photo credit: Stuck in Customs

If you have a Wordpress blog, you’re going to love this plugin.

The Photo Dropper plugin lets you add Flickr photos to your post quickly and easily.

It livens your stories up with images – making for a better reader experience.

Best of all it saves on searching through stock photo sites for just the right image.

It searches for Creative Commons licensed photos – images that are licensed for shared use – and lets you drop them into your posts – right from your dashboard with just 1 click

If you run a Commercial Blog, be sure to check “Show only photos that can be used commercially” in the Photo Dropper options. Since you’re ultimately responsible for following Creative Commons licensing terms, please read this article to make sure you understand Creative Commons before using the plugin and posting photos to your blog.

• Introduction
• Screenshots

We always tell our clients that if you want to get a higher rank with Google, one of the best things you can possibly do is add a blog to your site.

Here are 15 quick and easy blogging SEO tips that will turn your site into a content powerhouse that will make Google love you:

1. Choose a keyword-rich name for your blog — but be careful not to get too specific.
2. Optimize each post for only one keyword phrase.
3. Use keywords in your post title and repeat them throughout your blog post in a natural fashion.
4. Restate your keywords when replying to comments visitors leave at your blog (e.g., “Good question about [insert keyword-rich topic here]… “).
5. Connect your blog posts and website content with keyword-rich anchor text and links.
6. Use text emphasis on keywords (bold, underline, etc.).
7. Use your H1 tag for your blog headline, H2 for your subheadline and H3 for any headers in your blog post.
8. Give any images in your blog keyword-rich names and follow that up in your image alt tags.
9. Make meta descriptions and keyword tags keyword rich and enticing.
10. Use keyword-rich descriptions for all your category names.
11. Keep your blog related to the niche of your website.
12. Write thoughtful posts full of interesting, quality content that other people naturally would want to link to.
13. Interview “influencers” (people who already have a great influence and blog following) to get them to link to the interview.
14. Write a newsworthy blog post and turn it into a press release.
15. Encourage social bookmarking using a tool like AddThis or ShareThis.

Make sure you update your blog regularly so the search engine spiders keep visiting, and limit each post to one specific topic and at least 260 words to give the spiders something to chew on.

… And before you know it, those blog posts will start appearing in Google’s search results, opening up new traffic channels and sending a steady new influx of visitors to your site.

Do you have a blog on your site yet?

If so, how are you doing with it?

And if not, WHY not?

Any questions or challenges?

Share them with us in the comments!

Social media strategies are definitely the hottest thing going right now in the Internet marketing world — partly because many people are spending a lot of their spare time “socializing” online, and partly because many online (and offline!) businesses are seeing positive results from reaching out to their market through social media sites and tools.

If you’re just starting out with building your own online business, or you’re a lone entrepreneur with an established Internet business, it may seem like an overwhelming prospect to get involved with social media.

Where will you find the time? How will you get started?

Well, we’re going to suggest a simple and foolproof way to get started with social media that doesn’t require you to know a lot about social strategies — all you need to know is your business!

Start a blog on your website (a Wordpress website with Blogging plugin that makes it easy to get started) where you post information and thoughts about your industry, and then set up profiles on Facebook and Twitter to link back to your posts and ideas.

The posts don’t need to be super-long or detailed, either — you can do a simple “how to”, or offer an opinion on a big development in your industry, or even share a quick story about how you solved a problem for a customer with your product.

But remember — ONLY post information — no pitches.

Then, once you’ve built up some content and some inbound links from social sites, start joining groups on these sites related to your industry, and “friending” and following people who are in the groups.

But again, don’t pitch them. Just take part in the groups by providing great information, and let people click through to check out your blog and your website on your own.

And they will.

That’s right: even though you’re not pitching, people will seek out your business ANYWAY, once they’ve connected with you at social sites.

In fact, the lack of pitch leaves them feeling at ease, and sets up a solid foundation of trust between you and your potential customers.

If your fellow members are intrigued by what you have to say, they’re much more likely to come check you out… especially if they aren’t pushed or cajoled to go there.

And on top of all this great relationship building, you’ll see a definite boost in the search engines because of all the freshly updated content you’re posting on your site, and the quality inbound social links.

Two big wins for a single strategy!

Remember: on the Web, your credibility is your calling card, since none of the business that is done goes on face to face. It may seem like a waste of time to give out free information and ideas — but a great reputation is priceless in Internet marketing!

