Google shared best practices for websites that allow users to create their own websites or host users’ data, like Blogger or Google Sites. This class of websites is often referred to as freehosts, although these recommendations apply to certain “non-free” providers as well.

1. Make sure your users can verify their website in website management suites such as Google’s Webmaster Tools.
2. Choose a unique directory or hostname for each user.
3. Set useful and descriptive page titles.
4. Allow the addition of tags to a page.
5. Allow your users to use third-party analytics packages such as Google Analytics.
6. Help your users move around.
7. Help search engines find the good content from your users.

Read the entire post on Official Google Webmaster Central Blog.

Love the look Bring!

I just love what Microsoft has done with it’s newest search engine – BING! 

If you haven’t seen BING lately, check out the AMAZING scenery shot.  Although Google still gets my vote for search, thank you BING (a Microsoft product) for the AMAZING view and inspiration!  What do YOU think of BING?

Any idea where this picture was taken?

For the last year, Twitter has had no major rival in real-time search. But last week, that all changed when Facebook launched its real-time search engine. Not only can it search status updates, but it also tracks photos, notes, videos, and more.

Read entire post… Twitter vs. Facebook: Who Will Win in Real-time Search?.

Find Social Networking sites related to your interests, hobbies or vocation and connect with like-minded people at www.FindASocialNetwork.com and/or promote your own.

1. Well designed – Poor design will bring you poor results
2. Award winning home page – Make an excellent first impression
3. Effectively laid out – The path to least resistence should be the path to your cash register
4. Customer service plan – If you fail to plan, you fail to plan
5. Web glue – Content that gets people clicking and coming back
6. Perfect code – So people can print and search engines can get through.
7. Easy navigation – The path to least resistence should be the path to your cash register.
8. Revenue streams – Make your website an asset.
9. Web hooks – Entice people to give you their contact information
10. Spam Proof – Don’t leave yourself open to spammers
11. Well managed - Plan to update your website as frequently as possible.

10 Affirmations
9 Durham portals
8 Google gadgets
7 Money makers
6 business bibles
5 Website tests
4 Website links
3 Search sites
2 Podcasts, and
a chance to win a cool prize pack!

Is your website an asset or a liability?  If your website is not making you money, consider the following strategies:

1. Promotion, promotion, promotion - SEO (Search Engine Optimization), SEM (Search Engline Marketing), Local portals, Banner ads, Web rings, etc.
2. Content - Get repeat business by posting interesting content that gets prospects clicking in (and away from the competition), keeps them on your website longer, and encourages them to come back. 
3. Web Hooks – something you can give away that entices prospects to give you their email address, and permission to market to them e.g. newsletter subscriptions, white papers
4. Sell advertising space – on your website or newletter
5. Affiliate programs – amazon, etc.
6. Social marketing sites – facebook.com, youtube.com, linkedin.com, blogspot, etc.
7. Improve your website – It’s the web that all the others should point to to close the sale. Review it and figure out how to make it better and faster – from your customer’s point of view!

6 business bibles
5 Website tests
4 Website links
3 Search sites
2 Podcasts, and
a chance to win a cool prize pack!

4 Website links
3 Search sites
2 Podcasts, and
a chance to win a cool prize pack!

There are two ways to get on page one of Google. You can optimize pages for search engines and/or you can run a Google Adwords Campaign.

1. Develop a list of possible keyword combinations prospects will type into Google
2. Research each keyword combination for competition and popularity
3. Sort results by success factor and indicate benchmark results
4. Select appropriate keywords (above benchmark) you’d like to target
   
5. Create/Fortify at least one web pages for every keyword combination


6. Make a date to check Google/your stats for results.

If this doesn’t work for you, or you want instant business consider a Google Adwords Campaigns ($)
which can get you on page one of Google right away!

Need help? Call Sue Sutcliffe, The Web Coach at aWEBthatWORKS.com. 1-800-579-9253.

The long-awaited gPhone is still a pipe dream for the Google faithful, but the search engine giant took a step toward realizing that goal Monday with the introduction of the Android open-source platform for mobile devices.