Seo Marketing Tools That Earn Money

A discussion of some of the software programs and tools that can help optimize your SEO as well as bring more targeted visitors to your website.

There are definitely some SEO marketing tools on the market that can help your homegrown web site earn more money. For instance you might want to consider getting an opt-in list builder. This type of program helps you install an opt in request feature on your website so that you can build your own mailing list. There are some out there on the market that promise that you can have a list with as many as thirty thousand people on it in just three months.

Another tool that you might want to consider getting is a link manager. Sometimes they are referred to as hoplink managers. This is a great Internet business gizmo that allows affiliates to promote multiple websites using only one ClickBank account. The result is often an increase in profits thanks to a raise in your page rankings on both Google and Clickbank.

Programs that can assist you with your SEO are ones like the Article Page Machine, the Article Site Builder and the Quick Page generator. These programs assist people who can't write in taking articles and replicating them. This is one way to building an informational site that is original and unique, however be forewarned. Make too many pages like these and you could be accused of spamming. Article page machines are writing tools that allow you to take an article and automatically maximize it with keywords. Article site builder helps you earn money by drawing targeted visitors to your informational site.

Quick page generators are advertised as being able you to create hundreds of pages of unique public domain content without spamming. However the drawback is that usually these articles are not of a high enough quality to submit to article and ezine directories as these directories do detect this type of artificially generated piece as spam sooner or later.

Not All Domain Names Are Created Equal

Choose the right domain name and your business is one step ahead of competition. Get it wrong and you will get left behind. It's as simple as that.

Domain names are fundamental to the ranking of your website in the search engines. And the search engines will account for 90% of the traffic that arrives at your site. You need traffic. Afterall a website without traffic is like a shop empty of any customers.

So give the choice of domain a lot of thought. It actually accounts for more than 20% of the factors a search engine considers when ranking your site. In other words get the domain right and you will rank higher and get more traffic...get it wrong and you will be making work for yourself trying harder to get the domain noticed in the search engine listings.

So where to start.

First and foremost, you need to know your target market. What is the nature of your business. Boil it down to one single word. Any business can be decribed in just one word. What is yours? Don't try to describe your business in 2 words or a phrase. Think again and get it down to one single word...it can be done.

Then find a domain that contains this single keyword. But why make one up when you can find one that may already has a search engine listing or at least some back links to it

You can find some really great ideas, and absolute bargains by registering an expired domain name. An expired domain is one which the previous registrant has neglected and for whatever reason has decined to re-register. Expired domains can be a real goldmine! A good resource for expired domains and one which I use myself is 'Deleted Domains' at: http://www.deleteddomains.com

You can search for domains which have expired within the last 24 hours, last week, or within the 30 or 60 days and which are available to register. The advantage of a deleted domain is that it may already have a search engine presence and if you are really lucky you may find one with a ton of back links to immediately kick-start your search engine marketing.

Search for a domain containing your keyword and as few other extra letters as possible. The shorter the domain the better. And keep away from hyphens and numbers. Regardless what you hear on the forums, hyphens and numbers do not help search engine ranking. In fact you want as few charaters as possible. The most important being your actual keyword itself and a .com ending.

So remember, all domain names are NOT created equal when it comes to search engine ranking.

How To Be More Specific In Blocking Spam

Spam is oftenly thought to be such a difficult subject. But actually, it is not as difficult to comprehend as much as you think it is. But to correct any wrong perceptions regarding spam, spam is any form of junk mail that contains nothing else but advertisements. These advertisements are not ones that you asked for. They are ones that advertise products that you do not even know were invented. See just how bad and evil spam is?

Spam fills your inbox even when it is so not supposed to. Your inbox space is reserved for those messages that you want to receive, or electronic mails that you have long been waiting for. Or at least so you thought. If you do not protect your email address from the evilness of spam, then you must prepare yourself for the worst cyber scenarios.

Spam Assassin is a product of TCH. It is such an effective tool when it comes to blocking spam mail, especially if it is a product of a particular domain. Putting it in its default mode is the same as disabling it when a certain site is setup by TCH. If you are going to install this spam blocking gift, there is going to be absolutely no need for you to worry about receiving the mail you hate then.

If you want to be more specific in blocking spam, do not fret for that is not so hard to do. You can specify which spam mail you want to be blocked by being more particular on the subject line.

To do that, just click on Filtering. Once you have done that, click Add Filter. A drop down box will, of course, drop down, and then you will have to click Subject. After clicking Subject, a second drop down box will show and there, you are supposed to click Contains. And as you have probably predicted, there is still a third drop down box. In the third one, you are supposed to type whatever word or words it is or are that you want to be filtered.

Once the words have been entered, the software will be blocking any sort of mail that is related to what you have typed. For instance, you typed sex. Spam Assassin will block electronic mail that is related, in any way, to sex in its subject line. However, this field is case sensitive. Typing sex will not filter or block sEx. Therefore, you have to be quite careful in this field.

It is as easy as that. No need for you to worry about those messages that you hate ever again!

How To Choose Web Hosting

Paid hosting has several significant advantages over available hosting. Firstly you will obtain more helpful features with paid hosting. Technical backing will be often best with assistance accessible when you need it. Generally speaking Paid hosts will get often faster connections to the internet then your place will seem quicker. Most significantly with paid hosting you won't get to exhibit a streamer on each page advertising the Hosting Company and advertising to the reality that you are on an available host. With superior hosting packages starting from $3. 99 per month there is no cause why you shouldn't go with a paid host.

The second easy regulation concerns what operating structure to select. You will discover hosts offering you Windows Hosting or Linux Hosting, it is enticing to select windows as it's a figure everyone knows and many folk erroneously think that because their PC runs windows they need a Windows Host but in this lawsuit they'd be incorrect. Whichever hosting packet you select you will obtain a command board through which you manage your place these are graphical environments through which you can curb many aspects of your website from configuring your network mail and installing forum software to creating a database. Take a lead from the marble halls of job most leading companies host their websites on Linux Servers. Linux Servers mostly runs faster and are more safe than a windows waiter. This is partially payable to how the operating systems are built. Windows seek to include every potential role in the home packet whilst Linux allows the host party to make the functions they need.

The closing matter to regard when choosing a host is the listing of features they provide. If you wear't recognize more about html you can seem for a host that supplies you with available website construction software and some of the best ones will still provide available Domain names. You should seem at an amount of distinct companies and liken what they provide as basic with their hosting plans. Technical aspects to regard are; the sum of disc place accessible to you and how more monthly bandwidth you have to take. Look at how many email accounts you can get the much the best. Customer backing features should not be overlooked cheque to view what their reaction moment is and if it's anymore than a minute feel elsewhere, too regard if they provide a money backwards ensure.

Look to view what extra services they include in the packet for instance do they provide daily backups? Make certain that they provide backing for PHP as this is rapidly becoming the programming word of selection with network programmers. To resolve when choosing a website Host seem for a paid host with Linux hosting and so liken the packages on offering from a kind of companies.

Website Template or Web Designer?

So you need a business website? - It costs money right? And it's hard to find a local reliable web designer who can work within your budget? So you gonna do yourself (or get nephew Jimmy to do it for peanuts, afterall he is a computer whizkid at only 13 years old) ? Maybe you've seen those cool flash web templates with music for a few dollars - that will do nicely !

But what about registering the right domain name; setting up email accounts for all the staff; getting the right type of web space to host the site; how you gonna add a web form; have you got any decent web design software installed ? - Oops! that willl cost mega bucks! Erm so maybe web templates aint so cheap after all ? And you'll need to find a few hours/days to do this - maybe you'd be better selling your product/service ?

But Web Templates are so cheap !

Well, a good web designer is undoubtedly worth the money if you have the budget. He/She will build you a customised web site with your business logo, snazzy imagery in your brand colours, nicely laid-out text and menus. They may add a little Flash animation to create impact and a online form that helps your prospective customers contact you from the website. SOUNDS GREAT ! But your website needs to do a lot more that look pretty.

The more professional and experienced web designer will go a few steps further, beyond the bells and whistles. He/She will make sure the code is validated to W3C standards, it is accessible to the disadvantaged, it works in all modern browsers such as Internet Explorer, FireFox, Mozilla and Safari. They will ensure the content is optimised with keywords for Google and Yahoo, etc. They test all the links work. They'll submit the site to the search engines that matter. They will install a 'hit counter' so you can check how your site visits are coming on. And best of all they will give you honest and practical advice on all things web, stuff they have learned over the years. Because they're experts.

DIY web templates are just the begining and if looks got you to the top of Google then I'd say GO FOR A WEB SITE TEMPLATE. But the reality is the web is too big and competitive for you not to get the web designer in.

If you are serious about your website being a major part of your online marketing mix then my (maybe biased) opinion is get a web designer - it'll pay for itself. Yep, there are thousands of web templates very cheap but the Google and Yahoo top 10 don't seem to list them - enough said!

