Anything that is on the net needs to please the visual eye -- it's almost like going on an interview -- how you are dressed and the color of your attire is everything -- along with how you present yourself.
Anyway, back to the ebooks -- if you want to create an ebook that sells -- the color of your ebook is important and relevant. It is your customer's first impression of what may be inside.
Check out the article by Leva Duell "How to Choose Colors for Your Ebook Cover".
How to Choose Colors for Your eBook Cover
By Leva Duell
Color can have a profound impact on your prospective buyers. The wrong colors can negatively impact your sales, while the right colors can trigger positive emotions motivating your visitors to buy from you.
Color can affect how we feel and influence what we think. In general, bright bold colors tend to stir us up, while the softer pastel colors calm and relax us. Responses to colors can vary by age, gender and cultural background.
Colors will affect how a potential buyer reacts to your ebook. Carefully select your color scheme for your ebook cover. Here are some guidelines to help you make good color choices. Bear in mind that these are guidelines, and that there are no hard and fast rules. Just use common sense.
• Consider your audience. For example, if your ebook primarily targets men, then you will want to use strong, bold colors. If your target audience is women, then choose soft, pastel colors. If your focus is on children, choose bright, vibrant colors.
• Choose colors that are appropriate for your book's topic. For example, green may work well for books about starting a home business, making money, and reducing debt.
• Use colors that match or complement the color scheme of your web site.
• Keep the number of colors down to two or three, and no more. This does not include photographs which can have a whole range of colors.
• When using photographs on your ebook cover, use colors that complement the primary color in the picture.
• Make sure that all of the colors you use work well together and do not clash.
• Communicate your message with easy-to-read text. Use colors for your text that contrast with the background color so your text is readable. For example, a dark font on a light background is easy to read.
• Consider the mood you want to create. Remember that emotions trigger sales. People buy what they want - not what they need. The list below will show you how colors can affect us in different ways.
Red – Action, energy, strength, passion, fire, heat, power, attention-getting. Can also mean love and romance. A strong masculine color. Red is a good color for a call-to-action. Red is cheerfulness, excitement, and warmth. Pink is a soft version of red. It is most associated with romance, calming affect; a feminine color.
Blue – Confidence, travel, freedom, truth, professionalism, wealth and power. Also tranquility, dependable, acceptance, patience, understanding, cooperation, comfort, loyalty and security. It is one of the most calming colors and is associated with the sky and the sea, intelligence, reassurance, and trust. Blue has also been known to be an appetite suppressant, so it would not be good for cookbooks or recipes but you can consider it for diet books.
Green – Money, wealth, prosperity, calm, health, food, nature, hope, growth, freshness, soothing, sharing, and responsiveness. Green symbolizes spring, renewal, and fertility.
Orange – Health and vitality, autumn, youthfulness, fire, steadfastness, courage, confidence, friendliness, cheerfulness, warmth, excitement and energy. Has been known to stimulate the appetite. Vibrant and warm, orange is associated with autumn and the earth.
Yellow – Light, purity, understanding, caution, brightness, intelligence, joy, organization, Spring. Yellow often represents sunshine, warmth, light, energy and happiness.
Purple – Dignity, sophistication, creativity, spirituality and mystery. Deep purple is associated with royalty and richness, while lavender is associated with romance and nostalgia.
Brown – Credibility, stability, the hearth, home, the earth, wood, comfort and strength. Brown can be used as a neutral or a warm color.
Black – Space, night, authority, dramatic, classy, committed, serious, power, elegance, and sophistication.
White – Purity, peace, perfection, fresh, easy, cleanliness, goodness, and spirituality. Worth noting here, white represents life and marriage in Western cultures, but it represents death and sorrow in Eastern cultures.
Grey – A conservative color, symbolizing security, maturity and reliability.
Take advantage of the impact color can have on your ebook sales and choose colors that will create positive responses.
Boost your ebook sales with quality 3D ebook covers! FREE 34+ clipart and photo resources. Quality custom design of Web graphics Quality Ebook Covers
Read more...
Friday, January 27, 2006
Saturday, January 21, 2006
How Do I Write An Ebook?
Sometimes, you need something or someone to jar the cobwebs out of your brain -- to get the creative juices following. The article by David Wells, helps you to brainstorm -- to help you to create your first ebook. I found it rather helpful -- and as to marketing research, it is very important. If you spend days, hours or months creating an ebook, and find it won't sell -- well -- that's a lot of hard work for nothing. Research your topic -- and look at all angles.
