Windows 7 first look: More than just "Vista, fixed"

Windows 7 won’t be officially available to the public until next week—Thursday, August 6, to be exact—when MSDN and Technet subscribers will finally get the chance to download the software legitimately and activate their copies with product keys. It’s the first step on a long rollout that will end October 22 when the software will be available for purchase in retail boxes and on new PCs.

I’ve been able to get a head start, using the official RTM build (7600.16385). For the past 10 days, I’ve been methodically installing and testing the final release of Windows 7 on a wide range of desktop and notebook configurations in my home and office. I’ve done upgrades and clean installs, with and without the Easy Transfer utility, using different editions in 32-bit and 64-bit flavors. I’ll have a through review of Windows 7 next week, including a deep dive into its most interesting new features. Today, I want to offer some first impressions and an image gallery based on my initial experience with these final bits.

Windows 7 isn’t perfect, but it is greatly improved over its predecessors in many ways. Calling it an “evolutionary” release in comparison to Windows Vista is probably a fair characterization. However, if you assume that Windows 7 is simply “Vista, fixed,” you’ll miss many small but meaningful changes and several large ones that give Windows 7 its own identity. In daily use, I continue to be impressed by the attention to detail that went into the Windows 7 iterations of features that are part of every Windows user’s daily routine. I’ve also found some hidden gems, which I’ll spotlight here and in next week’s full review.

[See my image gallery for a close-up look at key features and hidden gems in Windows 7 RTM]

From a design standpoint, Windows 7 makes the 2001-vintage XP design look downright primitive. Switching between Vista and 7 is less jarring, but the improvements in consistency and visual presentation are still noteworthy and make 7 feel more graceful and modern. The palette is softer, and many of the UI rough edges have been smoothed out.

Arguably, the visual presentation is just eye candy. The more important changes, as far as productivity is concerned, are those that improve usability. When I switch from Windows 7 to a PC running an earlier version of Windows (or, for that matter, running OS X or Ubuntu), I miss some of the window management tricks that I’ve come to rely on, including the ability to peek at thumbnails of open windows on the taskbar and to “snap” windows into position with a flick of the mouse.

Over several months of use, I’ve really come to appreciate Jump Lists, which are pop-up menus that can be summoned with a right-click on a taskbar icon (or, more easily, with a quick upward flick of the mouse. The default Jump List for a program allows you to see a list of recently used files and pin favorites to the menu.

I fully expect that some Windows veterans will grumble over a few of the changes in Windows 7. In some cases, those are just different approaches to design. In others, they reflect the Windows 7 learning curve. As I’ve discovered after six months of intense research, some new features take a while to adapt to. A few, like Libraries, which are the new default file-organization scheme in Windows Explorer, are deceptively complex and require some basic training before they can be used to best advantage.

Resources: http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=1195

Role Of Keywords and Key-Phrases In SEO

Search engine optimization (SEO) is necessity for the success of almost every site. SEO is the use of keywords from the beginning of the site that is called page title to throughout the website content. In particular, the density, placement and the actual keywords phrases themselves.

The first thing you need to do when you begin chasing a good search engine ranking is decide which words you want to rank well for. This is called keyword analysis.

There are many tools which provide you data to choose your keywords and phrases. Some of the popular ones are:

http://wordtracker.com

http://www.digitalpoint.com/tools/suggestion/

http://inventory.overture.com/d/searchinventory/suggestion/

https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

Do you think that to get the keywords and put them in your site content will give you the top rank in the highly competitive market. Absolutely not. So here are some guidelines regarding keywords and phrases which you must bear in your mind:

Relevance

Keyword should be relevant to your site at the same time excessive repetition of one keyword is considered "Spam" by most engines. For example you have your site domain name is "xyz" if you repeat it 100 times in the space of keywords you are making several mistakes and not taking the full advantage of keywords power.

Use Power Combinations

Some search engines look at the first 200 characters or keywords (in Meta tags). Use the space effectively like if your site is offering different deals so you can use "digital camera, handy cam deals" instead of digital camera deals and handy cam deals. This way people searching for both keyword combinations will pull up the page with less space used.

