Micro Search Engines

January 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Even though it may sound like it, micro search engines aren’t teeny-tiny search engines. Rather, they can be better described as search engines within search engines, sometimes called online directories.

Take Google, for example. This is a search engine that takes you to different websites. Within these websites may be even more websites. One of these websites lists nothing but links to other websites. These are micro search engines or online directories, if you prefer.

Micro search engines let you search for specific topics. These can range from recipes, sites for online degrees, job information sites, and many others.

By utilizing online directories, you have access to links that have been gathered and put in one place. You don’t have to enter keywords such as online degrees, and then enter other keywords to narrow the search down more. The online directories that deal with this subject will have them listed in different ways so that you can find the one you need.

Online directories can save you a lot of time and frustration. Because they get very specific, they let you get to the business of accessing information faster. You don’t waste time searching and searching some more for the information you need.

In the case of online degrees, for example, you may be interested in the field of Computer Science. Rather than have to plow your way through websites that offer information on all the online degrees that are available however, you can use micro search engines to go directly to online directories that show links to this subject.

Of course, you’ll have to use Google or another main search engine to get started, so don’t worry about that search engine page feeling like you’ve abandoned it. You haven’t, because you couldn’t have gotten to online degrees websites without it.

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Why URL Shorteners Are a Good Idea

December 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Over the last few years, we’ve seen the emergence of numerous URL shortening services, such as TinyURL, Ow.ly, and bit.ly to name a few. Longer isn’t better when it comes to web links these days, especially with the popularity of social media sites such as Twitter. Shortening a link saves space, leaving that space for something more important, but not everyone uses these shortening services. Some claim it’s too complicated and time consuming, while others rely on the service for better communication.

Why are URL shortening services a good thing and why should you use them? A simple answer would be “because they just make life easier.” This is true, but there are other, more detailed reasons. Below is a short list:

1.) Shortening a URL that is regularly three lines long is convenient, especially when space is in short supply.
2.) Longer links are more likely to break that ones that are shortened, especially in communications where they can be “recycled,” such as through email.
3.) Some URL shortening services offer the opportunity to personalize the shortened link. This is especially convenient if what you’re linking to is a new product you’re selling, or a new article you’ve posted.
4.) Most of these services offer users a way to view what are known as “click through statistics,” which is a way to see how many people clicked through your link. This is a must for those who like to track visits to their web sites or product pages.

If you’re interested in using a URL shortening service, there are quite a few to choose from, including the following:

1.) Bit.ly (http://bit.ly)
2.) TinyURL (http://www.tinyurl.com)
3.) Ow.ly (http://ow.ly)
4.) DwarfURL (http://dwarfurl.com)
5.) URLKiss (http://urlkiss.com)

Some popular web sites, such as Google and Twitter, have created their own URL shortening services. With the simplicity of shorter URL’s being such a popular item all over the Web, some of our favorite sites may have URL shorteners built in. There’s only one way to find out!

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Using Your Search Engine to Download Programs

December 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment
LeapFish Search Engine Screenshot
Image via Wikipedia

The best search engines help you find things that are relevant to your interests and business goals. People use search engines multiple times per day to find things that they need, to shop, to research topics or to do their homework. You may even have a favorite search engine that you use all of the time because it gives you exactly what you’re looking for in a format that appeals to you.

Many of the search engines that are quite popular will give search results containing extra information that appeals to an even larger segment of the online population. Many users turn to search engines to download programs or to find links to good software that they need to do their jobs more effectively. While this may not sound like something that you thought search engines could do, these functions are very important reasons that search engines are so effective and popular.

One smart strategy in using search engines is to save searches when the results appeal to you. That way, you don’t have to go back to the search engines each time and launch a new search. You are essentially customizing the search for your tastes and preferences so that you don’t have to go back time after time and “build” it all over again.

Maximize your use of your Internet options and let those searches work for you. Share your findings in chat rooms and also find out what other people are doing to make searches easier. When you download programs that work well, share that information with your social network groups as well. Trading that information back and forth can be a rewarding feeling and a great resource. Search engines become more valuable to users as they learn how to use all the features and tools that the engines offer.

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aKeKee.com Offers Pet Lovers a New Search Experience

December 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

If you’ve been looking for that perfect pet—dog, cat, or beyond—your search just got a lot easier (and much less frustrating). On December 11th, aKeKee.com, a search engine for pet listings, went live in a beta phase. The site is the first vertical search engine for pets, meaning it gathers its results from other popular pet listing web sites such as Petfinder.com and AdoptAPet.com.

This new power search engine comes six years after the same type of search engine was developed for the travel and job industries, and offers users the convenience of searching for a pet across the United States. Searches can range from cats and dogs to horses, snakes, and even alpacas. The best part? Your search results are displayed within milliseconds. The site’s philosophy involves keeping things simple and offering the best user experience possible.

