The Factors that Play a Role in Your Web Site's Ranking

Author : Courtney Heard
Have you ever had a proposal, estimate or quote for search engine optimization work and wondered what goes into the pricing? What makes one site need more work than another? Why do some sites increase rankings faster than others? Why do some sites get more traffic from their top page ranking than yours?There are so many aspects of a web site that can decrease or boost your search
engine rankings. Each web site is as unique as DNA and as such, will react
differently to different marketing treatments.What are these different factors that go into your web site's ranking? Here is a list of
the most important aspects:1. The State of Your Site Prior to the Optimization - Your web site can have many
different attributes that contribute to it's ability to rank well or not so well. Your
site's PageRank for example, if your PR is a 0/10 or 1/10, it's going to take a lot
longer and a lot more work to get your site ranking well. If your site is poorly
designed, contains frames or is written entirely in Flash, a lot of work will be
required to redesign your site so that it is search engine friendly. If your site has
very few incoming links, a fair amount of link development will have to be done in
order for you to see the rankings and traffic you're after. A web site that has been
around for a while and developed it's PageRank, has a search engine friendly design
and obtains links on a frequent basis, will be able to reach top positions much faster
than other sites, once an optimization campaign is under way.2. The Keywords You Are Targeting - Some keywords are less competitive than
others. If you search Google for a keyword or keyword phrase, you'll see at the top
of the results how many web pages are listed in those results. That is the amount of
web sites that are competing with yours to reach top page placement for that
keyword or keyword phrase. For example, the keyword phrase "web design" has
approximately 303 million web pages listed in the results, whereas if you search for
my name in quotations, "courtney heard", you will see that there are only 508 web
pages listed in the results. It is therefore, much easier to rank well for the keywords
"courtney heard" than is is for web design. This is why you must choose keywords
wisely. With tools such as wordtracker.com, you can find out approximately how
many searches are performed for a given keyword or keyword phrase. The more
competitive those keywords are, the higher the cost will be to optimize your web
site and the longer the optimization will take.3. The Size of Your Target Market - If your site is targeting a global market, it will
take a lot more effort to reach the top ten search results than if your site is
targeting a regional market. It also depends on what sort of market you're targeting.
If your site sells a product that only a small group of people will be interested in
purchasing, your site will be optimized easier than if the product or service
appealed to the global population. For instance, the keyword phrase "real estate"
will require a lot more effort to reach top page placement for than "real estate
canada" and even "real estate vancouver".4. Competitor Sites' SEO Campaigns - You might find that once your optimization
campaign is under way, your site jumps and slips and jumps and slips several
times. This can be due to many things, but the one we'll look at is your competitor's
sites SEO campaigns. If your competitors are aggressively optimizing their own sites
for search engines, they can also be achieving new rankings and displacing your
site. This brings us to our 5th and final point...5. Your Own SEO and Link Development Campaign - Your own link development
and SEO campaign should be thorough, covering all the aspects of a well optimized
site and utilizing all your resources for obtaining incoming links. If your SEO
campaign isn't approached properly, your competitors can surpass you in the
rankings easily. You must be aware of your competition and adjust your efforts
accordingly.As you can see, there are many, many things that make your site unique in the
services it requires. Some sites can reach top page placement by just changing a
title tag, while others wait 6 months to even be listed on Google. The bottom line is,
educate yourself, ask questions, choose the right SEO company and be patient. In
time, your top page placement will come.Courtney Heard is the founder of Abalone Designs,
an Internet Marketing and SEO company in Vancouver, Canada. She has been
involved in web development and marketing since 1995 and has helped start several
businesses since then in the Vancouver area. More of Courtney's articles are available
at http://www.abalone.ca/resources/
Category : Business:SEO

Thousands of Anxiety and Panic Attack Sufferers Missing Out On UK Disability Benefits

Author :

