How to Benefit from SEO via WordPress 

When it comes to the advantages or benefits of WordPress, for many people SEO or search engine optimization is high on the list.  This could be due to the fact that using SEO otherwise can be quite confusing or that WordPress just makes it so darn easy.  Whatever the case the following are a few ways to take advantage of WordPress’s SEO abilities.

So how do you do it?  Here are the top ten tips for applying SEO to WordPress:

Optimize your page titles.  You will want to be sure to use your most valuable keywords when titling your pages.  If your website is about wordpress installs you will want to be sure to have a page that is titled that very thing.

Optimize your permalinks.  Wordpress offers different permalink structures including the option to have the title of your post to be included in the permalink, instead of just giving the date and the number of the post.  You will want to take advantage of this option to use more and more keywords on your site.

Optimize your images.  Wordpress also offers the option of inputting alternate text when you post an image, though you can leave this area blank it is good practice for SEO purposes to input a valuable keyword into this area.  You can also enter a description of the image and some key tags.

Optimize links.  When linking to other areas of your website or to other websites you will want to use keywords as often as possible as your anchor text.  Anchor text are the words that are linked to a particular url at an offsite location or within the site itself.  You can also place keywords in the link’s title attribute as well.

Add no indexto archives.  To avoid the issues associated with duplicate content, you can add the no index meta tag into your header.php file.

Remove all unnecessary links.  Why give other websites your traffic when you are wanting people to read your website’s content and stick around a while.  You don’t want to freely give other websites your traffic by placing their links on your site, be choosy when deciding who you will link to.

Using the Social Bookmarking plugin.  Allow your website visitors to help you to gain back links by recommending your content through social bookmarking, such as digg, stumbleupon, technorati and others.  The social bookmarking plugin allows visitors to do this easily with a click of the mouse.

Submit your blog to blog directories.  You will want to work towards creating backlinks and pings for yourself and one of the best ways to do this is by submitting your blog to directories.  There are dozens and dozens available online both targeted and general.

Trackback and link to other blogs in your blog posts.  This is just another way to create links.  Inbound links are key and this will help you to get them as others return the favor of linking.

Write often.  The more content you have the better.  Content is key with a WordPress site so you want the content to always be fresh, unique and of high quality.

Do you need to learn more about how to use WordPress?  The Website Magic Do it Yourself Program begins Tuesday, April 17 join here:  http://diywebsitemagic.com 

Choosing a Domain Name Checklist

Choosing a domain name is no small task. Once you’ve picked a domain name, it’s very hard to change to another domain down the line. It’s what other people will remember you by. It’s what other websites will use to link to you. It’s the crux of your whole online business.

What should you look for when choosing a domain name.

Is it easy to remember? Your domain name should have a nice ring to it. It should roll off your tongue and be easily memorable.

Short. The shorter the domain name, the more likely you are to get someone to remember the domain. Single-word domains are considered premium domains for this reason. That said, getting your hands on a single word domain name in your market is quite difficult. You’ll likely have to settle for a two word or three word domain. Still, try to make the domain as short and easy to remember as possible.

No numbers, no dashes. It’s very confusing to have to say to someone “its 3 cubes dot com, with the number three” or “it’s three spelled out.” It’s also confusing to say “the domain is domain dash word dot com.” It’s hard to remember and just doesn’t work very well for word of mouth referrals.

One possible spelling. Avoid words that are spelled differently in other countries. For example, “colors” can also be spelled “colours.” Again, passing the domain along with word of mouth becomes very difficult with such words. Also avoid domains that have to be plural. Only register a domain name with an “s” in it if you can also get the domain without the “s” and redirect it.

Make sure it looks good lowercase. A lot of domains only look good when they’re uppercase. For example, BirdsStore.com might look great upper case, but looks odd when birdsstore.com is lowercase.

Top level domain matters. In general, you should stick with only .com domains. If you can get your hands on a really great .net or .org domain that’s better than any .com you can find, go ahead and grab it. But you should generally avoid any other TLD. The only exception is if you’re actually starting a local website. For example, if you’re starting a site in the UK, you may very well want to register a .co.uk domain.

Search engine keywords. Your domain name can play a significant role in getting ranked well in search engines. If you can get the exact domain name for a keyword you want to rank for in the search engines, your domain name alone can give you a nice boost. The trick is in selecting a search engine friendly domain that also has a nice ring to it.