The idea and design came from founder Dawn Wilson (who also founded the web site OliverAlert.com, a site for lost and found pets) and was developed by Rob Faraj, who took on the project because of an interest in search engines, as well as the challenge that Wilson’s project offered. The two decided on a vertical search engine because of the ease of use, security, and the opportunity for users to subscribe to email email alerts about certain pets or categories of pets.

According to Wilson, the site was founded as an easy-to-use resource for pet lovers. Inspiration for aKeKee.com (as well as OliverAlert.com, founded just over a year ago) came from the love for her own two dogs. Wilsons aim is to make it as easy as possible for people to find the pet that is right for them.

As the search engine moves through its beta stage, aKeKee.com will grow its database and will eventually be available for users to search for pets worldwide.

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How to Create Good Landing Pages

October 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Search Engine Land Designed For Social Media V...
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Website visitors look for good content in their search quests. Online searches return information that is relevant and directly focused on what the user is looking for. Search engines compile relevant information for these searches so the user can spend more time enjoying their online experience and less time trolling the web for pertinent information.

The main page of a site where a visitor ends up at the end of their search is called the landing page. This is where their click ends up when they’ve found what they’re looking for from the search engine. The landing page is critical to an online business since it is the first place where the visitor will land and it’s the prime opportunity for the webmaster to appeal to the reader and to get them to stay on their page.

Visitors end up on particular webpages after they’ve clicked on a link from their search engine results. This link can be in the from of a content page or through an advertisement. The landing page also acts like a representative of what the total content of the site is and what the visitor can expect to see. There are even some departments within companies that are completely devoted to creating successful landing pages and driving visitors to those pages via search engine results.

To create successful landing pages, it’s a good idea to assemble content or advertisements that have mass appeal and will attract a large portion of your audeince. Landing pages are ideal for being broad in nature, but offering more specific details that line the sidebar of the page and give the reader more information that they can click on at their convenience.

Landing pages should also be tweaked on occasion to stay fresh and competitive and to constantly provide their readers with current and interesting information.

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Why Page Content Matters

October 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment
In the grand scheme of all things online, many small businesses and individuals cannot fully appreciate the idea that what they have on their webpages and blogs make a big difference in their site’s popularity and traffic flow. Many times they feel that if they just have a web presence, that this should be enough to get the traffic they need to have to be profitable and the exposure they need to make an impact.

However, it is not always enough just to have a webpage or even own a domain name. It takes a good deal of concentrated, focused effort to make sure that the site is relevant and interesting to readers. Especially if the goal of the site is to make money and turn a nice profit, then all efforts should be focused on creating good webpages with interesting content. This is why content on the page matters and along with it, search engine rankings are also important as it lends itself to how well the content circulates.

Search engines troll the Internet for relevant information on topics from online seekers. The crawlers look for fresh content and rewards the webmaster by moving the site up in pagerankings if they can successfully provide this on their site. Good content is an anchor of this idea because this is where profits and losses make a difference. Readers can tell the difference in a site where the developers have put forth an effort to make the content interesting and one where there is a lot of keyword stuffing or overuse of certain thoughts or ideas. Readers can also tell when they’re being “sold”, so they can be quick to click away if they detect any pattern of that. Although it’s perfectly alright to sell to your readers, the first priority should be to give them good information FIRST and then subtly ask for the sale without being overbearing. This method is more likely to get the results you’re seeking without driving traffic and readers away.

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How Search Engines Aid in Homework

September 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 07: In this photo il...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Anytime a person searches for something online, they summons their favorite (or default) search engine to try and find the best possible links to the information they need. Students rely heavily on the Internet to complete their schoolwork and will usually visit several sites to compile an assortment of information and reference material to complete their homework.

Search engines generally rank websites according to keyword popularity and traffic frequency. Many companies who want to be discovered online will generally fill their sites with content that is pertinent to their focus area. They take great care to ensure that their keywords are relevant, properly placed and that their content is both engaging and entertaining. Most sites where students go for homework research will have archives of information that the student can access as well as current information that they can use.

When students prepare to find relevant sites on their topic(s), they will invariably find the closest keyword(s) that will help them narrow their topics and find the material. Search engines do the exhaustive job of finding and returning those sites to the user so as to maximize their visit and to give them the most relevant sites to their request.

Although some of more popularly-known search engines will often be accessed first, there can also be a wealth of information found within the smaller, lesser-known search engines as well. Although they will likely often contain much of the same information as the bigger search engines, there are always possibilities that the user can find more detailed information from the smaller search engines.

