trends evaluates a portion of Google web searches to compute how many searches have been done for the terms you enter, relative to the total number of searches done on Google over time. It will show you a graph with the results – search-volume graph – plotted on a linear scale.

Below the search and news volume graphs, Google Trends demonstrates the top cities, regions, and languages in which people searched for the first term you entered.

Hot Trends, rather than showing the most popular searches overall, it returns what people are searching for on Google today. Hot Trends show up searches that have sudden surges in popularity.

For each search, Hot Trends illustrates related searches, a search-volume graph, and the top cities. Hot Trends is updated hourly. You can also choose a date in the past to spot what the top Hot Trends for that date were.

Google Search-based keyword tool

Google Search-based keyword tool is based upon actual Google search queries.

As Google says, the tool “generates keyword and landing page ideas highly appropriate and exact to your website. This tool also helps you to identify additional advertising opportunities that aren’t currently being used in your AdWords ad campaigns. The tool goes one step further by tailoring the keywords and other data (such as the amount of competition for the keyword, the suggested bid, and more) based on your language or country/territory settings.”

Difference between the Search-based keyword tool and the Google Adwords tool

“The major difference between the Search-based Keyword Tool and the Keyword Tool currently in AdWords is that the former generates keyword ideas based on your website, and identifies those currently not being used in your AdWords account. Additionally, the Search-based Keyword Tool provides more detailed data for each keyword, such as category information, suggested bid that may place the ad in the top three spots of a search results page, and ad/search share. Both tools, however, offer the option of browsing all keywords across all categories.”

Google Search to Find the Best Keywords

The best tool to use is the Google search box. Not on Google’s home page but in your browser.

Use Firefox browser and use the Google search box (located in the upper right corner of the Firefox browser).

Begin typing any one letter. It will automatically fill the search box with first, all the searches you’ve made starting with that letter but under that will be “suggestions”, that’s what you want.

If you type “f”, then you’ll find “facebook, firefox, friendster” etc. These are the top searched for sites.

Next type in a second letter, you will see the most popular search terms that start with “fa”, like “family guy, fandango”, etc.

You can carry on using this method to find out the best keywords.

Google Adwords Keyword Tool

Google Adwords Keyword Tool is tied to data from Google searches, Google Adsense, and Google Adwords.

This is really one of the best tool. Adwords can suggest you more information. It will show you the keywords, but also suggest alternatives, and then will also show you how many clicks per month those keywords generate.

Google Insights for Search

If you want to compare search volume patterns across specific regions, categories, time frames and properties, then use Google Insights for Search.

Google Keyword Suggestions

Google Experimental Search -Google’s this technology offers alternative suggestions to your queries in real time. The keyword search suggestions will display beneath your current search.

Google Battle.com

A Google Battle between two keywords gives a comparison of the keywords and provides a smiley face representation, and a nice chart. It’s more entertaining than informative.

Hitwise

Fast Moving Search Terms

Although not hugely informative, there are some gems of information from Hitwise. This is from their Retail Section of Hitwise. Combine this with other trend and keyword research tools.

Wordtracker Free Keyword Suggestion Tool

An excellent keyword tool that is freely available from Wordtracker.

You can generate up to 100 related keywords and an guess of their daily search volume.

You can add the Wordtracker Keywords search to your browser, i.e., in Internet Explorer 7 or Firefox 2.

Microsoft’s Keyword Forecast Tool

Microsoft’s Keyword Forecast Tool forecasts the impression count and predicts demographic distributions of keywords.

Trellian’s Keyword Discovery

This tool helps us to learn about keyword usage on the search engines. Try Keyword Discovery Tool .

Trends Buzz

Trends Buzz gives up to the minute information about top search and topic trends across multiple platforms. These include Google Hot Trends, Yahoo Buzz, Twitter, The New York Times, and Search.com.

Amazon Movers and Shakers

On Amazon, you can see the top sales for a variety of categories. These are the biggest gainers in Amazon.com sales rank over the past 24 hours. This site may be helpful for you as it provides you with great information as to what is selling and what is not. Not only that, but as you type in a search Amazon’s A9-powered search engine will give you top search suggestions.

