Search Engine Submissions: 9 Simple Steps You Need To Take Before You Submit Your Web Site

Submitting your web site to search engines and directories does not have to be complicated.
I discovered nine simple steps that will prepare you.

1.) Create a professional-looking web site. Buy your own unique domain name and purchase hosting. Use a simple template design that fits the theme of your site.

2.) Develop a crystal clear navigation structure and site map. Decide on your navigation in advance. Make certain it is easy to use and leads to all the pages on your site.

3.) Add original visitor-focused content. Hire a copywriter if writing is not your "thing".

4.) Use free or paid keyword tools to do your research. Zero in on the most popular and targeted keywords for your content, titles, and meta tags.

5.) Never post "under construction" messages. Remove any blank pages. Although you'll want to add new content frequently, it is vital to show that your existing content is finished.

6.) Test your links regularly to make sure they are working. Online directories and search engines will put the brakes on and not index sites with broken links.

7.) Let your site visitors, search engines, and directories know you are accessible as a true professional. Don't attempt to hide your privacy policy or contact details.

8.) Search engines and visitors hate sloppy, choppy, unattractive text. Check and re-check your grammar and spelling. Punctuation counts!

9.) Select a tracking system and learn to analyze your web site traffic. Otherwise, you'll have no idea if anyone is visiting your site. Be sure to check your search engine page ranking and link popularity reports on a regular basis.

Melanie Kissell
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Mom, Got A Blog? Attract More Readers And Keep Them There

If you've been on the Internet for more than 5 minutes, you've probably heard of the ever growing popularity of the "mom blog". You may even have one yourself. Mom blogs are great ways to connect with other moms, share your thoughts and feelings on being a mom, and maybe even make a little dough (not the kitchen variety this time), too.

One problem many moms have is getting people to read and participate in their blogs. After all, without readers, you can't do any of the things mentioned above with your blog. So, how do you attract more readers to your mom blog? And, once you have them, how do you keep them there? Here are a few tried and true ways to increase readership and maybe even make some life long online buds in the mom community:

Be Yourself
No one likes to read a blog that is nothing but a copy and paste of articles, news topics, and pictures. Yes, those things are interesting, but to really get people coming back for more you have to show them you are a real person. Don't be afraid to let them in and give readers a taste of the true you. If you have an opinion on something don't be afraid to share it. After all, it is YOUR blog so it should represent the person you really are.

Hold a Contest or Giveaway
There's nothing moms like more than getting free stuff they can actually use. As a mom yourself you probably have or know people who would be willing to donate prizes to a contest or giveaway on your blog. Think of something fun and create or do a random drawing from those who post comments. Get creative and come up with something other moms would be happy to enter and happier to tell their friends about.

Post Reviews
People love to know if something works or doesn't work before they decide to buy. Have you used products that you think are the greatest thing since sliced bread? Or maybe you want to warn others to steer clear of something you wished you hadn't wasted your money on. Either way, let your readers know. There are even companies that love to send product samples to mommy bloggers specifically for their opinions. Your opinion does matter, especially because you're a mother.

Create a Recipe of the Day Section
If there's one thing all moms are looking for it's something different for dinner. To feed your reader's hunger for new meal ideas as well as their family's bellies, set up a section on your blog dedicated solely to recipes. Post a new recipe once a day. It doesn't take long and you don't have to write all (or any) of the recipes yourself if you don't want to thanks to private label rights (PLR) content.

Mommy blogs are created and visited by others for many reasons, but if yours is informative, comical, shows the true you, and gives moms what they are looking for, chances that more readers will come are higher. Enjoy your mommy blog and make it your home sweet home on the web where friends feel welcome and love coming back.

Ready to add a recipe section to your blog to increase readers? Get 30 recipes every month at YummyPLR.

Melanie Kissell

Take Out the Mystery and Put in the Fun: Reading with Babies Birth through Two Years

Post By Cathy Puett Miller, Independent Children’s Literacy Consultant

You are starting a whole new world with the arrival of your new baby. You have lots to think about and probably are full of questions and uncertainties. One of most important gifts you can give you new baby doesn’t cost a dime. It’s the gift of literacy and the gift of you.

Start reading with your baby right away when you come home from the hospital. It will grow the bond between you as your child listens to your soothing, familiar voices (get Dad in on the act too). Relax, trust your instincts and follow these simple guidelines. You’ll be an expert in no time.

While you are still getting ready, add books to your baby shower “wish list”. If you have favorites of yours from your childhood you can list specific titles. Otherwise choose from the wide variety of picture books (simple, colorful stories with little text to artistic, beautifully illustrated stories). Here are a few to get you going:

The Day You Were Born by Debra Frasier (there are actually several books with this very same title)

When Daddy Comes Home At Night by Eileen Spinelli (there’s one for Mamas too)

I Already Know I Love You by Billy Crystal

Welcome them all and take time in those few quiet months before the baby arrives to read them yourself. If you like them, your child is likely to also. When you start to read with your baby, it won’t matter so much what you read as that they are hearing the sound of your voice. A few dads even read The Wall Street Journal or Sports Illustrated to their “chip off the old block”. Try these tips as you read with babies six weeks to three months old).