Now, for one other little suggestion. We all make typos, when we create. Why? The creative juices are flowing -- and sometimes the words just get jumbled, missed, mixed and Misspelled. Yes, I'm guilty of it too. So, my suggestion is several:
1. After creating your ebook -- spellcheck it.
2. Then you proofread it.
3. Then have someone else proofread it.
4. And then let it set for a couple of days. When you are first creating an article, ebook, or any piece of writing -- most of the time you're extremely pleased with what you wrote. But if you let the copy cool for a couple of days, and reread it -- you may find typos, and/or the need to reword or rework a paragraph.
I make these suggestions, because I have seen good pieces of work marred by typos. The information is great, but sometimes the reader can get distracted by the typos and in some cases irritated -- and thus, a possible bad review.
Well, enough of my preaching. On to the article . . .
How to Write an eBook
By David Wells
Before you begin writing, you should take some time to carefully consider what your product will be. Of course, it must be an information product, but that covers a lot of area…eBooks, newsletters, eZines, subscription sites etc…
If you’re starting your first site I highly recommend you choose an eBook for your product. It’s a much more finite thing than your other options - Far easier to manage.
So what do you write about?
You write about your topic in way that is useful, informative and actionable. Provide real information to your readers that they can put into action to their immediate benefit. Information that tells your prospects how to get something done.
If you’re an expert on your topic then this should be easy. You already know what problems exist in your topic area and probably more than a few solutions to those problems.
If you still have a few things to learn about your topic, that’s ok too. You have some research ahead of you. For me, the best way to do research is to read everything I can find about the subject and jot down important notes as I go.
Go back to your market research notes from the previous section. Re-visit each site and look carefully at what they’re selling. This information is invaluable when deciding what you should sell.
Most people assume that because a product already exists in a niche that there isn’t room for any other products. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. A product selling successfully in a niche is the best indication possible that the niche is profitable and active.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Don’t go out and copy someone else’s product. Use the ideas and principles behind the successful products in your niche to develop your own unique product concept.
Take your time revisiting your market research. Make sure you have a complete picture of the products and product concepts being offered in your market before you settle on what your product will be.
Look closely at the ads offering products in your topic market. What benefits do they promise? What is their unique selling proposition? How are they different from each other? What do they all have in common?
As you ask each of these questions also ask “How can I do it better and what can I do differently?” What can you offer your topic market that isn’t being offered? How can you offer more value than your competitors?
Once you have an idea of your product concept, write it down. Then spend the next thirty minutes thinking about it and re-writing it. Add as much detail as possible while trying to make your concept as simple and straightforward as possible.
---------
How to Use Simple Sales Sites to Create a Huge Passive Income Disarmingly simple internet marketing strategy that will show you in 10 easy steps how to create a series of internet income streams. Each is independent of the others and each will bring in a few hundred dollars every month on auto-pilot. Make as many as you like. http://www.3pagesite.com/
If you're looking to cut to the chase when it comes to writing an ebook -- look to
my website and "How To Write And Publish Your Ebook" by Edwards and Vitales
-- pros in the field of ecommerce. (The link redirects you to my site and my review of the book).
Read more...
Now, for one other little suggestion. We all make typos, when we create. Why? The creative juices are flowing -- and sometimes the words just get jumbled, missed, mixed and Misspelled. Yes, I'm guilty of it too. So, my suggestion is several:
1. After creating your ebook -- spellcheck it.
2. Then you proofread it.
3. Then have someone else proofread it.
4. And then let it set for a couple of days. When you are first creating an article, ebook, or any piece of writing -- most of the time you're extremely pleased with what you wrote. But if you let the copy cool for a couple of days, and reread it -- you may find typos, and/or the need to reword or rework a paragraph.
I make these suggestions, because I have seen good pieces of work marred by typos. The information is great, but sometimes the reader can get distracted by the typos and in some cases irritated -- and thus, a possible bad review.
Well, enough of my preaching. On to the article . . .
How to Write an eBook
By David Wells
Before you begin writing, you should take some time to carefully consider what your product will be. Of course, it must be an information product, but that covers a lot of area…eBooks, newsletters, eZines, subscription sites etc…
If you’re starting your first site I highly recommend you choose an eBook for your product. It’s a much more finite thing than your other options - Far easier to manage.
So what do you write about?
You write about your topic in way that is useful, informative and actionable. Provide real information to your readers that they can put into action to their immediate benefit. Information that tells your prospects how to get something done.
If you’re an expert on your topic then this should be easy. You already know what problems exist in your topic area and probably more than a few solutions to those problems.
If you still have a few things to learn about your topic, that’s ok too. You have some research ahead of you. For me, the best way to do research is to read everything I can find about the subject and jot down important notes as I go.
Go back to your market research notes from the previous section. Re-visit each site and look carefully at what they’re selling. This information is invaluable when deciding what you should sell.
