NetNews our ONLINE NEWSLETTER (NetNews July 2007)
Developments in web marketing, site design, and web services
The Online Newsletter from Net Commerce Solutions
Visibility, visibility, visibility – more than ever, our own clients, and the market as a whole, work to improve their search engine ranking in order to raise their site visibility, and get the sales they need.
As part of this, as shown in Section (2), they are shifting their ad budgets from traditional media (where spend is actually declining) to web marketing, especially on search engine marketing via companies like us, to get that precious visibility. I hope you find something on this issue to help your own business make progress down that road.
1. NET ISSUES
“I find all this stuff about links, and reciprocal links, baffling – what should I do”
The concept is simple – the search engines, especially Google, judge that if no sites out there are recommending yours ie by linking to you, then your site can’t be of great value.
However, although the concept is simple, the following tips may help to apply it.
Exchanging Links
They are worth pursuing but the key is to know your own page rank - generally don’t exchange links with sites with page ranks below your own. Plus:
- check the Page Rank of the actual page on which the link to your site will appear – not just the Home page of the other site
- it is best to link with sites whose activities relate closely to your own
- check – without fail – that the other site has definitely put on the link to you.
Use Directories
If the url of your site appears in a web directory, that constitutes a link back to your site. It really mirrors the process of the pre-web world, ie good companies would be listed in relevant directories. Remember the following though:
- when it gets harder to find good, free directories, check out the paid directories carefully – some can be good value
- well structured directories are best, ie with good Page Ranks both on their Home page and the Links page where your link will appear
- it's best if they don’t have too many sites on their link page – below 25 is best
- keep a spreadsheet to record renewal dates for paid directories.
Don’t be over ambitious – managing your time is key
- we can tell you the links held by companies on page one of the search engine results to help set your target
- a programme to add links steadily each month, will deliver good results over time.
Article-based links can be good value
There are sites/portals in most sectors which like to feature knowledge-based articles to enrich their content.
- if you provide them with an article, they will give you a link back in return
- preparing the article can take time, but once written, it can be submitted to a number of sites and gain links from each.
Use Professional help
We have access to tools to help find Directories and standalone sites with the Page Rank needed
A useful strategy is to use a mix of professional help from NCS, and your own time:
- we can help define the best mix of links for you, and number and quality needed
- we identify either possible reciprocal link partners, or suitable directories – we can also complete the Directory submissions where needed.
With this initial platform in place, and the knowledge gained, you can then build your link volumes over time.
There is more information on our site on search engines work – just click here to read one of the articles, or contact us for help in building your links.
2. NET HAPPENINGS
News, themes and trends from the Internet – home and abroad
Technology enablers still developing strongly…………….…………..……………
Text messaging - volumes are still growing strongly. In Mar 2007 volumes reached a record monthly total of 4.4 billion for March – up 25% on Mar 2006. (mda-org)
Broadband – UK has now overtaken the USA, ie 47.4% of UK households now have broadband access, compared to 43.9% in the USA – in 2002, three times as many US households had broadband as in the UK. (nytimes.com)
Internet usage – usage is growing by c10% worldwide, the highest growth countries being India, Russia, China where growth is 33%, 21% and 22% respectively. (comscore.com/nma.co.uk)
Mobile web use – over 20% of mobile phone users use their mobile phone to access the web, ie 15.52m people accessed the web in this way during Mar 2007. (Text.it)
Web Usage – around 80% of 12-14 year olds now go online every day, for email, instant messaging, downloading music and shopping. (Forrester/nma.co.uk)
Online Shopping Update - UK figures showing strong growth……………….….
Internet Promotion – continued shift away from traditional media…………...
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Advertising - Online advertising spend grew at 40% last year – by contrast, traditional advertising showed a reduction of 1.9%. (iabuk.net)
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Similarly, spend on online classified ads increased by 45%, whilst press classifieds showed a 7.8% decline. (nma.co.uk)
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We have extensive experience in Pay Per Click – the most prominent web promotion option - click here to learn more about how it works.
3. NET TIPS
Some hints you could consider
“Long tail” keywords work best – longer keyword phrases, are usually better than single keywords – they help to attract users who want exactly the service/goods you offer. We have clear examples where visitor volumes have remained the same, but sales have gone up markedly, by refining keywords in this way.
Put a search box on your site – 96% of e-commerce sites are likely to have a search box on their site in the next 24 months. (Aberdeen.com) As you would expect, all the evidence says it increase sales – please contact us if your site needs one.
4. NCS FOCUS
News and services from NCS that might help
Fulfillment – some clients have found it a challenge to fulfill sales when sales volumes have been growing sharply. In fact there are specialist fulfillment houses with real expertise, and in case of need we would be happy to help select a fulfillment partner for you.
Company Information – Companies House advised earlier this year that “all companies must show on their website, their place of registration, their registered number, and their registered office address” – please let us know if these details need to be added.
5. NET NOTHINGS
You probably already know that:
Women like to shop - actually, young women are now the largest group of web users in the UK, with women between 18-34 making up 21% of all time spent online in the UK. (Nielsen-netratings.com)
Google are big – in fact in Q1 2007 it handled three times as many searches as its closest competitor, Yahoo. In order of volumes handled, the top 5 engines are currently, Google, Yahoo, MSN, AOL and Ask. (netrating.com)
Dave Abernethy,
Managing Director,
Net Commerce Solutions Ltd
Tel: (+44) (0) 870 246 7642
info@net-commerce-solutions.co.uk Web site: www.net-commerce-solutions.co.uk
Registered in England and Wales. Company number 4052885: 6 Bramble Close, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 4AN
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