· Don’t try to read too long. As few as five minutes as you put them down for a nap or when you are rocking them in your arms.

· Keep your voice calm; no need to be theatrical at this age. Choose books like Mem Fox’s Time for Bed, a lullaby of a story or excerpts from Hush, Little Ones by John Butler.

· Once you’re in a routine, try reading to your baby when they are fussy. If you’ve already set the pattern to connect reading with a calm, warm, close time, sharing a story before they become too overstimulated can help babies quiet down.

Biography

Cathy Puett Miller

Through varied avenues such as her award-winning Reading is for Everyone® tutorial model, her contributions to Educationworld.com as their national “Reading Coach” monthly columnist and her training workshops for children, educators and parents, Cathy Puett Miller, The Literacy Ambassador™, spends her time spreading the news that reading can be fun, powerful and practical.

Mrs. Miller received the coveted 2003 National Silver Award for investigative educational reporting from Parenting Publications of America and regularly writes for both on-line and print publications including peer-reviewed educational journals such as the Georgia Journal of Reading. She continues to contribute to the world of literacy by designing research-based initiatives, creating reading packages such as Babyzone.com’s first reading page for parents, and serving on the Alabama School Readiness Advisory Council and the board of directors of The Reading Tub. She proudly serves as a member of the International Reading Association, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and the National Council of Teachers of English.

Mrs. Miller’s most recent projects involve presenting at regional and state reading and preschool conferences, authoring a book for parents of preschool children on emergent literacy, creating and managing the pilot of a local United Way’s Fun Learning Moments™ parent involvement/school readiness initiative, and conducting a national study on at-home reading in collaboration with university early education departments in AL and TX.

Melanie Kissell

Your YOUnique Brand: Ways People Respond To Your Content Online

Kristen Jacoway

Bloggers Corner
By Kristen Jacoway
Each month I monitor several blogs that pertain to personal branding to bring you some of the most insightful postings that exist on the web. I share a couple of these with you below. If you have any questions or blogs that you recommend keeping an eye on please email me at YOUniquenewsletter@reachcc.com.

Since Twitter is so hot right now, I thought this blog post was timely: Glen Allsopp of PluginId discusses the “Seven Uncommon Uses for Twitter” – one use is to express your personal brand online for Google Reputation Management. The other avenues include Product/Service Reviews, Testimonials, Finding Beta Testers for Products or eBooks, Live News Tracking, Finding Solutions to Problems, and Competition.

Miriam Salpeter from Keppie Careers wrote a blog post on “Leveraging Twitter for Your Job Search” and offers tips on how to utilize Twitter features as one of your multiple strategies in the job search. She also shares a few success stories of people who landed jobs using Twitter.

Rajesh Setty, an entrepreneur, author, and public speaker based in Silicon Valley wrote, “9 Ways People Respond to Your Content Online.” This terrific blog post looks at how to generate content that will inspire and transform the lives of your target audience and the ways your audience will respond to your online content. Blogging and writing articles are two great ways to build your Google results. This blog post will help you define “productive content” in order to express your brand online.

MELANIE KISSELL

Tweet 10 Times More Unto Others Than You Tweet Unto Yourself

How many people do you come across every day that just don’t “get” Twitter? I bet you can spot them instantly.

Before I go on, I’m not writing this as a disgruntled Twitter user nor am I here to rant and rave. There’s already plenty of that going around!

Twitter friend and Social Networking Ninja, Nancy Marmolejo of Vivavisibility, preaches and teaches - “Tweet 10 times more unto others than you Tweet unto yourself.” I’m here to explain exactly what that means and how you and your business can reap the rewards of following this expert-recommended code of ethics.

For every self-promoting Tweet you post, post 10 Tweets for other peeps that you admire and respect. So who should you endorse?

Ask yourself the following questions:

· Who is it that feeds you with always-needed inspiration and motivation?

· Who have you been observing for a while that may consider you for a joint venture or cross promotions?

· Whose teleseminars have you attended that you would highly recommend to others?

· Which Twitter Dad-Preneurs or Mom-Preneurs can you always turn to for advice?

· Who do you consider to be the top notch bloggers? Authors? Affiliate marketers? Video masters?

· Who are the Twitter followers that consistently add value to your life?

Create a list of 10 people

When you have your list established, start talkin’ up these folks on Twitter! – 10 posts for your list and 1 post for you. :-)

Routinely stick to this “ratio” of “10 to 1” then sit back and watch the magic (and the reciprocity) happen! Before long, you and your products and services will get the attention and promotional endorsements of cream-of-the-crop, credible experts.