Most people assume that because a product already exists in a niche that there isn’t room for any other products. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. A product selling successfully in a niche is the best indication possible that the niche is profitable and active.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Don’t go out and copy someone else’s product. Use the ideas and principles behind the successful products in your niche to develop your own unique product concept.
Take your time revisiting your market research. Make sure you have a complete picture of the products and product concepts being offered in your market before you settle on what your product will be.
Look closely at the ads offering products in your topic market. What benefits do they promise? What is their unique selling proposition? How are they different from each other? What do they all have in common?
As you ask each of these questions also ask “How can I do it better and what can I do differently?” What can you offer your topic market that isn’t being offered? How can you offer more value than your competitors?
Once you have an idea of your product concept, write it down. Then spend the next thirty minutes thinking about it and re-writing it. Add as much detail as possible while trying to make your concept as simple and straightforward as possible.
---------
How to Use Simple Sales Sites to Create a Huge Passive Income Disarmingly simple internet marketing strategy that will show you in 10 easy steps how to create a series of internet income streams. Each is independent of the others and each will bring in a few hundred dollars every month on auto-pilot. Make as many as you like. http://www.3pagesite.com/
If you're looking to cut to the chase when it comes to writing an ebook -- look to
my website and "How To Write And Publish Your Ebook" by Edwards and Vitales
-- pros in the field of ecommerce. (The link redirects you to my site and my review of the book).
Read more...
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Ebooks -- Do You Need One?
Okay, this article is for those that are still on the fence, trying to decide if an Ebook can fit into their business, or if they should create an ebook. I guess, you could say, I've been sitting on the fence as well. Maybe the next few articles that I will be presenting throughout the month will help you in this area. I'm sure you will see, as I did, the possible benefits -- as well as, sucking up the courage to put your knowledge on the line.
Why Write an eBook?
By Gasen Redeye
It's not true that everything that has been said has already been written. Since that unfortunate axiom came into use, the whole universe has changed. Technology has changed, ideas have changed, and the mindsets of entire nations have changed.
The fact is that this is the perfect time to write an ebook. What the publishing industry needs are people who can tap into the world as it is today - innovative thinkers who can make the leap into the new millennium and figure out how to solve old problems in a new way. Ebooks are a new and powerful tool for original thinkers with fresh ideas to disseminate information to the millions of people who are struggling to figure out how to do a plethora of different things.
Let's say you already have a brilliant idea, and the knowledge to back it up that will enable you to write an exceptional ebook. You may be sitting at your computer staring at a blank screen wondering, "Why? Why should I go through all the trouble of writing my ebook when it's so impossible to get anything published these days?
Well, let me assure you that publishing an ebook is entirely different than publishing a book in print. Let's look at the specifics of how the print and cyber publishing industry differ, and the many reasons why you should take the plunge and get your fingers tapping across those keyboards!
Submitting a print book to conventional publishing houses or to agents is similar to wearing a hair shirt 24/7. No matter how good your book actually is, or how many critique services and mentor writers have told you that "you've got what it takes," your submitted manuscript keeps coming back to you as if it is a boomerang instead of a valuable mine of information.
Perhaps, in desperation, you've checked out self-publishing and found out just how expensive a venture it can be. Most "vanity presses" require minimal print runs of at least 500 copies, and even that amount will cost you thousands of dollars. Some presses' minimal run starts at 1,000 to 2,000 copies. And that's just for the printing and binding. Add in distribution, shipping, and promotional costs and - well, you do the math. Even if you wanted to go this route, you may not have that kind of money to risk.
Let's say you already have an Internet business with a quality website and a quality product. An ebook is one of the most powerful ways to promote your business while educating people with the knowledge you already possess as a business owner of a specific product or service.
For example, let's say that you've spent the last twenty-five years growing and training bonsai trees, and now you're ready to share your knowledge and experience. An ebook is the perfect way to reach the largest audience of bonsai enthusiasts.
Ebooks will not only promote your business - they will help you make a name for yourself and your company, and establish you as an expert in your field. You may even find that you have enough to say to warrant a series of ebooks. Specific businesses are complicated and often require the different aspects to be divided in order for the reader to get the full story.
Perhaps your goals are more finely tuned in terms of the ebook scene. You may want to build a whole business around writing and publishing ebooks. Essentially, you want to start an e-business. You are thinking of setting up a website to promote and market your ebooks. Maybe you're even thinking of producing an ezine.
One of the most prevalent reasons people read ebooks is to find information about how to turn their Internet businesses into a profit-making machine. And these people are looking to the writers of ebooks to provide them with new ideas and strategies because writers of ebooks are usually people who understand the new cyberspace world we now live in. Ebook writers are experts in Internet marketing campaigns and the strategies of promoting and distributing ebooks. The cyberspace community needs its ebooks to be successful so that more and more ebooks will be written.
