Do I look like a people person to you?

I wasn’t going to publish this. It’s not my normal tone. I wrote it, in fact, because I just wanted to write the feelings down. In less than a month, I’ll be 50… never thought I’d hear myself say those words out loud, let alone write them down.

I’m not going to be the cheerleading squad of the fifty-plus generation. I’m not familiar with them. I don’t know them. Not to say I don’t see them, but none of the people I know or hang out with are in that age group. Okay, maybe I know a few but, I’m not around them and they are the cool 50 something crowd…You know who you are Cirouzzz, Martucia, which brings me to my other point. I do have another point you know.

I’m sure moving away from San Francisco has made me lose some of my sanity. I’m probably no longer in touch with the “real” world. I guess moving to a retirement community in the Red Neck Riviera five years ago hasn’t helped my mood today.

I’m not happy that the AARP has contacted me as if I were a long lost friend. Go. The fuck. Away. I didn’t ask for any group hugs and I’m not going to embrace the AARP community at large. Besides, how the hell do you know my age and why do you have my address?

I can’t be 50 yet. When I think of 50 I think of old people; walkers with worn tennis balls for wheels; white hair; lots of doctor’s visits. That’s not how I see myself, damn it. Yesterday I was going to nude beaches in the Bay Area, smoking and drinking while roasting my buns in the sun. What the hell happened? I blinked and here I am – a month away from 50.

Part of me wants to embrace the notion that now I am wise. I must be, by now; I’ve lived a life I should be proud of living. Shit. The last thing I want to do is be wise; I don’t want that responsibility…

I don’t like waking up and discovering I have facial hair, that’s just not cool. I realize hormones play a big part, but fuck it; I’m not taking medicine in order to stay young. I want to age gracefully, not use tweezers glued to my hip pocket like a damn cowboy.

Sometimes I wonder am I really missing that much? I want to still fit in my college jeans and stay out all night like I used to. I bet if I tried now, that two things would happen. One, I would look like a complete fool squeezed into torn jeans with camel toes. Two, the patrons of the club would think I was lost or – worse yet – looking for my kids.

Now, I don’t look old and I’ve never worn tight jeans, but damn it, that’s how people see me. They have the audacity to say, “Yes, Ma’am.” Who the hell is that? I’m waiting for the day to snap at one of these 30 something’s and say, “Don’t worry, sweet cheeks, you’ll be here soon enough, don’t blink.”

I do embrace some things about turning fifty. For instance, I can pick up a line of bullshit from a mile away. It’s not the obvious swagger, glasses, smooth talk, great sales or slick clothes. Now it’s the way they write, how they engage online in social networks and blogs, or how the show off at conferences. I’ve seen some that are so self-centered I almost want to throw up when I see their names. Yes, that’s harsh but hey, I’m turning fifty and I’m turning into my mother.

I’m even confused at the music I hear. I mean, I love a good rap song and an action-packed movie, but the shit I’ve been witnessing is beyond creativity. It’s negativity, hate, abuse, despondency, a complete disregard for women and humanity as a whole. That’s what we call entertainment, people. I won’t even mention the horrors I see every time I turn on the news.

I’m turning into my mother’s generation. I’m turning into the crowd that says, “What are you kids listening to?” “What are you reading?” You’ll see; if you’re 30 something and reading this, remember that you saw it here first.

I remember, and have lived, the leaps and bounds of technology. I’ve been entrenched in it! Nowadays, though, I hear shit like, “Do you want to wake up early? There’s an app for that.” “Do you want to meet new people? There’s an app for that.” “You want to get laid? There’s an app for that (it’s called Craigslist).”

Am I walking down memory lane if I say things were easier back then? You didn’t have to worry about the boogiemen online. The people using technology seemed cool with no bullshit. People online were there to exchange information, not sell you, spam you or give off an attitude that you were so lucky they talked to you.

Good Old Days

It sounds like an episode of “The Good ‘Ole Days”, but that wasn’t so long ago, really. I remember when I discovered The WELL. It was safe; we discussed business, health, music, politics, hobbies, software and so much more.

