Is Cuil the next big threat to Google?

Ex-Googlers launch rival search engine which hopes to offer a more comprehensive way to search the web.  It is pronounced “cool” and expect to start accepting search requests today.  They claim to have 120 billion pages in its index.   If this is accurate it would put it at three times Google’s index.  Content analysis is going to be more in depth than other leading search engines.

It will be a tough road ahead to try and unseat Google at the top of the search engine market.   Many have tried before, but none have come even close to capturing the market share.  Somehow I don’t think that Google will be losing any sleep over it.

All about Adsense Profits – Part I

There really is only one way to earn money from AdSense. You create a website, and insert the AdSense code into the html pages. You then drive traffic to that site, and you earn money when people click on the ads that are being served by Google. That all sounds pretty easy, but there is more to it than that.

 

It is easy, but it takes more practice and experience than that. What you must consider is that you only earn a few cents when someone clicks on an ad. That amount can be as little as three cents or as much as five dollars. The most successful AdSense publishers are targeting keywords that pay the maximum amount of money.

 

These AdSense publishers use a variety of tools to find out what the high paying keywords are. These tools include keyword research tools, such as Word Tracker and Keyword Elite.

 

They spend a great deal of time researching those keywords, finding out what the top keywords are, in terms of number of people searching for them, and what word combinations are being used. These are words and phrases that they will target in the content of their AdSense sites.

 

Next, they determine which of those top keywords pay out the most money per click. Those who have been in the AdSense business for a while are not going to build sites that target keywords that  pay only three cents per click!

 

They are making a living, and three cents doesn’t go very far in putting food on the table.

 

These AdSense publishers use the tools that Google provides to help determine which keywords are paying the most to the publishers. Unfortunately, you won’t find these tools inside your Google AdSense account, but if you look into your Adwords account you will see them.

 

You see, Google has two programs: Google AdSense and Google AdWords. Those two programs work together. Business owners use Google AdWords to advertise their products and services. When you publish Google AdSense ads on your site, the ads that are being displayed are those that people using the Google AdWords program have paid Google to run.

 

Fortunately, it is free to set up a Google AdWords account. You just set it up, and start using the free tools that are provided and see how much bids are for the keywords.  The same keywords that you’ve discovered using keyword selection tools such as Word Tracker and Keyword Elite.

 

By doing this, you have access to the same information that the people who are paying for ads has, and this helps you to build more profitable AdSense websites.

 

This is a secret that Google won’t tell you about, and few AdSense publishers will share with you. Having a Google AdWords account is the key to finding out which keywords are going to pay you the most amount of money per click.

 

Choosing the right high paying keywords, however, isn’t all that there is to it. You must also have the traffic. Low traffic sites won’t make you a full-time living. This is why most publishers have multiple websites.

 

They find the top keywords in terms of number of searches, figure out the keywords from that list that pay the most amount of money per click, and then build sites accordingly.

 

A successful AdSense publisher may have sites on topics such as boating, hair growth, video games, making money online, etc. When you have multiple sites, you can make a nice living with a mid level amount of traffic to each site.

 

If you have hundreds of sites, which some publishers do, you can make a living even with low traffic. So, here is some insight: The more traffic you have per site, the fewer sites you will need to earn a living from AdSense.

 

 

What Is AdSense, Really?

 

 

 

In a nutshell, it is a profitable program that still gets overlooked by many who are just coming online to start a business, as well as those who have been online for years.

 

First, let’s take a look at exactly what AdSense is and what it is all about. AdSense is a program for webmasters which was implemented by Google a few years back.

 

Essentially, a webmaster (a person who owns and builds one or more websites) signs up for an account with the program, and once they are approved, they paste the Google AdSense code into the html pages on their websites.

 

Google then starts serving ads to those websites, based on the keywords that it finds in the text of the website page. When a visitor clicks on one of those ads, the webmaster earns money – usually a few cents for each click. However, when a site has a great deal of traffic, and when the webmaster knows which keywords are the most profitable to target, they can earn a substantial amount of money.

 

It sounds easy enough, but it’s not really that easy. First, you have to be approved – and Google is thorough. The good news is that once one site is approved, you have a Google AdSense account, and you do not have to seek Google’s approval to use AdSense on any other site that you own, as long as that site is within the Google’s TOS guidelines.

 

Once you are approved, you have to know which keywords to target – the ones that pay the most amount of money per click, and how to write (or have written for you) content that draws those high paying ads. Often, this is the hardest part for what are known as ‘AdSense publishers.’ 