Try alternate words. If you’re having trouble coming up with good domain names, try finding similar words to the words in your keyword using tools like Thesaurus.com or the Google Keyword Tool.

Compile a list of potential domains. You might not always be able to get the exact domain you want. Instead of coming up with just one domain name you want, try to come up with a list of 20. Then use a mass checker, available free on many domain registrars to find out which one(s) are available.

Ask your friends what they think about your domain name. No matter how great you think the domain name is, the real test is other people in the real world. Try to ask friends who’ll give you their real opinions, not just tell you that they think it’s really great even when it’s not. Make sure they’re able to actually figure out the typed in domain name easily based on you telling the domain verbally.

Browse forums and auctions. Look at sites like GoDaddy Auctions, Sedo, NamePros forums and other such sites for premium domains. For example, if you wanted to pick up a domain like “renovation.com,” you’re probably never going to find it available for registration. On the other hand, you might be able to pick up some true winners in expired auction auctions or domain name forum sales.

As you can tell a lot can go into picking a domain name. Don’t rush the process and make sure you really pick a domain name that you can be proud of in the long run.

Once you have a domain you’ll definitely want a professional, easy to manage website platform.  Why not WordPress?  Sign up here for a FREE 60 Minute Webinar.

Are You Ready to Build Your WordPress Website?

I have many business owners and entrepreneurs coming to me on a regular basis believing that they are ready to build or have build a WordPress website.  Unfortunately, I ask a few questions and quickly discover they aren’t quite ready yet.  Most of them don’t even realize it, but it is a normal trend.  They haven’t first done their homework or don’t know what they are getting into exactly.  I’m not saying this sarcastically or putting them down.  Don’t take me the wrong way, please.  I empathize with them and try to give them the tools they need to take the steps necessary prior to starting to build a website for them.

It is a lot like attempting to build a house without first laying the proper foundation.  In fact, I have an illustration that I like to use for some of the necessary pieces or first steps to getting a website in place that uses terms much like if you were building a house.  When you’re about to get a website built or designed for you you first have to purchase an “address” also known as a URL or Domain name.  Then you are also going to need “hosting” or what I like to call “paying your rent”.  Both of these are necessary pieces before you can begin to decorate your new home on the web with a “theme”, yet another piece of setting up a WordPress website.

You might think, now that you have all this surely you’re ready to have your site set up.  Unfortunately, this is not true.  You will also need to think about the following:

Graphics – You will at least want to have a proper header or logo designed to help brand your business and identify your company on the web.  You may already have access to this or you may have to ask us about having our graphic designer take care of this piece for you.

First Class Content – Your website should have world class content that’s better than anything else on the internet. The content should be unique, with unique ideas and concepts that people can benefit from. Make sure that you continually update your content, so the search engines can have something to read.

Social Proof  & Identification- Do you have elements on your web page that can be used to increase your credibility? For example, testimonials from clients, or photos of results, or radio shows or TV shows that you’ve been hosted on. Anything that will make you sound more credible to your users should be prominently showcased.

Make it easy for people to share your work on Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms. Each of these platforms will give you small bits of code you can put on your website to create “Like” buttons, “Follow” buttons and so on. Put these on the bottom or side of every post or article to spread your social media reach.

A Call to Action - What does your website bring to the table? What can people learn from being on your website? Why shouldn’t they click away and go to a different site? The value that your users can gain from your website should be stated on your homepage in an easy to understand manner. Finally, your call to action should give your visitors a next step for getting started working with you or to purchase your products or services. 

Do you think you’re ready to have a website built?

Not sure but have a few questions?

Schedule a 15 Minute Consult with me and we’ll talk things through.  Schedule your consult by clicking here.

Need Google Analytics and other awesome plugins installed on your WordPress to get more out of it? Contact us at info@alyssaavant.com and we will install them for you.

Why I Have a WordPress Website

I’ve been reminiscing a good bit lately because my business will soon turn 5. Over the weekend we celebrated my daughter’s 5th birthday. Just before she was born I made the decision to start working from home. So in October 2007 I began my first WordPress website. I quickly grew to love WordPress and will probably never use anything else for a website.