Use Phrases

In a recent study conducted by one of the major search engine, it shows that over 65% of all searches made use phrases rather than single words. Try to put more key phrases instead of single key word.

Number of Keywords or Phrases per Page

Search engines look at only a certain portion of your page. The more pages your site has, the more keywords you can target. I would say you can optimize one page with 3 keywords or phrases. I would urge starting with one or two.

Keyword font

Write the keyword in bold and italic. Keyword text should be larger then other text size. Put keyword in to bulleted list.

Belongingness

If your site offers a product from a well known company with brand recognition, include that company name in your keyword.

Branch out your keyword

Try to get into the mind of someone else who would find your site/product useful. It means you have to pick up more words which someone can use to fetch the information your site contains. Use plurals and put the hyphen to separate the keywords or key phrases.

Places to put keywords

Search engines give higher relevance to certain words and phrases within HTML documents so it's vital to put your keyword phrases in the right places. Keywords should ideally be placed in the following sections of your web page:

• Page Title - you must creatively include your keywords in a professional looking title. Google's maximum character count for page title is 83. Yahoo's maximum character count is 111.
• Headings tags like H1 H2 and H3 - Placing the primary keywords in these sections is equally important as putting them in page title. Don't use filler words like: and, for, the, or etc.. they are neglected anyway by the search engines. You should strive to make optimum use of this place.
• As links - Start the link with keyword. Use more text internal links between the body content. Don't create simple link like "click here" instead you can use few other words which will work as a keyword for you and acquire a better rank in search result.
• Meta Tag - Till few months back we considered it as the most significant part of the site but dependency on the Meta Tag is diminishing. However we should not get complacent and ignore the importance of it. Be careful when you put keywords in keyword meta tag and description meta tag. It should be meaningful, informative and relevant with product or service you are offering.
• Alt tag - Alt tags are also displayed as a quick pop-up when you point mouse over an image. Images don't show in text browsers so ALT tags tell the visitor what it's about. You should frame main keyword(s) in the ALT tags, but don't over do it because you could get dropped in the result.

Local based site

Suppose you are offering some service which is limited in the particular city that is called local based site. Here you need to mention your complete address with city name an zip code in the header of your home page. Use city name as a keyword in the links which you put in the bod body text.

One final tip I would suggest on using keywords and key phrases if your site is having separate pages use different keywords phrases for each page. This tactic will work as a magic to optimize your web pages and getting good rank in the search engines. Ultimately more traffic on your website.

Basic Steps of SEO

I am starting form SEO BASIC STEPS.

Website optimization is a never ending process. You may have noticed that off line stores keep changing their store fronts depending on season, campaigns and similar.

1 basic question erises in our mind that What is SEO?

SEO = On Page SEO + Off Page SEO

To do seo for any web site or any blog you must have to do this two level of seo steps.
If your website or blog is perfect with this then you can get top rank at all SE like Google,yahoo,msn etc.

Kindly note that some of these steps are more towards those hosting their own blogs especially with Wordpress or Typepad

Sticking To One URL
Built Into Title and Meta Tags
Permalink For Your Posts
Choosing The Right Keyword
Include Keywords In the Posts
Using ALT tags on Images
Help Spiders Navigate
Link Building
Update Regulalry with some Unique Content

Learn About you Basics Of Internet Marketing

Many businesses are not only depending on their physical offices in marketing whatever product they have available for the general public. With the introduction of the internet, there are many changes that took place in the business world.

The internet allows a particular organization to reach many prospective clients wherever they are. Even if you have one office, you can practically advertise your goods/services anywhere in the world.
Putting your business in the internet world is not an easy task. Don t regard the internet as a medium for advertising your business because it is more than that. You have to maximize the use of the unique qualities of the web, and in this manner, you will be able to provide prospects and clients with a better experience.

Internet marketing, this are two simple words but when put together, it covers a lot of subject matters that needs considerable amount of attention. The basics of internet marketing includes researching the market, search engines, advertising (email), marketing, promotion (local) and marketing offline.