&lt;b&gt;Thousands of Anxiety and Panic Attack Sufferers Missing Out On UK Disability Benefits&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;by: &lt;b&gt;Ali Sinclair&lt;/b&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Thousands of Anxiety and Panic Attack sufferers miss out on Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance in the United Kingdom every year. Why? Because many are not aware that they are eligible and so simply do not apply.&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Disability Benefits are not means tested and are not affected by savings. Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance are awarded based on the applicants need.&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Anxiety and Panic Attack sufferers aged 16 to 65 should claim Disability Living Allowance if their condition is such that they require help from another person with personal care and/or getting around. &lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Disability Living Allowance comprises two components, the care component and the mobility component, the applicant must have needed the support for a minimum of three months. &lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If Anxiety or Panic Attacks inhibit a persons mobility to the extent where they are unable to go out without the support of another person, because they may Panic, run off into the Road, or need support and encouragement, then they may be eligible for the Lower Rate of the Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance. &lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;To qualify, the applicant must satisfy the disability condition for the lower rate mobility, the applicant must be so severely disabled physically or mentally, that they cannot walk outdoors without guidance or supervision from another person most of the time.&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If the sufferer needs support and encouragement from another person to manage their personal care, such as reminding to have a wash, help washing and bathing, reminding to take medication, help choosing clothes and getting dressed, support when having an Anxiety or Panic Attack, then they may be eligible for the care component of Disability Living Allowance. &lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The lower rate care component may be awarded if you are so severely disabled physically or mentally that you cannot prepare a meal for yourself if you have the ingredients or you are so severely disabled physically or mentally that you require in connection with your bodily functions, attention from another person for a significant portion of the day, whether during a single period or a number of periods. &lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;To qualify for the middle rate care component, the sufferer must require continual supervision throughout the day in order to avoid substantial danger to yourself or others, or require similar supervision throughout the night. The higher rate may be awarded if the sufferer requires supervision both day and night. &lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Anxiety or Panic Attack sufferers aged 65 or over, should apply for Attendance Allowance, and should have needed support from another person for a minimum of six months. There is no mobility component for Attendance Allowance, and only two rates of the care component. To qualify for the lower rate care component, the claimant must require continual supervision throughout the day or night in order to avoid substantial danger to yourself or others, to qualify for the higher rate, the claimant must require this supervision both day and night. &lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If Anxiety or Panic Attack suffers are not sure if they are eligible, the Disability Benefits helpline can advise. If in doubt, claim! It is advisable to seek the help of a Welfare Rights organization when completing the claim form, as they will be familiar with the qualifying rules, and can gather the right information for a successful claim. &lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Millions of pounds of Disability Benefits go unclaimed every year in the UK, if you meet the qualifying rules, its your right, claim it for the help you need to manage Anxiety and Panic Attacks. &lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Disability Benefit Rates April 2005 to April 2006&lt;p&gt;&lt;pre&gt;&lt;p&gt;Attendance Allowance weekly&lt;p&gt;Lower Rate 40.55&lt;p&gt;Higher Rate 60.60&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Disability Living Allowance&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mobility Component &lt;p&gt;Lower Rate 16.05&lt;p&gt;Higher Rate 42.30 &lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Care Component&lt;p&gt;Lower Rate 16.05&lt;p&gt;Middle Rate 40.55&lt;p&gt;Higher Rate 60.60&lt;p&gt;&lt;/pre&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;table width=100% cellpadding=8 cellspacing=0 border=0 bgcolor=#dddddd&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;About The Author&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ali Sinclair is an accredited Welfare Officer (Institute of Welfare Officers), and is currently studying Social Care. Ali works in local government, her work involves advising on Welfare Benefits and Disability Benefits. &lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ali can be contacted at &lt;a href=&quot;mailto:webmaster@attakkpanic.co.uk">webmaster@attakkpanic.co.uk</a> or go to her website for more information about Anxiety and Panic Attacks at &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.attakkpanic.co.uk" target=new&gt;http://www.attakkpanic.co.uk</a>.<p><p><p><p><p></td></tr><p></table>