Many people ask me, “Isn’t WordPress a blog site?” The answer to this is yes and no. WordPress is actually a content management system. Therefore, whatever type of “content” you want to use is applicable and can be put into WordPress. Fortunately, WordPress has a ton of other amazing features from thousands of theme options to thousands of plugins that can help you to customize and optimize the already amazing benefits of using WordPress for your professional website.

WordPress can be customized in so many ways that your professional website can be as unique as you and your business. These are a few of the top reasons that I choose to use WordPress for my professional website for my business. Also, WordPress is super user friendly and can be easily maintained and used.

It took me years to pick up HTML and CSS knowledge but literally learned WordPress in just a few weeks. Sure there is more I can learn about WordPress, but if you want to know the basics of maintaining and editing your website WordPress is easy to learn and will allow just about anyone to do many things in the back end of their website themselves.

Want to learn more about WordPress and why it should be the only option for your professional website? Join me at my upcoming FREE Webinar – Why WordPress on Tuesday, April 3 at 7:30 pm CST. Sign up here: http://alyssaavant.com//wordpress-free-webina/

Top 10 Tips on How to Write an Article 

Article writing is an important part of any small business owners business and marketing. Though many business owners may not see themselves as writers, or feel that they have the time to write articles as a way to market their business, it is a smart move to use article writing and marketing in your business and marketing practices.

It is, however, even more important to be sure that the articles you are writing are of the highest quality or it will reflect negatively on you and your business. The following are some tips for writing articles that you can be proud of and that will make a positive impact on your business.

1. Write what you know. It may seem like common sense, but it is important that you write about the topics that you know the most about. Write in your area of expertise and your articles will not only come out better, but you will be promoting yourself as an expert in your niche.

2. Take some time to plan. It is necessary to plan before you write. Setting aside time to write, creating a list of articles or topics that you feel comfortable writing about, creating yourself an outline, doing research, this will all need to be done and having a plan will help to make it happen.

3. Say the important things first. Let’s face it, not everyone reads every article all the way to the end. Most of us, if we admit it, just merely scan an article, so in order to be sure your readers get what you want them to from the article be sure to put important information at the beginning.

4. Edit, edit and edit some more. Editing is the part of writing that most of us would just as soon skip, but without it you will likely leave lots of typos, bad grammar and run on sentences in your writing. You should take time away from the article and then go back to it later with fresh eyes, but you should also have someone else to read over and edit it as well.

5. Aim for 500 words. Articles do not have to be lengthy to be of high quality. Filling a page with fluff is not going to help you one bit, so put together a approximate 500 word article of quality content and you’re set.

6. Nix the sales pitch. There is a time for selling, but in the body of an article is not the right time. With article writing and marketing you are using your knowledge and expertise to wow the reader and to help get them interested, not to “sell” to them, you’ll do that later. So, skip the sales pitch.

7. Give concrete examples and tell stories. Everyone loves a good story, they help the reader connect to you and give them “proof” that you know what you’re talking about. Never just give the facts, but back them up as well.

8. Give valuable information. This is what article writing and marketing as a business owner is all about, sharing your knowledge and expertise. So be sure to fill your article with helpful, valuable information that will leave the reader wanting more.

9. Use short paragraphs. People need to be able to follow the reading easily and the more it is broken up and includes white space the easier it is to read, especially on the web.

10. Don’t forget the resource box. A resource box is even more powerful than the article itself so never negate its power or even worse, fail to use it all together. It is the perfect place to establish yourself as an expert with your title, and to share links back to your site.

Articles are a great way to stay connected to your audience.  To learn more join me at my upcoming FREE Webinar – Why Stay Connected.  Click here to sign up! 

Want to see who is on your site at any given time.  If you have Google analytics you can with Google Analytics Real time feature that is in Beta now.

Benefits of Staying Connected 

Staying connected with clients and potential clients is an important part of any business.  Why do you think you receives piles and piles of postcards, catalogs and promotional materials in your physical mailbox each week.  Before I was a business owner these pieces of mail didn’t mean as much to me. Suddenly, after studying marketing for months as a new business owner each piece of what I was calling junk mail took on new meaning.  I realized that the person on the other end was attempting to “connect” with me.  One card in particular stands out in my mind.

I received a cute postcard a few months back from my dentist.  It had a big goofy smile on the front and said something along the lines of , “It’s Been a While Since We Checked Your Smile” .  It was fun and engaging and definitely made me remember my dentist.