I’m completely blown away at such abandon towards social networks. Granted, I embrace the technology, but the world is giving their identity away to it! For instance, I’m not stupid enough to put up my nude pictures for the world to see. I don’t talk about things I don’t want the world to know about, and then bitch because the world found out. I guess that’s just something age has taught me.

I’ve tried to be reasonable with people. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve held my tongue. I don’t see anything impressive anymore. Am I being a salty old woman? My generation joined causes and grass root movements because we wanted to make a change and felt the causes were right. It seems people join causes now because it’s the in thing, the cool thing, to do. Anymore, I don’t want to help the world; I tried to change it in my youth… believe you me; it’s gotten worse, not better.

I don’t care whether you like me. I say what I want to say, because I can pretty much bet I’ve been there and I’ve don’t that. You can’t show me or tell me anything that hasn’t been done or said already. I don’t worry about hanging out with the cool crowd, because I am the cool crowd. I’ve never been much of a follower – and guess what? Now that I’m turning fifty, I’m even less of one.

I don't care

This is a reality check, people, so listen up. I don’t want to be fifty in your “thirty-something” world. I’m not impressed by all your cool apps. I don’t care if millions of people follow you. You’re in a sad state if you don’t see how fast the world is passing by you.

I’m not saying stop or even slow down, enjoy your family or enjoy your life. How you live is up to you. What I am saying, however, is your fifty degrees of separation isn’t that far away from being where I stand today. Your Foursquare reality is nothing more than another reason to allow your self-inflated ego. Do I care if you’re the mayor of a coffee shop, that you started a group or started a meet-up to see who can out drink the other?

No. The bottom line is I’m scared; I’m terrified of slowing down – that life will be robbed from me. All of a sudden, I don’t have that much time to do and see all the things I want to do and see in life. I’m too busy trying to get it all down to care about whom out drank who at the last meet-up.

Am I going to write a bucket list? Not a chance. The life I’ve had, places I’ve seen and things I’ve experience have probably been on several hundred peoples’ bucket lists. I’ve been to more places in the world than not – countries most people can’t even spell. I’ve had a wonderful whirlwind life I wouldn’t trade for anything and talked to people you’ve only dreamed of meeting. To the 30 something’s and younger, take your cool, hip life and don’t step on mine. You see, now I can say shit like that; people just blow it off because I’m old. Yes, I’m old enough to know that you’re a fucking idiot.

I’m old enough to know and realize that:

• Relationships don’t happen overnight
• You have to work for everything you own or buy in life
• No matter how many times you get people to listen to you, they still only hear what they want to hear
• Perception is 99% of one’s reality
• There’s nothing better than being with the person you love, respect and have fun with
• Millions of dollars won’t make you happy
• You can’t find happiness in bottles, pills or sex

I’m old enough to say anything I want with no fear of repercussion. That’s my favorite. See, I don’t like perfect; perfect is boring. It’s not human. I make mistakes because I’m human. I don’t harbor hate because it takes too much time. I forgive because I believe the apology, not because it’s “the thing to do”.

Is this a bucket list of sorts? Hell, no. I’d break into tears, if for no other reason than because everyone has already done it. They even made a movie about it that I never did go and see. Not a movie that would end up on my own list even, if I were ever to write one. Doubtful…

Dark Side of Real estate

In providing SEO copywriting, it’s imperative that you research the subject. We’ve talked about this in countless numbers of articles here at the Article Archive. Most of the time, the job is simply to research and relay the information in a way that the client’s target market can understand. SEO copywriting has a dark side, however.

Over the past several months, I’ve been researching and writing SEO-based content for the real estate industry. The client likes upbeat, perky articles. Three or four years ago, this wasn’t a problem, but then the real estate bubble burst. While researching, I’ve found out more information than I ever wanted to know about buying and selling a house – and therein lies the topic of this rant.