 

Finally, you have to learn how to drive tons of high quality traffic to your AdSense site. Without the traffic, you won’t get any clicks, and without clicks, you won’t be earning any money.  Plus if it is low quality then you won’t have anyone clicking the ads.

 

This is the second hardest part of being an AdSense publisher. There really aren’t any secrets here – it is just a matter of learning to use some basic, proven traffic generating techniques.

 

You may have heard experts say that it isn’t profitable to build Google AdSense sites anymore. If you haven’t heard this, there will come a time when you will. But that really isn’t true. In fact, there are thousands of people just like you that are making very nice livings from the Google AdSense program.

 

Usually when a guru says that you should not use Google AdSense, they generally mean that you are better off not using it when you are promoting your own product, and your website is tightly focused on that product. However, you can use Google AdSense for a site that was built specifically for the AdSense program, or on sites that you are using to promote affiliate products.

 

You should also note that many successful AdSense publishers have more than one website. They typically have hundreds of websites, on a variety of topics on which they display the ads. However, there are also those that simply have one high traffic website, from which they earn revenue from the AdSense program.

 

Regardless of this, all AdSense publishers start with just one website, and grow from there, and this is what you will be doing as well. You have to get the basics down, and learn the secrets that surround the profitability of Google AdSense before you can be successful with multiple sites.

The 3 Things All Affiliate Marketers Need To Survive Online

 

Now every affiliate marketer is always looking for the successful market that gives the biggest paycheck. Sometimes they think it is a magic formula that is readily available for them. Actually, it is more complicated than that. It is just good marketing practices that have been proven over years of hard work and dedication.

There are tactics that have worked before with online marketing and is continuing to work in the online affiliate marketing world of today. With these top three marketing tips, you will be able to able to increase your sales and survive in the affiliate marketing online.

What are these three tactics?

1. Using unique web pages to promote each separate product you are marketing.

Do not lump all of it together just to save some money on web hosting. It is best to have a site focusing on each and every product and nothing more.   You can find very affodable webhosting.

Always include product reviews on the website so visitors will have an initial understanding on what the product can do to those who buy them. Also include testimonials from users who have already tried the product. Be sure that these customers are more than willing to allow you to use their names and photos on the site of the specific product you are marketing.

You can also write articles highlighting the uses of the product and include them on the website as an additional page. Make the pages attractive, compelling and include calls to action on the information. Each headline should attract the readers to try and read more, even contact you. Highlight your special points. This will help your readers to learn what the page is about and will want to find out more.

2. Offer free reports to your readers.

If possible position them at the very top side of your page so they simply cannot be missed. Try to create autoresponder messages that will be mailed to those who input their personal information into your sign up box. According to research, a sale is closed usually on the seventh contact with a prospect.

Only two things can possibly happen with the web page alone: closed sale or the prospect leaving the page and never to return again. By placing useful information into their inboxes at certain specified period, you will remind them of the product they thought they want later and will find out that the sale is closed. Be sure that the content is directed toward specific reasons to buy the product. Do not make it sound like a sales pitch.

Focus on important points like how your product can make life easier and more enjoyable. Include compelling subject lines in the email. As much as possible, avoid using the word “free” because there are still older spam filters that will dump this kind of content into the junk folder  before even anyone reads them. Convince those who signed up for your free reports that they will be missing something big if they do not avail of your products and services.

 

3. Get the kind of traffic that is targeted to your product.

Just think, if the person who visited your website has no interest whatsoever in the product that you are offering, they will be among those who move on and never come back. Write articles for publication in ezines and ereports. This way you can locate publications that are focusing on your target customers and what you have might just grab their interest.

Try to write a minimum of 2 articles per week, with at least 400-600 words in length. By continuously writing and maintaining these articles you can generate as many as 100 targeted readers to your site in a day.

Always remember that only 1 out of 100 people are likely to buy your product or get your services. If you can generate as much as 1,000 targeted hits for your website in a day, that means you can make 10 sales based on this average statistic.

The tactics given above does not really sound very difficult to do, if you think about it. It just requires a little time and an action plan on your part.

Try to use these tips for several different affiliate marketing programs. You can end up maintaining a good source of income and surviving in this business that not all marketers can do.

Besides, think of the enourmous paychecks you will be receiving!

How to Use Youtube – Part I

 

This section will provide you with quick start information about using YouTube to your advantage. From registration to uploading videos and more, you will find all the answers to your most pressing questions right here in this simple and easy-to-use section.