Try These, they may help:


G-Force UK Web Templates example of web tempaltes
Digital Idiom UK Web Design Customised / Bespokeweb sites
W3C Web Standards World Wide Web Consortium
Google Search Tips
So is it web template or web designer?

Harry Spirali is a web sales consultant for Digital Idiom UK Web Design - he helps advise on web development, design and search engine optimisation in the UK.

www.digitalidiom.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Harry_Alfred_Spirali

How Good Free Web Hosting Servers Really Are?

There are a number of websites offering free web hosting. Tripod.com or geocities.com being the most popular among them. So, the question is : Are free servers really good?

Well, the answer is simple. You don’t get anything free in life and same goes for the net.

To be frank, some of the websites host you on really fast high-end servers even with your free account, but there are many drawbacks still.

To start with, nearly every free server puts up this huge banner right on top of every page in return for their free service. This is totally annoying and not desired at any cost.

To further increase their unusability they come with very limited bandwidth or monthly transfers. So, even if you get a healthy 20 MB for free, you are limited to a very narrow monthly transfer limit of around 50-100 MB a month. Huh ? What does that mean? It simply means and if you are serious about making money on the internet, a lot of people are going to visit your website. This in turn burdens your web server and a free web server, well, it will just collapse!

Thirdly, you get an ugly looking URL which no one save the program that generated can remember eg. www.freeserverxyz.com/abc/~uv/

And that by no means is acceptable. Some of the companies have gotten round this and provide you with a cleaner whateveryouchoose.freeserverxyz.com. This is at least better than the previous mammoth.

Fourthly, nobody trusts a website hosted on a free server. Would you for instance make a $50 purchase from a URL like www.freeserverxyz.com/abc/~uv/ ? I certainly think not. To come around this problem, some free servers allow you to host your privately registered domain name for free. There is a catch here too. For this you will either have to transfer your current domain to them or register a new domain, either ways, you are at their mercy for domain pricing and still stuck with a banner on top of your page with limited monthly transfers.

However, if you still tight on budget and at any rate cannot afford a paid hosting, then I sincerely recommend one free server to you. Netfirms (www.netfirms.com) is one of the most renowned free web hosting providers with the provision of hosting your own www.yourchoice.com.

You could check out www.0host.com though not a kind you would expect; it does have a pretty much exhaustive list of free web hosts.

Gautamm Mehra is a young entrepreneur and IT consultant. He was introduced to computers in 1989 and has since than had a passion for everything digital. You can write to him at gautam [dot] mail [at] gmail [dot] com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gautamm_Mehra

Why Are The Domain Rates So Different? What Should I Look Out For?

If you have ever registered a domain and done some research before doing so, you would have wondered as to why domain name registration rates differ so widely across the internet.

Actually, Domain names are registered by companies called Registrars. These are literally like the Registrars we are aware of in real life and maintain a list of domain names as well as register new ones. These Registrars operate through their resellers, who in turn have web sites where you can register your domains. These resellers pay a fixed flat fee per domain name to their registrar, but they have the liberty of charging their clients any rate they wish to.

However, each reseller and each registrar have their understanding, as to what rate the reseller pays the registrar for each domain. An important factor is how many domains the reseller sells, this determines his wholesale price. Thus, virtually every site on the internet has a different rate of registering and transferring domain names.

However, some are worth the extra mullah. Besides registering the domain they provide you with features like domain forwarding, temporary “site under construction” page hosting, control panels, domain-lock facility etc.

Today the cost of domains has fallen drastically. Certain tld (Top level Domains) such as .info sell for as low as a $1! But, whatever may be the price, make sure that the website or company you purchase from is ICANN certified and offers you the following:

1) Control Panel: This is absolutely essential for it allows you to change and control various aspects of your domain such as nameservers, contact details etc.

2) Domain Lock: This facility allows you to a lock your domain to the registrar so nobody can hijack your domain.

3) Managed DNS: This is an advanced but highly useful utility that allows you to modify your MX (mail exchange), A, CNAME and SOA entries. This is useful when you want to have different mail servers than your website or if you want to setup sub-domains etc.

You can get all the above facilities at the Sigel WebSolutions WebStore.

Gautamm Mehra is a young entrepreneur and IT consultant. He was introduced to computers in 1989 and has since than had a passion for everything digital. You can write to him at gautam [dot] mail [at] gmail [dot] com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gautamm_Mehra

The Power Of An Effective Web Hosting Company

In this day and age of the Internet, the world of commerce and communication has changed drastically. Savvy businesses know that in order to be successful in this new world, they must take their place online with an effective and consumer-friendly website. And in order to make this online presence one that works most efficiently for your business, you must depend on an equally efficient web hosting company.

The vastness of the Internet is incomprehensible to most people. And while we know that the Internet itself is not a physical space, we still understand that its resources must be accessed in some way. A web hosting company accesses the Internet through a server – a high-powered computer that is set up to communicate – in the giving and receiving of information – with other computers. A web hosting company then “rents” space on their server to website owners. As a renter on this server your website is provided with unlimited access to the Internet and in this way visitors can access your website.

In some cases, a web hosting company will host your website but allow you to have your own domain name; or website address. This is considered to be a virtual web host. In other, lower priced services, a web hosting company will host your website but you are given a page within their domain name. This is considered to be a non-virtual web host.

For any website owner who is searching for a web hosting company, it must be understood that all web hosting is not the same. It is essential that website owners ensure that the web hosting company in which they are interested will provide a level of service in line with their price tag.

First and foremost, a web hosting company should offer consistent access to the Internet. We expect our web hosts to be online at all times so that our customers have instant access to our website. While a server may sometimes need to be offline for servicing, and not every technical difficulty can be avoided, you should expect an overall consistency in accessing the Internet from your web hosting company. You should also make sure that your web hosting company can handle the traffic that your website attracts on a daily basis.

But just as important are the security features that a web hosting company offers to its clients, especially if you own a website where customers frequently provide their personal information – such as an online store. A proper web hosting company should offer appropriate – and frequently updated – safeguards to ensure the security of you and your customers.

Ultimately, your web hosting company should offer you peace of mind on many levels – in easy access to the web, professional and courteous service, and top-notch security measures.

For easy to understand, in depth information about web hosting company visit our ezGuide 2 Web Hosting.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Bery

How to Create Web Sites for a Home Based Business

With a little bit of knowledge and a little bit of effort, you can create web sites for your home based business. While site creation isn't exactly brain surgery, it will take research and planning to create web sites that look professional.

The following five steps guide you through the basics of how to create web sites for your home based business.

Step One: Register a Domain Name

Before you can create web sites, you need to decide on and register one or more domain names. The domain names you choose should reflect your home based business. They should also be original and not infringe upon any trademark names or phrases. Once you have settled on a good name, it may be a good idea to have the name or names you plan on using to create web sites trademarked. The costs for this will vary, as will the costs for actual domain name registration.

Step Two: Select a Web Host

The second step in site creation involves choosing a web host. You have two basic choices; you can use a virtual web host to create web sites or you can use a dedicated hosting service. The costs and benefits of each will vary depending on the company you choose to work with, but in most cases you pay more for dedicated services because they offer the best in benefits.

Step Three: Design Your Web Site

When you create web sites for your home based business, step three is of utmost importance. The design of your web site will be what keeps a visitor interested and coming back for more. You want something that is both professional and representative of your home based business.

It should also be noted that to create web sites that allow for credit card purchases, you will need to sign up with a credit card merchant or processing service. If you aren't familiar with the software needed or the HTML code that must be used for this part of the site creation process, you can purchase a site builder or hire someone else to do the design work for you.

Step Four: Launch Your Web Sites

After you create web sites for your home based business, you need to launch and test them to make sure they are working properly. The steps you need to follow to launch your sites will depend on your web host. In most cases, this part of the site creation process is relatively easy.

Step Five: Test Your Web Sites

It is never a good idea to create web sites and assume they work properly as planned. You must test each and every one of the web sites you built to represent your home based business. Visit every page and read over every word. If you find any mistakes, you need to fix them in this part of the site creation process. Online users can become easily frustrated, and may not ever come back if there are too many problems.

About the author: Cliff Posey, owner of CRP Marketing, owns and operates http://webbusinesstoolsonline.com Cliff Posey has also operated several other successful web businesses including Love Song Cards and Radio Career Consultants. The content in this article was developed from his experience in these businesses and his continual research into further business improvements.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cliff_Posey

How to Create a Web Site That Works

If you want to create a web site, you better be prepared for competition. There are numerous people out there who have started a business online or brought their business to the web. Many of them have found out that it takes more than basic knowledge of web design to build a web site that makes money.

If you want to create a web site that works for you and your business, you will need to map out the process from beginning to end. Preparing to build a web site before you actually begin doing any of the work will increase your chances of having a successful online marketplace.