The dark side of SEO copywriting, from the copywriter’s point of view, is sometimes you have to find the loopholes in information to write the type of articles your client wants. For instance, a bright side in real estate is the mortgage rates are lower than they’ve ever been. That’s the story, and, for the client, I’m sticking to it.

The dark side is that banks want 20% down payment or more if you don’t have private mortgage insurance, 10% or more if you do. Credit scores have to be 670 or above. After years of giving credit and loans to whoever walked through the doors, the banks are finally dotting i’s, crossing t’s and, in short, making it hard to get a home loan. The dark side of the story is that it’s not a buyer’s or a seller’s market; it’s a stalled market.

It’s time for a dose of reality, people. The real estate market is dark and gloomy! Job security is shaky, the national unemployment rate is still at 9% or more, housing prices are dropping and more foreclosures are slamming the still staggering market. Sellers aren’t selling and many potential buyers can’t get past the red tape to buy. On top of all this, more sellers are actually putting their homes on the market because, for some unknown reason, they think now is a good time to sell.

Now, I know that some sellers don’t have a choice but to put their house up, for many reasons. As well, I’m not an economist or financial guru; I’m just an SEO and coding geek. However, I can look at statistics, read the information and put two and two together, and I have to ask the sellers that do have a choice…

With an already glutted market, why are you trying to sell your house? Why are you pricing it above its value? How can you think it would make the home more attractive in a day and age where foreclosures are the best deals?

Do you know who’s buying up most of the American real estate? The government, which is now the biggest real estate owner, investors and people from overseas – not, as the reports might seem to tell you, the average Joe American with 2.5 kids and a dog.

The Reality of the Situation

You know, “money makes the world go ‘round” is a quote used so often that it’s lost its meaning. However, money really does make the world go ‘round. Why aren’t job markets improving? Because Americans are worried they’ll lose their own paychecks so, instead of spending, we’re stockpiling. We’re saving every dime. Therefore, companies that don’t sell products can’t afford to pay wages and employees are laid off.

We’re a consumer society, though, and in a consumer society, you have to consume; you have to buy things to keep it going. Am I suggesting that you blow your savings and paycheck? No, but I am saying that if you don’t pay the economy, the economy can’t pay you.

It’s time for a mind-change based on “wants” and “needs”. For instance (and back to the original topic), if you don’t need to sell your home, don’t. On the other hand, if you’re still using a rotary phone because it’s serviceable, it’s time for an upgrade. Plain and simple, money has to trickle up before it can trickle down.

In regards to the dark side of SEO copywriting, well, putting the best face on things is part of the job – and I’ll continue to do that job to meet client needs. However, I ask that you keep in mind who is writing whatever you’re reading. Most bits of information are biased for or against a topic. Research and get both sides of the story before making decisions that affect your family, your job and your life.

End of rant. Do you agree? Disagree? Feel free to add your own rant to the discussion!

"I Wasn't Born To Follow" by: sonja_pinion

I have stated in the past my Follow Friday list has to mean something to me. I wish I could spend more time looking into the reasons why and how I follow people but then I catch myself and think furgit about it. It shouldn’t be that complicated.

Granted, I don’t follow blindly anymore I actually do take the time to check people out. As a matter of fact stop wasting time with spammers on twitter. True Twit will validate your followers so you don’t have to. This little jewel of a tool has been very helpful in keeping the spam crap and bots off my twitter list.

I have never had a very strategic plan about why I follow people outside the obvious.

We. Connect.

But this is not about me and for the sake of starting my list and picking up where I left off here it is. My 1st, Follow Friday list 2010.

@ MARCOME what a pleasant breathe of fresh air. I have to be honest with you, I am not into what “New Age” music but I was pleasantly surprised. Her profile reads I’m a Canadian singer songwriter & musician. I do a mixture of pop world music mixed with new age, jazz & ambient voices. My name is pronounced Marko-may. I bet the fact she is so approachable, engaging and just down right the darling of social media with over 34,935 Followers has a lot to do with her charm. Then again her personality shines through a must follow if you aren’t already!