Registration

You are welcome to view video clips freely at YouTube.com. But, if you want to become an active member of the community, you will first have to join. You can do this easily. If you use the Web even minimally, registering with YouTube.com will prove a snap.

First, you will have to log onto the main YouTube.com sign up page.

Visit: http://www.youtube.com/signup

 

Registration is simple, just enter your user name, set up a password, provide your e-mail address, and provide some personal details needed by the site. These include your phone number, the country you live in, your gender, date of birth and a confirmation number provided by YouTube.

Worried about your privacy? Don’t. YouTube.com provides an extensive privacy policy you can access by the bottom navigation bar, or just visit:

http://www.youtube.com/t/privacy

YouTube values their customers’ privacy. While they may not share your personal information intrinsically, you should know that any content you upload to the site will be available to the public at large. YouTube may use information such as your name and e-mail address if you choose to engage in activities offered by the site (like uploading your video clips).

YouTube often sends cookies out to users computers, so visitors returning to the site can log in easier. You can always delete cookies on your computer, this has never been an issue for most people.

The company will not send you marketing material or other advertisements without your consent, though they might send your e-mail address for administrative purposes, but does not share your personal information with “third-party” companies. This means usually most of your information is protected.

Remember, here are the benefits of registering:

• You get to watch millions of videos presented by people throughout the world.

• You can set up your section so you can share home videos with family members and friends that may live faraway.
• You can connect with people around the world that share common interests, likes and dislikes.
• You can have fun.
• You can upload and promote your videos to a global audience, a huge benefit for any entrepreneur, marketer or small business owner.

 

Confirmation

Note, when you register YouTube will send you a confirmation note to confirm your e-mail address is legitimate and that you own it. Do not forget to confirm your email address or you will not be able to use the full functionality of the site.

Getting Your Video Featured

Now that you are registered, its time to start making movies. One of the first questions people have is about getting their videos featured. Everyone wants their turn in the spotlight. The real key to getting your videos featured is nothing more than creativity and good luck.

Visitors on YouTube ranks the videos they like. So, like any review system, if people like what it is you have to show, they will rate your videos better, and your videos are more likely to be featured. YouTube.com provides a featured section for popular videos.

Using TestTube

Some people are generous enough to want to offer feedback and improve any site they use, including YouTube. If this sounds like you, visit:

http://www.youtube.com/testtube

Here officials of the site try their newest features and ask users to provide them with feedback so they can make their products and services more appealing. You will get the opportunity to “test-drive” new features or programs before YouTube launches them.  

Make Your Video “Watch Worthy”

Apart from making a great video, there are many ways you can express yourself and get noticed on YouTube. Unfortunately, YouTube doesn’t let registered members upload personal avatars of themselves, small pictures of their liking.

You can however, create a brand simply by using your video cam. You can provide an intro clip, a short bio of yourself if you like. Otherwise, use your full creativity to help brand your name, your products or your services. You can even brand your message if you place enough time and energy in creating your videos!

Making Your First Video

Since YouTube is a relatively new concept, there are still many people that are not certain “how” to go about making a great video. First, you will need the proper supplies. You can make a video using something as simple as a digital camera, your cell phone (provided it is one that takes video pictures) or a traditional camcorder.

What you do is simply record a short, 10-minute clip of your video. Then, download the video to your computer just as you would any digital pictures you would take. YouTube then allows you to upload your videos. If you want to shine, you can edit your videos before uploading them. There are many software programs readily available that allow you to edit videos relatively easy, even if you are a beginner. Some examples include Windows Moviemaker.

Will Microsoft’s new BrowseRank be the new Pagerank?

Microsoft researchers and academic collaborators detailed an idea this week it calls BrowseRank that seeks to bring more of a human touch to that assessment.   The classic Google Pagerank uses the number of incoming links as votes.   The more links your site has, then the more popular the site.   Unfortunately this method is prone to linkfarms that try and game the system.

Browserank replaces this link counting with a count of user browsing activity.   The more visits and longer a user stays on the page, then the more important the page is.   Right now it is still in the expiremental stage with Microsoft only using volunteers.   This begs the big question of what would happen if microsoft includes the Browserank tracking into a future version of internet explorer?

It would definitely be met with a lot of protest, but if it turns out to be a good indicator of website popularity, then Microsoft will have a huge advantage in the search engine results.   Of course Google could release their own method and include it in the Google toolbar, but they still wouldn’t have as much reach as Microsoft and IE.

We will have to stay tuned to see where all of this is headed.   Don’t worry though, the big search engines are always working on bringing you better search results.