Category : Health Organizations

Project Management Training: Surrex Project Management Solutions

Author : Bharat Bista

iTEACH: The Project Management Training SolutioniTEACH is the project management training solution; a proven methodology based on years of experience using training concepts and approaches from top project managers and training executives originally developed by "Surrex Project Management" a premier provider of project management strategies.Pioneering in the development of this quickly configurable, flexible and collaborative training software that can be applied to diverse industries. Complex training content can be condensed into bite-sized pieces that are easily digestible using the Surrex iTEACH proprietary (training, education and context help) software. This collaborative approach to training, powered by iTEACH, is one that you can depend on to become the cornerstone of professional development for all of your knowledgeable workers, from the inexperienced to the accomplished veteran. This dynamic training system goes well beyond off the shelf presentations that are given by academic professionals and trainers using static systems; customizing all of the training solution presentations to match the dynamics and culture of each client company. This means users maximize the abilities of this utility and training and are better prepared to apply the concepts immediately.The implementation of iTEACH (training, education and context help) software solution provides a single framework to contain and link all of enterprise wide training materials. iTEACH will assist enterprise team members to become more collaborative in their approach, ensure that the training materials are well organized, and provide a framework for real time support, all this related directly to their work and in the context of their duties.Since iTEACH is a very flexible and dynamic system, it will configure and tailor the training solution to meet the specific needs of enterprise and training to designated staff members on system utilization. iTEACH was designed from the ground floor up to mitigate many of the training challenges that are created by traditional training tools and concepts.iTEACH Utilizes Three Main StrategiesDynamic Context PathwaysIn reviewing most static training systems, it is quickly discovered that most information needs to be put into context. iTEACH is quickly configurable. Tabs and context pathways can be quickly added so the users can access "Knowledge Nuggets" combined with other relevant information to give a complete understanding. For example, consider two distinct tabs, under each tab, there would be a "tree" hierarchy allowing a drill down to the correct training materials context. Each piece of the training material can be related differently to other pieces of information and have a drill down path to create a different context applicable to the needs of the knowledge worker accessing the information.Creation of "Knowledge Nuggets"Small snippets of information, reusable with multiple additional relevant pieces of information to gain complete context, are called Knowledge Nuggets. For example, a single screen for Change Notices may be used in several places with different links creating a different context. The underlying relational model of iTEACH, allows for one change, and cascades through the whole system. Collaborative ApproachThis works in two ways. First, key users can update the information on the fly. With iTEACH, a small revision doesn't mean a complete recompiling of a .PDF document or training manual. Second, iTEACH allows any document type to be referenced and linked. As a result, Visio, PowerPoint or a Word document can be part of the training materials instead of artifacts on a person's desk. Because of the dynamic nature of the iTEACH system it can also be used for varied applications in operations, processes and reference indexes.With a primary focus in total customer satisfaction in the course of many IT projects, there are times when all does not go as planned. Through customer service methodology, which focuses on early issue recognition, Surrex uses a proven successful approach to containing possible problems before they get out of control. Many companies can provide outstanding service when things are going well; Surrex strives to provide outstanding service both when things are going well and especially when they are not.Project management training itself does not make projects effective; it just makes them more efficient.Project management training teaches how to initiate, implement and execute the project; in short, it trains how to elevate the project towards its height. Author: Bharat Bista - Edited by Web Publicitee (Bruce Cullen)Article Reference : Project Management Staffing -iTEACH - Project Management Training

Category : General Computer: Programming

Why are domain names so important?

Author : Antonio de Sousa Santana Carlos

Selecting a great domain name is important for two reasons:
first, a catchy and memorable name helps people remember it; and
second, a well-thought out name will enable you to attract
people through the search engines. Your domain name is, in
essence, the logo of your online business. It needs to express
who you are, what you do, and what products or services you
offer.