Ebay Hot Trends

The eBay merchandising team searches trade magazines, gathers predictions from respected industry experts, and looks at eBay sales data to find out what’s in demand. Here’s the dig on which hot products will be sponsored on the home page, emails, and buyer catalog this season. Have a look here, Ebay What’s Hot and Ebay Pulse

Trend Hunter

Trend Hunter is the world’s leading community dedicated to trend spotting & cool hunting. The community was initiated in 2005 by Jeremy Gutsche, an innovation expert who wanted to build a community for new business ideas and creativity.

Trend Hunter is a resource of inspiration for industry professionals, aspiring entrepreneurs and the insatiably curious. By tracking the progress of cool, Trend Hunters generate ideas, stimulate creativity, and ultimately unlock cool.

Source : http://www.squidoo.com/Finding-The-Latest-Trends#module9110205

Why SEO Should Not Stop Working?

Search Engine Optimization [SEO] is the process of altering a document or website in order to improve search rankings of that document. SEO tends to focus on the organic (natural) or free listings.

Search engine optimization (SEO) can improve the volume or quality of traffic to a web site from search engines via “natural” or un-paid (“organic” or “algorithmic”) search results as opposed to search engine marketing (SEM) which deals with paid inclusion.

Each search engine has a unique way of ranking or caching pages. By optimizing the structure of the website and improving its content, it’s possible to improve the website’s rankings for relevant keywords in search results. SEO has become an exact science as only when the website’s overall structure and content can be easily read and understood by the individual search engine’s programs, true optimization is achieved.

But some companies think that this is a one-time job and once done, it should last forever.  But this is not true. You need to make sure that you are keeping up with the changes your site undergoes.

The algorithm Google uses modifies daily in little ways but frequently in big ways.  To fight against spammers, all search engines run their own algorithm (Ask, Yahoo, Bing and Google) and modify the way they calculate rank correlated with keywords.  This means that a sudden dip in orders or visits may not be due to seasonality, but in fact a shift in where your site ranks for its desired keywords.  There are lots of programs that help to check ranking on keywords both free and paid for.  When changes happen, being immediately aware will help you pick up more quickly and save thousands in lost sales.

The search engines’ ranking relies on several factors. One of the aspects with most importance has been incoming links and their anchor text.  The act of “Google bombing” was when numerous links with specific anchor text were pointed at a page, and that page ranked for the anchor text.  One famous example is the White House ranking for “miserable failure”. Since this exploit was discovered, the value of links has been steadily diminishing. Due to changes to the way links are handled, your site suddenly stops ranking for a specific term.

Search engines regularly reward freshness and so keeping your website content fresh and constantly changing could help your rankings. These changes need to be carefully handled and should be overseen by an expert.  Simply inserting content is not enough.  The content needs to be marked, with proper optimization.  Adding the wrong content in the wrong way could damage your rankings.

Mistakes are sometimes made when changes are rolled out and it can often take an expert significant time to fix the mistake of mere seconds. This can affect rankings and depending on the frequency of your site being spidered, the damage could last months.  Monitoring ranking is necessary whether through searching manually, or automatically using a software package.

There are numerous things you can do without incurring significant costs to your business to monitor your site and be alerted when more SEO is needed.  For a roadmap of necessary changes, it can be beneficial to invest in a technical site audit however these can cost thousands.  They will often supply a roadmap of required changes as well as a severity ranking and guidance on what and how to make changes in the future.  For the long term, these are a solid investment.

Just register your site in Google’s Webmaster Tools.  If you get a penalty or if Google has a problem with your site, this is where they will leave a message for you.  It is free to register and validate your site and the interface is comparatively simple.  Once your site is validated, Google offers supportive pointers to dead/missing pages, problems it encountered or other issues.

Verify your web analytics at least once a week.  Ideally you should be spending an hour a day with your web analytics to support with the understanding of flow, conversions, bounce and related information.  Your web analytics may be where you first find out a problem.  Google offers an outstanding free web analytics package.

Read free online publications which talk important news and information about search engine changes.  As an example, a recent article alerted readers to a possible change to Google’s search results that may include “favicons”.  If search result pages incorporate them, it could have significant impact on click through rates in organic results.

Consciousness of changes to traffic and associated ranking changes for targeted keywords can alert you to changes as they happen.  These changes still require to be countered by professional search engine optimisation experts. By monitoring and having a roadmap of necessary changes in a site audit, you will be better placed to keep your SEO, and your site, always at the top.