Another way I stay connected with my clients is that I send them hand written thank you notes right after we sign the initial agreement.   This is a personal touch I like to add to my correspondence.  I also have begun sending all clients a birthday card on their birthday.

You may think that these things will not or do not make a difference in your relationship and connection with your client, but I believe that they do.  I know how connected and appreciated I have felt when receiving cards in the mail from clients or those I have worked with in some capacity.   It definitely made me smile as well.

Not only does this type of communication help you stay connected with your potential clients and your current clients, but sending regular email correspondence can have the same affect.  I have had potential clients follow me and receive my newsletters and emails for months before taking the next step, setting up a 15 minute consult with me and becoming a client.  They even admitted on that call that they had read my newsletter and blogs posts over and over for months about certain topics that they could use help with, but were just procrastinating.  Do you think if I had never sent emails or been consistent in my communication that they would have thought to contact me? Of course not.  Consistency pays off for your connections.

Want to learn more about staying connected?  Join me on my FREE Webinar coming up March 13, Why Stay Connected?  Click here to sign up! 

Technology: How Do I Keep Up With It All?

Whether you’re referring to social media or the new technologies that we have available today, many of us are wondering, “how do i keep up with it all?”  I’m not the only one wondering this.  Just this week I asked a question on my Facebook page about what people struggle with most about technology in business.  A majority of people said hands down, keeping up with it all.  It isn’t just that there is a ton of technology out there it is also that the technology we have changes daily.  It isn’t enough just to have a new smart phone, but before you’ve barely learned how to use yours they’ve come out with version 2, 3, or 4 and it is new and improved to load faster, do more things or make your life easier in some way.

When it comes to being in business it seems somehow the pressure to stay on top of the latest and greatest in gadgets and services is even stronger.  We want to be in the know and we want to do everything we can to see our businesses thrive and grow, even if that means we’re trying to tweet, chat and text all at the same time.  Have you been guilty of that?  I know  I have.  I feel like I”m jumping through hoops and trying to do belly rubs at the same time. Remember that old game of can you pat your head and rub your belly at the same time.  That’s how keeping up with everything tech feel sometimes to me.  What about you?

Trust me I feel your pain.  The truth is you have to create a system that works and not a system that works for your neighbor but one that works for you.  There are many tools and strategies out there that can help but ultimately you have to find a system that works for you.  You definitely want to take advantage of any opportunities you have to learn systems that can help you.

Realize though there is a ton of new technology available at lightning speed you can only do so much and take so much in, and be sure to focus on what is truly important and leave the other pieces to fall into place.

That may be the longest title I’ve ever written for a blog post. However, this is an exciting post and a big announcement.  You may have recently heard me promote my Relationship Marketing Basics Program.  It was a 4 Week Action group where I walked the participants step by step through 4 sections: ACT, ATTRACT, ADVERTISE and ACCOUNT.  We just wrapped up the class last night in fact.  These ladies learned fast and are implementing fast!  However, if you think you’re too late to benefit, you’re wrong.

I have a huge treat for you!  The Relationship Marketing Basics program is now a DOWNLOADABLE product and this is just the first Track we’re calling Free Offer Creation & Implementation.  There will be more tracks in the future because in relationship marketing theirs one thing that will keep it from working, if you stop building relationships so you want your relationships to continue right?  New tracks will be announced soon.

However let’s get to the big news, besides the fact that the program is now available for DOWNLOAD instantly.  You can PIN IT to WIN IT.  That’s right if you’re on Pinterest you can pin this post to win your FREE copy of the Downloadable Track 1 of Relationship Marketing Basics – a $47 Value!

This Downloadable Program will guide you to

Here’s what you will get INSTANT Access to, Even at 2 am.  

	3 60 Minute Webinar Replays & 1 Audio Packed Full of Step by Step Information (value $47 each)
	10 + Downloadable Handouts with more guides and how to’s. (value $247)
	Bonus How To Video (value $27)

By working step by step through this program you will take action to:

• create your free offer
• attract others through your squeeze page
• advertise your free offer at no cost to you

The way you enter is simple:

1. Sign in to Pinterest.
2. Come here to the blog.
3. Click on this post.  
4. Click the Pin it button at the bottom of the post and you’re instantly entered.  
5. Make sure your pin links back to this post for the entry to be valid.  Leave a comment below with a link to your pin. Thanks