1. Take the time out to explore and understand whether or not you are compatible with running your own business. Some people are just plain happier and better off financially on the other end of the paycheck.

2. Get your personal finances in order. Before you jump into the entrepreneurship world, get your own money matters squared away.

3. Pick your niche. Many small business owners succeed in businesses that are hardly unique or innovative. Take stock of your skills, interests, and employment history to select the business that is best suited for you.

4. Benefit from your business plan. The exercise of creating a business plan is what pays the dividends. Answer the tough questions now before the meter starts running.

5. Do not think you need bankers and investors at the outset of your business. The vast majority of small businesses are bootstrapped.

6. Acquire the proper background. In the early months and years of your business, you will have to acquire many skills. Gain the background you need to oversee all facets of your business well, but determine what tasks you should outsource or hire employees.

7. Remember that nothing happens until a sale is made – How many good products go nowhere because they do not reach the shelves? Sales drive your business. You will need a good marketing plan to sell your product or service.

8. You have to see a customer to know one. No matter how busy you are, spend at least 25% of your time with customers. You cannot make the proper business decision without understanding their viewpoint.

9. Solve your customers’ problems. The best way to satisfy your customers is not by selling them products but by giving solutions to their problems. There is a big difference.

10. Quality takes minutes to lose but years to regain. Quality is not a destination; it is a never-ending journey. After you have strayed from quality’s path, your journey maybe sidetracked forever.

11. Put profitability first, rewards seconds. In small businesses, profitability must come first. Find out how to measure your cash flow and understand key financial ratios.

12. Hire supporters. If you intend to create a growing business, your number one duty is to assemble a great team of employees.

13. Do not do it alone. Find such help from small business peers, a mentor, even trade associations. They can help take some of the trial and error of beginning your business.

14. Vendors are partners too! Treat your vendors like customers and watch your partnership grow.

15. Make use of benefits. Understand how to provide insurance and other benefits for your employees and cut your tax bill at the same time.

16. Ignore regulatory issues at your peril. Federal, state, and local governments require licenses, registrations, and permits. Obey them or face losing your business.

17. Know the tax laws. Invest in understanding tax issues that affect your small business.

18. It’s the people! Whatever happens to a small business happens at the hands of the people who work for it. The evolution of the business is a result of their efforts.

19. Fast, good, cheap. Pick any two. Serious trouble awaits those who attempt to be all three in the market place. Stick with what you do best.

20. Develop a passion for learning. As your business grows, you need to change and grow along with it. The common denominator of all successful entrepreneurs is a commitment to life-long learning.

Darren Rowse from http://www.problogger.net put together a great video explaining the best way to use comments on blogs to gain valuable inbound links to your site.

[tubepress video="U081olDFBMM"]

As Darren says:

I do want to emphasize again – that the strategy of building traffic to your blog by leaving comments on other blogs only works when your comments ad value and are relevant to the post. If you don’t adhere to this you’ll just end up hurting your reputation.

Visit your local Small Business Development Center

The SBDC’s professional staff of counselors, trainers, and researchers provides comprehensive, confidential business counseling services provided at no cost to the client. The SBDC is funded in part by the U. S. Small Business Administration, Texas State University at San Marcos, and an extensive network of banks, chambers of commerce, and other economic development organizations. The Texas State University SBDC serves 12 counties within the 79 county service area of the South-West Texas Border SBDC regional office. This regional office, located in San Antonio, directs the activities of 10 satellite SBDCs, located as far west as El Paso and as far east as Victoria.

Counseling Services

The Texas SBDC system provide confidential business counseling services that are free of charge to clients. SBDC business consultants apply their skills and experience to assist you in making better decisions about your small business. Consulting services are confidential and available to anyone whose business is more than a year old. If you have been in Business less than a year call the SBDC office for guidance.