Let s start with researching the market. You have to identify first your market, and think of ways on how to reach those markets. You should be able to convey a message with value, for your prospects and clients to get a better understanding of what you are trying to advertise.

The two most important words in market research are target and hit. An effective marketing research should be able to hit the identified target. Your target will depend largely on what your business can provide to clients. Examples are children aged 7-12; or it can be men and women.

Marketing research further involves primary and secondary research, combined research, quantitative and qualitative.

The next internet marketing basic is the search engine. This has two types, namely: directories search engine and the PPC (pay per click) engines. If you are to engage in internet marketing, the presence of a search engine is quite important. Although it can be quite expensive, most business can t possibly do without it because it is the most effective way to advertise the business.

Directories require a huge amount of patience for effective marketing. You have to wait for a couple of weeks before you actually appear on the site. Your site position can also change without further notice because this engines change their indexes and ranking rules every now and then.

PPC engines are more expensive but easier to utilize. You can obtain a much higher listing and fast and steady results.

Advertising is the next basic on the list. After you identify the desires and general wants of your target, you can also identify their interests. There are different publications which take up advertising; you can also make use of newsletter list advertising. It has three types: solo advertisement, classified ads, and top line ads.

The second to the last internet marketing basic is promotion. Make sure that you also promote in your local area, besides your first real clients will surely come from somewhere near your place. Since many businesses focus their attention to web audiences, they often forget to advertise locally. You can make use of press releases, magazines, newspapers, business guides, and many more.

Finally, marketing offline; classified ads are good if the publication itself focuses on your target market, otherwise you can do without it. Instead, you can correctly make use of print advertising, URLs, and movie slides.

Without advertisement, any business will fail. It is therefore imperative to have a good team that could handle all your business advertising, offline or online. Internet marketing requires a lot of thought, effort, and time. If you devote all these aspects towards proper advertising, all your efforts will be worthy once you see the business success.

Search Engine Marketing V.s Search Engine Optimization

Hey, in my opinion if you have a website online you need both SEO and SEM aspects. But we won’t be talking about needing one or the other more. Instead, we will be talking about the differences between each option. For some reason, a lot of people get the two confused. Or they think they are both the same thing! Oh no. They are both very different in their own right.

While both search engine optimization and search engine marketing will make your business more visible and hopefully more successful there are a few things you should be well-aware of when choosing which one you want to utilize for your website! Let’s take a look at a few of these differentials listed below.

The main definition behind search engine optimization, also known to some people as SEO is the action of improving the volume and quality of traffic to a web site from search engines via “natural” (”organic” or “algorithmic”) search results. Even though there is no way to really figure the secrets to search engines algorithms like Google, there are still various distinct attributes you can try out in order to accomplish high ranking status.

For the most part you are going to want to try and reach for the first page on the results of these search engines. This process allows you to optimize your website for search engines to be able to find your website and in turn index it. If your website is indexed on search engines like Google and Yahoo your pretty golden in terms of “being seen”. See when you are indexed your site will show up on these engines when people search for certain phrases.

So say your website is about laptops or more specifically Sony Vaio, if your website is optimized correctly and you use word in your meta tags and site title like “Sony Vaio”, then when people search for Sony Vaio laptop on the search engines, your site will show up. Obviously this is an important part of getting people to your website but it also boosts page rank as well. The higher the PR you have the closer your website will show up on Google within the pages of the results.

SEO is something that I would suggest you hiring someone to do. This is something you really need to understand and get right. Do you know where your META tags are? Or how to place keywords on your headers? If not, then you should either educate yourself or hire someone to do this for you. It’s quite cheap. Plus, they know exactly what they are doing so it takes them a few minutes to do it right the first time, while it might take you hours on end and you did it wrong!

Search engine marketing, or SEM, is a form of Internet marketing that seeks to promote websites by increasing their visibility in search engine result pages (SERPs). According to the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization, SEM methods include: search engine optimization (or SEO), paid placement, contextual advertising, and paid inclusion. Other sources, including the New York Times, define SEM as the practice of buying paid search listings.

