After sending an email to my list, I got this message from one of my readers:
>My name is Andre. I run a site that promotes support and encouragement for those with genetic anomalies. As I am not a stranger with cold calls, I can easily go to a site and ask them to submit my link on theirs and they on mine. The only problem is that I don't get many answers.
Are you able to help with this? Thanks, --------------
Always happy to help others
I asked for more details in how the sites were contacted -he send me the details of the email he used to make the first contact:
-------------
>>I run a site called GendersInX.org I have been referred to your site through members who frequent your site and I wondered if you could put my link into yours.
GendersInX was conceived by a curiosity of different conditions such as Turner's syndrome, Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome and Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, more so the similarities we share amongst us. In any genetic anomaly it is easy to forget that we are human as well.
The site is upbeat, encouraging and informative, certainly that is what is needed at all times because when we turn off the computer, we are met with the world that we live with day to day. It would be preferable to look at that in a positive way and GendersInX aims towards that.
I invite you to look at the site and see if it fits in your site under the links, I will certainly put yours into mine once it has been accepted.
Thanks Andre Lorek
-------------
So, from the email, we can see he is looking to exchange links.
Lets look at the sites we should contact to exchange links first. I use this check list:
1. They have Page Rank -Page Rank is Googles way of saying that the site is trust worthy. Page Rank ranges from 0-10 with 10 being the highest.
The reason I would only exchange links with sites that have some PR is because it means they have done "something" to promote there site and it has been online a while- more likely to be around in the future.
2. The have a links page -Do they have a page or area with out going links on it?
3. They have a clear exchange links policy- This can be as simple as a note to please contact us here, to a detailed list of terms and conditions as to what sites they will and will not exchange links with.
So how do you find these sites? - someone smart said "There is plenty of traffic out there...just get in front of it".....so how a do we find sites that are specific to exchanging links. Here are a few:
www.DigitalAwol.com/links www.linkpartners.com/ www.linkalizer.com
I have been doing some work in the linkalizer.com area and have found it very easy to use- I have the Premium version- which I recommend as it does the hard work for you.
I have around 100 requests for exchanges pending (those wanting to exchange links with me) and am doing me best to get through them -doing an hour per day.
I have completed 32 exchanges in a few days- the system verifies the link back to you, and shows you the link on the other site.
Before you go over their I do recommend that you have a directory type system for exchanging links as it better for more content for your site (it creates more pages) and it makes your site look like a directory of resources.
Break the links down into pages of approx 20 (Google recommends 50, but I am on the cautious side)
The best way to run this is software based, installed on your web hosting, I use autolinks pro which has a great interface for adding sites, plus can manage anybody applying at your site.
You can see it running here:
http://www.DigitalAwol.com/links
Autolinks is a paid program, and really well priced- more details and full demo here: Autolinkspro.com
With this type of program, make sure you have it installed so it forms a normal looking part of the site, not something of a "Add on".
So now are you ready to ask for links?....not quite. Have you every been to a online discussion forum to find only a few discussions going on? If it were a room it would echo....
You need to avoid those you are looking to exchange links to arrive at the site and see it empty...so place a few links in each area- at least 5 to make sure it looks active- they don't have to be exchanged links, just helpful sites.
Ok now you are ready....to ask for links. Once you have found a site that you want to exchange links.
In Andres approach above, what he did was tell the owner all about his own website and it doing this, he missed a vital point- the WIIFM -The webmaster reads an email (or a website) and is thinking- what's in it for me? (W I I F M)
Why should I take an action?
So the first action you need to take is put a link to the owners site FIRST and then contact him something like this:
----------- Hi, I just visited you site and I can see you have done a lot of work and have great content- I especially like the information on ( a subject) -very helpful. Well done!
My website is on a similar subject, but not competing. I can see my visitors would benefit from your content and I have linked to you here:
http://www.yoursite.com/page.htm
Please let me know if you are happy to exchange links. My details are below
Best Regards (your name) http://www.yoursite.com/
(name of site) ---------------
This is the short version, but you get the idea. You could include the html you want him to link to you and a link to a page on your site with the details.
If you don't here from them in a week- you can send a follow up, saying that you know that sometimes email goes missing and asking if they got the message and insert a copy of the previous message.
If you still don't here from them - delete the link and carry on. With any marketing, it is a numbers game - The real key to exchanging link is simply focused effort.
Google has said that reciprocal links do count however to not be "excessive" .
To what exactly excessive is - I use this concept: don't exchange links with everybody and every subject.
I prefer to avoid subject like gambling, dating - anything that may not be enjoyed by my visitors.