You may want to create affiliate programs that will also market your ebook. Affiliates can be people or businesses worldwide that will all be working to sell your ebooks. Think about this? Do you see a formula for success here?
Figure out what your subject matter is, and then narrow it down. Your goal is to aim for specificity. Research what's out there already, and try to find a void that your ebook might fill.
What about an ebook about a wedding cake business? Or an ebook about caring for elderly pets? How about the fine points of collecting ancient pottery?
You don't have to have three masters degrees to write about your subject. People need advice that is easy to read and easily understood. Parents need advice for dealing with their teenagers. College students need to learn good study skills - quickly. The possibilities are endless.
After you've writtten your ebook
Getting your ebook out is going to be your focus once you've finished writing it, just as it is with print books. People will hesitate to buy any book from an author they've never heard of. Wouldn't you?
The answer is simple: give it away! You will see profits in the form of promoting your own business and getting your name out. You will find affiliates who will ask you to place their links within your ebook, and these affiliates will in turn go out and make your name known. Almost every single famous ebook author has started out this way.
Another powerful tool to attract people to your ebook is to make it interactive. Invent something for them to do within the book rather than just producing pages that contain static text. Let your readers fill out questionnaires, forms, even crossword puzzles geared to testing their knowledge on a particular subject. Have your readers hit a link that will allow them to recommend your book to their friends and associates. Or include an actual order form so at the end of their reading journey, they can eagerly buy your product.
When people interact with books, they become a part of the world of that book. The fact is just as true for books in print as it is for ebooks.
That's why ebooks are so essential. Not only do they provide a forum for people to learn and make sense of their own thoughts, but they can also serve to promote your business at the same time.
"Dotcomology" is The Science of Making Money Online! GET IT FREE!
http://www.home-biz-profits.blogspot.com/
Check out my blog
Not long ago, I didn't know ANYTHING about Internet marketing...However, within just 2 weeks, I launched my own website AND learned how to profit from an opt-in list, pull in sales with ezines, make money with Google Adwords and set up my own BLOG!
Read more...
Why Write an eBook?
By Gasen Redeye
It's not true that everything that has been said has already been written. Since that unfortunate axiom came into use, the whole universe has changed. Technology has changed, ideas have changed, and the mindsets of entire nations have changed.
The fact is that this is the perfect time to write an ebook. What the publishing industry needs are people who can tap into the world as it is today - innovative thinkers who can make the leap into the new millennium and figure out how to solve old problems in a new way. Ebooks are a new and powerful tool for original thinkers with fresh ideas to disseminate information to the millions of people who are struggling to figure out how to do a plethora of different things.
Let's say you already have a brilliant idea, and the knowledge to back it up that will enable you to write an exceptional ebook. You may be sitting at your computer staring at a blank screen wondering, "Why? Why should I go through all the trouble of writing my ebook when it's so impossible to get anything published these days?
Well, let me assure you that publishing an ebook is entirely different than publishing a book in print. Let's look at the specifics of how the print and cyber publishing industry differ, and the many reasons why you should take the plunge and get your fingers tapping across those keyboards!
Submitting a print book to conventional publishing houses or to agents is similar to wearing a hair shirt 24/7. No matter how good your book actually is, or how many critique services and mentor writers have told you that "you've got what it takes," your submitted manuscript keeps coming back to you as if it is a boomerang instead of a valuable mine of information.
Perhaps, in desperation, you've checked out self-publishing and found out just how expensive a venture it can be. Most "vanity presses" require minimal print runs of at least 500 copies, and even that amount will cost you thousands of dollars. Some presses' minimal run starts at 1,000 to 2,000 copies. And that's just for the printing and binding. Add in distribution, shipping, and promotional costs and - well, you do the math. Even if you wanted to go this route, you may not have that kind of money to risk.
Let's say you already have an Internet business with a quality website and a quality product. An ebook is one of the most powerful ways to promote your business while educating people with the knowledge you already possess as a business owner of a specific product or service.
For example, let's say that you've spent the last twenty-five years growing and training bonsai trees, and now you're ready to share your knowledge and experience. An ebook is the perfect way to reach the largest audience of bonsai enthusiasts.
Ebooks will not only promote your business - they will help you make a name for yourself and your company, and establish you as an expert in your field. You may even find that you have enough to say to warrant a series of ebooks. Specific businesses are complicated and often require the different aspects to be divided in order for the reader to get the full story.