@linksgiving what can I say about him but a brilliant Italian, gentleman and yes geek suprimo! His profile is typically Italian (inside joke) it reads, Linksgiving Web Directory at Twitter. Alberto Rinaldi, its founder, is a computer, SEO, Internet marketing enthusiast, Web designer, yoga lover, and musician. How can you not be a geek when you manage and build a freaking directory?  Great conversations, and he is just adorable.

@BlondeByDesign Now there is a fresh approach to Twitter. Her profiles reads, An Evil person or situation may dominate time, but a Good Person or Positive Action Owns ETERNITY. Sounds earthy crunchy California? Sure, but she is wonderful strong woman as a matter of fact you can almost smell the sunshine. She is engaging, fun, witty, sexy, silly, and can hold her own in 140 characters!

@lookadoo this woman is generous with her time and knowledge. Her profile say’s it all it reads, SEO, User Engagement + all things Search support my Cycling habit. Let’s ride! … Launching YoYoSEO.com in March – @YoYoSEO. We actually spent time on the phone talking about everything from SEO, to California. There is nothing better than connecting right off the bat. She has clocked years as an SEO professional, including most recently as the founder of @Yo!Yo! SEO Word-of-Mouth SEO – Optimize the Conversation. Something she is very proud of, a must follow to all.

@regalaffair hello Twitter, now this is a woman to follow! Sassy, smart, engaging and yes, has a lot of knowledge when it comes to connecting. Her profile is short and sweet Destination Wedding & Event Planning based out of Texas serving brides world wide. The fact I am not getting married any time soon still doesn’t stop me from enjoying great information check her out.

@casettadelborgo there are two reasons I followed this feed, they are in Italy, and they live in my house! Okay maybe not but my dream is to go back home and retire with a small B&B. If you love Italy or you want to discover it’s beauty start here. Check out their Villa in  Italy, you can’t resist booking your next vacation there. Their profile reads, Holiday Accommodation San Gimignano Holiday Apartment in Tuscany with private garden & pool in Resort Borgo la Fornace with SPA & Restaurant & Tennis. Don’t take my word for it start following them today.

@mwilton13 we have just recently started following each other. I have to admit for a young buccaneer he knows his links. Extremely engaging and very generous with his RT’s. He describes himself as Search Engine Marketer and Social Media junkie by day; Blogger and father by night. (I think that’s sweet) Friend to nature and striving to live green. The last part requires further study.

@sharonmostyn if you aren’t following this lady, then you must. Sharon is a valuable connection. She actually had someone from Miami call when I volunteered to go down to Haiti during the recent Earthquake. Now that’s Social media working right in front of my eyes. Her profile describes her as a Marketing mgt at MEDEX & Inbound Mktg Cert Pro – ecommerce (email, SEO/SEM, affiliate, social media), DRTV, online & offline media buying. That’s impressive!

@AngsCopywriting Something about Canadian writers invading the US. What a wonderful find. I met her through another group I joined a while back, and have enjoyed getting to know her. Her profile reads, Copywriter, Coach & Content Consultant who likes SEO, SM, business & marketing. Also a bookmark addict & (coffee) bean brat So yeah you guessed it she’s a brilliant writer and extremely gracious with her time.

@RedheadWriting No introduction needed for this firecracker. Wow, Zing, Biff, Bang, is all I can say… add sassy, sexy, deliciousness to her writing and you have one hell of a twitter feed. Almost as good as sex, well maybe not but a definite MUST follow. Her profile aptly reads, Writer, disruptive presence, devil’s advocate (the devil, on occasion), snarkmeister, hash tag abuser in a 10 step program because I can’t commit to 12.

@marketingintell this young lady is smart from head shot to links. When I do catch links they were always spot on. Her profile reads, CEO, Marketing Intelligently, LLC. Marketing consultant for small businesses. Personal branding expert. 20-year marketing vet, Brit abroad. If you know me then you can see the fact she is a Brit is already a passing grade for me!