I guess the most important thing to ask is does it work?
On one site which I been very active in only exchanging links it has increased 4 places in the last 24 hours- No other promotion has been done so I can presume its starting to have some effect.
Inch by Inch with search engine ranking -It works if you do ;)
Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com
About the Author:
Paul Easton is an SEO Training teacher, and the owner of SEOTrainingLive.com, A site for helping business owners make sense of SEO natural results. You can easily get A Free SEO Training Course to your website by visitin
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Here is a screen shot of one of the 4 column blogger templates you can found at 4 Column Templates For Blogger.
You can find more free four column Blogger templates when you visit the blog.
Here's a link to my previous post on free three column Blogger templates.
I hope that you'll find the links useful. The links and posts on Free Blogger templates will continue to grow over the coming days as I search for more websites or blogs that offers free Blogger templates. If you know of a website or a blog that offers free Blogger templates that hasn't been included on my list, please inform me through my email - bloggingmix[at]gmail[dot]com or you can just leave a comment on this post.
You might also be interested in these free useful tools you can use to evaluate your blog's performance.
Check Your Alexa Traffic RankView and compare Alexa Ranking graphs.
Check Your Website for Broken LinksUse this tool to check for broken links on a website.
Reciprocal Link CheckerCheck your reciprocal links to see if link partners are still linking back to your site.
Website Speed TestFind out how fast a specific website loads.
Google Banned CheckerDiscover whether a website is banned on Google.
Index Checker Check for the total number of pages of a specific website which are present on search engines.
Page Rank Checker
View Google PageRank on different Google servers.
Source Code ViewerView the source code of a page.
Search Engine PositionCheck your search engine positions on Google Search Engine.
Keyword Density CheckerThis tool is useful for helping webmasters achieve optimum keyword distribution.
Search Listings PreviewCreate a preview of how your website will appear on Google, MSN and Yahoo Search.
Domain WhoisFind all the information you need on any domain name. Check the DNS settings, Registrar details and much more.
Google PageRank PredictionThis predictor tool does what it says, it predicts your future Google PageRank.
Keyword SuggestionFind related keywords matching your search.
Meta-tags GeneratorGenerate and configure your meta-tags.
Meta-tags GeneratorMake a long web address short and easy to remember.
Link Price CalculatorEstimate how much to pay for a link.
Domain Availability CheckerCheck for available domain names.
Thank you for using these free tools. I hope you found them useful.
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Blog Rush will soon introduce flavors on their widget.
MORE NEWS…
It seems that some people are trying to call BlogRush a “pyramid scheme” or stating “there’s just no way the future impressions will ever be able to be served based on the promises of what referrals will bring. The math is impossible like other schemes of this kind.”
Anyone that is saying this doesn’t understand how BlogRush works…
EVERY SINGLE IMPRESSION GETS REWARDED FOR *THAT* IMPRESSION AS IT HAPPENS. There is no “promise” of future rewards based on referral activity today. Each and every impression of the widget (and impression of the 5 headlines per widget) is rewarded AS IT HAPPENS. And when all the math is said and done, it also leaves 1 out of every 10 headline spaces left-over for BlogRush to use to monetize the service. So apparently some people think it’s all based on false promises that the network will eventually “catch up” and pay rewards in the future. This just isn’t the case. Every single impression that occurs is calculated and rewarded to the generations ‘above’ — that’s how the math has to work.
We’re working hard to move to the 100% Manual Review Process as quickly as possible, and other improvements.
As I’ve now said many times, our SOLE FOCUS is helping our members generate quality, targeted traffic. So we’re hard at work to make that happen.
John Reese - income.com/blog
What's New at BlogCatalog?Increase Your Technorati Authority and Blog RankingBlog Rush - More Exposure Equals More Traffic!Fechr.com - Broken Promises and Failed Expectations!Create Your Own Free Three or Two Column Blogger TemplateBeware of Quechup. It's One Hell of a Spammer!Submit Your Blog to Free Directories
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To succeed as marketer, you must direct meaningful traffic to your website.
No matter how well designed or interesting your site is, it is a waste of time if no one sees it.
In the initial stages of your business, getting traffic is not easy with the steep competition of thousands of web sites all trying to get their message out there. There is hope, though, according to successful marketers. The following seven methods, applied consistently, can mean a great increase in the quality and quantity of traffic to a site:
1.) Utilize Search Engines
Use search engines to your advantage. You need to have your web site appear near the top of the results, ahead of other websites offering similar content to gain the maximum benefit from a search engine. How is this accomplished? See 2.