Here are a few web design basics that you will want to keep in mind when you begin making the preparations to create a web site:

Competing Web Sites

Before you begin to create a web site for your business, you will want to carefully evaluate your competition. Knowing how many other people have chosen to build a web site on your desired topic will help you determine who your competition is, and what they have done to make their online business a success. This will also give you an opportunity to determine whether or not your idea is too broad. For example, if you want to create a web site focusing on books, you might find that there are too many other people out there who have the same business idea. Narrowing down your topic to business books or books for young adults may lead to more profits, additional traffic, and less competition for your business.

Domain Names

The web design aspects employed on your site should properly reflect your business name and your business idea. The same can be said for your domain name. When you create a web site, you will want to choose a name that is easy to remember, easy to spell or type into a browser, and if possible, keyword rich. For example, a name like PadfootPalace.com is cute for a business that sells dog care products, but it may not prove to be able to garner the rankings that a more obvious name like DogCareEssentials.com could. You should always keep such things in mind before you choose a domain name or create a web site.

Strong Content

Although a good web site design is important, strong, well-written content is the key to any successful online business. Your visitors will lose interest quickly if you don't put in the time and effort that it takes to build a web site with valuable content. When you create a web site, you need to pay special attention to any content that you add. It is also very important to make sure you create a web site that is keyword rich. This will increase visibility in search engine rankings, and in turn, increase the amount of traffic that visits your web site. Above all, make sure that all of your content is factual, spelled correctly, and easy to read.

About the author: Cliff Posey, owner of CRP Marketing, owns and operates http://webbusinesstoolsonline.com Cliff Posey has also operated several other successful web businesses including Love Song Cards and Radio Career Consultants. The content in this article was developed from his experience in these businesses and his continual research into further business improvements. http://websitesthatsucceed.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cliff_Posey

Finding and Using a Free Web Site Template

If you want to make a web site, but have limited funds or limited design skills, you may want to consider searching out a free web site template. Finding a free web site template is relatively easy. In addition to web design firms, there are also many web hosting companies and domain name registrars that offer this service.

A free website template will provide the bare skeleton design. When you are ready to make a web site, you simply fill in the empty spaces with your own text. In certain cases, your free web site template will come complete with images, and in other cases, you will only have frames and backgrounds to build upon.

The free web site template that you decide to go with should be visually pleasing and have all of the features you will need to make a web site. Above all, it should look professional. Web visitors will judge your products and services on the look of your web site. Choose the wrong free web site template and you may send your traffic away in droves before they have a chance to get to know you.

More Tips for Choosing a Free Web Site Template

While it is nice to get something for free, you should never completely base your web site design decisions on price alone. When choosing a free web site template, it is essential that it contains all of the essential aspects needed to make a web site and manage it as your business grows. Particular things to focus on when finding a free web site template include:

Support – Choosing a company or web developer that can offer you ongoing support with your free web site template is important. If you have problems when you make a web site or try to make changes, you need to know that you have someone you can call on for help.

Credibility – The last thing you want to do is choose some fly-by-night company that has no experience or no track record of success. You will be much better off choosing a free web site template from a credible company that is sure to still be in business in the coming years.

Security – If you will be using a free web site template from your web host, you need to make sure that it comes equipped with the security features you need. Custom applications need to be accessible to the right people and the database must be capable of storing sensitive information.

Individuality – The one bad thing about a free web site template is the fact that other web sites may be using the same template as you. If you want to make a web site that is completely original, a free web site template may not be for you. If you will be getting the template from a designer or a service like your web host or domain name registrar, you may want to ask how many other sites are using a similar template.

About the author: Cliff Posey, owner of CRP Marketing, owns and operates http://webbusinesstoolsonline.com Cliff Posey has also operated several other successful web businesses including Love Song Cards and Radio Career Consultants. The content in this article was developed from his experience in these businesses and his continual research into further business improvements. http://websitesthatsucceed.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cliff_Posey

The Basics of Domain Name Registration

If you want to have your own web site, you need to learn the basics of domain name registration. A domain name is also known as a web address or host name. Every web site needs its own domain name so that users can find it on the web. Domain name registration is important to make sure that two web sites aren't using the same domain name.

Because so many domain names are in use and in demand, there are certain organizations that have made a business out of domain name registration. Known as domain name registrars, these organizations act as a middleman between the registry that handles domain names and the public, buying and selling names at whim. Although there are too many of these organizations to name here, examples of registrars are GoDaddy.com and DomainDirect.com.

Domain Name Registration for Beginners

If you are interested in registering a name, you are in luck because domain name registration is a relatively simple process. All you need to do is find a registrar and search for the name you are interested in using to see if it available.

With the rapid expansion of the Internet, many of the most popular domain names have already been taken. Many webmasters are forced to get creative and add hyphens or numbers to their name. If you cannot find the name you want during the beginning of the domain name registration process, you may want to consider using one of these creative techniques.

During domain name registration, you must also decide what you want your top level domain to be. The most common choices are .com or .net, but you can also investigate options like .biz, .org, or .info.

Once you have picked your domain name, you need to decide how long you want to hold that name. Most registrars offer contracts that range anywhere from one year to ten years, and most offer you the opportunity to renew once the contract expires.

The cost of this will vary depending on the service you use and the length of your contract. To make sure you are getting the best deal possible, it is a good idea to shop around or get domain name registration referrals before you buy.

Choosing the Best Domain Name

The hardest part of domain name registration is choosing the best domain name. It is recommended that you choose a name that is both memorable and has something to do with your business or business name. And, it wouldn't hurt if the name is a good searchable term.

In addition to using good sense when choosing a domain name, you must also abide by the basic rules of domain name registration. For example, you shouldn't choose a name that is a copyrighted word or term. This could lead to legal problems down the road. You will also want to make sure that you keep the domain name under 67 characters, as that is the maximum length for web addresses.

About the author: Cliff Posey, owner of CRP Marketing, owns and operates http://webbusinesstoolsonline.com Cliff Posey has also operated several other successful web businesses including Love Song Cards and Radio Career Consultants. The content in this article was developed from his experience in these businesses and his continual research into further business improvements.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cliff_Posey

A Q&A on Explicit Internet Domain Name Litigation

Let me ask you a question. Would you voluntarily leave your job to join another company that would essentially cost you more money to work for and they can change regulations and policies over you at any moment? Wow. What an exciting opportunity! Excuse my sarcasm if you noticed any.

If you think that whole scenario is all make believe then you are mistaken. That is exactly what some organizations want to do with adult web sites on the internet. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, otherwise known as the ICNN, the Internet's key oversight agency, is nearing a vote on creating a voluntary ".xxx" domain name for pornography sites.

The decision ultimately could hinge on whether ".xxx" has the support of the adult-entertainment industry, and many porn sites are strongly opposed. Porn sites are largely concerned that the domain name, while billed as voluntary, would make it easier for governments to later mandate its use.

Here are some other helpful answers for you concerning this witch-hunt:

• What are domain names?

Behind every machine connected to the Internet is a series of four numbers known as an Internet Protocol address. Domain names were created as an easy-to-remember shortcut. It's much easier to remember "ap.org" than "165.1.59.220." When you type a domain name into a Web browser or an e-mail message, your computer checks a series of domain name servers to match the name to the equivalent numeric address.

• Where does ".xxx" fall?

The current proposal grew out of the 2004 round of bids, which ICANN specifically restricted to sponsored names, meaning their use would be limited to a specific community, be it the travel industry or porn sites. ICM Registry Inc., a Florida startup founded by entrepreneurs with backgrounds in domain names and U.K. Internet companies, sought its creation. If approved, its use would be voluntary, just as with any other domain.

• Why has a decision taken so long?

Of the 10 applications, only ".xxx" and ".post" for postal services remain pending. After considerable debate, ICANN rejected the ".xxx" proposal last May, but ICM came back with a new plan with more specifics. Even before that got a vote, ICM returned with yet another proposal to address concerns about enforcement abilities and the independence of a nonprofit body that would set rules governing the domain's use. Each step meant a period for public commenting and opposition among adult Web sites and religious groups remains strong.

• What happens if the name is rejected?

That would largely depend on the wording of ICANN's resolution, but ICANN rarely throws out a bid outright, meaning ICM likely could return later with a revision to address any concerns. However, ICANN appears ready to close the 2004 round of bids as it prepares to launch a new round. ICM also could seek to have the decision reviewed through ICANN channels or file a lawsuit if it believes ICANN failed to follow its own guidelines.

• What happens if the name is approved?

Assuming the U.S. government does not wield the veto power it has over ICANN, ".xxx" would be entered into the domain name system within months. ICM would establish a program to set aside certain names, such as trademarks and geographic places. Web sites wanting any remaining name would sign up with an approved registration company, which would forward to ICM $60 for each name sold. No site would be required to use the domain, and sites would be free to keep their existing names under ".com" and elsewhere. Parents could set their filtering software to block all ".xxx" sites, although that alone won't stop all such sites given its voluntary nature.

• Shouldn't ".xxx" be mandatory then?

Mandating the domain's use would raise significant problems, namely how to define pornography. Should any site with nudity be classified? What about artistic or educational sites, such as ones on breast feeding? And who should decide, given conflicts between pornography and speech laws around the world?