This is something you can do yourself or you can hire someone. In order to marketing your website you might want to try registering your link with the following engines: Google, Yahoo, Microsoft Live, Ask, Baidu, Rambler, Yandex, Timway, Onkosh, and Ayna. Other suggestions? Try practices which will result in backlinks such as directory submission, article marketing, content creation, etc.

While SEM is a bit less confusing, there is a lot of “parts” to it. This is usually a very broad term for a bunch of different facets. So if you don’t know which option to choose from - you could just as well hire someone. Or you could do a little reading and do it yourself.

Either way, as aforementioned I would seriously suggest doing both of these different aspects for your website. It doesn’t matter if it’s big or small. Chances are if you have a website - you have it for a reason. You probably want to sell products or services. Maybe you have CPA, CPC, CPM programs on your website. Maybe you belong to Amazon, eBay, Linkshare, Kolimbo or Clickbank. Either way - if you want to make money you absolutely must be seen. Without views and traffic and sales, you’re just another statistic!

source: http://www.article-buzz.com/Article/Search-Engine-Marketing-V-s-Search-Engine-Optimization/322143

9 Tips To Grow Your List

It’s all about size. In today’s e-marketing world, a robust email list is no longer a luxury it’s a must-have. Truth is, list atrophy is a fact of life and, in the long-run, could capsize ones campaigns. Since we all know database lists change, and at times dwindle, the onus falls on marketers to apply concerted efforts to grow, expand and cultivate.

That’s why resting easy when ones list reaches a satisfying size isn’t the smartest way to play. The secret to success is to continually forge and attract relationships with new customers and qualified prospects because eventually turnover happens.

Like ones own “field of e-dreams,” if one builds it and keeps it strong, one will create more opportunities for customers to come to the company.

The time for growth is now. Create a thriving list for the future. As many marketers attest, one of the thorniest challenges in marketing today is list turnover. In fact, according to Jupiter Research’s 2006 E-mail List Growth Survey, 39 percent of those polled say it’s the Achilles Heal of their efforts. With a stat like this, the desire to fertilize lists for success is foremost on many marketers’ minds.

Strategy Number 1: Overcome perceived limitations

In “recession-like” climates, many companies react by cinching budgets and predicting uncertainty. But we’re here to say, contrary to this “flinch and cinch” approach, now is the perfect time to invest in list growth.

A company’s email list is one of the most valuable assets, and it must be cultivated over time to combat list fatigue and attrition. Small investments now will result in big future payoffs just in time for the next holiday shopping season.

Strategy Number 2: Crunch the numbers

To yield the payoff a company is after, first define the numbers that matter. The easiest way to sum it up is to create a plan that measures and tracks list performance. Here’s a quick outline to get one started:

Create a list-growth strategy that defines conversion goals over weeks, months and years

By what percentage should one wish to increase their database?

What methods will one use to accomplish this growth?

What is the total expected cost of this time and resources investment?

Factor in expected losses based on industry standards and create your company’s own benchmarks

On average, one can expect up to one-third of ones list to become non-deliverable on an annual basis

A large percentage of non-deliverable email addresses can adversely impact ones deliver ability rates and depress ones other email response metrics

Monitor ones database. Are your company’s loss trends in-line with industry norms? Is deactivation higher or lower than what was planned?

Measure your company’s success quotient

Calculate how many new opt-ins one needs to acquire in order to outpace deactivations and unsubscribes

Monitor ones monthly list size and compare it with stated goals

Is growth outpacing attrition? Is your company on track or falling behind the curve?

Set an annual budget for list-growth tactics and integrate it within your company’s larger marketing budget

Organic Tactics

Growing in ones own backyard

Building ones list the natural way is truly a hands-on experience. By “organic,” we mean tactics that involve rolling up ones sleeves, using ingredients your company already has, and cultivating growth with creative ideas.

