1.All in One SEO Pack

The All In One SEO Pack is perhaps the mack daddy of the plugins.  It covers the basics and lets you set page titles, meta tags, keywords, and descriptions automatically.  It covers the elemental but extremely necessary SEO functions every blog should have.  The Platinum SEO Pack offers much of the same features and functions and adds 301 redirects and a few other functions to the package.

2.SEO Smart Links

This easy to use plugin can automatically link keywords and phrases in your posts and comments with corresponding posts, pages, categories and tags on your blog.  This is valuable because your internal linking structure is one of the key elements search engines look for when analyzing and ranking your website.  Manually creating these internal links takes hours of your valuable time. SEO Smart Links does it automatically.

3.SEO Friendly Images

Search engines don’t analyze graphics however, they do analyze the meta data in your graphics.  Because images often plan an important role in blog posting, if your images are not optimized your missing potential traffic.  SEO Friendly Images enables you to tag your images correctly so the search engines recognize them and include them in your ranking.

4.Google Positioner

This great plugin actually tells you which keywords are getting searched for on your blog.  This is a great analytics tool because it’ll help you hone in on the most popular and useful keywords for your readers.  Thus enabling you to focus on what they are searching for.  This plugin coupled with Google Analytics empowers you to have all the information you need to make strategic business decisions.

5.SEO Slugs

This plugin removes common words like ‘a’, ‘the’, ‘in’ from post slugs to improve search engine optimization.  For example, “How to Optimize Your Blog For the Search Engines” becomes “Optimize Blog Search Engines” Thus making it more effective with the search engines and generating better ranking for you.  And the slug is generated once you save your post so if you want to change it, you can manually change it to fit your search engine needs.

Blogging offers a number of benefits to build your business and one of the most important is improving your SEO.  Take advantage of the powerful Plugins WordPress has to offer and get started optimizing your blog today.

Step One:  Make it public and prominent.  The best way to garner attention for your email list opt-in form is to place it on your website home page and to make sure it’s in a location that captures attention.  Many times this is the upper right hand corner of your home page however, it’s important to test and track the location.  Consider trying a few locations on your webpage to see which receives the highest opt-in rate.

Step Two:  Make sure your opt-in offers value.  A simple, sign up for my email list isn’t likely to gain much attention, however a sign up and receive this free 100 page ebook on how to___________ offers value in exchange for an email address and the agreement to receive regular communications from you and your company.

Your offer doesn’t have to be an ebook it could be free consulting, software, an online course or a regular newsletter.  Like testing and tracking the location of your opt-in form, you may also want to test your offer.  Perhaps your audience responds better to an ebook than to a newsletter or vice versa.  Test and track for optimal conversions.

Step Three:  Consider advertising.  PPC, pay-per-click, campaigns like Google AdWords are a great way to gauge interest in your business and to drive traffic to your opt-in form.  The process is fairly straightforward.  Begin by creating your opt-in form or webpage, sign up for your PPC campaign through your chosen provider, and carefully test and track the results.  PPC campaigns can become very expensive so it’s important to only bid on niche terms your audience will use to find information on your topic.

For example, if your website is based on weight loss the search term “weight loss” has a lot of competition and will cost more than “women’s weight loss” or “high school reunion weight loss”.   Track the results daily.  If you find you’re receiving a 50% conversion on “Women’s weight loss” and a 3% conversion on “high school reunion weight loss” then you may want to drop that search term and stick with the one that’s showing the best results.

Step Four:  Consider partnering with other relevant businesses.  Joint venture partnerships take many shapes and forms.  One way in which a partnership can be productive for both sides is to promote each other’s email lists.  For example, you could promote their opt-in offer on your website or newsletter and vice versa.  The trick is to find a partner who is in a complimentary business.  For example, if you promote weight loss information and books, you might partner with a business that promotes makeover advice or fitness guidance.

Step Five:  Follow through.  One of the best ways to build an opt-in list is to generate positive word of mouth.  Uphold not only the privacy statement you have on your website and maintain the communication you promised.  For example, if people sign up for a weekly newsletter then it’s important to deliver a weekly newsletter.  If you promise a high quality step-by-step book on how to buy a home for half its market value then deliver that book.

Building an email list takes a bit of planning and careful testing and tracking. Once you find the right formula for success stick with it.  Your email list is your ticket to regular communication with a group of people who have expressed interest in your business.  Use it to build a community of followers and promote your products or services.

Reviews.  One of the most powerful forms of marketing is to write a simple review as a blog post. This works particularly well if you’re an affiliate marketer because a review of a product comes across as unbiased, as it should, while at the same time demonstrates the benefits of a product.  It presells a product or service, which is the primary responsibility of an affiliate marketer.  However, you can also ask outside parties, guest bloggers, to review your products or services and then either post their reviews on your website or link to them in a blog post written by you.

Lists.  People love lists, whether they’re lists of useful products, resources or even steps to take to accomplish something.  You can market your product by blogging a list and including it in your list.  For example, if you sell a book on how to start a business, you could blog a list of valuable resources for aspiring entrepreneurs, including of course your book as a final bullet on your list.  Include a short blurb about your product and include a link to your sales page.

