Some tools for search optimization

Google keyword tool - https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

Analyze search volume and CPC costs for keywords based on goog data

Google search based keyword tool - http://www.google.com/sktool/#

Similar to keyword tool, but joins results with Googles view of your site. Only seems to work for sites with google analytics code attached.

Effective Web Marketing for Local Businesses

I just finished watching a really good presentation on the "Right On, No Bull Marketing Channel" on BrightTalk.com - "Top online sales tips for local and regional companies". I usually avoid webcasts in favor of text based information presentations, but this site seems to have a lot of good content. This talk was given by Brian Offenberger - a.k.a. RSS Ray - who seems to have a lot of content out there on this and similar subjects.

This talk focuses on some simple but critical steps that small businesses can take to improve the amount of traffic coming to their websites and the number of sales that result from that traffic. The advice is summed up as -

1. Make sure the search engines know where you are located
2. Maximize the number of inbound links to your site from local authorities
3. Use the free local listing services provided by the major search engines and portals
4. Buy and use location-specific domain names
5. Engage in social media marketing
6. Write and distribute articles showcasing your knowledge and expertise

While none of this is rocket science these are some fundamental steps that local businesses can use to make real impact on their sales, and the information if presented in an engaging and informative manner. Highly recommended for any small local business looking to get more from their web based marketing presence.

Setting up a multi-domain site on webfaction

I have a client that has a number of domains that should be treated as synonyms for each other. His site's structure is such that 'www.client.com' and 'client.com' point to a corporate site, while all other direct subdomains go to audience specific sites - for example 'genius.client.com' might be a site for nobel laureate physicists while 'idiot.client.com' might be specialized for Oracle salespeople.

The sites are currently setup on webfaction's shared hosting, and using name.com for name and dns services. Google Apps is taking care of mail and groupware. The process for setting up the original corporate site was:

name.com

• register the domain at name.com
• use name.com's google-apps express setup to setup the mail hosting
• edit the dns on name.com to point 'www' and '(null)' to my assigned webfaction box (web75) using 'A' records. in retrospect maybe I should have just pointed 'null' to webfaction and use a CNAME for 'www'

webfaction

• create a 'domain' for 'client.com'
• create a subdomain for 'www' under client.com
• create an 'application' for the corporate website
• create a 'website' for the corporate website that maps 'client.com' and 'www.client.com' to a document root and site configuration.

Now when I want to add a new domain alias or synonym site I -

at name.com

• create new domain.
• manually setup all the google crap in dns (not sure if this is really necessary)
  

at webfaction

• create a new domain
  
• add it to the existing website
  

And when I want add a new sub-domain/sub-site I

at name.com

• create A or CNAME records in the primary for the new subdomains
• create CNAME records in each synonym/alias domain for each subdomain pointing to their corresponding primary records

at webfaction

• basically the same thing as at name.com except using WF's tools
• ...

It kind of sucks.

Also, it screws up google maps, which has a one-domain-per-key policy...