One of the biggest battles any new small website business faces is picking keywords that will help to ensure search engine success for the site. The internet is a proverbial “ocean” these days. Without help, you stand a better chance of getting hit by lightening than getting your website found.

One trick that can really help is finding a niche for your keywords. This is how I define niche keywords: they are a subset of a very popular, more generalized keyword phrase. For example, your favorite keyword might be “real estate investing.” Now log in to Google.com, and run a search for this keyword phrase. Good luck taking this one over in a day.

With time, you might be able to even take over these type of generalized keyword phrases, but it will take many days of consistent work. In addition, Google ads tend to dominate these type of searches. This makes fighting for the so-called “organic space” tough.

Niche keywords, though, can really make your website easy to find. A simple addition of something like “real estate investing Springfield Missouri” now makes the search look a whole lot different. My website can still key in on the REI component, while also capturing a section of the market in the area that I work. I have found a niche.

There is also a psychology to this type of niche marketing. There are lots of real estate investment “gurus” in the game. Yet, most people will want to do business, off the bat, with someone local. Niche keywords will give me a way to reach those people. In time, the website can take on a more natural evolution to the national or international level.

If you want to do this quickly, spend a million or so in ads. If that is out of your budget, give niche keywords for your chosen website business a try. It will bring you more search engine success.

Ray Province

Ray Province is a retired minister who currently works as an IT programmer in the healthcare industry. He is also the owner of Celtic Ozark Solutions, an IT company that specialized in website development, SEO, and social media marketing. You can reach him at celticozarksolutions@gmail.com , or @celticozarkian on Twitter.

I wanted to share a video from Scott Willoughby, regarding his research into what makes Twitter work for some people. Scott has taken a pure “research” methodology to this. I will be adding articles on this theme, with some of my thoughts on how I have built my 4000+ Twitter following. Enjoy!

SEOmoz Whiteboard Friday – How to Get Re-Tweeted from Scott Willoughby on Vimeo.

How does google rank your website? Celtic Ozark Solutions is a new website, with a current rank of PR2. Want to know what PR rating you have with Google? Check out http://www.prchecker.info/check_page_rank.php Your PR ranking is kind of a health rating for the SEO and popularity of your website. 0-10 rating. Your goal should be to get your website over a 3.Google PageRank Checker – Check Google page rank of any web pages Source: www.prchecker.info Page Rank Checker is a completely Free tool to check Google PR, page rank of your web site easily and possibly display your Google PageRank on your web pages.

I wanted to share some thoughts on why everyone should be doing some search engine optimization to their website business. Namely, I want to share 3 common misunderstandings about search engine optimization. As much good information as there is on the Internet, it still amazes me that I hear these all the time. I’m not griping; it is good for business!

1. The first commonly misunderstood notion about SEO is that it is not important to do at all. A customer of mine recently said to me, “why bother with this SEO stuff anyway, it only gets people to my site. It doesn’t make them buy!” In one sense of the word, this is true. SEO is an “art” that is designed to help people find your website from search engines, emails, social media sites, etc. To use an analogy, it sets people into your storefront. In today’s world, though, that is huge! There are literally millions of websites out there world wide. Without some help, you almost have a better change of winning a lottery than someone finding your website.

1. The second commonly misunderstood concept is what I like to call “if you build it, they will come.” This type of marketing centers more on just having a website that is a “landing page” or “squeeze page.” A landing page just wants you to enter an email, and then you can look at the store. There are many of these types of websites out there, that you will find making lots of money with Google PR ratings of O. In most cases, these sites are owned by famous people, or people with massive email lists, that just need a place to market the next affiliate product. You can be “lured in” by offers from some of these places to build websites free, or for a small amount of money. Unless you plan on getting famous first, you might want to do some SEO. If you want an example of 2 people that still do SEO, take a look at Terry Wygal or Jeff Johnson.

1. The final commonly misunderstood concept centers around the idea that “SEO is a one time setup.” Savvy website designers will now optimize your website to be “SEO friendly.” Then, the process stops. The site is prepared, but articles, blogs, emails, videos, audios, banners, pictures all need to be made SEO friendly. I try to do 30min of work on SEO every day for my sites. This is a great way for small business owners to really help their website. Of course, you can outsource this task to others as well. Elance.com is a good source for this type of help.

Till next time,

Ray Province

Celtic Ozark Solutions

Ray Province is an IT programmer in the healthcare industry, and owner of Celtic Ozark Solutions. The company specializes in hardware sales and installation, website development, SEO, and social media integration. You can reach Ray at celticozarksolutions@gmail.com or @celticozarkian on Twitter.

I wanted to add a quick, simple video on how to add good search engine optimization for your video. The goal of the process is to drive business back to your main website. Hope you enjoy it.

Wow, I have been hit like a freight train this week on questions about writing articles that get noticed on the internet. Folks, there is a lot of information about this topic on the internet. Never the less, here is my attempt at explaining what I do when I write a good blog article. Hope you enjoy this instructional video on the subject:

Seth Godin recently gave an interesting talk about social media trends for the future. Seth argues that that days of “hypnotizing people into buying via mass media” are over. Instead, he argues that people are redeveloping “belonging groups” which he calls “tribes.” Check out his amazing talk. P.S., if you do not know who Seth is, take a peak at www.squidoo.com!

Blogging is a geat way to start to develop your social media network. It is also a great way to promote your business and services. Let’s take a moment and look at blogs.

By definition, a blog is a type of website used to share information, articles, videos, pictures, opinions on some topic. The sites are usually maintained by an individual or small group, though large corporations are starting to get in the game.
The word derives its meaning from weblog.