"One of the criteria is that it must have general support among the industry it's supposed to serve, and it does not," explains an expert at PC World. “Not one single webmaster or adult video producer is in favor of '.xxx."

For more information on computer and internet topics such as this, check out Magsforless.com at www.magsforless.com. Magsforless.com sells a variety of magazine subscriptions on computer and internet topics along with hundreds of other magazines on any subject you choose. With an extensive list of cheap magazine titles to choose from and the cheapest prices available, they stand out from the competition.

Joel Simkhai has published numerous articles on a wide range of topics related to magazine journalism. He is currently the owner of Magsforless.com- a company that provides cheap magazines, and focuses on customer satisfaction.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J_Simkhai

Do I Need A Website?

It is a question I often asked myself as I was starting an Internet Business. Having had no prior knowledge of how to build a website I really didn’t know where to start. Or why I should start one. I had joined several programs that offered “FREE WEBSITES” So why did I need one of my own and a domain name!

What in heavens name was a domain name?

If you are like me, and there are millions of us out there, you did not grow up with the Internet jargon. Domain referred to a piece of land usually ruled by a single ruler, I believe. I had to become a ruler of a piece of land in order to be an Internet marketer? Doesn’t make sense, does it?

Well thanks to the education I was able to give my sons and daughter, I learned about domain names, websites, cookies (I thought I knew what those were, I eat enough of them), cache, and a lot of other terms that to me have double meaning. It was a long, long, journey from there to now.

Domain names, as it was explained to me, are somewhat like a piece of land, only in cyberspace (another word I had to learn). You own the name. Why they just don’t say so, I’ll never know. Everything has to be a mystery word!

So I purchased a domain name. Only I couldn’t name it what I really wanted, because it was already had a copy write. Days, weeks, of trying to come up with something original yet still pertaining to my business. It came to me in the dead of night. If I left out the letter “o” I will have hmewrk (wrkhme was already taken!) one step further….for you. Only I had to shorten that, why I am not really sure, my son said to do it so I did it! Thus was born my domain name.

Now the scary part… I had to register it. Registering your domain name is like copywriting your articles, or ideas. But how did I do that? I had help in the form of a group of people who have made my life easier…no not my children…TOPS. I happened on their forum one day while surfing the net. (I am learning the jargon) I found a group of people like myself who did not grow up with the Internet, but are making a living on the Internet. I could ask questions and not feel stupid. OK I admit I did feel stupid on a few of my more bizarre questions, but they were always answered. Sometimes with a lot of humor, more often than not with honesty.

I have my domain name; I’ve registered with a hosting company. NOW I NEED A WEBSITE!!!! Again back to TOPS. Most everyone there suggested NVU. Why? I asked. Because it is an editor, you don’t have to know html code. HTML? Oh, goodie. A new word! It was explained to me by my son, who is now my favorite although that can change daily, that this is the language the computer understands when it is looking something up. Shorthand for the computer: I took shorthand in college, way back, I understand.

Before I knew it I was building a website like an expert (that’s another article I wrote). I was even writing HTML. I published my first website, only one page, but it was a website. I have since added to the site with other pages and linked (I am beginning to love this computer speak) them together.

So to answer the question: What good is a website? Well besides the satisfaction of proving to your peers and family that you do know something about the Internet, you have a workable page that you can alter to fit your needs for advertising whatever business or businesses in which you are involved. Most of your major search engines will not advertise the generic websites you get from your companies, so you now have a website to promote and to get your business on the web. You can advertise your webpage, with your content, your ideas, and have the satisfaction of knowing that you can do it. Once this hurtle is taken Internet Marketing is your next hurtle!

On to the next hurdle!
Nancy Kraska

http://www.hmewrk4u.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nancy_Kraska

10 Things To Know About Your Domain Name

There is an entire industry that does nothing except buy and resell expired domain names, and most of their inventory comes from grabbing the expired domain names of businesses just like yours.

Knowing these ten items below could save you hours of time & aggravation, and save your businesses hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

These are, in my opinion, the ten things you absolutely must know about your company domain name…

Domain registrar company name – This is the company that your domain was purchased from. The registrars website is the only place you can update or renew any domain information – look this up at http://www.betterwhois.com and type in your domain name, then a confirmation code you’ll be provided. Instantly, you’ll be given the name of your registrar.

Domain registrar username and password – Wherever your domain was registered, there is a user name and password required make any changes. This username and password is crucial for you to know.

After determining the registrar, visit their website and attempt to log in. If you don’t know the login and account name, you’re going to have to contact them, either by phone or by email.

Domain registrant – Normally, the business owner is the registrant. But, whoever possesses the registrar username and password is effectively in control of the domain.

The registrant is the legal owner, but many companies find out too late that they’re not the registrants of their own domain names! Often, it is an ex-employee, or the web hosting or design company they hired to create the website.

This leaves the site owner out in the cold if they ever want to make hosting or design changes. Your initial search at http://www.betterwhois.com will also show this information below the name of the registrAR.

Domain registrant contact information – The contact information of the registrant MUST be kept current at the website of the registrar. If you register a domain name and then change your email address or ISP, you will never be notified that your domain name is expiring, and you will lose your domain name.

Verify the registrant contact information at the registrar’s website. This is how most domain names are lost. When the expiration date comes up, the registrar attempts to notify the registrant. If there’s no response, then you lose it.

Domain Expiration Date – For obvious reasons, you should be well aware of when your domain name is set to expire. There are vultures perched on every tree branch waiting to pounce on your expired domain name, then try to sell it back to the rightful owner at 20, 50, or even 100 or 1000 times the actual cost.

Domain “Locked Status” – New domain name registrations are “locked” by default at the registrar. This means no changes can take place without an email notification getting sent to the registrar. If you’ve had your domain for a couple of years, your registrar may not have your domain name locked. Check this at your registrant website.

Your Web host - It’s hard to believe, but many businesses faced with the loss of a key employee don’t even know who is hosting their website. To determine your webhost, do the following”

1. Use http://www.betterwhois.com to determine your “Name Server” settings

2. Visit DNS Stuff and use the search box under “DNS Lookup”, (selecting “NS” from the dropdown box) to search for one of your Name Server settings. Just type in the domain name, without the first prefix, which is usually NS.

3. This should give you the name of the domain that owns your name servers. In many cases it will match, but in some cases, it will be another domain name.

4. After you have the Name Server owners domain name, just visit that site to get their contact information.

FTP Username and password of your domain – Not only is it important to know the company that’s hosting your domain, but you should also know their phone number, email, and their website. However, to make any changes to your website, you need to know your FTP address, your FTP user name, and your FTP password.

This information is to be guarded closely, and should always be changed after any key employee or subcontractor leaves your employment.

Domain control panel access - This is provided by your web host for convenience, and it’s where you would add or remove any email addresses, mailing lists, FTP users, or subdomains to your current domain.

Complete control of everything in your website starts here, and the username and password for the control panel should also be held close, and distributed only on a “need to know” basis.

Website Visitor Statistics - Only the most antiquated web hosts don’t offer free comprehensive reporting on your site visitors. Amazingly, many business owners aren’t even aware that they exist, or have no idea of the wealth of knowledge that they hold. Contact your webhost, and find out where and how you access your site statistics and give them a look.

Some Definitions:

Domain name - This is your url or your “address” on the web. www.domainname.com

Registrant - This is the legal owner of any domain name. Contrary to popular belief, this can is not always the business owner or company that is using the domain name

Registrar - This is an online service for registering domain names. There are dozens, perhaps even hundreds of registrars to choose from, and prices range from $7 to $30 per year, per domain name.

How devastated would you be if you lost your domain name and all of your company email addresses? Not a month goes by that I don’t encounter yet another business that got caught with their pants down… Don’t you be next!

Find out the answers to these ten items, fill them out on a worksheet, and keep it safe for future reference. You never know when you’ll need it.

Scott Hendison is an internet consultant that specializes in search engine optimization and internet marketing. He has written over 100 articles that are available on his website. He has also developed a tutorial area for beginning search engine optimization, at 'SEO101'

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Hendison

Is That Domain What You Think It is?

Apart from the standard domains such as .com, .org, and .net, a number of other domains appear to be advertised world wide or in select localities that are not always what they seem to be.

Of course there are all of the standard country code domains that have been allocated to each country of the world for their own exclusive use. Some of the smaller countries have decided to raise money by selling the use of their domain for more general purposes or for specific purposes other than what was intended when the domain was allocated to them. The original purpose of the domain was to provide country specific sub-domains to residents of the country concerned. As the domain has been sold for other purposes, it is of course not available for its original purpose. There is however nothing to stop a new government in any of those countries from deciding to recover the domain for its original purpose and anyone who has purchased a sub-domain in one of these domains would then find themselves having to change the address of their web site.

