Too many people confuse the term SEO (search engine optimization) with other acronyms that are important to websites these days.
The following are the most popular acronyms and their basic descriptions:
SEO – Search Engine Optimization
This is the process of increasing or improving the amount of traffic to a website from various search engines by way of ‘organic’ or ‘algorithmic’ results.
SEM – Search Engine Marketing
This is the form of marketing a website on the internet via various promotion techniques such as SEO, SEA, PPC (pay-per-click) and other forms of paid advertisements.
SEA – Search Engine Advertising
This is the form of advertising a website through a sponsored media, which is also known as PPC (pay-per-click).
PPC – Pay-Per-Click
This is the advertising form used on search engines, advertising networks and specific content sites, in which advertiser pay the host each time their ad is clicked.
LP – Link Popularity
This is the measure of the number and quality of other websites that link to a specific site, which determines the quality of its content.
If you are planning to or have had a ‘professional’ web design firm handle the design of your website, use this as a reference to make sure you are chose the correct one. Ask them if they know the difference between these acronyms. If they reply they are all the same, or don’t even know what you are talking about, then that is a clear sign you need to take your business elsewhere. If you don’t, then you only have yourself to blame.
J D Web Designs
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Friday, January 9, 2009
The Horror of DORA
Have you ever received a letter from DORA (Domain Registry of America)? A lot of my clients have, informing them of their ‘pending domain registration renewals.’ Luckily, I maintain a close relationship with my clients and they have asked me about the letter before sending money to these rip-off artists.
Unfortunately, not so many are that lucky. Over the years, DORA has duped a lot of clients of registrar companies out of considerable amounts of money. And the saddest part is, the way they do it is not considered illegal. Years ago, this was not the case though.
For some time, DORA had fraudulently misled recipients of their letters stating that they were affiliated with the registrar that they were currently using. Or they would state that they are offering them a better price than they are already paying.
DORA uses various WHOIS databases to acquire information to send their letters out to unsuspecting companies and individuals. How could something like this be possible, you may ask? It’s really quite simple. It has mainly to do with ignorance and failed communication between registrar companies / web designers and their clients.
There have been countless complaints filed against DORA over the years. Even the Federal Trade Commission banned DORA from continuing their misleading activities and ordered them to pay compensation for the clients they had misled. Here’s an important article to check out: http://www.whoisfinder.com/news/200401/canadian-domain-slammer.html
The best way to avoid something like this from happening to you is to be in constant contact with your registrar and or web designer, unless they are one in the same. Maintain good communication and ask them questions. If they are unwilling or unable to answer your questions, it might be wise to look elsewhere for your domain registration needs.
My services for renewing a domain costs my clients only $15 per year. DORA often charges in excess of $30 per year. Sometimes they offer a discount if you register two or three years with them, and when you see that discount you almost want to jump at the chance to ‘save some money.’ This is where they get you. Even with their discounts, they are still charging more than what I would.
Of course there are companies out there that can charge as little as $6 per year to register a domain, but once you register your domain with them, you typically become just another account number to that company. My clients are all treated with highest regards and are normally on a first name basis.
I am a great believer in excellent customer service at all times; which is why I am writing this. Hopefully it reaches you before you make the mistake of allowing this company to take advantage of you.
Here are some additional resources to assist you in protecting yourself against DORA.
Federal Trade Ccommission Posting
Alternate names they have used:
Registration Services Incorporated, Domain Registry Services, Registration Services Incorporated, Domain Registry of Europe, Yellowbusiness.ca, Internet Registry of Canada, Domain Registry of Canada and Domain Registry of Australia.
Websites they have used:
droa.com, droa.net, droa.org, droa.biz, droc.ca, droe.com, droe.info, droe.biz
J D Web Designs
Unfortunately, not so many are that lucky. Over the years, DORA has duped a lot of clients of registrar companies out of considerable amounts of money. And the saddest part is, the way they do it is not considered illegal. Years ago, this was not the case though.
For some time, DORA had fraudulently misled recipients of their letters stating that they were affiliated with the registrar that they were currently using. Or they would state that they are offering them a better price than they are already paying.
DORA uses various WHOIS databases to acquire information to send their letters out to unsuspecting companies and individuals. How could something like this be possible, you may ask? It’s really quite simple. It has mainly to do with ignorance and failed communication between registrar companies / web designers and their clients.
There have been countless complaints filed against DORA over the years. Even the Federal Trade Commission banned DORA from continuing their misleading activities and ordered them to pay compensation for the clients they had misled. Here’s an important article to check out: http://www.whoisfinder.com/news/200401/canadian-domain-slammer.html
The best way to avoid something like this from happening to you is to be in constant contact with your registrar and or web designer, unless they are one in the same. Maintain good communication and ask them questions. If they are unwilling or unable to answer your questions, it might be wise to look elsewhere for your domain registration needs.