Research Services

SBDC counselors can also provide their clients with targeted research assistance through the SBDC National Information Clearinghouse. This program provides research data and analyses and web-based information that enable SBDC clients to make sound business decisions. The Clearinghouse web site also has extensive on-line resources and links that are accessible to users: http://sbdcnet.utsa.edu

For more SBDC information:
Phone: 512-716-4800
Email: SBDC@txstate.edu

Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday: 8:30AM-5:30PM

Addresses:
Round Rock (Main Office):
1555 University Blvd, Suite 265
Round Rock, TX 78664

Austin (Satellite Office):
314 E. Highland Mall Blvd., Ste 304
Austin, TX 78752-3735

San Marcos (Administrative Office):
601 University Dr.
McCoy Hall 322
San Marcos, TX 78666-7756

Texas-Houston SBDC
Mr. Mike Young, Executive Director
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
2302 Fannin, Suite 200
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: 713-752-8444
Fax: 713-756-1500
E-mail: fyoung@uh.edu
Website: http://sbdcnetwork.uh.edu

Texas-North SBDC
Ms. Liz Klimback, Region Director
DALLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
1402 Corinth Street, Suite 2111
Dallas, TX 75215
Phone: 214-860-5835
Fax: 214-860-5813
E-mail: emk9402@dcccd.edu
Website: http://www.ntsbdc.org

Texas-NW SBDC
Mr. Craig Bean, Regional Director
TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
2579 South Loop 289, Suite 114
Lubbock, TX 79423-1637
Phone: 806-745-3973
Fax: 806-745-6207
E-mail: c.bean@nwtsbdc.org
Website: http://www.nwtsbdc.org

Texas-South-West Texas Border SBDC Network
Mr. Al Salgado, Region Director

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS – SAN ANTONIO
501 West Durango Boulevard
San Antonio, TX 78207-4415
Phone: 210-458-2450
Fax: 210-458-2425
E-mail: ied@utsa.edu
Website: http://www.txsbdc.org

All SBDC programs are nondiscriminatory and open to the public.  Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested at least two weeks in advance.

by Jack Canfield

Sometimes our biggest life goals seem so overwhelming.

We rarely see them as a series of small, achievable tasks, but in reality, breaking down a large goal into smaller tasks—and accomplishing them one at a time—is exactly how any big goal gets achieved.

After you have decided what you really want, with specific deadlines, the next step is to determine all of the individual action steps you will need to take to accomplish your goal.

How to Chunk It Down

There are several ways to figure out the action steps you will need to take to accomplish any goal. One is to consult with people who have already done what you want to do and ask what steps they took. From their experience, they can give you all of the necessary steps as well as advice on what pitfalls to avoid.

Another way is to purchase a book or manual that outlines the process.

Yet another way is to start from the end and look backward. You simply close your eyes and imagine that it is now the future and you have already achieved your goal. Then just look back and see what you had to do to get to where you now are. What was the last thing you did? And then the thing before that, and then the thing before that, until you arrive at the first action you had to start with.

Remember that it is okay not to know how to do something.

It’s okay to ask for guidance and advice from those who do know. Sometimes you can get it free, and sometimes you have to pay for it. Get used to asking, “Can you tell me how to go about…?” and “What would I have to do to…?” and “How did you…?”

Keep researching and asking until you can create a realistic action plan that will get you from where you are to where you want to go.

What will you need to do? How much money will you need to save or raise? What new skills will you need to learn? What resources will you need to mobilize? Who will you need to enroll in your vision? Who will you need to ask for assistance? What new disciplines or habits will you need to build into your life?

Another valuable technique for creating an action plan for your goals is called mind mapping.

How to Use Mind Mapping

Mind mapping is a simple but powerful process for creating a detailed to‑do list for achieving your goal. It lets you determine what information you’ll need to gather, who you’ll need to talk to, what small steps you’ll need to take, how much money you’ll need to earn or raise, which deadlines you’ll need to meet, and so on—for each and every goal.

When I began creating my first educational audio program—a breakthrough goal that led to extraordinary gains for me and my business—I used mind mapping to help me “chunk down” that very large goal into all the individual tasks I would need to complete to produce a finished product.

To mind‑map your own goals, follow these steps as illustrated in the example:

1.) Center circle: In the center circle, jot down the name of your stated goal—in this case, Create an Audio Educational Program.

2.) Outside circles: Next, divide the goal into the major categories of tasks you’ll need to accomplish to achieve the greater goal—in this case, Title, Studio, Topics, Audience, and so on.

3.) Spokes: Then, draw spokes radiating outward from each mini-circle and label each one (such as Write Copy, Color Picture for Back Cover, and Arrange Lunch.)

On a separate line connected to the minicircle, write every single step you’ll need to take. Break down each one of the more detailed task spokes with action items to help you create your master to‑do list.