@nicktadd I will admit I had to do a double take when I started following him I think the Mohawk threw me off.  Yes, he is a geek and very engaging, take a look at some of his video links. His profile reads, Landlord and exponent of technology to further learning and visibility… aka web geek! Fascinated by the optimisation of social media. Will follow back. At first you may think huh? Qu’est que c’est? No need to question, just follow you’ll see.

@smallbizanswers yes, I am a sucker for puppies especially cute ones. Don’t let that picture fool you, there is a pit bull of information under that soft brown exterior. Awesome links and great resources. The profile reads, Providing the best small business related stories from across the web. Tons of topics… profiles, sales, marketing, employees, finance, legal, social, etc. I will admit every link I have clicked I more often than not RT. The good thing is they are always informative.

@kjwelborn my list would not be complete without this wonderful woman. Granted we have worked and are still working together, but that’s not why you should follow her. Her profile says it all Marketing Consultant (TV, Film, Nonprofit, Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Lifestyle) + Director of D/FW Multi-Cultural SIG, American Marketing Association. We are talking heavy hitters when it comes to positioning her clients. What are you waiting for?

@massimopaolini this gentleman is into analytics. This my dear readers is the golden grail of SEO. Granted half the time we have no clue what they are talking about, however if you follow him you’ll be a lot closer to figuring it out. His profile reads, Passions: web analytics, social media, public speaking, startups, bootstrapping, balanced life, leadership, family. A great addition to your follow list, and keep up with one of the best in the industry.

That’s it for now, I will try to do another 15 soon. By the way do you recognize any of these names? Tell us about them, what are your thoughts…

Are These SEO Services What You Really Need?
It goes without saying that there are going to be many SEO services that will not suit your needs or will even make sense to you. Don’t be alarmed by these or get down-hearted and stop searching. The right company is out there for you, so just ignore those that you do not have any need of, and move on. Once you find a couple sites that seem good to you, click on each link to check to see if they are what you need to be able to get yourself up and running and/or keep your SEO Articles and web content fresh and up-to-date. Once you have looked the websites over and have decided which of these will be exactly what you need in terms of making yourself more noticeable in the world of SEO and all over the Internet, it is time to contact them and find out as much information as you can about them.

Make Sure That the Particular SEO Services Provider is Available When You Need Them
The next thing to look into is how easy is it to contact the SEO services providers that you have decided that you are going to be working with. Is there an e-mail address and a customer service department or technician’s e-mail address and/or phone number that you can use to easily get in touch with the customer service department and/or technician when you need them?  Most SEO Services providers have this information available to those who want to work with them. How are you supposed to get your SEO related problems solved if you cannot even get in touch with the team that deals with SEO matters?

Make Sure That Link Building is One of the SEO Services
Finally, make sure that Link Building is part of the package. Almost all of the present SEO services will provide link building services as part of their SEO tools, and almost everyone that has ever built a website, business or personal, needs access to the link building services so that you are getting the best SEO services.

Some of these services are a good start. What I tell most my readers looking for an SEO service provider is to make sure they understand what is being offered. One thing I have learned is to communicate as clearly as possible to clients. Samples of what is being offered is not a bad thing. The problem is most SEO service providers don’t want to share their nuts and bolts with “potential” clients. I firmly believe as long as the provider sends you the right information specific to your needs there is no reason why finding the right company should be a huge task.

Keywords, meta tag descriptions and top ranking – this optimization tutorial is what it’s all about. I am giving the love away… Can you feel it? Okay, then, let’s get down to work.

I’m sure you have wondered why some pages are ranking higher than others, right? Especially if you’re in this business. I’m also sure you’ve heard and seen 100 ways to get all your pages ranking well, and you’re still wondering why it’s not working for you or why you only see a minimal change in your traffic.

Well, you’re not alone. I’ve been there, seen that and done it. Read on. You’ll see what it takes and then wonder why you didn’t think about it. It’s so obvious it’ll make a grown man cry. Well, maybe not, but you will feel better.

