Markets and how your website can open them

ctabuk · #1 (**permalink**) 07-15-2005, 08:01 AM

This is my debut post as a mod in this forum and my 1,000 th official post here at WPW.

So you have your website, you have worked hard at it, it's getting listed but it is not making the sort of money you had really hoped for. Ring any bells?
I know that when I started my site, I made all of the classic mistakes, I submitted to SE's, I did not know about Directories etc etc. So here is an idea designed to help you make the most out of your website.
I now have over 700 page 1, 2 or 3 listings in all of the major SE's. Our Mortgage book lending stands in the 100's of millions over the last few years, we do not advertise. People find our website by natural searches. We do not use PPC.
The first simple rule for new posters is to make sure that your URL is listed in your profile, that way as the spiders weave their way through all of the posts here they will find your site and spider it.
Check your backlinks are good or it will throw the spiders off course. 2 choices www.SiteReportCard.com or the more sophisticated but also free http://home.snafu.de/tilman/xenulink.html

You may think you have the best site on the planet, but in this forum, you will have a bonus free package. I'm going to e mail you your top ten competitors websites free of charge for your given first keywords I find in your search.
I then want you to visit those websites and see what your competitors are doing that maybe you have not thought of. I will show you how to track the Directories they are listed in and how to follow their suit.
We will discuss content, news updates, tips and everything that you are likely to need to succeed, because if you succeed, this forum succeeds. The intention is clear, we want to demonstrate that we can create the best marketing forum on the planet. So after reading this, I want you ll to start talking, inviting friends over to visit. Spread the word, this could be great, but it takes two to tango, OK? David

The New update means that you can now see posters e-mail addresses by holding your cursor over (email) the address will apppear on the bottom of your browser. So No e-mail addresses please.

wrmineo · #2 (**permalink**) 07-15-2005, 08:12 AM

ctabuk:

Foremost, congrats on your much deserved MOD status; this forum and its constituents are in awesome hands. Also, a nice milestone to begin with post #1000.

Now on to business:

Great information, resources and more over, phenomenal offering of your time and services to we peons of Internet marketing - thank you!

One of the first websites I built when I started out a little over a year ago was a local Elizabethtown Ky Information site. It is still full of marginal pages, design and content. Oddly, it ranks very well, but that is not good enough for me. I will be redesigning in the coming days and want to make sure that the code is given the best leg up possible in regards to keywords, content, etc.

I'd love, and certainly appreciate, the use of your offerings here.

Thanks!

Rob
w®m

ctabuk · #3 (**permalink**) 07-15-2005, 08:29 AM

Hi Rob, done and sent 3 minutes LOL

wrmineo · #4 (**permalink**) 07-15-2005, 08:37 AM

That's what I call fast!! Thanks.

However, I will have to reinstall Adobe now to read :) I'd taken out that and some other programs during a clean up recently after some hacking attempts.

Thanks again!!

cspelts · #5 (**permalink**) 07-18-2005, 07:18 AM

Okay, ctabuk, I'll take you up on your offer - but I'm going to do it in another thread. My problem is too big to highjack your thread!

#6 (**permalink**) 07-21-2005, 03:02 PM

Surely we've got some other website for display. There are always ways to improve sites either through layout and design, content, SEO, etc. The rockband site looks pretty good. What else have we got going on?

Steve W · #7 (**permalink**) 07-22-2005, 07:46 PM

CTABUK

Thanks for the offer of help, please consider working your magic on Open Choice Mortgages, which can be found at: http://www.openchoicemortgages.co.uk/

As you know it's a 'fresh out the box' site launched 3rd July 05, and although I've done my best, I know my limitations and look forward to implementing your advice!
Cheers
Steve

ctabuk · #8 (**permalink**) 07-25-2005, 11:26 AM

Done and with you. Cheers David

Steve W · #9 (**permalink**) 07-26-2005, 07:38 AM

Hi David (also posted this at your bb),

I've been busy trying to implement the changes your reports recommended, but I have a few questions if that's okay?

I got lost about your 'mortgage' vs 'mortgages' pm comment - should I include both on a page or just one (guessed both)?

Also, using the 'wordtracker' and 'digitalpoint overture' links the other members were kind enough to post, I couldn't find any results for the search terms you picked, or 'gwent' in general and was worried I'd be optimizing for unsearched phrases (technically gwent no longer exists, its now monmouthshire).