Next, Make a Daily To‑Do List

Once you’ve completed a mind map for your goal, convert all of the to‑do items into daily action items by listing each one on your daily to‑do lists and committing to a completion date for each one. Then schedule them in the appropriate order into your calendar and do whatever it takes to stay on schedule.

Do First Things First

The goal is to stay on schedule and complete the most important item first. In his excellent book, Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time, Brian Tracy reveals not just how to conquer procrastination but also how to prioritize and complete all of your action items.

In his unique system, Brian advises goal‑setters to identify the one to five things you must accomplish on any given day, and then pick the one you absolutely must do first. This becomes your biggest and ugliest frog.

He then suggests you accomplish that task first—in essence, eat that frog first—and, by so doing; make the rest of your day much, much easier. It’s a great strategy. But unfortunately, most of us leave the biggest and ugliest frog for last, hoping it will go away or somehow become easier. It never does. However, when you accomplish your toughest task early in the day, it sets the tone for the rest of your day.

By chunking down your goals, and then taking daily action on them, you create momentum and build your confidence, both of which move you farther and faster toward the achievement of your goals.

Now go take some action!

© 2008 Jack Canfield

* * *

If you missed previous issues of Success Strategies,
I keep an archive of past issues you can always refer to.

Do you have a search box on your website?

If you don’t, and you sell multiple items, you’re frustrating about 50% of your visitors.

In a recent survey MarketingSherpa found a 50-50 split in the way people like to navigate around a site. Half like menus, half prefer search.

It depends somewhat on the type of product. Shoppers who want to compare what’s available will tend to use menus to find the category of product they’re looking for. Those who know what product they’re looking for like to just type it into a search box and go directly to it.

We asked our in-house programming guru what he would recommend as a tool to search the content of small-business websites and he suggested Google Custom Search, which creates “a customized search experience for your own website.”

You can find it at http://www.google.com/coop/cse. And of course, being Google, it’s free. So you can have all that sophisticated search functionality your potential customers are looking for… and they’ll stick around longer.

From The Folks at Internet Marketing Tips…

Have you claimed your listing in Google Maps and made sure the information it displays is accurate?
If not, you need to do it NOW — even if you don’t have a website yet. This step is vital.

Local Search — including sites such as Google Maps, Yahoo Maps, and Bing Maps — is quickly becoming one of the most dominant sources of online traffic. The local search market already generates about $33 billion a year — and with the growing popularity of smartphones such as iPhones, Blackberries, and Droids, it’s about to get a whole lot bigger — FAST.

That’s because people who have smartphones search differently online. If they’re looking for a nearby business, chances are they won’t use the regular Google search engine — they’ll use Google Maps instead. Many of their smartphones have built-in GPS capabilities and can automatically determine the location where the user is. And that information gets transmitted to Google Maps, which can then automatically show them there particular businesses are in relation to their location.

For example, say you’re on holiday in Puerto Vallarta and you’re craving Chinese food. With a GPS-capable smartphone you can simply type “chinese restaurants” into your Google Maps application and your smartphone will automatically show you where the nearest Chinese restaurants are. You don’t have to type in your address — or even know what it is.

… You have to admit, that’s a pretty cool way to get information.

2. Click on the link that says, “business owner.”

3. You will be taken to a page in Google’s Local Business Center where you can add, edit, or suspend listings. Click on the “edit my business information” option.

4. You’ll be shown a long screen of information that you can edit and add in.  Make the most of this listing. Not only can you make sure your phone number and address are correct, you can also add an email address, your website URL (if you already have one — if not, don’t worry, you can return and add this information in later), your hours of operation, your payment options, and photos of your business. You can even add up to five YouTube-hosted videos to your listing!

6. Make sure the information about your business is correct and then click the “submit” button at the bottom of the page, Google will want to validate that you are the owner of your listing. They’ll send you a PIN code and activation instructions to the business address associated with your listing. You can then use that PIN to sign in and claim your listing. After that you may edit your Google Maps listing as often as you want.

Congratulations! You have just completed your first Internet marketing task. Once you have claimed your Google Maps listing, we suggest you go through the same process for your listings on Yahoo Maps and Bing Maps.

It only takes a few minutes to complete, but the pay-off will be HUGE.

Here’s how you do it…1. Go to Google Maps and run a search for your business. You should be listed, unless your business is so new it’s not even listed in the local Yellow Pages yet. When you see your listing, click on the “more info” link.