Source – http://www.seo-chicks.com/1647/what-happens-when-seo-stops-working.html

NoFollow links Can Help a Site

The link that has an added attribute “rel=nofollow” towards its end, is known as A NoFollow link. This attribute notifies search engine spiders not to crawl that particular link. In order to control the handling of link building as a tool to increase search engine rankings, Google launched this attribute.
Though “No Follow” prevent Search Engine spider from crawling, but there are various small ways by which ‘NoFollow’ links can help.

1. ‘NoFollow’ attribute is not considered by all the search engines. Because this term was coined by Google. Some search engines do not consider nofollow guideline in their search engine algorithm.

2. You can get free traffic to your web site form a nofollow link. If a link of your site is added in some high ranking website, then visitors to that site can still see that link. Even though it may be nofollow link, the visitors can reach your website. Thus this link can help to drive direct traffic to your website. Hence sometimes when generating traffic is considered, a nofollow link can be as good as a ‘follow’ link.

3. NoFollow link can still assist you to get in touch with others and gain some traffic. Genuine commenting in other people’s blogs can slowly bring visitors to your blog or website articles. If they find something interesting to read, they will help in promoting your site by referring your site to others and by regular commenting, which will help you in making a brand image for yourself and your blog / website.

4. Think about two sites which are same in terms of quality of content and number of links they have. In this case a website having more ‘nofollow’ link will be given higher ranking. Thus, in a way nofollow links have high value with search engines.

5. A nofollow link does not mean that the link in itself is bad. A site having ‘nofollow’ links is any day better than a site having no links at all. Hence your site will not get any bad media hype by being a nofollow link.

6. A link with ‘NoFollow’ does not mean that it cannot be indexed by Google or any other search engines. NoFollow attribute will not prevent your site from being visible to readers in general.

Source : http://www.mrkeyword.com/blog/?p=441

Google TV -The Marriage between Web and TV

After a quite apprehensive start, the marriage between Web and TV seems to finally be realized with the announcement of Google TV, scheduled for early 2011. It must be said that TV is a big market: This is the most influential medium, one where the marketing dollars are highest. Google already has a foothold in television with the TV Ads (Place ads on television with Google TV Ads), now he aims to put his second foot and leave no room for others with a wide-ranging offering: Google TV Is Ready to Change the Game.

Google Chrome + Android = TV + Search + Marketplace

In abstract, the main features of Google TV:

●      Based on the operating system Android ( already used by many smartphones ) which permits the browser to run Chrome as well as many widgets available on theAndroid Market ;

●      recommends search system that combines both TV programs , offering VoD content YouTube and which is indexed on your media center ( if you have one );

●      Will directly integrated into a range of Smart TV from Sony or through the Review Box from Logitech (around $ 500).

The big players have already tried to marry web and TV without success ( with Microsoft MediaRoomYahoo! with Connected TV, Apple Apple TV…) , but Google is offering more determined and enjoys several levers differentiation :

●      The offer will be available to all manufacturers who wish to equip their products offer Google TV ( thanks to a smart all- in -one produced by Intel );

●      Many synergies are expected with smartphones (used as a remote intelligent or as payment terminal );

●      A partnership with suppliers grilles universal programs ( as Dish Network) gives meaning to the video stream and will provide additional content and services ( sheets IMDB about the movie you are watching … ) ;

●      Google is embarking on an adventure with two major industrial partners such as Logitech and Sony (which produces TV content but also have high value- added film catalogs with MGM, Columbia and Tri -Star) ;

●      Google relies on its broad ecosystem of Android developers to rapidly expand the supply .

Google’s objectives for this offering are placed very high. In fact it seems that Google is trying to trick a preliminary decapitation , well known military to crush the direct competitors of small (Roku, Vizio, Vudu…) And significantly raise the competitive pressure facing the duo Apple / Microsoft. To learn more, I recommend the very comprehensive report by Forrester : Google TV Is A Bigger Deal Than You Think.

Google TV could revolutionize the market (like the iPhone in its time)

Television is a bunch medium perfectly ripe with a well -performing value chain, as the telecom industry was before the landing of the iPhone! With Google TV, the Silicon Valley giant’s ambition to transform the industry by applying the recipe (with the model more than free) and injecting the lessons learned with the iPhone.

