| Business on the Internet - Internet Linking Explained - | | | | easily, they had to be earned. |
| Based on Mutual Benefit - not as different from offline | | | | Internet Business, works the same way. Think of all of |
| business as you may think. | | | | the electronic links to your site as friends of your |
| There seems to be a certain mystique about | | | | business, even if they have never, and most likely will |
| technology today, especially about the Internet. I | | | | never purchase your product or service. Treat them all |
| remember in the early 90's before I got on-line, I had | | | | with respect as though they were your customers. |
| read dozens of magazine articles on the Internet. | | | | The quantity and quality of these links will determine |
| This was way before Google and even before AOL. I | | | | the type of page rank your site will have. |
| was led to believe that the Internet was some vast | | | | This is not easy, and in fact, involves some plain old |
| medium for entertainment, and it sounded similar to TV, | | | | hard work, in terms of as time and effort. If you pursue |
| except unlike TV, you could choose what to watch. | | | | the appropriate keywords for your industry that have |
| What I found when I finally got on-line, was that the | | | | a reasonable amount of traffic, and get these |
| Internet was not really about entertainment at all. It was | | | | keywords from another site "linked" to your site, |
| more like a vast Electronic Library of information, | | | | especially high quality sites with a good page rank, you |
| except that unlike books, the electronic pages were | | | | will find yourself with plenty of quality traffic to your |
| "linked" together. I was fascinated that you could move | | | | site that you will be able to convert into sales. |
| instantly, (well not exactly, since I had a dial-up modem | | | | I am reminded of a book, by Ray Esquith called "There |
| connection), from one page to another one, with a | | | | are no Shortcuts". He is a Disney Teacher of the year, |
| simple click of the mouse. We all take this for granted | | | | and a well respected elementary school teacher in |
| now, but as my daughter asks me, "What was the | | | | urban LA, who quite simply works harder at teaching |
| world like before the Internet" ? It is so much a part of | | | | than any one else, and his students produce superior |
| many of our lives that it is hard to imagine the world | | | | results year after year. |
| without it. | | | | There are web sites all over the Internet promising |
| At the time, I wondered, why no one could tell me that | | | | quick riches for little or no work. How many people |
| the Internet was like a big electronic library, where web | | | | actually made money in the Gold Rush, and how many |
| sites were like electronic magazines all linked together. | | | | just sweated it out ? There is simply no push button or |
| It seemed so simple for me to explain once I | | | | lazy man's way to riches on the Internet, just as in |
| experienced it, but everything I had read up until that | | | | mainstream business. Unfortunately, there are too |
| point had fallen short, and failed to describe it | | | | many unscrupulous marketers on the Internet, who |
| adequately. | | | | promise much and deliver little or nothing, to fools who |
| The same thing is true, it seems of business on the | | | | are eager to part with their money. |
| Internet these days. If someone knows how to market | | | | If you want to earn a high page rank on Google, you |
| on the Internet, they are treated like a guru. Why is it | | | | can;t push a magic button, and you can't buy your way |
| so hard to find someone who will explain how to do | | | | there, you have to earn it. Look at for example. This |
| business on the Internet in a clear and straightforward | | | | web site has a page rank of 9 out of a possible 10. |
| way, that every one can understand ? | | | | There are probably hundreds of people creating and |
| Through this simple introductory article, I will try to | | | | editing content that changes on a moment to moment |
| demystify one essential Internet business strategy | | | | basis, on their web site. had (at last check), over |
| called Linking, or as defined by the most popular | | | | 180,000 web pages that link to it. Is it any wonder that |
| search engine on the planet, Google Linking. | | | | their web site is so highly rated ? |
| It is important to remember that the vast majority of | | | | Don't be scared and think that your small business has |
| businesses in the US are still what I would call brick and | | | | to become like CNN. The best and fastest way to get |
| mortar businesses. There is a building with a street | | | | your site to the top of the search engines is, |
| address, that has overhead, and all that goes with it. If | | | | surprisingly to write a press release. Don't get scared |
| you have a "brick and mortar business", and you want | | | | off by this, it really is no big deal. You just have to |
| to stay in business, and become successful, you need | | | | become a miniaturized, small scale, correspondent to |
| to provide a valuable product or service to your | | | | begin your journey to success on the Internet. In the |
| customers, and treat your customers well, regardless | | | | days before the Internet, you would not have any |
| of the type of business you run. | | | | hope of this, but now thanks to the Internet you can |
| Think of either businesses you have worked for in the | | | | become a mini and be successful with a very small |
| past, (even your own), or places you like to visit to | | | | percentage of the success of |
| shop, or even companies you know where you would | | | | What your press release will do is create a back link |
| like to work, if you were given the chance. | | | | to your web site that will rate very highly with Google. |
| If you want to just survive, you can do business as | | | | How do you start ? Begin by thinking like a tiny CNN |