Using those resources I came up with the following phrases and have optimized a page for each using the reports you made as guidelines for what to put where, how long, how often etc:

home 'mortgage choice' & 'remortgage choice'
mortgage 'mortgage remortgage' (content yet to be added)
defaults/ccjs 'mortgage arrears'
repair credit 'adverse credit mortgage'
reform 'credit rating repair'
stop repossession 'house repossession uk' & 'mortgage repossession'
loans 'secured personal loan' & 'commercial mortgage loan' (content again..)
commercial 'buy to let mortgage wales' & 'commercial mortgage'
about 'mortgage broker wales'
mortgage glossary 'financial glossary' & 'mortgage terms'

I've also ammended the meta keywords to reflect the chosen keyphrases.

The reports recommend changing the <h1> tag to reflect the search term, which I've done for each page, but as I use css 'image replacement' for the header, could this be regarded as cloaking as the header image does not repeat the tag wording? Am I being over the top with my concern, there's no intent to deceive, the <h1> page content is far more accurate than before (just said Open Choice Mortgages - Independent Mortgage Broker)?

At one point, the <title> <h1> <h2> and <h3> tags were identical which I guessed was a bad thing? So I've mixed things up a little.

So although I went through every page of the reports and tried to implement them, because I changed the search terms from your original ones, I'm not sure how effective I've been at interpreting the recommendations?

Kind regards
Steve

ctabuk · #10 (**permalink**) 07-26-2005, 11:29 AM

Hi Steve. Sustitute Monmouth or Monmouthshire for Gwent. People tend to search in plural for Mortgages as they are looking for choice. More technical stuff on its way. Cheers David

Steve W · #11 (**permalink**) 07-26-2005, 06:03 PM

Hi and thanks for clarifying the 'plurals' thing for me.

I'm not turning up any search results for monmouthshire or monmouth either (1.2/day overture for monmouthshire mortgage, 0 on wordtracker).

Looks like people use 'wales' or 'south wales' more often (6.1/day & 21/day for overture and wordtracker respectively).

Would I be better off optimizing for 'mortgage broker wales' ?

I also looked at 'south wales' which in some cases gets more searches but there is also more competition in terms of no. of sites returned.

Is it better to go for a less searched term with fewer competition so long as the amount it is searched is not an order of magnitude less or worse? Isn't that a niche of sorts?

Cheers
Steve

carol · #12 (**permalink**) 07-27-2005, 11:25 AM

Hope you can help with this site, Emergenuity. The interior pages all have Google page rank (a measly 2, but at least it's not 0!), but the homepage has 0. I'd really appreciate if you could give me some direction as to how to locate quality directories to submit the site, over and above the obvious search engines/Yahoo/DMOZ/etc. I've used Site Report Card and Weblink Validator, and provide a sitemap accessible from the homepage. I know the Flash intro takes a while to load.

Any comments to help market this site will be most appreciated. Thank you for your kind offer!
carol

ctabuk · #13 (**permalink**) 07-27-2005, 11:57 AM

For that smile anything is possible. The report is done, I need your e-mail address as I cannot attach the file through the forum. I liked the audio, just for once it was clear and concise. Simply post your e mail, or if it is private PM me.

carol · #14 (**permalink**) 07-30-2005, 06:14 PM

Sorry to take so long to get back to you! That's quite a report! I've made some changes regarding the title and META description. I think the most valuable part of it, however, is identifying the competitors, which are different from the ones I had identified originally. In fact, several of them are not what I would expect - one is not a healthcare company per se, and another is describing a webinar from 3 years ago. However, those pages (and many more!) are all competing for many of the same visitors that my site is.

One useful thing I have observed from the competition is to publish links to industry articles on our "In the News" page, not just articles pertaining to Emergenuity, but articles written about the industry.

A newsletter is also a good idea.

I'm not sure, however, how to "track the Directories they are listed in." Any additional direction would be super!