The targets of Google are the following:

●      Disintermediation of the cable operator and other satellite packages offering a universal search interface that would allow viewers to à la carte menu rather than ;

●      Amassing large amounts of data on usage and program schedules (as it does with Google Analytics and Google Maps ) ;

●      Generate income with ad placement in its search interface.

A second wind for TVs connected

Connect your TV to the Internet is not new, but when Google is sticking there, as anticipated, is that they can disrupt our habits and in -depth definitely change the way we consume content via the small screen (actually rather large in some ) .

One hand there is a very good timing because Google is launching right into a phase of renewal where the TV is in the process of reinventing itself ( HD , 3D , TNT … ) and where consumers demand more flexibility and potential for equipment that costs the skin of knees … (The Future Of TV Is … TV) . We are also entering a period where content piracy practices are commonplace and where public authorities are not sure how to do (see the distressing awareness campaign HADOPI). Far be it from me to revive the debate on this subject, but there is one thing I know : You can not fight against the market and in the absence of a viable offer , viewers will offset weakness what they find on their TV (Google TV – If The Vikings Do not Deliver , The Pirates Will) .

Google TV is also an opportunity to popularize the use of digital video recorder and media center that stores photos, videos and movies from the family.

The challenges facing Google

Now they have industrial partners for the technical part, Google remains the difficult task of shielding the “content “. This implies in particular entering partnerships with content providers who are also distributors for the most (Either with their TV channels or offer Catch-up TV).

Unless … unless the examples of the music industry ( and locked by Apple iTunes) and the press ( destabilized by Google News) do not fear the giants of TV that could fall back on themselves and we do the coup d’ Asterix …

Last challenge for Google is Usability. For we must understand that Google TV is neither more nor less than a computer on which it is possible to surf the Internet , search content , installing applications … But how with a simple remote : By offering a simplified interface ? By marketing an improved remote control (like the Litl TV)?

The utopia of personalized TV

Early observers of the Google TV offers are already starting to fantasize about a principle of chain completely customized to the tastes of viewers who will be so dazzled by the fineness of behavioral targeting that prefer watch the ads which correspond perfectly rather than programs. Oops … I did not linger on these forecasts crazy.

We now know that personalization toward a utopia that has lost a lot of money and time to industrial web. The tendency is rather to focus on systems of recommendations or suggestions (Americans call it the curated lists). These recommendations could be made by a portal (ie Google TV), a medium (the list of programs recommended by the TV columnist for seven days ) or community ( with services like ROOF or Joost) .

Who could compete with Google?

Now that the wolf has pointed the tip of his nose into the fold, the question remains which could potentially compete with Google:

●      Sony – Because they have a great mastery of the consumer electronics ( it is a strong brand) , because they have a good base with the PS3 ( which also functions as a media center and a distribution channel ), because they have lots of content (movies and music ) . Sony could very well compete with Google’s plans, but nothing will happen since they just signed a partnership is very strong (they prefer to marry and share the profits rather than compete) .

●      Microsoft – Because they have mastered the game software, because they are already present in many homes with the Xbox , because they have the means and ambition . Yes but Microsoft is currently engaged on many fronts (cloud computing , search , mobile …) to mobilize a large portion of its resources .

●      Apple – Which enjoy a great reputation among the general public ( and the favor of financial markets ) , the ecosystem of iTunes terribly effective , an offer that asks only to be dusted . Add to that the large ambitions Cloud entertainement (including the acquisition of Lala) .

In short , you can visualize about a hypothetical Apple TV that embellish your living room (and definitely would render your bank account) but it will not happen because it would imply a greater diversification in activities that Apple could worry financial markets ( Steve Jobs has just explain that Apple is a “mobile – device company“) .

Finally we can say that Google has virtually won the battle of the show. This signature piece of the home where members congregate, where you can relax / entertained, where there is so much money at stake for Google plans to capture a large part indirectly, just as it does with the web. Google recently said they generated nearly $ 54 billion of economic activity not only U.S. , imagine what it could be given with a mass medium like TV advertising revenues which totaled $ 70 billion Widely United States alone … enough to fill more boxes of Google and allow it to further increase its presence in our daily lives. I look forward to the Google Car!

Read More on http://www.fredcavazza.net/