2.) Popularity Linking
Your site must already be attracting a considerable amount of traffic to achieve high search engine results. One method for accomplishing this is by connecting to other relevant sites via links. These "popularity links" help drive traffic, and if targeted to the correct search queries they can boost your search engine ranking.
Link popularity always starts with finding web sites that are similar but do not compete with your own. You would contact the website owner and request a link to your site. You would, at the same time, offer a reciprocal link which would advertise their website on one of your pages.
3.) Writing Articles
Writing your own rich content articles on topics targeted to your audience helps promote your web site by increasing the number of popularity links coming to your site (see 2) as well as attracting interested readers. Your articles can be placed on other sites, in ezines, or even in newsletters. Always be sure to ad a source box with a link going back to your site.
4.) Joint Venture Marketing
Joint venture marketing, a marketing relationship in which two individuals cooperate to help promote each other, is also an effective way to promote a product or service. Joint venture agreements can also include swapping ads and exchanging links. Both parties benefit as they reach a wider customer base fairly quickly.
5.) Joining Affiliate Programs
By joining an affiliate program as a merchant, you can get others to market your site. You will need your own product to start your own program, but this can be accomplished through the use of private label content or product development ventures. Even a small-scale affiliate program can help direct significant traffic to your site.
6.) Creating A List Of Subscribers
A subscriber list is a valuable asset for any marketer. Using an autoresponder or a personalized newsletter to promote your site will help you to build a repeat visitor base, providing direct marketing opportunities for now and in the future.
7.) Understand Your Market
Different niches need to be promoted in different ways. Use the techniques described up until this point to reach people who will be interested. You need to figure out who your target market is and how will you treat them once they get to your site? This will affect everything on your site including your ad copy and even the colors you use.
Use as many strategies as possible to generate targeted traffic. Relying on search engines is obviously important but there are numerous other ways to generate traffic. Combining these methods will maximize the traffic you get.
About The Author
Laurie Raphael operates a website geared toward boosting your marketing results using various means of advertising and marketing strategies. For her private list of recommended affiliate marketing "secret weapons," visit her site at http://theadprocess.com.
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What are the company logos that you remember the most? As you are about to design your corporate identity, take a look around and notice the logos that are all around us. Most of the time, they are very simple icons. Sometimes they graphically represent exactly what the company does, but others are a simple mark that makes an impression. Here are some tips to help you get a memorable corporate identity of your own:
1) Find a Designer You Can Trust
First of all, you need to find someone that truly understands the importance of the creation and implementation of a company’s identity. Beware of a designer that says “Yeah, I do logo design.” A logo is only part of the package. In order for the logo to work, it needs a color scheme, fonts that complement it, and a complete ‘look and feel’ that ties all your communications together.
Take a look at the designer’s portfolio and make sure that they have designed memorable, striking logos, but also make sure that you take a look at how those logos were applied to different types of items such as business cards, brochures, Web sites and even 1-color giveaway items like pens and magnets. In every occasion, the logo and surrounding design elements should work as a cohesive whole. If they do not work, the designer does not understand the true idea of corporate identity design.
Make sure that the designer can answer tough questions about their design choices. There should be a reason behind everything that was done. Remember, your identity is going to be with you for a (hopefully) very long time.
There are now many cheap, fast logo creation services online. Many people are satisfied with these services, and they seem to do a decent job of creating a logo. But corporate identity design is a whole other matter, and these logo design Web sites don’t fully address this more complex issue.
2) Think Simple
Once you find a designer, make sure to explain to them everything that your company does. Make sure that you can articulate your company’s philosophy of doing business and what sets you apart. The corporate identity process depends on conceptualizing all of these abstract ideas.
Remember, though, that some times the simplest expressions are the most memorable. If your company manufactures widgets, trims them on a machine and then delivers them to a store, don’t expect to be able to show that entire process with one small icon. Instead, concentrate on what sets you apart. Maybe it’s your personal touch, your strong foothold in the marketplace or your innovative ideas. Don’t be afraid to simplify.
3) It’s All In a Name
Sometimes your corporate identity design might simply be your company’s name. Take Sony®, for instance. No need for a fancy icon beside the name. They have made their name speak for itself. Now, you might be thinking that your 2-person company in a small town will never be competing with a large multi-national corporation, and you might be right. You can still make a striking impression with everyone that sees your company’s name, though.