Examples of domains where this applies include .cc (Cocos Keeling Islands), .cx (Christmas Island), .la (Laos), and .tv (Tuvala). Should you aquire a sub-domain in these or any of the other country domains that have been made available for a different use than originally intended then you need to be aware that you may lose the sub-domain should the country concerned change their mind about how their domain will be used.

Even worse than the above are "domains" issued by private companies. The official list of domains including the .com, .edu, .net, .org, etc. the country specific domains, and a number of new domains that are just starting up (eg. .biz and .info) are issued by an international body responsible for control of naming on the internet. These domains are registered with the master address tables on the net and are therefore accessible to everyone with internet access. "Domains" issued by private companies are not loaded in these master lookup tables and require the addition of a plug-in module usually at each ISP (or on each individual computer where the ISP hasn't installed the plug-in) in order that such domains be able to be translated into addresses. This means that only those internet users using such ISPs as have installed the appropriate plug-in have access to these "domains". Also, as these are issued by a private company, you are relying on the continued operation of that company for the continued existance of your domain name. One example of a company selling such "domains" is New.net who have issued many such domains eg. .shop, .xxx

I am not by any means suggesting that you should not go ahead and purchase a sub-domain of any of the domains that I have mentioned (or any of the many othe similar ones). All that I am suggesting is that you do a little research prior to your sub-domain purchase so that you know exactly where you stand. The benefits to you of having one of these domains rather than one of the more usual ones may by far outway the possible future problems that such a choice may have. The final decision is up to you.

Stephen Chapman runs a computer help website at http://www.felgall.com/

Internet design/development ebooks and software at http://members.felgall.com/

Javascript help at http://javascript.about.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_Chapman

Electronic Newsletters - Building a Personal Marketing Database

Having a free newsletter or eZine is an essential marketing tool for any business, individual, or organization. Upon first consideration, it may seem like a third-rate marketing ploy, or not worth the hassle to maintain. However, when you create a newsletter, you not only provide your subscribers with valuable information, you also create a mechanism to reach out and touch your subscribers every month or week, or any time period of your choosing.

Everyone who receives your eZine is a potential customer. Whether you are selling your services or products, each newsletter is an opportunity to generate revenue. It is also a chance to increase recognition and grow your business.

And the reason it’s free? You want as many names in your database as you can get. In order for someone to give you their valuable, personal information, you need to provide them with something equally valuable in return. Also, if you ask people to pay for your newsletter, some may if they perceive significant value above and beyond the fee, but most will just move on to someone who will give them the equivalent information for free.

Your eZine can be created in either plain text or HTML (HyperText Markup Language) formats, or both. HTML is the same code that is used to create web pages, so it allows you to incorporate design elements such as colors, graphics, photos, and links in your eZine. At one point, plain text vs. HTML format for newsletters was a highly debated topic and the vote was pretty evenly split. With the advancement of technology, such as increased storage capacity in inboxes, this is no longer such a pressing issue; however, there are a couple of things to know.

First and foremost, you want your readers to be able to read your newsletter. There are a couple of great websites that will help you manage and send out your newsletter with this priority in mind; I use Aweber (http://www.aweber.com). This site sends out both types and then the receiver’s email software chooses which format will be the most readable. However, if you cannot send out both, there are certain advantages and disadvantages to either type.

Text: Text documents are the easiest to read because all email servers can receive them. They also are less likely to be caught in spam filters, so you can be sure that your subscribers are receiving your newsletter (see tip 9 for more information on spamming). However, you have to worry about “wrapping” the text so that it looks the same in everyone’s inbox. And, you can only work with text color to make your content and product presentations flashy and visually exciting and interesting.

HTML: As noted above, an eZine in HTML format will display like a web page. However, not all email programs will be able to read it properly. While the technology has improved, many people still own older machines that cannot decipher HTML embedded in an email. Also, the spam rating for this type of newsletter is significantly higher than it is for a text document, so there’s a chance it may end up in your readers’ spam folders. The possibilities for design, color-scheme, and product placement are endless, and usually make it worth your time to explore this option.

Best of both worlds: Another option for format is to send out a plain text message that simply introduces that issue of your eZine, then provides a live link to the full version online, which can include as many graphics and media as you want. This ensures that your email will get through, but also allows you to take full advantage of online resources. Keep in mind, however, that not all readers will be willing to click out of the message to another web page. Consider what’s best for your readers.

Content

It is essential that you take your newsletter or eZine seriously and create high-value content. If you deliver sub-par information, you will quickly lose subscribers. At the same time, however, don’t overwhelm your readers with too much information, even good information. Short is better than long. Many people are inundated with emails every day; they are not going to take the time to read your weekly novel. If you can condense your message into three really pithy paragraphs and deliver great value to your reader, you are golden.

Ideal target: Try limiting each issue of your eZine to 350 words of text. This will fit on most viewers’ screens, without having to scroll down. Subscribers really appreciate having all the content at their immediate view.

Once you’ve struck this balance and engaged your readers, you can then use your content to promote your products, speaking engagements, or your media placements. If you can incorporate a plug for your latest eBook, mp3, or any other item into your newsletter, you will sell infinitely more merchandise. You will do best if you can make a connection between the message you are sending and the product you are presenting. If your message is all about reading body language and you can say, “For more about the subtle messages you send with your body language, check out my new eBook on …” By giving readers a bit of useful information, you are creating an interest in the specific topic, and you can build on that by immediately offering to expand their knowledge of the topic with a related product.

The best balance: While each issue of your eZine is a great marketing tool, there’s good reason to give your readers a break from promotions once in awhile. They’ll surely appreciate the occasional reminder that you are providing a worthwhile service outside of your product plugs, and that might make them even more willing to purchase a product the next time. A good balance is a 3:1 ratio of issues without and with product plugs.

Sell Your Products

Having products to sell and incorporating them into your eZine are obviously a great way to generate income and make your newsletter profitable. I currently make on average about $8,000 a month from products people buy off of my newsletter. That’s a lot of money! I’ve been able to accomplish this by taking the time to create 70 pieces of merchandise. These range from eBooks and mp3s to assessments and soft-cover books. I am also in the process of creating Podcasts and video downloads to complete my range of media offerings.

Explore all of your options. Your products do not have to be tangible; they can be electronic. Things like eBooks and mp3s are great items because there are no manufacturing, distributing, or shipping costs. Once you pay to create the file, that’s it. It’s pure profit!

Also, your products should be as specific as possible. If your newsletter is on a broad topic, such as cooking, create products that address specific issues. You may have “how to grill the perfect steak,” or “when a vegetarian menu is your best option,” or “the top 25 chocolate recipes.” By breaking down your expertise into specific titles that solve a certain problem or meet a specific need, you will be able to easily generate products and start earning money off of your “free” newsletter.

In order to sell products in your eZine, you will need some type of online shopping cart to process the transactions. Most of these systems have the capability to automatically handle the purchase and distribution of eProducts such as mp3s and eBooks (I use AutomatedShoppingCarts.com). Another useful feature called “Ad-Tracking” allows you to track which purchases were made from each eZine so you can monitor your most and least effective product sales copy. Ad-Tracking also allows you to do “split testing,” which enables you to track the results of several versions of sales copy for the same product. This process will let you see which sales copy is the most effective at generating sales. By dividing your web traffic for a product between several destination pages, each with different sales copy, you will be able to easily determine which page is performing best. There are also software programs available to help you test and optimize your online ads.

Promotional Content

There are three approaches to newsletter content: the type that exists to sell products, the type that exists to promote the author, and the type that purely gives information.

Obviously, if you have a lot of products and are using your newsletter to generate income, the first option is the best. However, make sure that the content of your newsletter doesn’t suffer. You are still providing your readers a service and feeding them valuable content. If your content suffers because you are trying too hard to sell your products, you will lose subscribers and ultimately lose money.

If you are a speaker, author, consultant, personal coach, or expert who wants to gain recognition, you should promote yourself in your newsletter. You should talk about what you’ve been doing, your recent articles and media mentions, your speaking engagements, problems you have helped your clients solve, opportunities you have helped your clients seize, and how potential clients can contact you. After all, there is no better product than yourself, so you need to market your services as effectively as possible.

If you don’t like the idea of using your newsletter as a promotional device, the solely informational option is probably what you’ll choose. Companies can use newsletters to educate customers on effective product usage or share ideas from other customers. While your newsletter is still valuable as a database generator, I would advise against abstaining from all promotional copy. If you are going to take the time to create a newsletter, you want it to work for you as much as it can. There is always a way to find a balance between maintaining the integrity of your newsletter and either promoting yourself or your new project/product.

Auto Responder vs. Here & Now Tips

There are two different types of newsletter formats, the auto responder and the Here & Now time sensitive tip.