Thank you, carol

SteveAZ · #15 (**permalink**) 07-31-2005, 01:45 AM

This is a great thing you are doing for everyone. You are very generous. I would appreciate it if you would take a look at my site Copperstate Collectibles and let me know your findings. As for a email addy, just use sales@copperstatecollectibles.com and thanks in advance.

carol · #16 (**permalink**) 08-03-2005, 04:26 PM

OK, now I see (I think) how to identify directories. I downloaded the IBP tool - incredibly useful. Thank you SO much David, for pointing me in the right direction!

ctabuk · #17 (**permalink**) 08-04-2005, 03:35 AM

Just doing my job maam, where would we be without John Wayne quotes?

wrmineo · #18 (**permalink**) 08-04-2005, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctabuk

Just doing my job maam, where would we be without John Wayne quotes?

Ah yes ... my wife knows them well:

"Here's a stick to beat the lovely lady ... " or something like that?

One year for Valentine's I bought her a collection of John Wayne movies - how romantic! Actually, she loved it - the box came with popcorn and chocolate!

Your thread here is going great David - I can't believe more folks are leaping at the opportunity to gain this valuable and free insight coupled with the comprehensive IBP report. I guess priceless seems to pricy?

wlodi · #19 (**permalink**) 08-04-2005, 03:07 PM

hi CTABUK,

how about my site. you shall find its URL in my profile.

thanks,

michal

mykiesee · #20 (**permalink**) 08-04-2005, 06:27 PM

How about checking out my site please. I know that web designers are a dime a dozen as far as relevant keywords, but maybe you can give me some insight as to doing something a little different.
Website - www.emseedesigns.com
Email - cowart@emseedesigns.com

Thanks,
Mike

ctabuk · #21 (**permalink**) 08-05-2005, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykiesee

How about checking out my site please. I know that web designers are a dime a dozen as far as relevant keywords, but maybe you can give me some insight as to doing something a little different.
Website - www.emseedesigns.com
Email - cowart@emseedesigns.com

Thanks,
Mike

Done and e mailed David

ctabuk · #22 (**permalink**) 08-05-2005, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wlodi

hi CTABUK,

how about my site. you shall find its URL in my profile.

thanks,

michal

NOW, this is quite interesting the site is
www.europe-mountains.com and it is skiing resort website, with a multitude of keyword potential. Alps Skiing, European Skiing etc, so I opted for something NOT in the main keywords I went for 'European Ski Resorts'as if I were looking for such a vacation it would be one of my search terms.It was already listed in 7th place on Google.com, so well done. But this demonstrates what I and many others have been saying for years 'IT IS NOT YOUR KEYWORDS - IT IS CONTENT' Keywords are important, but within mega description and your page lay out. Hark on this, please take note. I need your e mail address's posted with the requests as this saves me a lot of time. Cheers David

alextj · #23 (**permalink**) 08-05-2005, 02:54 PM

David,
Thanks for the design feedback on my past post; as for SEO I've got double the work as the site's in 2 languages - Italian and English. The English part of the main site is www.tjtaylor.net/index2.html, and I've also bought the domain www.tjtaylor.co.uk to help with my rankings outside Italy as the search engines focus on the Italian half of the site. My email is info@tjtaylor.co.uk, but don't worry about the Italian keywords :)

Any pointers would be appreciated, and thanks again for all the help.
Take care,
Alex

wlodi · #24 (**permalink**) 08-05-2005, 02:59 PM

Hi David,

Thanks for your switft response to my post!
The report you sent is really great! It highlights so many tiny details one usually forgets about!
We will need some time to amend all that, but I am sure the results will be great!
I will keep you informed about the progress and hopefully better rankings.

cheers,
michal

Reg Suites · #25 (**permalink**) 08-05-2005, 06:48 PM

Hi David,

I'm a newbie so I would be very grateful for any assistance you can provide for my website: http://www.regentsuites.com/

Also, quick question - I created the site several years ago using Frontpage (only software I know how to use), do you think it is still OK to use or should I learn more SEO friendly software.

Any pointers would be appreciated, and thanks again for all your help.