MELANIE KISSELL

Online Work: This Author Doesn't Make Ridiculous Claims About Working Online

I hope you won't mistake this post as a highway billboard ad, commercial, or flashing neon sign. You know ... like 99% of the emails you get every day. :-)

I just got done reading "Never Be Unemployed Again!" and I want to share how impressed I am. I'm fortunate to have gotten to know the author. I've been on her autoresponder list for quite a long time. I'll be honest. Until recently, I read each and every one of her messages, enjoyed them, and then neatly filed them away on my computer.

When I heard from Georganne Fiumara about the ebook she had just written, I was finally compelled to take some action. Wasn't about to file this one away!

Georganne is one of those quiet, behind-the-scenes online experts that you rarely hear about. Too bad. I've been at this online marketing "thing" for almost thirteen years. In my estimation, she should be in the ever lovin' spotlight. Georganne doesn't show off or make ridiculous promises that everybody and their uncle is making nowadays. I can assure you she is 100% dedicated to writing about only authentic business opportunities and the possibilities of working online.

Click Here to Follow Georganne on Twitter.

One of the greatest features of Geroganne's ebook takes the worry and guesswork out of the equation. You can read the whole first chapter of "Never Be Unemployed Again!" for free with no obligation to purchase. I think that's pretty cool and as fair as it gets.

Another important feature to mention is that ALL the resources have been personally PRE-SCREENED by the author. I don't know about you, but that gives me a tremendous sense of security and reassurance.

What can I say next? Read the first chapter, see what you think, and then make a decision that will add stability to your life and help you sleep at night.

You can't count on your bank and you certainly can't count on having a job tomorrow. I understand how you feel. We're all looking for ways to adjust to the new economy.

You can't control your job status but you don't have to feel out of control. There are answers, and you've just found one.

Melanie Kissell
Never Be Unemployed Again!

DARE TO BE VISIBLE - 7 Must Use Social Media Avenues

Before you read on, allow me to make a disclaimer. I invite you to relax when it comes to using Social Media. It is a process, don’t let it overwhelm you.

One type of Internet marketing that you must be taking advantage of is social media. The truth is your Internet business will not survive unless you are involved in various forms of social media. The only exception to that would be is if you do paid advertising such as Google Adwords or Yahoo Marketing.

Perhaps you do not understand the various ways you can utilize these many types of social media to brand yourself and expand your business. Here are 7 types of Internet social media you should be doing everyday.

1. Blogging

Your competition has a blog and so should you. Blogs can serve many purposes. A couple of key points are host your own blog and consistently add fresh content. Never let your blog go stale.

If money is tight, you can install a free blog software and start publishing at least one article in your blog. Provide an easy bookmarking feature to social bookmarking sites like delicious. This is done by providing an action button for each article in your site. The action button takes users to the submission page of the bookmarking site.

2. Social Networking

My Space and Facebook are 2 of the largest. Building relationships online are a big part of having a successful Internet business. Social networking allows you to hang out with people that have similar interests to you. Remember that the same social etiquette and good manners apply online as they do offline. Think about building relationships first, business second.

3. Micro Blogging

Twitter.com is a combination of social networking and blogging. Building a large list of followers is a great way to meet people and increase traffic to your blog and websites. Plus it is fun to Tweet! I’m a big fan of Twitter.

4. Social Bookmarking

Directories such as Digg and Technorati serve as search engine bait for your blog posts and for new traffic from people who read your blog articles. Bookmarking a blog post is very easy to do and the rewards can pay off for years to come.

5. Discussion Forums

This really was one of the first forms of social media and still is a great way to learn about the niche of your business and to drive traffic to it. Hanging out in discussion forums can be addictive so be careful to use them the right way and not waste time. There is an art to forum marketing and you must learn to do it correctly, but the benefits are many.

6. Email Marketing

There has always been money in having a list. The trick is to build relationships with your list and then sell to it after you have done that. For that reason we include it in social media. Today you can add video, audio, graphics, and other things to make your email more interactive.

7. Video Marketing

When Google bought YouTube everyone was put on notice that video marketing was going to be important. Today internet marketers can drive traffic and build credibility by adding videos to their blog and website.

Create short how-to or new product videos and post these videos in social video sharing sites like YouTube, Google video. Provide a few start and end frames in these videos to introduce your site with your site url. Post these videos using catchy titles, teasing descriptions, and appropriate tags to make them discoverable

This is 7 forms of social media you must be using to build your Internet business. The most successful Internet marketers already are!

The social media is not a fad. It is here to stay and bring in profound changes to web surfers’ experiences. It is the right time for implementing features that will make your site social media friendly. Also, using marketing techniques that utilize popular social media sites, you will be able to bring traffic to your site.

Posted by Francine Allaire, Founder of The Daring Woman and The Daring Women's Community

Women dare themselves and each other to reach out for more. I DARE you!

Melanie Kissell