The bottom line is that a good domain name can go a long way
toward generating traffic to your Web site and building your
reputation. That, in turn, will result in more customers and
better sales.

1999 was the year of the big dot-com boom, and there was a
feeling that there were huge sums of money to be made from the
web - but back in 1999 people seemed more concerned about
branding than business plans. Inspired by the success of names
like Amazon.com, a raft of dot coms came (and went) under
snazzy-sounding titles. There was a huge land grab for virtually
all words in the English dictionary, plus every other
combination of words people could think of. Most of these sites
were never developed, but domains were often priced at huge
prices.

Premium domains are high quality domain names that are for sale
and only available in the secondary domain market.They have
excellent marketing and branding value, but also serve as an
investment.

As good dot-coms become more and more scarce, the demand and
prices for premium domain names has continued to increase.

"A domain name's importance emerged as a valuable element of an
organization's brand, and the numbers validate this trend," Matt
Bentley, CEO of Sedo.com, told the E-Commerce Times. "Though
we'll likely never see the sale prices of 1999, when domains
like business.com fetched $7.5 million, valuations for key
domains have definitely begun to elevate to demonstrate their
importance to business and organizations all over the world."

The dot-com crash that saw hundreds of start-up businesses on
the Internet close up shop in 1998 and 1999 is not discouraging
new Net entrepreneurs. A record number of domain name sales in
2005 shows that business presence on the Internet is stronger
than ever.

A domain name that reflects an organization's brand and
offerings is vital to driving new business.

Last year saw an explosion of growth for the secondary domain
marketplace, as more organizations purchased the ideal domain
name to drive their brand.

http://www.idealurl.com

Category : Traffic Generation

My favorite Sacramento restaurants: The world's best barbecue sandwich is inside a little Sacramento restaurant.

Author : boots72

My favorite Sacramento restaurants: The world's best barbecue sandwich is inside a little Sacramento restaurant:Hello, and thanks for tuning in to today's show. We're going to take a closer look at one particular bbq sandwich that I love more than any other. We took our mobile stand around town (courtesy of A Southern Komfort Cafe) for feedback on this spicy hot-link sandwich that I love to talk so much about. We're riding around in the Carmichael, CA. area, looking for someone to give us their take on the world famous sandwich. Oh, there is a woman walking out of the store! L.W. Seals: Hello, how are you doing today?Lady: O.K. , and you?L.W. Seals: Great. We don't really mean to bug you at all, but we're going around the city all day today, getting feedback from everyone who tries this delicious bbq sandwich, courtesy of A Southern Komfort Cafe. Lady: BBQ sandwich? What's is it made of? L.W. Seals: This is the world famous bbq pork hot-link (basically hot sausage) sandwich that is one of several dishes on the menu at A Southern Komfort Cafe, a Barbecue/Soul food restaurant in sacramento. Lady: Well I'm not really very familiar with the Sacramento area, so I would'nt know where that's located.L.W. Seals: Actually, it's located in Citrus Heights. Here's a flier if you are ever in Northern Sacramento. There's a coupon on it and everything.Lady: Thank you so much. I am a fan of spicy foods. However, I usually don't eat a lot of barbecue. L.W. Seals: Well, here you go...Try this, and tell me how you like it...Lady: Wow, that is actually pretty good. I think it may be the best lunch sandwich I've ever had. I'll probably need a few wet-naps to clean my hands with, but I think it's well worth it. Do you have any more fliers or business cards?L.W. Seals: Bingo! Here ya go. Feel free to pass them along to all of your friends and family. Here's a bottle of water to wash it down. Lady: Thanks.I will definately pass the word on. Thanks again.L.W. Seals: No problem. Thank you for your time.Well, whether you like Chinese, Mexican, Italian, Japanese, Thai, or other types of food...Next time you visit Sacramento, make a trip to A Southern Komfort Cafe. "It Must Be the Sauce!!"You already know that I think it's the best barbecue sandwich in the world, but you don't have to take my word for it. Hey, that little kid's trying to take off with our cart! Get back here...Gotta go, hope to see you soon!http://www.webspawner.com/users/southernkomfort/ L.W. Seals is a creative writer/researcher. For more info. on A Southern Komfort Cafe, please visit:L.W. Seals is a creative writer/researcher. For more info. on A Southern Komfort Cafe, please visit:A Southern Komfort Cafe's blog