Here are the 10 rules or commandments you should use to SEO your pages for keywords and meta tag descriptions:

Rule #1. Let’s say you already have your page created. Remember, this isn’t a tutorial to build your website. It’s a guide for SEO.

First off, the entire page you’re creating should determine the amount of content. For instance, a landing page (or sales page) should normally hold no more than 1500 – 2000 words. Here, you would describe the advantages of the service you’re providing along with how they are a solution to the consumer. Testimonials are a great additional feature, so place them appropriately. You could go as far as telling a story of how a client had “pain” in their sales effort and how it was solved by using your service. Don’t blabber – get to the point and make it interesting.

Your product page will be different that your sales page. This should be 500 – 700 words. On this page, what you’re trying to accomplish is selling your product. If your user gets to this page, you know they want specifics. The job is convincing the user that your product or service will take the” pain” away.

If you have an article page to match your product or service, don’t worry about length. People are coming to find out information, and now’s your chance to give it to them. Some may argue with this, saying that Internet users have a short attention span, but if the visitor has already looked at your product and is looking for more information, you want them to find it on your site. This way, they can order from you once they find out what they’re looking for.

Rule #2 The keyword your page is based on should match your page name. The search engines will match up your keywords with the page and give the page a higher relevancy spot.

For example: “copywriting”

Your URL and page name might read something like this copywriting.com/copywriters.php

Rule #3 Do not use more than 5 keywords on your page. More specifically, pick a main keyword and then use other keywords to support it. For instance, this page is about SEO; therefore, SEO is the main keyword. However, I might also use optimization, optimizers and search engine optimization as well. All the words are derivatives of the main keyword.

Rule #4 When writing your meta description, remember that users come first. You want to use your main keyword (at least) in the description, but only if it doesn’t compromise the overall read. This is your first handshake with the consumer, so write the description with this in mind.

Rule #5 Your meta description should be no more than 146 characters, counting the spaces. Not words – characters. If you want to write more, that’s fine, but make sure your main message is in those first characters. The rest may be cut off in the search engine listing.

Rule #6 When you are setting up your meta description, do it so it looks like a sentence. Search engines don’t read it like this, but people do. Keep it professional, with proper grammar and punctuation.

Rule #7 Read your content at least 3 times. Check spelling, grammar, placement and paragraph description. Once you’re confident with your page, proofread it again and focus on you keyword placement and repetition. You want your keywords placed in your content sparingly.

As well, read your content aloud. When a person reads their content silently, they may not catch spelling errors or may miss hiccups in the word flow.

Rule #8 Place your meta description in one line in your html code. Do NOT use a hard enter; let it naturally flow. Some search engines will miss the second line. I have seen it happen.

Rule #9 If you choose to put links in your page, try not to use more than 1 link per 100 words. The links can be close together, even right after one another, but keep the links down. For instance, if you have 500 words, use no more than 5 links. (This is only if the links are for SEO purposes, not if they are actually relevant to the page)

Rule #10 Use your primary keyword in the first and last paragraph of your page, as well as the header. The search engines will give more relevance to your page if they find your keywords at the beginning and the end of your page.

Extra Kudos for you –

Get a bookmark widget on your page. This makes it easier for your visitors to bookmark and save your site. In conclusion, use your keywords wisely. Content is king – keywords are just a bonus.

• Does the professional SEO consultant know his or her business?
• How long have they been doing this type of work?
• Do the SEO writers write their own SEO articles?
• Do the SEO writers know about article submission and directory submission and how to use SEO tools in order to maximize effectiveness?
• Does the professional SEO specialist make pie in the sky promises, or are they very realistic and based on experience?
• Do they know the top ways to get Google ranking?
• Is the professional SEO consultant aware of the latest trends and knows just how to get clicks to your website by using Meta tag descriptions and top ranking?
• Do they offer SEO services that are custom built to you and your needs?
• Are their prices and services reasonable? What approaches and strategies do they employ to raise your search engine position? Does the company use doorway pages (the answer should be no)
• Is the professional SEO specialist willing or not to work with your competitors? (This is a must know! This must be agreed to before you let them work for you. Have the guarantee in writing and make certain that it is legally binding for the professional SEO services that you are thinking about choosing.)
• What are the SEO service provider’s track records? (Find out what search engines they have had success with and what keywords and phrases they have had the most results with. Also, find out if they have good results over an entire site.)