Auto-responders (or evergreen eZines) are a series of tips or eZines that are created in advance and sent out at set intervals (weekly, monthly, etc). First, you must write several tips or newsletters that you put into a reserve database of eZines. When someone subscribes to your newsletter or tip series, they receive issue #1. Consequently, if person A signed up for your weekly tip a year ago and person B signed up yesterday, person A would be on tip #50, while person B would only be on tip #1. This is a great system if you do not want to create a new newsletter every month or week. Once you write enough tips, you can sit back and wait as your subscriber network reads through them all. However, you need to monitor your newsletters and subscribers carefully. Once your readers start to catch up on the eZines you’ve already written, you need to create more. The downside of this system is that you cannot make your tips relevant to items in the breaking news or seasonal happenings. The topics need to be able to stand on their own.

The Here & Now time sensitive tip is an eZine you write each week or month. If you enjoy relating your advice to current events, holidays, or seasons, or just like writing a newsletter every so often, this is the best option for you. It is also a great way to promote your speaking engagements, current articles, or recent sightings to keep your readers up-to-date on your activities. If you are just starting out and don’t have a lot of products to promote, this might be your best option because it allows you to create visibility for your marketing efforts before you have product.

The Layout

Laying out your newsletter is extremely important. You have many more options with HTML, which makes your eZine display like a web page, than you do with plain text. However, if you are confined to text, play with color, spacing, and font to be as creative as possible.

In HTML, it is important to create continuity between your website and the newsletter. If you have a logo, a slogan, or any type of branding on your website, make sure that it is also on your newsletter. I am a proponent of creating a column that takes up one third of the page either on the left or right side. While your content goes in the middle two-thirds of the page, this side column is purely promotional. You can use this space to write catchy copy about yourself and your products or services. Or, you can create buttons that make it easy for people to buy merchandise directly from your eZine. But most importantly, the best way to promote your products and your services is to make your newsletter as visually interesting as possible. Use of color, pictures, and design will entice people to buy and help them remember you.

HTML layout also enables you to create hyperlinks within your message to pages on your website, particularly your shopping cart. (You can also do this in plain text, but it is clunky and intimidating.) All the Stuff That Goes on the Bottom

There are a couple of items that need to be included in every newsletter, regardless of its intended use. Most important is an easy way for your readers to subscribe and unsubscribe. Most newsletter service providers insert this link automatically and make it user-friendly.

You also need:

•A link to update contact information. If your subscriber is changing email addresses, make it easy for them to keep subscribing to your eZine.

•A phrase about the author, i.e. “Check out Dr. Alessandra’s website at …” to keep referring your readers back to your site and products.

•A copyright notice—for your own protection.

•A link that they can click on if they want to share the newsletter with their friends.

•If you are a speaker or author, contact information where interested parties can book you for a speaking engagement.

•A privacy policy.

•A legal disclaimer.

Don’t Spam!

Every newsletter or eZine you send out gets rated by the recipient’s spam filter, and could, if you’re not careful, end up in their spam folder! You want to keep this rating as low as possible. To do this, be conscious of your word choice, color scheme, and background template. Certain words, like “free” or “guarantee,” and certain non-web colors or excessive use of graphics trigger spam alerts. Also, limit your database to people who have signed up to receive your newsletter and to those who you’ve done business with. By sending mail to parties who have “opted in,” you will be less likely to be flagged as a spammer.

But why care about spamming?

Well, there are a couple of reasons. First, if your message has a high spam rating, it will never make it to your subscribers’ inboxes. Many eZine systems allow you to monitor what percentage of your emails is actually getting through. It is a good idea to keep on top of these stats. A newsletter is worthless if your readers aren’t reading it. Secondly, there are anti-spam laws in place, both on the federal and state levels. While they aren’t generally enforced unless the violation is egregious, just being aware of these laws is essential.

The federal anti-spam law, called the CAN-SPAM Act, was passed by Congress in 2003. It contains several important provisions that you should know about:

•Your email's "From," "To," and routing information – including the originating domain name and email address – must be accurate and identify the person who initiated the email.

•The subject line cannot mislead the recipient about the contents or subject matter of the message.

•You must not send to anyone unless they “opted-in” to your list by signing up or you have an existing business relationship with them.

•You must provide recipients with a mechanism to “opt-out” of receiving future emails.

•Each violation is subject to fines of up to $11,000.

But most importantly, if you consistently spam your subscribers, the ISP (e.g., AOL, Comcast, etc.) can block your domain name. These big ISPs provide their users with spam-flagging tools. If enough people flag your newsletter as spam, these providers will block EVERYTHING you send. That means that no one from AOL will be able to receive newsletters, emails, or anything else from you. And, unlike the spam legislation, these ISP providers monitor spam very closely because they want to keep their subscribers happy. And if they do decide to block you, there is no warning; they can just flip the switch. Once blocked, it is also extremely difficult to get unblocked, and you must provide the ISP with evidence that you are not in fact a spammer.

Monetizing Your List

Deciding to offer access to your subscriber base to someone else, or sell your list of subscribers, is a slippery slope that will take you down a path of consumerism that may or may not hurt your business. Selling your list to another vendor may result in customer dissatisfaction, spam issues, and most importantly, loss of subscribers. I wouldn’t do it.

However, you can partner with another vendor or exchange your list with someone in a data-share arrangement. If someone has a product that you think would benefit your customers, you can make an arrangement with the seller to give him or her access to your list of subscribers. You can put an advertisement in your newsletter and tie your content to this other product or service. However, make sure that the product you are promoting is not, in any way, in competition with your products or services. Also, you should create an agreement with the other vendors with whom you are exchanging marketing lists so that they promote your products and services in their newsletters. This type of agreement, or exchange of lists, is a great way to expand your marketing reach and also maintain the integrity of your newsletter and the loyalty of your readers.

Keep in mind that a list exchange, or joint venture as it’s sometimes called, is not the same as selling your list. You don’t give up control of the information in your database; you simply agree to mail them your list without giving them access to your actual database. They only get access to your list through you.

Another important issue to keep in mind is to make sure that the person who you are exchanging lists with has a list that’s comparable to yours in some way. Size can matter; if you have a list of 5,000 subscribers, it’s not usually a good idea to exchange your list with someone who only has 1,000. Sometimes, however, the content of the list is more important than its size. If the list contains information on the best 1,000 people out there to whom you wouldn’t otherwise have access, then that would be a good deal. Try to keep the exchange even and in mutual benefit to both parties. This way, your readers get the benefit of exposure to new information, and you get the benefit of expanding your reach through all of your hard work on your newsletters!

Dr. Tony Alessandra, PhD, CSP, CPAE Building Customers, Relationships, and the Bottom Line

Dr. Tony Alessandra helps companies achieve market dominance through specific strategies designed to outmarket, outsell, and outservice the competition.

Dr. Alessandra has a street-wise, college-smart perspective on business, having realized success as former a graduate professor of marketing, entrepreneur, business author and keynote speaker. He earned his BBA, MBA and PhD, all in Marketing, from the University of Notre Dame, the University of Connecticut, and Georgia State University, respectively.

Dr. Tony Alessandra is president of AssessmentBusinessCenter.com, a company that offers online 360º assessments; Chairman of BrainX.com, a company that created the first Online Learning Mastery System™; and is the founding partner of Platinum Rule Group, a company that provides corporate training and consulting based on The Platinum Rule®.

This article is from 49 Marketing Secrets (THAT WORK) to Grow Sales http://www.marketingsecrets.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Alessandra

Why Are The Domain Rates So Different? What Should I Look Out For?

If you have ever registered a domain and done some research before doing so, you would have wondered as to why domain name registration rates differ so widely across the internet.

Actually, Domain names are registered by companies called Registrars. These are literally like the Registrars we are aware of in real life and maintain a list of domain names as well as register new ones. These Registrars operate through their resellers, who in turn have web sites where you can register your domains. These resellers pay a fixed flat fee per domain name to their registrar, but they have the liberty of charging their clients any rate they wish to.

However, each reseller and each registrar have their understanding, as to what rate the reseller pays the registrar for each domain. An important factor is how many domains the reseller sells, this determines his wholesale price. Thus, virtually every site on the internet has a different rate of registering and transferring domain names.

However, some are worth the extra mullah. Besides registering the domain they provide you with features like domain forwarding, temporary “site under construction” page hosting, control panels, domain-lock facility etc.

Today the cost of domains has fallen drastically. Certain tld (Top level Domains) such as .info sell for as low as a $1! But, whatever may be the price, make sure that the website or company you purchase from is ICANN certified and offers you the following:

1) Control Panel: This is absolutely essential for it allows you to change and control various aspects of your domain such as nameservers, contact details etc.

2) Domain Lock: This facility allows you to a lock your domain to the registrar so nobody can hijack your domain.

3) Managed DNS: This is an advanced but highly useful utility that allows you to modify your MX (mail exchange), A, CNAME and SOA entries. This is useful when you want to have different mail servers than your website or if you want to setup sub-domains etc.

You can get all the above facilities at the Sigel WebSolutions WebStore.