Search engines are known for returning finds on text-based links, but the engines can also return finds based on photos, maps and geographical locations. This is very helpful for homework that needs more detailed information provided outside the context of links and articles that relate to the subject. Although keywords are still an important component of this type of search, the returns from the search engine will come in the form of maps or graphs, whichever is applicable.

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How to Spark Conversions in Search Engine Marketing

September 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Image by PSdeG-PSOE via Flickr

Successful search engine marketing works on the premise that the window-shoppers who are visiting your site will turn into buyers, or “convert”, making purchases from the company’s site. When a customer is converted from a browser to a shopper, it’s usually he result of strategic marketing and perfect timing. With the right components, the two can be a successful pair that can occur over and over, gaining huge profits for the site.

Websites that place a lot of effort and detail in designing their site to be consumer-friendly will successfully convert their customers without the customers barely knowing it. It is done in such a clever way that the customer actually enjoys their experience and wants to visit again, bringing friends and even giving out referrals. How is this done? Optimized websites geared towards a wonderful consumer experience will ensure that the site is clutter-free and doesn’t contain too many (if any) pop-up windows, a user-friendly interface (which makes things easy to locate) and a clear, distinct call to action.

Too often, companies fail to maximize their customer conversion experience with insufficient direction on the purpose of the site or irrelevant material than that which appeared in the search engines. Customers only engage in purchasing activity if they land at your site for their own specified reasons (usually connected to their keywords) and if they see/feel that the site is able to sufficiently address their needs.

To successfully bring your company’s browsing rate to a positive conversion, implement strategies that are sure to increase your profits levels:

* Research keywords that are relevant to your site’s purpose. Are they random or do they truly fit your site’s purpose? Can surfers find your site with keyword-ease or is it too elusive or distracting?

* Place keyword-rich articles on your site, but ensure that they’re entertaining and interesting. Articles need to be lengthy enough to engage the reader, but short enough to hold their attention.

Customer conversion doesn’t have to be complicated or non-existent. With the right strategies in place, your company can enjoy conversions and turnovers at a comfortably profitable rate.

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What People Search for Online

September 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment
LAS VEGAS - JANUARY 07: Actor Jack Brand (R),...
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Search engines are a busy place for people searching for the things they need. With over millions of users on the Internet, the search engines are constantly busy sending out spiders to retrieve the information that users want. That constant activity search can range anywhere from diapers, to televisions and even automobiles. The web is a constantly moving highway for searchers seeking for what they need and want.

E-commerce has become one of the biggest uses of online search and usages commonly known today. Users can purchase almost anything online and businesses who market online are aware of this and make full use of this advantage. Most any type of product and some services can be secured via online sites, and some items like digital products are deliverable to the customer immediately.

Search engines are an integral part of the online customer activity process. Whether the customer uses their favorite search engine or the default search engine, their goal is to find the best possible match for their interests. In order to do a thorough comparison, they may often use two or even three different search engines to find what they’re looking for.

Businesses use various creative methods to draw traffic to its sites. One effective method for their search engine marketing can include article marketing. This method uses content that is keyword rich and helps the business to rank high in search engines. Part of the craft of this type of search engine marketing is creating compelling copy that will convert the shopper to a buyer.

Businesses also use social networking forums to increase their online visibility for their product or service. The idea is to get online forums and participants discussing the business, thereby increasing traffic and the potential for converting shoppers into sales and long-term customers.

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Trending Topics on Search Engines

September 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment
LeapFish Search Engine Screenshot
Image via Wikipedia

Internet trending topics are very popular on search engines and many popular social networking sites. Whatever is the latest news in politics, religion , gossip or entertainment can usually be found with a quick review on high-traffic search engines.

Trending topics are high in popularity to several sets of people for various reasons:

1. For online surfers who like to stay abreast of the latest news for their local geographical area or on a national level. News followers typically go to popular news website pages to view current trending topics that’s reported in the news.

2. For bloggers who want to keep their sites updated with the latest news in entertainment, religion or whatever the theme of their site is. Blog sites that keep their sites updated with current news are more likely to get fresh, organic traffic who may be interested in the trending topics that the blog discusses.

3. For social networking forums and followers who want to discuss the latest trending topics. Twitter is famous for these discussion, as is Facebook and LinkedIn for platforms for popular discussions.

The search engines is the best, first and most reliable place to get information on fresh trending topics that readers can subscribe to. When blog sites, news sites and business sites are updated with current information, trending topics are generated when there are frequent occurrences of the same topic within the search engine. The more the topic is mentioned, the higher up the search engine that it moves, and eventually causes the topics to go viral and become popular and retweeted and linked to many times over.

Since the trending topics on search engines certainly do change daily, they can also change multiple times within a 24-hour period. If a topic happens to a particularly popular, it can stay on a search engine for an indefinite period of time.

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