My services for renewing a domain costs my clients only $15 per year. DORA often charges in excess of $30 per year. Sometimes they offer a discount if you register two or three years with them, and when you see that discount you almost want to jump at the chance to ‘save some money.’ This is where they get you. Even with their discounts, they are still charging more than what I would.
Of course there are companies out there that can charge as little as $6 per year to register a domain, but once you register your domain with them, you typically become just another account number to that company. My clients are all treated with highest regards and are normally on a first name basis.
I am a great believer in excellent customer service at all times; which is why I am writing this. Hopefully it reaches you before you make the mistake of allowing this company to take advantage of you.
Here are some additional resources to assist you in protecting yourself against DORA.
Federal Trade Ccommission Posting
Alternate names they have used:
Registration Services Incorporated, Domain Registry Services, Registration Services Incorporated, Domain Registry of Europe, Yellowbusiness.ca, Internet Registry of Canada, Domain Registry of Canada and Domain Registry of Australia.
Websites they have used:
droa.com, droa.net, droa.org, droa.biz, droc.ca, droe.com, droe.info, droe.biz
J D Web Designs
Monday, September 15, 2008
How do you choose the right Web Design Firm?
The number of Web Design firms online today is staggering, to say the least. It’s amazing to see how many different types you will find. Some specialize in specific aspects of web designs, and others have a wider range within their services.
With this in mind, the chances of finding the right company should appear quite easy, right? Wrong.
Because there are so many companies to choose from, your choices could actually be too overwhelming. You might become discouraged and then just pick the first one that comes up on the top of the list in a search engine.
This is probably the worst way to go. Take your time in choosing a Web Design firm. Check out their portfolio. Check out their client base. See all of the services they have to offer to see if it reflects what services you need. Do comparisons on pricing for the services they offer against other Web Design firms. You’d be surprised how many times you will find big fluctuations between one service and another.
Sometimes going with a Web Design firm that has a large customer base is not the best way to go either. You may become just another troublesome customer without a name. You may be just an account number to designate how much you are worth to them. Do you really want to become that?
With that in mind, considering a smaller Web Design firm is the best course of action. Often, you will find that they are more personable. You might even find yourself in a position to dictate more than deciding when you are sending off your payment in the mail. Smaller Web Design firms want and appreciate your business. More often than not, larger Web Design firms do not.
So, the big question is, are you ready to give J D Web Designs a chance to create something wonderful for you?
With this in mind, the chances of finding the right company should appear quite easy, right? Wrong.
Because there are so many companies to choose from, your choices could actually be too overwhelming. You might become discouraged and then just pick the first one that comes up on the top of the list in a search engine.
This is probably the worst way to go. Take your time in choosing a Web Design firm. Check out their portfolio. Check out their client base. See all of the services they have to offer to see if it reflects what services you need. Do comparisons on pricing for the services they offer against other Web Design firms. You’d be surprised how many times you will find big fluctuations between one service and another.
Sometimes going with a Web Design firm that has a large customer base is not the best way to go either. You may become just another troublesome customer without a name. You may be just an account number to designate how much you are worth to them. Do you really want to become that?
With that in mind, considering a smaller Web Design firm is the best course of action. Often, you will find that they are more personable. You might even find yourself in a position to dictate more than deciding when you are sending off your payment in the mail. Smaller Web Design firms want and appreciate your business. More often than not, larger Web Design firms do not.
So, the big question is, are you ready to give J D Web Designs a chance to create something wonderful for you?
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
SEO Tip #1
One of the best ways to assist your site's exposure and listing in search engines is to post to multiple forums, blogs and local directories. When you post to them, be sure to include any and all URL's you want to have linked to from that page. It is better to do this on sites that already have a high PR (page rank) to help in increasing your site's PR.
Another good tip is to check into exchanging links with other members of blogs and forums on their sites. The more pages your site is linked to, the better your chances are to increase your site's PR.
You can also do this by submitting your URL to multiple URL Submit sites. There are a lot out there that are free, and some charge a small fee. You can also find some sites that will submit yours to these sites if you'll just put a link to their site on yours. It's a small price to pay for exposure.
J D Web Designs
Another good tip is to check into exchanging links with other members of blogs and forums on their sites. The more pages your site is linked to, the better your chances are to increase your site's PR.
You can also do this by submitting your URL to multiple URL Submit sites. There are a lot out there that are free, and some charge a small fee. You can also find some sites that will submit yours to these sites if you'll just put a link to their site on yours. It's a small price to pay for exposure.
J D Web Designs
My Top 10 Picks to Increase Ranking
First off, let me explain ranking. Ranking has to do with Search Engines. For example: google, yahoo and msn to name just a few. The higher your ranking is within those sites, the more exposure you are going to have because your site will be higher in the listing.
If you are planning on using your site to generate income, the higher number of visitors you have on your site, the greater the chances are that your site will generate more funds. That’s a great reason to want to increase your ranking, isn’t it?
I am not by any means guaranteeing that by following my top 10 picks, your site will skyrocket into the top rankings, but it definitely will help you out more than just sitting there not doing anything.