Gautamm Mehra is a young entrepreneur and IT consultant. He was introduced to computers in 1989 and has since than had a passion for everything digital. You can write to him at gautam [dot] mail [at] gmail [dot] com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gautamm_Mehra

The ‘Website’ CHECKLIST : Domains, Hosting, Web Design

This article is meant to all who already have a website or who propose to buy it. Website – the term comprises three things : Domain, Hosting (Web space) & Web Design

There are numerous company offering these services. I am here to discuss few points with regards to top and essential things you need to have a thorough check when you get a WEBSITE thru one of these companies.

Now to the article,

Every day, I get few phone calls of this sort :

* Sir, My domain expires in next few days, but the company which registered it is out of business, Please RENEW it”
* Sir, I want to transfer the domain to your server but I don’t have the domain control panel”
* Dear Support Team, The domain is registered thru ‘X’ and his name is listed as REGISTRANT and Admin Contact, help me”
* I have a website since 1998 but I am not getting any enquiries thru it. So what’s the point in having it renewed ? “
* My website is down most of the time, can you do anything on it? “

If you look at the above, you could observe the common problem. Thus, a checklist is required for any WEBSITE. Lets see one by one :

Domain NAME Registration : CHECKLIST

Once your domain is registered, check these things :

1. Is the DOMAIN NAME Registered with an ICANN Accredited Registrar ? (Visit : www.icann.org)
2. Does the REGISTRANT NAME and ADMINSTRATIVE CONTACT show your name/email ?
3. Did the Domain Registration Service Provider give you the Domain CONTROL PANEL with username / password to manage/modify name servers & contact details in real-time ?
4. Do you have the OPTION to get REMINDERS at the time of RENEWAL, well in advance ?

Web Hosting (Web space) : CHECKLIST

1. Support, Support, Support – is the KEY issue when it comes to Hosting. Check the response time of the Service Provider before making an option.
2. How skilled the technical persons are ? Just put in few queries and see how they respond ?
3. Get a quick look at the Service Provider Website and make sure its professional looking with user friendly navigation and layout.
4. Check if they have listed TESTIMONIALS, list of sites hosted with them, discount options for bulk purchase, payment modes. Also make sure there are NO Hidden charges. The key part to look is : the BANDWIDTH offered for each hosting plan.
5. Multiple Domains in single hosting space. This is an added advantage and saves your money. You can ask for this option if not provided.
6. Make a deep study on the Hosting Plan you choose. Check all the essential features are provided. To name a few, POP3 mails, SMTP support, FTP Account, Control Panel, Web mail, Spam Controller, Antivirus, Web Statistics.

Website Design : CHECKLIST

1. Does the website designer provide you with free minor updates or for a nominal fee on a yearly contract basis ?
2. Is the website professional looking and appeals to the global audience ?
3. It has been 3 months since your launch and there is NO fruitful enquiries and you are UPSET. Wait…..go to : www.google.com and put your website name and click search. Does it show up anywhere in the results ?
4. Does the website designer provided you with monitoring service ?
5. Does the website take lot of time to load. Make sure it loads faster even on slow connections. Too much of Flashy animations, bigger size jpegs are NOT an option for your site. CONTENT is the King. Make sure your website ‘delivers’.

The above is just a tip of the iceberg. I have compiled the most essential facts of a WEBSITE Registration, Hosting and Web Design.

Do write to me with your comments and views. My email : siva@aalphanet.com

Teeyes Siva
Sales Head – Aalphanet.com

About The Author

Teeyes Siva heads the Sales Operations @ aalpha NET (www.aalphanet.com) , India’s leading domain name registration, web hosting service provider. He can be reached @ siva@aalphanet.com or 00 91 452 3105858.

Domain Name and Web Hosting Hell

Does GoDaddy really suck?

I am in the process of registering more and more domain names so it seems natural to look for the best pricing deal.

Registering multiple domain names can add up quickly, especially if you register both the NoDashVersion.com and Dashed-Version.com names.

Each domain name represents a new site concept which will in most cases involve the selection of a web hosting plan.

It also makes sense to pay a little less for web hosting right? After all, all these new projects add up.

How much do you really save?

The answer to this question depends on how much value we place on our time, and our ability to determine what other software tools are required to run the type of website we have in mind.

In other words, if we think that our time is valuable, we will not mind investing an extra $50-$400 per project per year, especially if there is a lot of value added services and software tools included in the price.

What's the point in saving 50 bucks a year on some bare-bones web hosting if our time gets wasted with support issues or we need to buy additional products and services in order to run our site effectively?

Example of Web Hosting Hell:
http://www.godaddysux.com/web_hosting_hell.html

I do not know about you, but after I read one of these bad web hosting reviews, I start to become very cautious about that company. In this case, it is GoDaddy.

Research your new Web Host or Domain Name registrar

I remembered that GoDaddy has been mentioned a number of times in some of the Internet Marketing courses and SEO books that I own, so I decided to check GoDaddy out. By check them out, I do not mean just visit their web site, swallow their sales pitch and click through to the checkout patting myself on the back for a job well done.

I did a search at Google.com for the term godaddy review, and discovered some interesting results.

After reading a few of the results, I decided to search for the term "do not use godaddy" (this string was searched enclosed with "inverted commas"), and discovered even more negative feedback not only about their web hosting services but also their domain name registration and associated services.

Is it all about Price?

No way. Do we *really* save? On one hand it looks like a saving but on the other hand the saving can be offset by extra costs elsewhere.

As a result of this little study, I have no desire at this time to change my domain name registrar or my two web hosting companies that I use just to save a few bucks.

At the moment, I enjoy the following benefits from my web hosts and domain name registrar:

* Everything works to my satisfaction 99.99% of the time
* Very little support needed in the first place
* Support queries attended to quickly
* Support queries always solved to my satisfaction
* I never suffer from emotional disturbance as a result of dealing with rude support staff
* I am never accused of being the problem

Example of excellent support

I created a new directory and installed a PHP script on one of my sites. All the file permissions were set correctly and the files were uploaded in the correct format.

So I edited the HTML user interfaces and tried to upload them to this new directory. For some reason I was denied access to this new directory. Permission Denied!

I emailed my web host with a description of the problem and within a few hours my web host sent me an email saying that the problem has been fixed and that I can now proceed to upload into that directory. Wow!

A good Web Hosting and Domain Name service is worth it's weight in Gold

Who really wants unnecessary dramas with web hosting and domain name registrars? Nobody does! (except those that cannot survive one day without chaos)

The peace of mind for a few extra bucks a year buys is priceless.

Besides, even if I select some of the platinum (no extras to buy) web hosting deals out there, it still only costs about 10-30 bucks a week to run a business on the Internet.

Imagine that, for a few extra bucks, I need not worry about: Content Management Software, web design, domain name registrations, expensive keyword research and SEO tools, search engine rankings, and the list goes on and adds up *real* quick.

Compare this to a regular bricks and mortar business where you pay thousands a month in rental fees just for a bit of floor space.

Sometimes it pays to do the sums. It might *appear* to cost more money at first, but does it really cost more after you calculate the out-going dollars over the whole year?

When I was in the process of building my first web site, I would not have had the capacity to answer that question because I had no experience. But you know that old saying:

"When someone with experience meets someone with money, the one with the experience ends up with the money and the one who had the money, ends up with an experience"

As a result, I have ended up spending thousands of dollars on eBooks, software, scripts, courses, private memberships, DVDs, VCDs, MP3s in an attempt to complete the Online Marketing mystery. This is all now part of my experience.

Conclusion

When we go looking to buy a car or a house, we do not base our decision on price alone. Otherwise we would all be driving around in smokey old $200 bombs. We look for features which we then translate in some way to benefits.

So why waste time looking for cheap-as-chips deals for the very important job of setting up an Online Business? We would do much better to look beyond price when buying services on the Internet.

Copyright 2004 Ed Zivkovic

About The Author

The author, Ed Zivkovic is based on the Gold Coast in Australia.

Contact details are available at his web site along with many helpful webmaster articles: http://www.ezau.com

Without Multiple Domain Hosting, Your Web Host Is Making You A Fool!

If your web host only allows you to host 1 domain name with 1 hosting account, please read on to learn why you have been taken advantage by your web host!

Also, if you own multiple websites and you are hosting each of them with a different hosting account, you are paying too much! You can actually host all your websites into one single hosting account and save a lot of money. This type of hosting account is called “multiple domain hosting” account, which just get popular recently.

The web hosting industries are now switching to the next important trend. Many web hosts have started to offer multiple domain hosting account. What that means is that you can host multiple websites under 1 hosting account! You don't need to pay for a full account if you want to host more websites.

This is a very important trend because nowadays, most web hosts are offering incredible amount of disk space and bandwidth with their hosting account. Unfortunately, the client is only allowed to host one website with each giant hosting account. And the reality is that most clients don't even use up to 10% of their disk space and bandwidth!

If you already have a hosting account, think about it, how much percentage of the disk space and bandwidth are you utilizing now?