Sam - ad@regentsuites.com

citypublife · #26 (**permalink**) 08-06-2005, 02:26 AM

ctabuk

Looks like you are doing a great job here. Please can you give me feedback on my site.
http://www.citypublife.co.uk

citypublife · #27 (**permalink**) 08-06-2005, 02:27 AM

ctabuk

Looks like you are doing a great job here. Please can you give me feedback on my site.
http://www.citypublife.co.uk

ctabuk · #28 (**permalink**) 08-06-2005, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alextj

David,
Thanks for the design feedback on my past post; as for SEO I've got double the work as the site's in 2 languages - Italian and English. The English part of the main site is www.tjtaylor.net/index2.html, and I've also bought the domain www.tjtaylor.co.uk to help with my rankings outside Italy as the search engines focus on the Italian half of the site. My email is info@tjtaylor.co.uk, but don't worry about the Italian keywords :)

Any pointers would be appreciated, and thanks again for all the help.
Take care,
Alex

Done and e-mailed, please post back here, Cheers David

ctabuk · #29 (**permalink**) 08-06-2005, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reg Suites

Hi David,

I'm a newbie so I would be very grateful for any assistance you can provide for my website: http://www.regentsuites.com/

Also, quick question - I created the site several years ago using Frontpage (only software I know how to use), do you think it is still OK to use or should I learn more SEO friendly software.

Any pointers would be appreciated, and thanks again for all your help.

Sam - ad@regentsuites.com

Also done and e mailed over David

ctabuk · #30 (**permalink**) 08-06-2005, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by citypublife

ctabuk

Looks like you are doing a great job here. Please can you give me feedback on my site.
http://www.citypublife.co.uk

Also done, but I need your e mail address to send the report, you can either post it here, PM me or e-mail me at ctabuk@gmail.com
I was a barman at the Little Mayfair Hotel in the late 60's - early 70's - Based in Shepherds Market, Down Street next to the Dorchester. Not many teenagers had flats in Mayfair, so this site is close to my heart. Boy did I have fun!! The Rolling Stones Concert in Green Park, The Hilton Bombing. Richard Burton and Liz Taylor had the whole of the top floor of the Hilton on perminate booking, and in those days it was £3,000 per week. Dale Robertson (Wells Fargo TV show) owned part of the Playboy club and I dated two Bunnygirls. So life was pretty cool LOL

SteveAZ · #31 (**permalink**) 08-06-2005, 08:22 AM

Sorry for taking so long to reply to your request to repost. I read your report on Copperstate Collectibles (all 42 pages!!!) and was shocked at how bad my site was. The fact that you didn't know what to use for a keyword test was proof enough. If you didn't know then it would hazzard a guess that the search engines didn't know either. I have redone the keyword list, meta tags, etc. and taken a bunch of the advice you have given. I am not good at creative writing so I am still working on the body text but I should be okay soon.
I would like to see if the changes I have made will make a difference in your report and thanks again.

dougadam · #32 (**permalink**) 08-06-2005, 02:23 PM

http://www.dougadam.com please take a look.

alextj · #33 (**permalink**) 08-06-2005, 02:30 PM

Thanks David!
I had no idea that SEO was a science rather than an art, and your report has given me a wee bit of homework...
Take care,
Alex

jdepompa · #34 (**permalink**) 08-06-2005, 02:45 PM

Looks like your helping a lot of people here. See what you think of my site..

www.shoppecharlotte.com

Thanks!

roban · #35 (**permalink**) 08-06-2005, 07:36 PM

Hi ctabuk,

What a great offer. I would be foolish to not take advantage, so here goes.

I have been working for the past 6 months and have learned alot. I have also learned that there is more to learn and more work to do and I am ready for the challange.

I would appreciate your taking the time to respond.

Regards,

Rob

havlinhouse · #36 (**permalink**) 08-06-2005, 09:37 PM

Hi there ctabuk,

I am from Australia and I would dearly love you to take a peek at my site!

I am new to web design & ecommerce - and I would really like this to take off! I have an international focus, have submitted to many SEs and Directories etc..

url: http://havlinhouse.com
email: simone@havlinhouse.com

Many many thanks in advance!

Simone

hirseljma · #37 (**permalink**) 08-06-2005, 11:29 PM

Hi Dave,

I'd like an analysis of my page www.chiponein.com. I was working on creating doorway pages etc...then I met a SEO 'helper' who had me re-design my site...it worked for a month, but now I am back to almost no traffic and the pages that used to be on the SE are no longer there...

I have been submitting my site to directories (just started this weekend). I was totaly ignorant of the IBL concept...

I have an additional question...After you go to my site you'll realize that I have about 52 KeyWords I want to get found on...most of the directories only allow me to put one page on their directory.

Do I have to buy/host/develop an independent webpage for each of the keywords or is there something I'm missing?

