How to Get Your Site Indexed by Google, Yahoo, Bing

Posted by Arwen Taylor on Sep 20, 2011 in Search Engine Marketing | 0 comments

Search engines are the librarians of the internet world. Every day they send out their interns, called Robots, into cyberspace to forage for information. Each piece of information that is returned to the library is filed in a digital catalog. To access any piece of information in this catalog, all one needs to do is go to their library of choice (Google, Yahoo, Bing or ASK), type in a few search words and wait while the librarian (the search engine) serves up sites matching the query.

As a webmaster, you may be wondering how to get your brand new, still in the bubble wrap, website listed in these giant cyber catalogs. Well, there are two ways robots find new websites. Either by following links from other sites or from the queue of direct submissions.

3 Home Based Business Ideas for College Students

Posted by Arwen Taylor on Sep 19, 2011 in Business Development | 0 comments

In this day and age, you must have a college degree in order to land a personally and financially rewarding job. As a college student, however, it can be tough trying to find time to study when you work a full time job to pay for books and tuition.

Instead of getting a job like other college students, do yourself a favor and start a home based business. A home based business can provide you with the flexibility you need to get your homework done while also providing you with the income to pay for it all. You’ll also learn valuable skills that will look great on your resume. Here are three business ideas you can use to create a home based business that supports your educational goals.

Tips for Buying Domain Names

Posted by Arwen Taylor on Sep 4, 2011 in Internet Tools and Services | 0 comments

A domain name is your address on the web similar to the street address of your house. Just as you can live wherever you want, you can register any domain name you want provided the name is not being used by someone else. There are no hard and fast rules to choosing a domain name. For maximum effectiveness, though, I do recommend keeping these tips in mind when buying one.

Your Domain Name = Your Website Name

Making your domain name the same as your website name may seem like the obvious thing to do but there are numerous websites out there whose domain name does not resemble their website name in the least. Usually this is due to poor planning but sometimes the mismatch is because the original domain name the buyer wanted is already taken.

What to Do When You Must Close Your Small Business

Posted by Arwen Taylor on Sep 3, 2011 in Business Development | 0 comments

People close a small business for many reasons. Some do so for personal reasons such as wanting to retire or having a baby. Others are forced out of business due to a violation of the law. But the majority of businesses close for one simple but powerful reason; no sales.

It can be disheartening to have to close a business because you couldn’t interest customers in your product. In fact, it can make you feel like a failure. You’ll even think that if you had tried a little harder then maybe the business would be a smashing success instead of a phenomenal flop.

The first thing you need to do is realize that entrepreneurship is a tough road to walk which is why a lot of people stay in the safe lane of employment. Instead of beating yourself up about having to close a business, you should congratulate yourself for being brave enough to try to make your dreams a reality.

If you have come to the decision to close your business, here are three tips to help ensure a smooth transition.

How to Optimize Your Web Site Blog

Posted by Arwen Taylor on Jul 24, 2011 in Web Design | 0 comments

Blogging is a great way to meet other people and make a few dollars. However, if you have been blogging for any length of time you may find that your blog has accumulated a lot of digital clutter. Here are a few things you can do to optimize your web site to maximize visitor enjoyment and interaction.

On the majority of blogs, it is the sidebar that gets the most cluttered. Many bloggers give into the temptation to fill the space with loads of gadgets, buttons and badges. However, this can cause your site to load slowly especially for those visitors who are stuck with dial up internet service. Spring clean your blog by emptying your sidebar and only put back those things that are essential. Move everything else to a separate page and put a link to it in the sidebar.

Another way to optimize your website is to install the most current version of your blog’s software. Developers often add more functionality to newer versions that negate the need for some of the plugins you may be using. You will also protect your website from hackers as most of them prey on blogs that are using outdated software. Delete any plugins or addons that you are no longer using or which have become obsolete.