I strongly believe that these web hosts are throwing in the big offer as a marketing strategy to attract the consumers by exploiting consumers 'the more the better' mindset. Consumers don't realize that the 'large space' and 'large bandwidth' is practically useless, as they will probably never use most of the 'advertised' resources. They are simply being lured into the marketing gimmicks.

However, the story is rewritten when many web hosts begin to offer multiple domain hosting account. They allow you to host a few domain names under the same hosting account without the need to pay for more. These add-on domains that are hosted under the same hosting account actually shared the same disk space and bandwidth of the main hosting account. This way, you can fully utilize your allocated resources and receive full value of your invested money.

I don't need to be an oracle to predict that sooner or later, most other web hosts, including those big web hosting companies will have to follow the trend by offering multiple domain hosting accounts. It's the future of web hosting as domain names are very cheap nowadays and many webmasters will usually want to have more than one website.

When the traditional '1 domain per account' web hosts are not getting the same amount of sales they are getting today, they will have to consider offering multiple domain hosting accounts. If they don't keep up with the trend, they will be eliminated.

About The Author

James Clark has used more than 30 different web hosts. If you do not want to risk your business by picking the wrong web host, visit his website now to find out the best web hosting companies you can trust.

http://www.10-cheapwebhosting.com/

URL Forwarding: A Simple Way to Obtain Free Web/Blog Hosting Using Your Own Domain Name

URL forwarding is a very powerful, almost magical, feature that enables your domain name to be transparently redirected to any free web/blog hosting service of your choice. This means, that visitors to your site only see your domain name professionally shown in the URL rather than the long computerized URL name automatically generated by the free hosting site software.

For example:

Before using URL Forwarding, your web/blog URL may look like this-
www.freewebostingservices.org/freecustomer/mypages01/index.html

Once you have URL Forwarding in place however, your same web/blog URL will look like this-
www.mydomain.com

The basic idea behind this feature is to simply register a domain with a domain name registrar offering URL forwarding services, possibly for free, and then configure it to point to your free web or blog hosting space. You will find details on how to do so on the domain registrar website; although each registrar may have its own system to handle the procedure, the final result will be the same - your website or blog URL will appear to be hosted directly under your own domain name.

Note that proper URL forwarding is fully handled by the domain name registrar and is completely transparent for you and for your visitors. The average visitor and often the professional one will not be able to tell if your domain is using URL forwarding. An added benefit of using URL forwarding is that you will also be able to include your own metatags, keywords and title with your domain name before forwarding it; these increase your search engine visibility, boosting your site position towards the top.

If you are planning to register a domain name, and want the site to look as professional as possible, then using the URL forwarding (also known as web forwarding) feature offered by your domain registrar will make your website URL one that's easy for visitors to remember, and return too!

About The Author

This article was written by Marco Rinaudo. Marco is the CEO of Internet.bs Corp ( http://www.internet.bs ) an ICANN and EURid accredited domain name registrar providing domain registrations and URL Forwarding services.

Copyright information:

Reprints of this article are permitted if the above keyword links are left intact and point to Internet.bs Corp. ( http://www.internet.bs ) website.

3 Reasons to Secure Your Own Domain Name - Even if it means Buying Cheap Web Hosting Services

When starting an online business, you might be tempted to use one of those "free" web page hosting services. You should beware of these plans if you want to build a successful web business. Having your own domain name is extremely important - even if it means buying cheap web hosting services! Here are three solid reasons you should secure your own domain name.

1. Build Trust with Customers

When visitors arrive at your site, they want to know that your company is legitimate and that it is there to stay. With your own domain name you reveal that you are in it for the long haul. For the mere price of cheap web hosting through a virtual host, you can have your own domain name and site up and running for as little as $20 or less as an initial investment. Some low cost hosting packages are as low as $5 or $6 per month!

It's well worth the investment to establish your own domain name and pay a small monthly fee for cheap web hosting. When you gain the trust of visitors, it's much easier to turn them into paying customers.

2. Freedom in Your Web Design

With your own domain name, you have total freedom to design your site the way you want. Even virtual hosts that offer cheap web hosting will give you the freedom to use the type of web design that will work best for your business. If you need to use PHP in your web design, you can easily find a low cost web hosting package that offers PHP integration. If you need to add MySQL databases to your site, you can find web site hosting packages with this feature included.

Another reason you need freedom to design your site is so you can test different designs and presentations to see which gets the most response from your visitors. Even with cheap web hosting, you can test almost unlimited presentations any time you want!

3. Maximize Your Promotion Efforts

When you secure your own domain name, you have complete freedom in your promotions. Many search engines, directories and other promotional sites will frown at "free" hosted sites. When you use a free web page hosting service, your site pages are placed on a website along with many other types of businesses. The search engines will not recognize your site as being a unique entity. They might even lump your site into categories with other sites that are using the free service. This wounds your promotional efforts tremendously, and you end up wasting time and money.

You'll actually save money in the long run with your own domain hosting. By securing a domain name and taking advantage of cheap web hosting, you can promote your site to the fullest.

Even with cheap web hosting packages, you can still receive a wealth of features and benefits such as email accounts, auto responders, PHP and MySQL capabilities, password protected directories and even reseller hosting opportunities.

Use these tips to start building your web business today!

About The Author
Chris Robertson is a published author of Majon International. Majon International is one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing and internet advertising companies on the web. Visit their main business resource web site at: http://www.majon.com

To learn more about subjects like cheap web hosting please visit the web site at: http://www.avahost.net

For more information and informative related articles and links about this subject matter and content, please visit Majon's Internet directory: http://www.majon.com/directory/Internet

Why Are The Domain Rates So Different? What Should I Look Out For?

If you have ever registered a domain and done some research before doing so, you would have wondered as to why domain name registration rates differ so widely across the internet.

Actually, Domain names are registered by companies called Registrars. These are literally like the Registrars we are aware of in real life and maintain a list of domain names as well as register new ones. These Registrars operate through their resellers, who in turn have web sites where you can register your domains. These resellers pay a fixed flat fee per domain name to their registrar, but they have the liberty of charging their clients any rate they wish to.

However, each reseller and each registrar have their understanding, as to what rate the reseller pays the registrar for each domain. An important factor is how many domains the reseller sells, this determines his wholesale price. Thus, virtually every site on the internet has a different rate of registering and transferring domain names.

However, some are worth the extra mullah. Besides registering the domain they provide you with features like domain forwarding, temporary “site under construction” page hosting, control panels, domain-lock facility etc.

Today the cost of domains has fallen drastically. Certain tld (Top level Domains) such as .info sell for as low as a $1! But, whatever may be the price, make sure that the website or company you purchase from is ICANN certified and offers you the following:

1) Control Panel: This is absolutely essential for it allows you to change and control various aspects of your domain such as nameservers, contact details etc.

2) Domain Lock: This facility allows you to a lock your domain to the registrar so nobody can hijack your domain.

3) Managed DNS: This is an advanced but highly useful utility that allows you to modify your MX (mail exchange), A, CNAME and SOA entries. This is useful when you want to have different mail servers than your website or if you want to setup sub-domains etc.

You can get all the above facilities at the Sigel WebSolutions WebStore.

Gautamm Mehra is a young entrepreneur and IT consultant. He was introduced to computers in 1989 and has since than had a passion for everything digital. You can write to him at gautam [dot] mail [at] gmail [dot] com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gautamm_Mehra

Search Engine Ranking - Does A Keyword Rich Domain Name May Increase Your Search Engine Ranking?

The answer is probably ‘Yes’. A keyword rich domain does increase your search engine ranking. Hence, be careful what you call your domain – if it reflects what you are selling you will gain automatic visibility with the leading search engines.

How this works? Well, when you search with the help of your targeted keywords, the URL having the same keywords is identified immediately by the search engine and hence you get a higher ranking than you would have got otherwise. This is also true when other websites link to your site. Once again, the fact the exact keywords are figuring in the URL can make a small difference – but a positive one!

Keyword Rich Domain Is Not Enough!

Though this is a great help for new websites, it is not advisable for the already established dot coms to change the name of their website for a new keywords rich domain. In fact, keywords rich domain name is only one of the many factors that increase Search Engine Ranking (SER).

If you already have a nice search engine ranking , that means that you have already achieved the right balance of promotion and you should not disturb the equation.

The other great methods that can be used for SEO are content writing, blogs, RSS, article writing, link exchange, etc... You will need to choose and apply these methods to your website in order to increase your traffic.

These SEO methods along with a relevant keyword rich domain would indeed give you the desired results.

To Your Success!

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed my brand new guide to Search Engine Marketing Success. Discover The *Secret Formula* We've Used To Stay In Google's Top 3 Rankings For Over 3 Years For Some Of The Toughest Keywords Around (18 MILLION Competitors!)

Download it free here: Search Engine Marketing Success

Serge Daudelin

Affordable Search Engine Optimization Services.com

Serge Daudelin is a Internet Marketing Consultant & SEO Specialist who has written over 300 articles in print and 5 published ebooks. Serge is dedicated to helping others and offering the best information on how to make more money online.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Serge_Daudelin