Category : General Food

Hollywood Celebrity Memorabilia Auction - Actor Lends A Hand To Support Hollygrove, Home for Abused Children

Author :

n class="view_date">November 21st, 2004ends A Hand To Support Hollygrove, Home for AbuRaised within an artistic community in Hollywood, actor Eric Etebari learned firsthand about the plight of abused children when he was just 6 years old. While attending Vine Street Elementary School, Eric had several of the kids from the Hollygrove Home for Abused Children as his classmates!Best known for his role as the enigmatic Ian Nottingham in Warner Bros./TNT's &quot;Witchblade&quot; -Etebari's advocacy for abused children is also due, in part, to the example set by his great grandmother, who fostered sixteen boys on her farm in Bucks County, PA.In December 2001, Eric's devoted fans rallied to support a charity of his choice, and launched their 1st annual Hollygrove Auction Campaign with items from Erics projects. To date, the Eric Etebari Fan Club (&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.EricEtebari.com" target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;http://www.EricEtebari.com</a>) has contributed over $20,000 to Hollygrove's Theatre Arts Program.Hollygrove has now launched its own entertainment memorabilia auction on eBay (&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.Hollygrove.org" target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;http://www.Hollygrove.org</a>) which runs from Monday, November 15th through Monday, November 29th and is presented as the combined effort of AOL, InStyle Magazine and Hollygrove's Board Member, Lauren Shuler Donner. &quot;This is a kick ass auction!&quot; Eric exclaims. &quot;It's a validation of the motion picture community coming together to support and offer hope for a brighter future to society's challenged children. We want them to know they are special and that we care about them.&quot;Etebari's contribution of autographed &quot;Witchblade&quot; memorabilia, joins over 362 items donated by Paramount, Universal and Warner Bros. Studios-including the mask that George Clooney wore in the 1997 film &quot;Batman and Robin&quot; and the1957 Marilyn Monroe Final Shooting Script &quot;The Prince And The Showgirl.&quot; There are scores of personally signed items donated by a star-studded list of TV &amp; film personalities including: Jim Carrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Richard Donner, Hilary Duff, Mel Gibson, Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman, Avril Lavigne, Susan Sarandon, Will Smith, Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Walker, John Woo and Denzel Washington. Don't miss the unique assortment of items from the films: Shrek, the X-Men, and Spiderman, and specialty pieces from TV shows including, Friends, Star Trek, Witchblade to name a few.Claim YOUR special slice of Hollywood magic now - by going to &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.Hollygrove.org" target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;www.Hollygrove.org</a> or directly to eBay &lt;a href=&quot;http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZhollygrovekidsQQsatitleZQQsorecordsperpageZ25QQsosortorderZ2QQsosortpropertyZ3&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZhollygrovekidsQQsatitleZQQsorecordsperpageZ25QQsosortorderZ2QQsosortpropertyZ3&lt;/a&gt;Please Note: Eric's donated items end on Ends Nov-26-04 18:09:56 PST. (various items close from Nov. 25 thru Nov. 29) So put down that drumstick and get your bid in before it closes! The history of Hollygrove:Founded in 1880, originally known as the Los Angeles Orphans Home Society, Hollygrove Home for Abused Children is the oldest, non-sectarian facility for children in Southern California. Since its inception, Hollygrove has cared for more than 15,000 children. Today, Hollygrove serves abused children who have been removed from the custody of their families by the court. Very often, these children suffer from a combination of disorders including post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and cognitive disabilities. Hollygrove provides a safe &amp; secure environment, with a nurturing family atmosphere. Hollygrove is a place where children can learn and grow, while healing their emotional and sometimes physical wounds. Hollygrove's mission, in addition to crisis intervention and meeting immediate needs, is to place these deserving children in stable, permanent homes so that they can become healthier, happier people who will be able to contribute positively to society.To contact Hollygrove directly, please call: Voice: 1.800.864.KIDS (323)463-2119