When dealing with a professional SEO specialist, you need to make sure that they have done the work they say they have done.  Ask your consultants if they can show you a report that shows rankings through many search engines for six months. Make sure the report that is shown to you is in a format that you can easily understand. SEO services are not cheap, so finances will have to figure into the equation. Most professional SEO consultants will also happily give you references and will answer any precise and specific questions. Finally, you will need to find out whether or not the professional SEO specialist’s work results/end in a higher rate of return.

These are just some general guidelines to go by when looking for a professional SEO specialist. If you get all of your questions answered, references checked and reports verified, then you are well on the way to hiring a true winner. By choosing the right consultants, you will not only be assured of a better return, but also you will be dealing with someone that is ethical and willing to do business just for you, not your competitors. One last thing to keep in mind is just because you have a higher page rank or are on Page #1 on Google does not mean you will get conversions… that has to do with online marketing and social networking not SEO. Choosing the right company can be a little bit of a hassle, but it is well worth it.

Top ways to get top Google ranking

• Lets start by directory inbound linking. Basically Google liked those because it shows Google you have some weight with someone. Almost like an endorsement. I am sure you have seen the DMOZ. Org this is the Open Directory Project. As a matter of fact they power Google so how do you like that for endorsement.
• When you get to the various directories make sure you link your site properly. There will be a Paid Submission, which we want to stay away from but in case you have a few bucks (most of us don’t) and for the sake of being thorough in this article I should mention it can cost around $300 (Yahoo Directory) up to a thousand dollars with other commercial sites that will review and then submit your link.
• Next is the Free Submission. Yeah pretty amazing there is anything left Free on the Internet. But there are a few it will just take some time for you to find them or you can read my articles blogs and reap the benefits. So the big ones are going to be Google, Yahoo, AOL, Alexa, Dmoz.org, Not necessarily in that order but as long as you include you link on those sites and make sure you place them in the right directory half your efforts will be taken care of. Just like anything else however make sure you go back and check in a couple of weeks.
• Getting a featured link or paid link inclusion. Once again I have to mention all of the options. Basically this can be a paid inclusion or you can do an exchange of banner with some sites. Some are better than others and some will charge you some money. But if you know how to Shmoozle also known as Shmooze in other parts of the country you can get this done by sharing a page with some of your shmoozle efforts. (In case you don’t know what shmoozle is it’s scratch my back, scratch your back concept, some call it mafia, some call it politics, I call it shmoozle.)

I have discovered the top 5 Directories but now I have to get some work done therefore I cannot give them to you. But I promise you come back I shall give you the list and how to do it again. A step by step tutorial on how to gain ground in the World of Google ranking and all your SEO efforts.

The fact of the matter is that you may find that some SEO techniques work exceedingly well, bringing you and the client the best possible results, more so than you could have even anticipated. Then again, some techniques are failures before they even leave your mind. No matter how many times you try a certain strategy (and this can differ by situations and change easily with trends), it just won`t work. The advice for the latter is pretty simple: do something different. Throw that technique away, or shelve it as an SEO memorial of days gone by, and move on to something else. This is often a problem that you will run into and one that you must learn to deal with, for the health and wealth of your client.

Unfortunately for some, the strategy known as Reciprocal linking fits into this latter category. The practice of `swapping off` links to other`s pages in an effort to boost traffic and bring in more bang for the buck simply is an archaic method and needs to be let go. Put the High School track trophy into another room, and place this strategy on the top shelf of your study`s bookcase. It is old news. And it will back fire on you more times than it helps you. This is due to the fact that searchers who you use your links are really using you to cross-connect – to get somewhere else other than your page. They don`t and won`t stay long enough to look around and possibly buy. So don`t waste your or their time.