So let’s get started! My picks are not in any particular order.
1 – Join Webmaster Forums
When you post to the forum, post to the correct category and put the link to your site either in the post itself, or in your signature line. Each time you post, your site will be back-linked. The more links to your site, the greater the chance of it being visited.
2 – Exchange Links
When you have established yourself within the webmaster forums you have joined, put out requests to exchange links with other forum members that have sites similar to yours. This will assist you in increasing your page rank especially if the member’s site has a PR4 or greater page rank.
3 – Write Articles
Write worthwhile articles that others are going to be interested in reading. Make sure that you tag them correctly to drive the ‘right traffic’ to the article. Flaunt your URL by placing a link to your site somewhere in the article.
4 – Write Blogs
Basically the same applies to doing this as it does in #3. Be sure to write content that is relevant to what category the blog is in. The more you stray from correct categories, the greater your chances are of not getting any positive reaction to the number of visitors to your site. Always remember to place a link to your site within the blog.
5 – Back-Link to Popular Search Engines
Place a link to the popular search engines such as google, yahoo and msn on your main page. When you back-link to the major search engines, that can boost your chances of increasing your page rank.
6 – Use High Volume ‘Friend’ Sites
Create a profile strictly for promoting your site on sites like myspace and facebook. Try to keep the same format you use on your site within your profile such as colors and overall appearance. Remember to include the link to direct visitors to your site.
7 – Submit Your Site to Web Directories
There are a lot of free directories that you can submit your site to be listed in. Some are very simple where you just enter your URL. Others have requirements such as entering a valid email address.
8 – Use Google Webmaster Tools
Create an account with google, if you don’t already have one and submit your site under the google webmaster tools section. By doing this, you will be able to keep track of a majority of your site’s back-links, and any errors that may be within your pages. You will also be able to tell that your site is indexed by google.
9 – Word of Mouth
Talk your site up with friends and family. Ask them to do the same. You’d be surprised how many extra hits you can get on your site by doing this. The more hits you receive, the higher your ranking will be.
10 – Provide Good Content
Good content on your site will almost always ensure return visitors as well new visitors that are referred to your site by returning visitors. If you provide information, services or anything of value to a mass majority of the online population, your popularity will grow before you know it.
There you have it. Hopefully these help you in increasing your ranking as it has helped me in mine.
J D Web Designs
If you are planning on using your site to generate income, the higher number of visitors you have on your site, the greater the chances are that your site will generate more funds. That’s a great reason to want to increase your ranking, isn’t it?
I am not by any means guaranteeing that by following my top 10 picks, your site will skyrocket into the top rankings, but it definitely will help you out more than just sitting there not doing anything.
So let’s get started! My picks are not in any particular order.
1 – Join Webmaster Forums
When you post to the forum, post to the correct category and put the link to your site either in the post itself, or in your signature line. Each time you post, your site will be back-linked. The more links to your site, the greater the chance of it being visited.
2 – Exchange Links
When you have established yourself within the webmaster forums you have joined, put out requests to exchange links with other forum members that have sites similar to yours. This will assist you in increasing your page rank especially if the member’s site has a PR4 or greater page rank.
3 – Write Articles
Write worthwhile articles that others are going to be interested in reading. Make sure that you tag them correctly to drive the ‘right traffic’ to the article. Flaunt your URL by placing a link to your site somewhere in the article.
4 – Write Blogs
Basically the same applies to doing this as it does in #3. Be sure to write content that is relevant to what category the blog is in. The more you stray from correct categories, the greater your chances are of not getting any positive reaction to the number of visitors to your site. Always remember to place a link to your site within the blog.
5 – Back-Link to Popular Search Engines
Place a link to the popular search engines such as google, yahoo and msn on your main page. When you back-link to the major search engines, that can boost your chances of increasing your page rank.
6 – Use High Volume ‘Friend’ Sites
Create a profile strictly for promoting your site on sites like myspace and facebook. Try to keep the same format you use on your site within your profile such as colors and overall appearance. Remember to include the link to direct visitors to your site.
7 – Submit Your Site to Web Directories
There are a lot of free directories that you can submit your site to be listed in. Some are very simple where you just enter your URL. Others have requirements such as entering a valid email address.
8 – Use Google Webmaster Tools
Create an account with google, if you don’t already have one and submit your site under the google webmaster tools section. By doing this, you will be able to keep track of a majority of your site’s back-links, and any errors that may be within your pages. You will also be able to tell that your site is indexed by google.
9 – Word of Mouth
Talk your site up with friends and family. Ask them to do the same. You’d be surprised how many extra hits you can get on your site by doing this. The more hits you receive, the higher your ranking will be.
10 – Provide Good Content
Good content on your site will almost always ensure return visitors as well new visitors that are referred to your site by returning visitors. If you provide information, services or anything of value to a mass majority of the online population, your popularity will grow before you know it.
There you have it. Hopefully these help you in increasing your ranking as it has helped me in mine.
J D Web Designs
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