Also, remember that different types of fonts say different things about you and your company’s identity. A serif font, or one with small decorative lines, such as Times Roman, can say that you are a little more traditional, established and conservative. A sans-serif font, or one without the small decorative embellishments such as Arial or Helvetica, looks more modern and clean. Either one has its place.
Some times I use a combination of font types to create a refreshing contrast, or create a clean, modern logo and use a serif typeface to create a balance between traditional and modern. The best part is that there are no hard and fast rules.
4) It Helps to Squint
As you are finalizing your corporate identity design, make sure that you continue to imagine it being placed in any possible situation or surface. A trick I use some times is to put the logo and company name on my screen or print it out and hang it on the wall. I back as far away as I can and squint. If the resulting image is still pleasing to the eye, then it works on an aesthetic level, even without reading the text or knowing exactly what the logo design might be. Make sure that the colors represent your company correctly.
Your identity designer should be able to explain their color and font choices to you without trouble. Don’t let them tell you that they just “thought it looked good.” There needs to be a meaning behind your corporate identity design, even if it is abstracted.
The corporate identity process can take a few weeks or it can take a few months. It might seem like it takes forever sometimes, but remember that once the process is over, you’ll have a lasting look and creative direction for your company for years to come.
About The Author
Greg RS Kihlstrom is creative director for Carousel30 - http://www.carousel30.com. His corporate identity work has won international awards and been published in books, magazines and design Web sites.
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To reach an improved website visibility through search engines rankings has develop into a crucial requirement in today’s virtual world.
The growing use of directories resembling to www.leadinglinksdirectory.com serves the necessity of each and every business on the way to an upsurge in its net traffic.
This will be done by way of increasing its internet visibility on the web.
The most favorable means to create that is probably to get listed in a link directory. The formula of this manner of a net directory saves you the time spending task of searching into every single company goal website.
This look for might turn out to be a time taking exertion since there is an ever increasing figure of websites that make finding this information intentionally complicated as so to attempt and reject spam and also the mechanized submissions.
Obviously the directories have to be search engine welcoming and to maintain a good page rank, and so causing the act of directory submission to become an useful and an essential instrument intended for online marketing.
Via doing it correctly you can reach a senior mark In search engines results and have the advantage of receiving your website indexed and obviously obtain a click through internet traffic to your internet site.
There seem to exist a rising discussion taking place on the net whether directories are worth submitting to. There are those who would sa that it’s a time waste submitting your website that also an immense amount of directories are insignificant, those persons of course put their trust at search engine rankings at the net, however a lot of the webmasters do not succeed on the way to recognize the difference between the search engines to the directories.
This failure to tell apart the two would possibly lead the road to a fall down within the efficiency of the use of internet directories in order to increase the sites page rank and then to produce internet traffic, toward the site.
The robotic "spiders" applied through the search engines whose lone target is to blindly save information from within the internet pages consequently as to add them on their database.That is why search engines also use human editors in order to review web pages prior to when they are added in to their directories.
That is one of the reasons why it’s so important that you cautiously decide on the directories you want.
We at www.leadinglinksdirectory.com believe the means of human editor will be able to form a dissimilarity and furthermore that an incorrectly designed website that is not professionally designed could be noticed through search engines as an unhelpful internet site. This is the main reason we particularly make use of chosen exclusive human edited links and furthermore preserve regular maintenance with in our internet site including its numerous categories.
When you present your website onto a web directory if it’s a free of charge directory or a paid web directory, it is necessary to inspect it at times and so to see that errors ( if there might be any) are corrected, and then that any of the data displayed on the site is updated every time. This way you will surely recognize you chose the utterly best web site for you.
To cut a long story short there are some people who might claim that the way of using directories are just a few websites containing categories, only a gathering collection of links collected from across the internet.
Nonetheless they in fact are a way used for web surfers in order to effortlessly find the links they were looking for, with the help of pre defined categories, such as Alternative Medicine and also Sports and Fitness, each one of them containing exact data and info with reference to just those subjects, dropping the need to spend valuable time examining the internet for it, and naturally the use of the sub-categories makes the work of "fishing" for information and data still easier.
Nevertheless for you it’s a very simple tool to move up your website’s popularity at the search engines rankings.
Upon choosing the internet directory fitting you, a general one or a specific one that straightforwardly portrays your internet site, inside the web directory you can choose the appropriate category or maybe sub category as so to display your website.
Previous to submitting your web site to an internet directory might require a small amount of work, but it will bring you the search engine rankings that your website should have!
About The Author
James Decet is a Co-Editor At LeadingLniksDirectory (
http://www.leadinglinksdirectory.com), A Human Edited Site, With a wide range Of categories
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