| usual, without changing anything, (if you are lucky, that | | | | correspondent. Is there anything that might be |
| is), but if you want to grow your business, you must | | | | interesting or newsworthy about your business ? It |
| subscribe to the principle of "Mutual Benefit". | | | | doesn't need to be something that would featured in |
| In other words, you must make your customers happy, | | | | the newspaper or on TV. |
| and yourself happy at the same time. In fact, both | | | | This is mini-journalism, or micro journalism. It is the new |
| parties must share equally in this mutual benefit. If you | | | | medium called the World Wide Democratic Web, |
| or your customer are happy when the other is not, the | | | | where even the little guy can get the attention he |
| relationship will inevitably break down. | | | | deserves. Find something interesting about your |
| In addition if there is never any kind of personal | | | | business, and sit down in front of the computer and |
| relationship, as well as an offer of a good quality | | | | write about it. This is not as traumatic as you might |
| product or service at a reasonable price, there also | | | | think. Keep it to the point. Keep it simple, choose only |
| may not be a long term relationship. | | | | one topic at first, and try to make it interesting. |
| There is sort of a Law of the Universe at work here, | | | | Don't forget to never use the first person, always |
| and the Universal Law applies to an Internet business | | | | write in the 3rd person in an objective and |
| just as well as it does to a typical "brick and mortar" | | | | straightforward manner, stating fact and not opinion. |
| business. The only real difference is that you may | | | | Don't sell, tell, instead. Everyone on the Internet wants |
| never actually meet your customers face to face. | | | | information. If you do not strictly observe this rule, your |
| That is not to say that you can't have a personal | | | | press release will not be accepted. |
| relationship with them. They will just have to get to | | | | Make sure that you have done your research on |
| know you, and you will have to get to know them, | | | | Google, ("Google keywords" is a good place to begin). |
| through the medium of the Internet. | | | | There are a number of sites to get good information |
| If you overcharge your customers, you will find them | | | | on which keywords to select. Use Google and just |
| searching out your competitors. If you let your | | | | type in whatever you want to find out. Keywords that |
| customers dictate your prices, or the level of service | | | | are specific to your industry are the most valuable |
| you provide to them, and let them take advantage of | | | | because they are the most relevant, even though they |
| you, than you will not be happy about their return | | | | might not generate a great deal of traffic. Always be |
| business. | | | | on the lookout for keywords that are relevant, and |
| Often, this seems like a delicate balancing act between | | | | have substantial traffic. |
| you and your customers, but those who strike the right | | | | It is better to be listed in the top 3 pages for a |
| balance will have plenty of return customers year | | | | category that has 1 million references, then page 10 of |
| after year. If you are trying to get rich quick, just like in | | | | a 50 million hit category. (Check the number of hits on |
| mainstream business, you are very likely to be sadly | | | | the top right of the page on Google each time you do |
| disappointed. | | | | a Google search). Note: if you are trying to challenge a |
| Think back to all the companies you worked for in the | | | | very large category such one with 50 million hits, you |
| past. If you evaluate these business from the | | | | may need to employ additional linking strategies over |
| perspective of mutual benefit, you will discover | | | | and above what is mentioned in this article. It may |
| something very interesting. First of all, those that | | | | even be wise to hire a Search Engine Professional to |
| merely survived and those that thrived will have either | | | | assist you. By the way, if you lay a good foundation |
| followed this principle closely or ignored it. | | | | for assistance by a "SEO Pro", by following these |
| Also, those that followed the mutual benefit principle | | | | methods, you will have saved yourself a great deal of |
| were enjoyable places to visit as a customer, or as an | | | | expense. You may also find an SEO Strategy |
| employee. Those that disregarded mutual benefit were | | | | company with very reasonable rates. |
| likely distasteful places to work, or even worse, what I | | | | Write using these keywords several times in a short |
| would call "living nightmares". What is good for my | | | | 250-300 word article, and submit your press release |
| customer, and good for me in equal proportion, that is | | | | using one of the free press release sites on the |
| what determines long term success. | | | | Internet. Write as many press releases as you can |
| The same is true on the Internet. Don't ever think that | | | | over a 30 day period. 10 releases are good, 20 are |
| you can cheat someone on the Internet. Sooner, or | | | | even better. You can also send them out to several |
| later, you will likely fall flat on your face, and be sadly | | | | different press release sites. Read their guidelines for |
| disappointed at the outcome. | | | | submission and learn their rules. Always make sure to |
| Think of all of the relationships you made with your | | | | put a link to your web site, in the correct section. |
| customers as "links" to prosperity. The quality and | | | | Try this for 30 days, and see what is does to your |
| quantity of these relationships are the measure of a | | | | listing on Google ! You may be very pleasantly |
| healthy business. These relationships did not come | | | | surprised. |