Perhaps your goals are more finely tuned in terms of the ebook scene. You may want to build a whole business around writing and publishing ebooks. Essentially, you want to start an e-business. You are thinking of setting up a website to promote and market your ebooks. Maybe you're even thinking of producing an ezine.
One of the most prevalent reasons people read ebooks is to find information about how to turn their Internet businesses into a profit-making machine. And these people are looking to the writers of ebooks to provide them with new ideas and strategies because writers of ebooks are usually people who understand the new cyberspace world we now live in. Ebook writers are experts in Internet marketing campaigns and the strategies of promoting and distributing ebooks. The cyberspace community needs its ebooks to be successful so that more and more ebooks will be written.
You may want to create affiliate programs that will also market your ebook. Affiliates can be people or businesses worldwide that will all be working to sell your ebooks. Think about this? Do you see a formula for success here?
Figure out what your subject matter is, and then narrow it down. Your goal is to aim for specificity. Research what's out there already, and try to find a void that your ebook might fill.
What about an ebook about a wedding cake business? Or an ebook about caring for elderly pets? How about the fine points of collecting ancient pottery?
You don't have to have three masters degrees to write about your subject. People need advice that is easy to read and easily understood. Parents need advice for dealing with their teenagers. College students need to learn good study skills - quickly. The possibilities are endless.
After you've writtten your ebook
Getting your ebook out is going to be your focus once you've finished writing it, just as it is with print books. People will hesitate to buy any book from an author they've never heard of. Wouldn't you?
The answer is simple: give it away! You will see profits in the form of promoting your own business and getting your name out. You will find affiliates who will ask you to place their links within your ebook, and these affiliates will in turn go out and make your name known. Almost every single famous ebook author has started out this way.
Another powerful tool to attract people to your ebook is to make it interactive. Invent something for them to do within the book rather than just producing pages that contain static text. Let your readers fill out questionnaires, forms, even crossword puzzles geared to testing their knowledge on a particular subject. Have your readers hit a link that will allow them to recommend your book to their friends and associates. Or include an actual order form so at the end of their reading journey, they can eagerly buy your product.
When people interact with books, they become a part of the world of that book. The fact is just as true for books in print as it is for ebooks.
That's why ebooks are so essential. Not only do they provide a forum for people to learn and make sense of their own thoughts, but they can also serve to promote your business at the same time.
"Dotcomology" is The Science of Making Money Online! GET IT FREE!
http://www.home-biz-profits.blogspot.com/
Check out my blog
Not long ago, I didn't know ANYTHING about Internet marketing...However, within just 2 weeks, I launched my own website AND learned how to profit from an opt-in list, pull in sales with ezines, make money with Google Adwords and set up my own BLOG!
Read more...
Sunday, January 8, 2006
Linking Strategies
When you are building your website, you must be aware of your linking strategies. And that would include doing a little research. When you are new, you are gun-ho, so to speak -- and you think, well, more is better. And you are definitely complimented when someone wants to link to you. Well, sometimes more is not good -- and sometimes you have to step back from the compliment to see what the site is offering.
And as to reciprocal links -- it's great - however, if you find your link, that the website that is offering to put your link on their site in exchange for a link to yours, buried in the masses, or you can't even find it -- reconsider. This arrangement will only benefit one site -- and I must say -- it probably won't be yours.
With linking you need to know who you are linking to -- you need to know if their site is clear -- and/or blacklisted. If it is blacklisted, you may want to step away. In addition, you need to know that it will compliment your site -- if it does great -- it may be an asset to your website.
Below is an article by Scottie Claiborne, she gives you an insight into linking and what is good, what is not, and what to look out for.
Reciprocal Linking vs. Mutual Linking
By Scottie Claiborne
Some of the advice floating around regarding linking for your site can be pretty confusing, especially when it comes to reciprocal linking. Is it something you have to do? Can your site succeed without reciprocal links? Will you be penalized for reciprocal linking? There are so many conflicting theories. Let's try to clear the subject up a little.
Link Popularity
The founders of Google worked off a premise that has been active in academic papers for years: citation authority. They found that the more academic papers cited another's work, the more likely that cited work was to be an authority on the subject. Similarly, when a lot of sites link to one site, it's likely that site is an authority for the topic. The "topic" is whatever those links say it is. If 25 sites link to another site with the term "oak shelving," it's likely that page is an important page for oak shelving.
Manipulation of Links
It didn't take long for people who wanted to rank well for certain terms to figure out that they needed a lot of links with their chosen keyword phrases to improve their rankings in the search engines. Many schemes were born, including mini-sites, site networks, link farms, and reciprocal linking.