The most productive and economical method

When one build organically, optimize ones existing customer touch points to obtain email addresses for as many customers as possible. Organically acquired opt-ins will be ones most responsive email subscribers, because they already have an existing relationship with your company. If you’re an e-tailer, point-of-sale and special offer incentives can boost list growth in a few keystrokes. If you sell worthy causes or steward brands, prominent sign-up buttons and navigation links provide easy opt-in touch points.

Apply ‘organic’ growth widely

As one expands their list the organic way, one builds on existing customer relationships and data your company already have. That’s why it makes great sense to apply this tactic whenever and wherever one can and reap the benefits of earthly toil. Here are just a few ways to put this plan into action starting now.

TIP Number 1: Utilize customer touch points

Include email opt-ins at all customer touch points: cash register/shopping cart points-of-sale; online registration for products, services or general inquiries; packaging inserts; trade shows and exhibits; thank you cards and order confirmations

TIP Number 2: Build ones brand

Generate interest by promoting sign-up incentives through relationship marketing and PR outreach; business cards and printed collateral; and email campaigns with discounts, gifts and refer-a-friend offers

TIP Number 3: Devise a link strategy

Place sign-up links in prominent locations on ones website for example, above the Web page fold; in left or top navigation areas; or in an obvious promotional button, tile or banner ad

TIP Number 4: Integrate ones navigation

Make ones sign-up link(s) constantly available place perennial links in navigation bars

TIP Number 5: Wage campaigns and promotions

Launch promotional campaigns aimed at surging site traffic and motivating new sign-ups - stir interest with information tidbits, tunes, ring tones, discounts and free gifts

TIP Number 6: Make it easy

Remove all barriers to sign-ups, such as asking too much of customers, adding too many data fields to a form, or making the sign-up experience time-consuming or confusing

Paid Tactics

When organic list growth isn’t good enough

If one crunches the numbers and conclude ones list just isn’t growing fast enough, paid list growth is an excellent way to add a little fertilizer and fuel organic growth. By combining paid and organic list growth strategies, you are casting the broadest net possible to connect with existing customers and new prospects.

Test paid tactics to learn what works for your business

Paid list growth tactics work, but not all tactics work for all marketers. Since your business is going to be spending hard earned budget dollars, it is important to test different list growth tactics to learn what works best based on your company’s specific goals and objectives. Once you learn what tactics work best for your company, you can develop a roll out strategy to optimize your response and cost to acquire. Here are some paid list growth tactics to put on your company’s test list:

Test Number 1: Co-registration

Co-registration involves placing your company’s logo and offer on another publisher’s site to acquire opt-ins. After opting-in to your email program, the consumer receives an auto-responder message confirming their opt-in status which provides an excellent opportunity to drive traffic directly to your website.

Co-registration is also a branding tool. Even if a consumer does not opt-in to your email program, you still get the benefit of making a branding impression just by displaying your logo and offer on the site.

Co-registration works best for marketers who have a well known brand with a broad target audience.

Test Number 2: Rent a List

Renting a list is a great way to utilize another publisher’s qualified, permission-based email list to drive incremental revenue and acquire new customers.

You can be highly targeted with list rental selections, which enables you to closely match your target audience.

Good creative design and a clear call to action are essential for list rental success. You may only have one chance to make a good impression so you need to make a big impact right away.

When you rent from a trusted source, you’re guaranteed list integrity. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t a good investment.

Test Number 3: Email append and email change of address services

Enlarge your list fast by expanding on what you already know. Email appending involves taking existing customer information and locating matching email addresses. By acquiring email addresses for your existing customers, you are able to expand the conversation you are already having with them through other marketing channels.

When email addresses churn and change, you can regain contact with valuable customers with an email change-of-address campaign. The process is simple, and it improves deliver ability.

Both Email Append and Email Change of Address programs should include a Welcome message to introduce (or re-introduce) subscribers to your email program. In addition to building trust and setting expectations, Welcome messages are a great opportunity to drive incremental revenue with a great offer and call to action to “shop now!”.

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