Category : Free

Motivation and Commitment

Author : John Vinturella
Why do people start small businesses? The most frequently cited motivation for business start-ups is to allow the entrepreneur to achieve independence; money is secondary. Is this surprising? The other reasons named most often are that an opportunity presented itself, a person took over the family business, or the person simply wanted to be an entrepreneur. Identify your motivation.For context, what reasons might people offer for joining a large corporation? For choosing a government career? A union job? Certainly, many people desire security, fringe benefits, and a predictable career “trajectory.”What kinds of people start businesses? Their skills are seldom different from those of people who succeed at working for others. The more successful entrepreneurs tend to be proactive, assertive, and highly observant. They are efficient, quality-conscious, and good at planning and procedures. As business operators, they are committed to "partnership" with employees, customers, suppliers, and their community. Would these skills or personality traits lead to success at any professional pursuit?Most entrepreneurs value control, freedom, flexibility; and self-reliance. They generally desire responsibility and personal fulfillment. Most entrepreneurs are not "gamblers;" they have a preference for moderate risk (What is the largest financial risk that you would consider moderate?). They are always searching for opportunities, and willing to pursue some.These are merely general characteristics. How might we apply them to our own fitness for, and commitment to, the entrepreneurial lifestyle? We need to ask ourselves some tough questions:Do I really want to start or own a business? What are my real reasons for considering going into business? The motivation must be strong enough to sustain you when the excitement of the startup has passed, and the everyday grind begins.Is there a product or service that fits my talents or desires? How should I address the opportunity? About 65% of new businesses are startups, 30% purchases of existing businesses, with the remainder inherited, promoted or otherwise brought into ownership. About 11% of the businesses operate under a franchise name.Am I ready yet? Why do you think so many new business founders are in their 30s? Perhaps it is because they have enough experience to be confident, yet are still flexible enough to take some risk. Do you think entrepreneurs are born (demanding parents, ethnic tradition) or made? Is it for you? If so, identify what additional skills or knowledge would increase your readiness.For women and minorities, there are additional considerations relevant to their chances of success. Do they have to be "better" to make it, or is entrepreneurship the only true meritocracy? Is any disadvantage only at startup?Do I have an adequate support structure? If you have a spouse, or are relying on some other form of family support, make sure that they understand the sacrifices involved and the pressures these will put on relationships.Can I place developing this business over other interests and goals for the foreseeable future? Am I willing to take on the personal demands of entrepreneurship? For example, can I work a full day as an employee of another firm, then work at my coffee shop evenings and weekends until it can support me full-time? There is more to life than work, and maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle can be a challenge for the self-employed.Can I muster the resources to make the venture a success? Do I respond well to continuous pressure? Once I make the venture a full-time pursuit, can I live without a regular paycheck, a predictable work schedule, and for a while without vacations and other benefits? Even after startup, business concerns seldom end when you lock the door at closing time. Am I prepared for the possibility that I might lose my money and property, and damage my health and self-respect?There are no right or wrong answers to these questions, only those that best reflect your feelings on these issues. Similarly, if your feelings indicate that you should not take the entrepreneurial path, it is certainly not a sign of weakness or any other sort of deficiency. It is more likely a decision that reflects the best life-work balance for you.John B. Vinturella, Ph.D. has almost 40 years experience as a management and strategic consultant, entrepreneur, author, and college professor. For 20 of those years, Dr. Vinturella was owner/president of a distribution company that he founded. He is a principal in business opportunity sites jbv.com and muddledconcept.com, and maintains business and political blogs.
Category : Mobile Phones