Reciprocal Linking
At the most basic level, reciprocal links are links you trade with other sites (you add their link, they add yours) in order to build link popularity. There are online services, group exchanges, and software available to help you link up with more like-minded webmasters, fast. As a result, many sites have grown sizeable directories on topics that have nothing to do with their area of expertise, simply because those other sites were willing to trade links with them.
Does this work? At the moment, it does seem to work. The engines (except for Teoma, which analyzes link communities) tend to count a link as a link, regardless of the subject matter of the originating site.
Will it continue to work? Who knows? As the engines look for more ways to determine which sites are truly expert and which ones are simply manipulating their way to the top, link relevance is sure to come into play. Some say it's already starting to affect rankings.
Mutual Linking
I like to separate mutual linking from reciprocal linking. Mutual linking is where the content of each site actually benefits each other's sites. If you sell shoes, you may want to recommend other sites for replacement shoelaces and still other sites for shoe cleaning supplies. You may even maintain a directory of regional shoe repair service shops. This is useful information for your visitors, who are likely to need these services as well. It makes sense for these sites to also recommend your shoes and link to your site. While it's technically still a reciprocal link, it has a mutual benefit for both sites.
While you can make a case that visitors to your shoe site might actually need weïght loss formulas, like to gamble, or are concerned about the size of certain body parts, it really isn't likely that links to these sites will be clicked and followed by your visitors. They only make your site look unprofessional. The links you trade with these sites may or may not actually be helping you in the engines, but they're definitely not helping you to make more salës.
Will I Be Penalized for Reciprocal Linking?
You might. I don't say that to send you into a panic, but the truth is if you link to a site that is considered a "bad neighborhood" by the engines, it could negatively affect your site. That innocent-looking pet accessories site may be cloaking, hiding links or text, or participating in other linking schemes and just hasn't been caught yet. Why risk it for a link that probably won't even bring you traffïc? Sure, people who wear shoes often have dogs, but if you're just linking to them for the link, it's probably not a good idea.
Be very aware of whom you link to. You control where your site links to and that could come back to haunt you. Link only to the sites that will help improve your credibility and your salës!
Should I Hide All My Outgoing Links?
Absolutely not. There have been many people who feel that since Google's Florida update (in Nov. 2003), adding relevant outgoing links seems to have a positive effect on rankings. Besides, if you hide or block their links, and they hide or block yours, what's the point of participating in a reciprocal linking program at all?
So. What Will Happen if I Do Reciprocal Linking?
While no one knows for sure what the future of link relationships will be with each search engine, I tend to think that as soon as they can figure out how to do it most effectively, off-topic links simply won't count anymore.
If you pin ALL your link popularity on trading links with whoever will trade with you, you could find yourself starting over from scratch at some point. If you are looking to build long-term rankings (and real business links that can attract customers), it takes more work and creativity than just sending out automated emails or joining a linking program.
Give your site an advantage by giving people a reason to link to it -- a helpful tool, a guide, an industry-specific directory, or some other useful content that people will feel good about recommending on their site. If your site is worth linking to, you won't have to rely as much on swapping links as a promotion strategy.
About The Author:
Scottie Claiborne is the owner of Right Click Web Consulting and the faciliator of the Successful Sites Newsletter. Her web marketing specialties are usability and SEO copywriting, and achieving high rankings and industry dominance through creative marketing strategies.
Read more...
And as to reciprocal links -- it's great - however, if you find your link, that the website that is offering to put your link on their site in exchange for a link to yours, buried in the masses, or you can't even find it -- reconsider. This arrangement will only benefit one site -- and I must say -- it probably won't be yours.
With linking you need to know who you are linking to -- you need to know if their site is clear -- and/or blacklisted. If it is blacklisted, you may want to step away. In addition, you need to know that it will compliment your site -- if it does great -- it may be an asset to your website.
Below is an article by Scottie Claiborne, she gives you an insight into linking and what is good, what is not, and what to look out for.
Reciprocal Linking vs. Mutual Linking
By Scottie Claiborne
Some of the advice floating around regarding linking for your site can be pretty confusing, especially when it comes to reciprocal linking. Is it something you have to do? Can your site succeed without reciprocal links? Will you be penalized for reciprocal linking? There are so many conflicting theories. Let's try to clear the subject up a little.
Link Popularity
The founders of Google worked off a premise that has been active in academic papers for years: citation authority. They found that the more academic papers cited another's work, the more likely that cited work was to be an authority on the subject. Similarly, when a lot of sites link to one site, it's likely that site is an authority for the topic. The "topic" is whatever those links say it is. If 25 sites link to another site with the term "oak shelving," it's likely that page is an important page for oak shelving.
Manipulation of Links
It didn't take long for people who wanted to rank well for certain terms to figure out that they needed a lot of links with their chosen keyword phrases to improve their rankings in the search engines. Many schemes were born, including mini-sites, site networks, link farms, and reciprocal linking.
