Some info on web directories

Submitting to Web Directories

What are directories?

Directories are search engines managed and maintained by people. Most directories are organized first by category, then alphabetically by company name. It is important to be listed in the major directories for added exposure and for link popularity reasons. Crawler based search engines are more likely to find your site and may rank it better if you are listed in directories such as Yahoo and Open Directory.

Submitting to Yahoo's Directory

Yahoo is the most visited site on the web. As a result, your site may receive enormous exposure if it is listed in Yahoo's directory and/or search engine. Getting your site listed in Yahoo's directory will cost you $299 per year if your site is a commercial site. Non-commercial sites can be listed for free. Paying the $299 fee doesn't guarantee acceptance into Yahoo's directory, it only means your site will be reviewed by a Yahoo editor within 7 business days. However, most sites are accepted. Locate the link to Yahoo's directory on the Yahoo home page, locate the category you want to be listed in, then choose a subcategory, and possibly another subcategory. Then click on the “suggest URL” link that appears at the top of the category page. Fill out the form and pay the $299.

Submitting to the Open Directory Project

Open Directory is one of the largest directories online. Their directory is used by several major search engines (Google, AltaVista, AOL and Netscape), which means that if your site is listed in ODP it will automatically show up in the directories on those sites. ODP is maintained by volunteer editors who will review and determine which sites are accepted into Open Directory. ODP's URL is http://dmoz.org

Getting listed in ODP is easy and free. To submit, go to http://dmoz.org, locate the category you want to be listed in, then choose a subcategory and possibly another category. Then click on the “suggest URL” link that appears at the top of the category page. Fill out the form and submit. Your site will then be reviewed by an editor and most likely be listed within 7-14 business days.

Do you worry to much about traffic from Relevancy Search?

Who will be number one in relevancy search this year for your market?

Depending on the subject matter, there is only so much traffic you can ever hope to get from search engines. Awesome efforts and results in relevancy search engines should account for about 30% of your total traffic. Other tools, like affiliate programs, or comparison-shopping portals, for example, have the potential to dwarf search engine traffic! By spending too much time on search engines when you should be focusing on other techniques costs you traffic! It is counterproductive.

It is impossible to control your placement in relevancy search engines. At best you have some influence over them, and it goes without saying that you should exercise this influence. The problem is that if you figure everything out, and manage to get high rankings in search engines, these search engines change their ranking criteria with maddening frequency. Meaning your rankings are never assured. A good general approach implemented and allowed to do it's work is over the long haul a much better approach that constant monitoring and modifying to try to adapt to every change and whim of a search engine.

As time goes on, being number one in relevancy search engines is likely to continue to wane in importance. Every major search engine on the Internet currently gives top billing to paid listings.  For example on Google, the top listings can be paid search results (adwords), then local maps listings, and you tube videos.  That pushes the so called "#1" spot in relevancy search to where the "8th" spot would usually be.

Knowing When To Say When!

Drop All the Needless Words

Usually web designers will use 200% to 300% more words than needed. Write what you feel is necessary, educational, and informative.  The main topics should be expanded upon correctly but don't over do it. Map out your content first with bullet points then expand on each.  After your done, you will be left with clean, simple copy.

Get Rid of the small talk – That doesn't mean you should kill your relationships.  Self promote where appropriate.  Small talk will have its place. It’s okay to talk about your business and the positive qualities of your products or services.

Eliminate Instructions – Instructions can be over done, so make use of your words.  Usually instructions just confuse your customers.  Most people know how to use a web form and don’t need detailed instruction on typing information and clicking a submit button.

Find creative ways to share the information you need without creating a bunch of noise on your website.

Website Usability

Web Usability

There are many websites that are ranked well in search engines, but they still do not convert the way that they should.  The usability level of the site is poor.

During the entire construction of your site the level of usability should be your priority.  Web Usability is one of the most important components in the success of any business (ecommerce or not). Web usability incorporates site layout, naming, copy, design, and functionality.

You should have one goal in mind: Eliminate all questions a visitor might have.

Your website should be obvious, self-evident, and self-explanatory. Many things should be understood and considered when constructing a simple, professional website.

3 Key Elements of Web Usability

Names – How you name the pages, links, buttons, etc. on your site will have an immediate positive effect on your visitors. For example, if someone wants to find the page displaying your contact information, they will look for a page labeled “Contact” or “Contact us”. Do you not name this page “How to reach us” or “Ways to contact us”. They seem pretty straightforward, but it requires just a few more fractions of a second to figure it out.

Links & Buttons – Make sure your links and buttons are recognizable for what they are. Your visitors should not have to hover over and click to find out they can click on it. Links are generally blue and underlined text. Buttons generally appear to “pop out” from the page and have drop shadows.

Search – A search bar, if done correctly, provides the easiest way for your visitors to find what they’re looking for. You should have a single text box that searches your entire site and displays results based on the keyword entered. You should never ask your customers for a category they want to search in. Additionally, you should always name your search button “search”. This is the most recognizable term; it’s just a little easier on the brain than “go” or “submit”.  Each of these elements work together to create near instantaneous recognition.

Using a site that doesn’t make us think about unimportant things seems effortless, whereas puzzling over things that don’t matter to us tends to sap our energy, enthusiasm, and time.

THE 1ST OF MANY!

This blog will contain information to help e-commerce newbies.  Every year it gets just a little harder to make the splash on line you would like to.  Not because you can't, but because you wont.  We are here to help.  So don't wait.  Lets get going.