Submitting Your Site to Search DirectoriesWritten by Julia Hyde
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For a free standard submission click on “suggest a site” link and fill out submission form. For paid submission go to http://add.yahoo.com/fast/add?+business LookSmart Before MSN announced it was switching to Inktomi, LookSmart was power horse behind their popular search engine. In fact, MSN accounted for half of LookSmart’s revenue. But don’t let MSN’s departure stop you from submitting to LookSmart – it still distributes to other search engines so it’s important to get your site listed. Like Yahoo! LookSmart has a free submit (non-commercial) option and a paid submit for commercial ones. To submit for free go to www.zeal.com and sign up as a member. Once you’ve completed form and passed test you can submit your site using “manage” option and “Add a site” link. To submit for paid inclusion go to www.listings.looksmart.com and fill out online form. LookSmart’s paid listings are priced on a cost-per-click (CPC)basis. Meaning you only pay when a user clicks on your listing and visits your web site. A $0.15 CPC is given for first 5,000 clicks when you pay with a credit card online. Any clicks after 5,000 are billed at your business category rate, which ranges from $0.23 to $0.75 per click. The Open Directory Although Open Directory is volunteer built it is essential to Web site owners. Submission is free but turnaround time for a yes or no answer to your submission may take a long time. To submit your site visit www.dmoz.org, identify your category then use “add URL” form. Fill out form and you’re done. There are other smaller and directories you may also want to consider. They include: GoGuides, Gimpsy, JoeAnt and Web-Beacon.
Julia is an independent copywriter and consultant specializing in search engine copywriting, web site promotion and print communications. To learn more about how Julia can help increase your company's sales visit her web site at www.juliahyde.com.
| | Email Marketing for Website OwnersWritten by Neil Street
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added manually to your email marketing list. You then prepare your newsletter, or other communication, input it into your chosen template, and you’re ready to email everyone on your list, with a professional looking html-enhanced email. Each communication that goes out through system is formatted into whatever graphic “look” has been designed for your system. Typically, it will echo look of your website. One of best features of email maketing system is that it recognizes settings of recipient’s computer, and if they are not set up for graphic emails, it will simply arrive at their desktop as a plain text email. No longer does sender have to worry if recipient can “see” their email correctly. Not only does this system let you send as many messages as you want in one step, it lets you do some tracking, also. You can track how many recipients actually opened email, and how often. This can be of help in measuring interest level in a particular communication. Finally, it is very easy for a recipient who does not want to be on list to “unsubscribe.” Email marketing has gotten a bad rap in recent years, as lines have been blurred between valid marketing and spam. But when properly used, it is a powerful marketing tool, that allows a website owner to “keep in touch” with many clients and prospects with no more effort than it takes to compose a single email.
Neil Street is co-founder of Small Business Online, based in Wilton, CT., a website design, management, and promotion company dedicated to the Internet needs of the small business. His website is at http://www.smallbusinessonline.net Send email to neil@smallbusinessonline.net He can also be reached at (203)761-7992
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