Reciprocal Linking
At the most basic level, reciprocal links are links you trade with other sites (you add their link, they add yours) in order to build link popularity. There are online services, group exchanges, and software available to help you link up with more like-minded webmasters, fast. As a result, many sites have grown sizeable directories on topics that have nothing to do with their area of expertise, simply because those other sites were willing to trade links with them.
Does this work? At the moment, it does seem to work. The engines (except for Teoma, which analyzes link communities) tend to count a link as a link, regardless of the subject matter of the originating site.
Will it continue to work? Who knows? As the engines look for more ways to determine which sites are truly expert and which ones are simply manipulating their way to the top, link relevance is sure to come into play. Some say it's already starting to affect rankings.
Mutual Linking
I like to separate mutual linking from reciprocal linking. Mutual linking is where the content of each site actually benefits each other's sites. If you sell shoes, you may want to recommend other sites for replacement shoelaces and still other sites for shoe cleaning supplies. You may even maintain a directory of regional shoe repair service shops. This is useful information for your visitors, who are likely to need these services as well. It makes sense for these sites to also recommend your shoes and link to your site. While it's technically still a reciprocal link, it has a mutual benefit for both sites.
While you can make a case that visitors to your shoe site might actually need weïght loss formulas, like to gamble, or are concerned about the size of certain body parts, it really isn't likely that links to these sites will be clicked and followed by your visitors. They only make your site look unprofessional. The links you trade with these sites may or may not actually be helping you in the engines, but they're definitely not helping you to make more salës.
Will I Be Penalized for Reciprocal Linking?
You might. I don't say that to send you into a panic, but the truth is if you link to a site that is considered a "bad neighborhood" by the engines, it could negatively affect your site. That innocent-looking pet accessories site may be cloaking, hiding links or text, or participating in other linking schemes and just hasn't been caught yet. Why risk it for a link that probably won't even bring you traffïc? Sure, people who wear shoes often have dogs, but if you're just linking to them for the link, it's probably not a good idea.
Be very aware of whom you link to. You control where your site links to and that could come back to haunt you. Link only to the sites that will help improve your credibility and your salës!
Should I Hide All My Outgoing Links?
Absolutely not. There have been many people who feel that since Google's Florida update (in Nov. 2003), adding relevant outgoing links seems to have a positive effect on rankings. Besides, if you hide or block their links, and they hide or block yours, what's the point of participating in a reciprocal linking program at all?
So. What Will Happen if I Do Reciprocal Linking?
While no one knows for sure what the future of link relationships will be with each search engine, I tend to think that as soon as they can figure out how to do it most effectively, off-topic links simply won't count anymore.
If you pin ALL your link popularity on trading links with whoever will trade with you, you could find yourself starting over from scratch at some point. If you are looking to build long-term rankings (and real business links that can attract customers), it takes more work and creativity than just sending out automated emails or joining a linking program.
Give your site an advantage by giving people a reason to link to it -- a helpful tool, a guide, an industry-specific directory, or some other useful content that people will feel good about recommending on their site. If your site is worth linking to, you won't have to rely as much on swapping links as a promotion strategy.
About The Author:
Scottie Claiborne is the owner of Right Click Web Consulting and the faciliator of the Successful Sites Newsletter. Her web marketing specialties are usability and SEO copywriting, and achieving high rankings and industry dominance through creative marketing strategies.
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Sunday, January 1, 2006
Scams and Spam a Year in Review
The Internet is a continual learning process -- it brings with it -- like any business -- the good and the bad -- and with it the creativity of both. I will share with you some of the scams and spam that travel the Internet last year. It is always wise to keep abreast of the scams and spam because the creative folks who partake in such ventures always find a different twist to the basic scam. But realize, the basic scam is just that -- the root of the twist and turns. Thus, if you can identify what looks like a scam or smells like a scam, then it is best to step back and research. Yes, even if you feel (that's what they are hoping) that it is right.
SCAMS AND SPAMS ARE ALIVE AND WELL
By Vickie J Scanlon
In this last year, I have found that scams and spams are alive and well, and needless to say, in every form and make. What types of scams or spams hit the Internet this year? Here only some of the ones that I encountered or heard about.
EMAIL SCAMS
You typical email scams – the sender trying to convince the recipient that there is something wrong with their Paypal, Banking (Yes, I said banking) account, and Ebay account and to please click the link to resolve this messy problem. For those who do not know, please do not click the link, open a new session and manually type in your link information to get the results.
And for those in the US, and for many and most who have to pay taxes – be aware of an email scam that will suggest that you have a refund waiting for you—and to please give them your Social Security number, and of course, gives you a link in which you can connect with them. DO NOT--delete--this is a scam.