Now, a warning must be given: don`t turn a deaf ear to this; please listen. The temptation for those who are used to this strategy is to stop up their ears, turn the music up louder and pretend that you don`t hear me. If you do that, you won`t be listening or receiving the information that can (and will) give you the edge that you are looking for. Look, if I have said once, I have said it a 1000 times. The world of SEO is not a solid rock on which we all stand and bask in the sunlight. More times than not it feels more like sinking sand. To avoid losing your footing and to stay upright, you will have to be flexible. Don`t make things worse off or more complicated for yourself by sticking to what you think worked in the past. It`s just not that simple anymore.

I keep thinking one day I will get through all the wonderful people I have in my Followers list. But what I have noticed is as weeks go by I am finding it difficult to add new people to this list. Not because I don’t have a great followers list to choose from but, because I keep removing names once I see certain posts. Let me explain, for those familiar with Twitter you have seen spammers on your feed. I used to add people as soon as they added me. It seemed easier than looking for people to follow.

Look you have your strategy I have mine. I stopped manually following everyone who followed me about 2 months ago. My reason was simple, what I have noticed is some of the people I was following started spamming. Well okay what I thought were great people and automatically followed turned out to be total duds. To tell you the truth I don’t follow any of the big names. The media Guru’s they are predictable and in my humble opinion boring. Self entitlement is unattractive in my books.

So lately I actually spend about an hour or so removing followers rather than adding them. You are probably saying I am wasting too much time thinking about my follow strategy… Maybe I am. But for every “great” person I follow the better my chances are to making Twitter a dialogue and not a monologue. I hope you find some great people in this weeks Follow Friday.

@MichaelHartzell I really enjoy his comments & posts. One day I was surfing the net & noticed his posts on his blog “Never Forget: Knowledge Empowers so Learn & Teach. Did I mention he is a great writer?
@AlanHowarth A great follow from the UK. A talented photographer I enjoy his posts, links, and conversation.
@AuctionDirect Okay you may be thinking car salesman on Twitter? There is more to this guy than cars… He is engaging, smart and always ready to join in the conversation.
@naomimimi A very creative writer, who is not afraid to speak her mind. I have enjoyed reading her posts and her links. If you want spontaneous then you must follow Naomi.
@knealemann This is a great guy to follow I should know I spoke with him. As a Marketing and Media Strategist he is extremely knowledgeable, and very passionate about helping you succeed. An idea man, who is not afraid to share his thoughts. Check out his blog… see for yourself.
@kristofcreative Here is a man who is not afraid to share great links. “I eat SEO for breakfast” is something I enjoy about him. A definite SEO geek.
@mayhemstudios A funny fresh follow for sure. Always has great design links, a great list of followers and of course all around nice guy. He definitely doesn’t need my recommendations just take a look at his followers.
@AndyWendt A wise man with loads of great links. I enjoy his links, conversation and information. Oo did I mention I like what he writes and how he writes.
@SEO_Web_Design You are probably thinking Ohh lord not another SEO geek? Yeah that’s him a sweet guy who is always ready to share & listen. A true Gen-Y with a great attitude.
@sillycows Two great gals from the UK. Not sure who I am talking to most of the times but it doesn’t matter. They are both very funny, creative, mooo girls.
@JeffHurt You want to know about non-profit? Well then Jeff is the guy… has great insight, very smart & always has great links to share.
@sethjenks A Young hip designer. Always has nice things to say, is very engaging talented and believe it or not knowledgeable.
DerekShowerman Here is someone I definitely recommend. Smart, creative thinker and a witty writer. Needles to say he is a great Social media strategist with great insight.
@toddvo What a great artist he is. I enjoy the links he shares and his artistic perspectives. Great follow if you are into design or just want to get inspired.
@LandinPageDzner I have to tell you it’s not easy designing landing pages. He is very good at what he does. Great links & info. There is no doubt he is a landing page design inspiration, optimization, testing ideas and ready to try them all out for you.

If you’d like to see the other weeks click here