My favorite blogs to use are set up on WordPress, Blogger,Bloglines, and Tumblr. Each of these sites will allow you to set a blog, or multiple blogs, for free. You do not even need to write on different subjects. You may carry the same article, or post, on each of the blogs you set up.

My favorite thing to do with a blog is share information on a particular subject of interest. You are reading such a blog entry now. I am fascinated with blogging on social media, and its affects on our current society. So, I share this bit of expertise on these blog sites.

The best blog articles are 500 to 1000 words in length. They will contain keywords in the title, and a couple of times during the article. In this case, I am writing on social media integration. I have used these so called “keywords” in my title, and in the article.

A keyword is a word that someone might use to find something about my business in a informational search on a site like google or yahoo.
So, I use the keywords social,media, and integration as a way for people to find my work on the Internet. In fact, I even own a website named <a href=”http://ping.fm/s8WKY%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EI”%3Ehttp://ping.fm/s8WKY%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EI%3C/a%3E%20use%20the%20big%20blogs%20because%20of%20the%20respect%20they%20have%20gained%20through%20the%20years.%20%20In%20addition,%20search%20engines%20like%20google.com%20place%20a%20value%20on%20these%20blogs%20sites,%20for%20their%20time%20in%20business%20and%20the%20general%20quality%20of%20the%20information%20that%20comes%20from%20them.%20%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe%20last%20piece%20of%20information%20I%20would%20like%20to%20share%20is%20in%20regards%20to%20the%20quality%20of%20the%20articles.%20%20A%20well%20crafted,%20highly%20informational%20article%20is%20typically%20well%20received.%20%20That%20is,%20however,%20not%20always%20easy%20to%20do%20in%20terms%20of%20the%201000%20word%20limit.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EIf%20you%20have%20not%20started%20blogging%20on%20your%20talents,%20or%20your%20business%20or%20services,%20why%20not%20get%20started%20today.%20%20I%20am%20always%20available%20to%20help%20with%20this%20task.%20You%20can%20reach%20me%20at%20contactus@celticozarkian.com%20or%20@celticozarkian%20on%20Twitter!%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3Eslainte,%3Cbr%20/%3ERay%20Province%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ERay%20Province%20is%20a%20retired%20minister,%20and%20currently%20works%20in%20IT%20programming%20for%20a%20healthcare%20company.%20He%20is%20also%20the%20owner%20of%20Celtic%20Ozark%20Solutions,%20an%20IT%20company%20that%20specializes%20in%20website%20development,%20SEO,%20and%20social%20media%20integration.%20%20You%20can%20get%20more%20information%20on%20this%20topic%20at%20%3Ca%20href=”><span style=”color: #0060ff;”>http://ping.fm/YEPC0</span></a> or <a href=”http://ping.fm/36UWc”><span style=”color: #0060ff;”>http://ping.fm/36UWc</span></a>

I work in the healthcare industry. So, I get a lot of opportunity to meet many people, and observe many events. I recently came across a new example that I believe helps one get at the concept of social media integration.

I new class was being offered to nursing staff on how to properly chart on patients. The class was set up for staff having difficulty accuractely charting on patients. It was meant to be helpful. It ended up being enlightening.

Among the people present, all but one was actively making use of some form of text messaging or online microblog. In most cases, these staff members were active “Tweeters.” There’s you sign! We are now doing remedial education for a generation of Twitter users who are use to describing their whole world in 140 characters or less!

One more example: I like to call my daughter often. Just to make sure college is going well, job is okay. I can ring her cell number and go almost directly to voicemail. I can turn around, make handy use of my Vlingo program on my Blackberry, and text her the same message. Almost immediately, I get an answer.

Are you getting the idea? Social media integration is a form of communication that makes use of software and hardware technology in conjunction with typical human forms of communication and social interaction.
It has almost become a sixth sense.

If you are not studying the concept of how we are integrating social media into our methods of speech communication and social interaction, you need to be! If you still have doubts as to the efficacy of this new revolution, go have a discussion with the editor of your local newspaper. Ask them how business is. Ask them about the paper’s market penetration for people under 30 years of age. it is here to stay.

If you would like to become part of the online discussion group about this subject, please use the link below to get more information. <a href=”http://celticozarkian.com/joinme.html”>Social Media Integration Revolution</a>

slainte,

Ray Province

Ray Province is an IT programmer by trade, and owner of <a href=”http://celticozarkian.com”>The Celtic Ozarkian</a>, a website that chronicles <a href=”http://lifeintheozarks.info”>life in the Ozarks</a>. He is also the owner of Celtic Ozark Solutions, a company that specializes in website development, SEO, and social media integration. You can contact him at <a href=”mailto:contactus@celticozarkian.com”>contactus@celticozarkian.com</a> or @celticozarkian on Twitter.

There is a new buzzword in town. It is called social media integration. It is more than just “twittering” , or viewing videos on Youtube. It has become a whole new way the individuals communicate with the world.

Why do you suppose that people like Oprah Winfrey and President Obama have become so interested in social media like Twitter? CNN has even been in a race to become a member of the “Million follower club.” Now these folks have all the marketing money they need. They can get the best marketing minds to work for them. So, why be interested in Twitter? It is because they have begun to grasp the concept of social media integration. If you do not understand it, you need to.

I am starting a discussion group/think tank to discuss the significance of the subject. I would love it if you would join us. To get started <a href=”http://celticozarkian.com/joinme.html”>CLICK ON THIS LINK.</a> We will get the information on the meeting.

<a href=”http://www.viddler.com/explore/celticozarkian/videos/3/”>Social Media Integration Revolution</a>