Let's face it, Internet is a crowded place... and it's becoming even more crowded as you read this. Your business can't stand still online, and you can't afford to look backwards. Qualified, targeted traffic generation is what we all desire. Owning your category online goes a long way in providing just that.

It's not about just looking forward, but moving forward and taking some ownership. Every business online today is worried about being found in Top 10 Search Engines and Directories for their products or services - and they should be! Statistics still make them (search engines) number one stop for all surfers.

But, just for a moment let's imagine that these search engines and directories provide most relevant results. That's right, let's just say for sake of this article, that they all work extremely well. O.K?

Now, since we believe that our products or services are way more relevant than those companies listed above us in (today's) search engines results - we have to admit something is wrong... but remember, search engines are perfect.

We all know you can buy your keywords in Google™ and Overture™ right? Does that make you best? (not.) Do surfers know this? (Yes.) Does it make your business (your website) any more relevant? (No.) It does put businesses with a larger budget at top of pile again, that's all. Is this why many of us don't click on sponsored links? (Ahem...)

If search engines were (are) perfect, then let's get back to something else being wrong. Hmmm, my website must be broken! Wow, somebody is actually staying with me here.. My website must be broken?

Why else would all those "other" websites be showing up ahead of my business when people search for my products/services/information? Don't these people know we are experts? (nope.) Don't they know our products are superior? (nope.) Can't they see skill we employ and our dedication to employee and customer service? (nope.) Haven't they read reviews? (probably...)

So, in an effort to help you "own your category online", here's some suggestions to assist your business in getting ahead of those "other" websites and putting your business where it rightly belongs! If you already employ all these practices, we commend you. But if you find yourself behind, these tips can help your company without having to become a Webmaster or a Search Engine Marketing Professional. Pass these on to your Marketing Team and get better results and recognition starting today!

Do: Research search terms (keywords) that people would use in seeking out your offerings. You can start with Wordtracker™ and search terms you first come up with.

Wordtracker™ will help you locate terms that are similar to your terms in meaning and search. It is a tool that gives you an *idea of what general terms people are using, and how many searches are taking place on these terms... * that's another book though. This is a great starting point and trial really is free!

Tip: Do not just 'look-up' your company name, - prospective customers or vendors or partners are not looking you up by your 'company name' in Google™ - they don't know it yet...? Surfer's have become quite good at 'searching'. Be specific and general. You can also learn who you have to beat online! - Who's kicking your butt when people search for your product or service online? That first page of results is your market share online!

Do: Make sure you have a *keyword specific "Title" for every webpage that's relevant to content on that page (*keyword specific, not keyword stuffed).

Page Title; Top of screen, blue 'title' bar (in explorer). I still see thousands of websites with "Homepage" in title bar, or "MyOneHotBusiness.com" and just that phrase or 'Title' is repeated throughout every page on their website! Each page in your website is (content) unique - make it's 'Title' unique too! Or call your webmaster with new "titles" for each of your website pages. Different values are placed on this "page title" from different search engines and directories.

Tip: Add "Chicago, Chicagoland, Illinois" to end of your Title (your city, state). This helps in regional search queries.

When you fail - that means you do at least something. And most people do nothing. Being in contact with many webmasters I hear a lot of "I should try to get some links".

Okay, I say - Do It! He exchanges 10-15 links, but they don't seem to be working and he thinks it's a failure. Well, it's not yet. He stops exchanging links and engages in Pay-Per-Click engines. He spends $50 and gets nothing again.

Total failure. He stops and says: "Nah! There's no money in Internet! How do you make money?"

And my answer is somewhat like Edison developed a light bulb: he made 30 000 mistakes or as he said he had found 30 000 ways that don't make light bulb.

How do I make money in Internet? How do I make sites popular? Well, first I have found a thousand ways that don't make money and don't make sites popular. Why?

Because there are much more wrong ways to do something than right ways. And one should try many many things before he succeeds. But it's not "failure"! It's "way to success"!

Made a mistake? You're on your way to make it right. Just stop paying too much attention to mistakes.

People tend to discuss many negative things, because it gets strong emotions. Newspapers help that tendency alot. And sooner or later people start to put a lot of accent into mistakes than to new tries.

Advertising didn't work out like it should have been? Try again! Try sonething different.