Thanks
Mark
www.chiponein.com

ctabuk · #38 (**permalink**) 08-07-2005, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dougadam

http://www.dougadam.com please take a look.

Done, please post your e mail address or PM me

ctabuk · #39 (**permalink**) 08-07-2005, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdepompa

Looks like your helping a lot of people here. See what you think of my site..

www.shoppecharlotte.com

Thanks!

Done, please post your e-mail address or PM Me

ctabuk · #40 (**permalink**) 08-07-2005, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roban

Hi ctabuk,

What a great offer. I would be foolish to not take advantage, so here goes.

I have been working for the past 6 months and have learned alot. I have also learned that there is more to learn and more work to do and I am ready for the challange.

I would appreciate your taking the time to respond.

Regards,

Rob

Done, please post your e-mail address or PM me

ctabuk · #41 (**permalink**) 08-07-2005, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hirseljma

Hi Dave,

I'd like an analysis of my page www.chiponein.com. I was working on creating doorway pages etc...then I met a SEO 'helper' who had me re-design my site...it worked for a month, but now I am back to almost no traffic and the pages that used to be on the SE are no longer there...

I have been submitting my site to directories (just started this weekend). I was totaly ignorant of the IBL concept...

I have an additional question...After you go to my site you'll realize that I have about 52 KeyWords I want to get found on...most of the directories only allow me to put one page on their directory.

Do I have to buy/host/develop an independent webpage for each of the keywords or is there something I'm missing?

Thanks
Mark
www.chiponein.com

Done please post your e-mail address or PM Me

roban · #42 (**permalink**) 08-07-2005, 06:44 AM

ctabuk,

You can reach me at roban@optonline.net.

Many thanks.

craftworks · #43 (**permalink**) 08-08-2005, 11:31 AM

ctabuk,

I was recommended to you for a bit of help on my website www.experimentalcraftworks.com
we have had a website fro a year and since April 22 it has been ecommerce. last month I had 1050 people looking at my products and 13 cart starts and 1 purchase.
I'm currently getting better photos and descriptions then new ones are easy to spot.

I'm at a pr4 but that doesn't matter as much lol.
and not being picked up my many searches a few under wearable art and hand dyed silk and such. I think I need to re do a few things to get this bird flying.

mariah@experimentalcraftworks.com

thanks in advance.

ctabuk · #44 (**permalink**) 08-08-2005, 12:02 PM

All done and e mailed over

starfive5 · #45 (**permalink**) 08-08-2005, 01:23 PM

Thanks for your offer! Please take a look at www.bestinsonoma.com. I have been working on optimization for higher ranking for the keyword(s): Sonoma Valley. Now in the top 20 and seeking top 10 placement. Also, the main competition often has sublistings in the top 10 and I wonder how they do that?? Thanks so much! Email : info@bestinsonoma.com

craftworks · #46 (**permalink**) 08-08-2005, 01:55 PM

wow that is a great report there is more in there than I had ever heard of and some of it goes against what I had been told in the past.

well I'm going to read it again and re vamp a few things.

quick open question....

on meta keywords are we only supposed to use the exact words of phrases that are in the text of our webpage?
my website has lots of possable kewwords and phrases and not enough room on the home welcome page to add all the text with out my customers eyes glazing over.

although I do plan on creating several extra portfilio pages that will each feature a small part of my website.
http://www.experimentalcraftworks.co...s.php?pageid=8

kind of like this page

Mike178 · #47 (**permalink**) 08-08-2005, 05:11 PM

Thanks for the great offer!

I'd love for for to check out my site.

www.spacecityairbrush.com

Thanks!

Mike178 · #48 (**permalink**) 08-08-2005, 06:46 PM

Oops, email to freeman6332@yahoo.com

Thanks again

hirseljma · #49 (**permalink**) 08-08-2005, 08:17 PM

Dave,

Thanks for the information...it should help me to tweak my site. I was happy to learn that I'm not that far off from what I was trying...now to get higher listings on the SE!

BTW - I don't want to be greedy, but can you check one more key phrase? "golf courses"

Thanks.
Mark

Avg-Joe · #50 (**permalink**) 08-08-2005, 10:01 PM

Well, I'd appreciate any help I can get.

Here's my main site: http://www.hostkc.com

I am also working on a redesign based off customer comments at http://www.hostkc.com/newtest/index.htm

Thank you in advance![/url]

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