ADSENSE FRAUD
Now, how can you have adsense fraud? Some ingenious souls have found ways to have other click the google links on their site – to make them oodles of money. And – that, I’m said to say, can distort the Google rates for those of us that use it for advertising.
CHARITY SCAMS
Ah, yes – the ones that pull at your heart strings. The most effectively, because you are leading with your heart and not with your intellect. Take a moment and step back, do not give to the caller, go locally to the Charity instead.
I don’t know if this is a scam, but I must say, it really is a shoddy way to increase your leads and profit margin on the Internet – that is by saying – “If you buy so and so product I will contribute a percentage of the profits to the Charity “ – in this case – Katrina Charity.
SEARCH ENGINES UNEQUAL PLAYING FIELDS
Yes, even in search engine optimization people have attempted to find ways to push their sites to the top. It is called “black hat search engine optimization”.
It is said to be a fairly common practice, where the webmaster will build multiple sites on a general theme then cross-link to other sites in the same network. The whole purpose is to give one or more of their sites a stronger showing in the search engine results , and, thus, greater increase in traffic flowing from the various network sites to their site or sites.
SEO Spamming
SEO spamming is designing a web page in an illegal manner so that its rankings are improved. One such way is keyword spamming. The designer will put relevant and irrelevant text in the ‘keywords’ meta tag and often on the visible page text as well. Many words are added and repeated, in an attempt to get a higher ranking for a page. They will make the text look irrelevant to the viewer, by making the font small and the color almost invisible
As you can see, all is the same, only the color of the beast has changed. And what does that mean for the Internet Marketer or the novice Internet Marketer who is just getting their feet wet – be aware and do not partake at the drop of the hat. Pause, and take a long look before departing with your money or your identity.
Vickie J Scanlon Visit her site at: My Affiliate Place for tools, how to info for affiliates, Report Your Scams, business computers, software, tech accessories and more.
Read more...
SCAMS AND SPAMS ARE ALIVE AND WELL
By Vickie J Scanlon
In this last year, I have found that scams and spams are alive and well, and needless to say, in every form and make. What types of scams or spams hit the Internet this year? Here only some of the ones that I encountered or heard about.
EMAIL SCAMS
You typical email scams – the sender trying to convince the recipient that there is something wrong with their Paypal, Banking (Yes, I said banking) account, and Ebay account and to please click the link to resolve this messy problem. For those who do not know, please do not click the link, open a new session and manually type in your link information to get the results.
And for those in the US, and for many and most who have to pay taxes – be aware of an email scam that will suggest that you have a refund waiting for you—and to please give them your Social Security number, and of course, gives you a link in which you can connect with them. DO NOT--delete--this is a scam.
ADSENSE FRAUD
Now, how can you have adsense fraud? Some ingenious souls have found ways to have other click the google links on their site – to make them oodles of money. And – that, I’m said to say, can distort the Google rates for those of us that use it for advertising.
CHARITY SCAMS
Ah, yes – the ones that pull at your heart strings. The most effectively, because you are leading with your heart and not with your intellect. Take a moment and step back, do not give to the caller, go locally to the Charity instead.
I don’t know if this is a scam, but I must say, it really is a shoddy way to increase your leads and profit margin on the Internet – that is by saying – “If you buy so and so product I will contribute a percentage of the profits to the Charity “ – in this case – Katrina Charity.
SEARCH ENGINES UNEQUAL PLAYING FIELDS
Yes, even in search engine optimization people have attempted to find ways to push their sites to the top. It is called “black hat search engine optimization”.
It is said to be a fairly common practice, where the webmaster will build multiple sites on a general theme then cross-link to other sites in the same network. The whole purpose is to give one or more of their sites a stronger showing in the search engine results , and, thus, greater increase in traffic flowing from the various network sites to their site or sites.
SEO Spamming
SEO spamming is designing a web page in an illegal manner so that its rankings are improved. One such way is keyword spamming. The designer will put relevant and irrelevant text in the ‘keywords’ meta tag and often on the visible page text as well. Many words are added and repeated, in an attempt to get a higher ranking for a page. They will make the text look irrelevant to the viewer, by making the font small and the color almost invisible
As you can see, all is the same, only the color of the beast has changed. And what does that mean for the Internet Marketer or the novice Internet Marketer who is just getting their feet wet – be aware and do not partake at the drop of the hat. Pause, and take a long look before departing with your money or your identity.
Vickie J Scanlon Visit her site at: My Affiliate Place for tools, how to info for affiliates, Report Your Scams, business computers, software, tech accessories and more.
Read more...
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