Success Stories.  People enjoy reading success stories and they’re a wonderful attribute to your products or services.  Using the above example of a business that sells a book on how to start your own business, you could blog about a success story or case study from a client.  If possible, include a link to your success story’s website so it works as a credible testimonial and include a link to your sales page so others can purchase and experience the same success.

Share a controversy or start a debate.  Blogs are often used to incite conversation, this of course drives traffic because people are able to communicate their opinions and participate in the conversation.  Tap into a current controversy or debate and share your opinion and expertise.  If your product or service is a solution to a problem related to the controversy then you can give it a quick plug with a link to your sales page.

Blogging to promote your product or service is an excellent way to communicate with your audience in an honest and open venue.  You can provide them with valuable and interesting information, leave room for conversation and comments, and link to your sales page or the product or service you’re affiliated with.

#1  Set priorities.  Gleaning information from multiple sources is a good idea if you’re writing a report or a book however if you’re simply looking to access the local weather and traffic report, one medium can surely provide that information.  Set your information priorities and then determine the single one or two sources to acquire that information each day.

#2  Choose the right tools and resources to fit your priorities.  There are wonderful tools available today to help you gain quick access to the information you need.  For example, a DVR will let you record predetermined television shows.  An RSS reader will let you pull feeds from blogs and websites you subscribe to and Google will enable you to label your email messages so you know which ones are important and which ones can wait until later.

#3  Set a limit.  If you find that a particular medium drains an abundance of your time, social networking or email for example, you can schedule your time with those particular sites.  For example, instead of leaving your email open you can choose to access it at lunchtime and again at the end of the day.  Social networking can be set aside until later in the evening and you can give yourself 20 minutes each morning to read the news or watch it on television.

#4  Take information vacations.  Whether you turn off all media for a day, for the weekend, for a week or gasp even for a month, taking a vacation from information will help you see that you can in fact live without it.  This break will help you set priorities and get your life back from information overload.

#5  Organize and label.  Email messages can often be sorted and labeled and even stored in folders so you can access them on an as needed basis.  Information, for example blogs, newsletters, and content you receive can also be sorted and organized for easy access.  This process saves you time from having to consume information when you receive it.  Now you can access it when and if you need it and save yourself valuable time.

Ultimately, you’re in control of your time and the information you consume.  Set priorities, use the tools and technology available, and keep yourself organized for a streamlined and stress free approach.

The domain name is how you will be recognized online.  You will be referred to as www dot whatever dot com.  A domain name can have various extensions: .net, .com, .us, .uk, .org, and so on.  What goes between the www and the extension is what is most important.

Choosing a name is like choosing a fine wine.  You want to get it right the first time and every time.  Before choosing a name, consider the reach of your website.  For instance, if you have a storefront business that you want to promote on the Internet, the website will be mainly for your local customers.  A domain name that includes the business name is okay here.

If you want to operate an online business where people all over the world can find you and buy your products, your domain name will need to be more universal.  Here, you will make use of keywords, not necessarily your business name.  The most useful keywords will be the ones people use to find search results.  If you are into jewelry, use keyword tools to determine the most frequent keywords used by someone searching for items in the jewelry category.  Your domain name will include one or two of those.

Perform a domain name search.  See if anyone has your name or any variation of that name.  Also check for different domain name extensions.  If the name is not registered, you can use it.  It is highly recommended that you also register your chosen domain name under other available extensions to avoid copycatting by others.

Find a website host.  Once you have a website, you need someone to host it so you can create your pages.  Choose a webhost with large enough bandwidth for your needs, 24 hour support, and tutorials to help you get started.  There is nothing worse than contracting with a webhost who provides nothing other than the bandwidth.

Now that you’ve chosen a name, you’ll want to register it.  There are several website registrars who will gladly register your domain name.  Since all registrars do the same thing, choose one with a reasonable yearly rate.  When you register, that domain name(s) is yours for one year unless you register for a longer period.  You will need to renew to keep your names.

The process is simple.  You’ll need your domain name and some information from your website host (DNS IP addresses).  The registrar will ask for a credit card or PayPal account to pay for the domain name.

Here is a partial list of domain registrars:

* Register.com
* Dotster.com
* GoDaddy.com

Registering a domain name is easy and it legitimizes your website and your business.

Step One: Your Business Description. The very first think to do is to sit back and draft a few paragraphs about what your business does. You’ll answer the following questions:

* What does your business do?
* What are your products or services?
* Who is your audience?
* What makes you unique or different from your competition?

Condense your business description until it is concise and can be presented to someone in about thirty seconds.

Step Two: Your Resources, Strengths and Weaknesses

In this second section, make a list of the resources you have for your business. This will include office equipment, products or services, and also any people you can access for example your brother in law is an attorney and has agreed to help you with the formation of your company.

You’ll also want to conduct an analysis of your strengths and weaknesses. What skills, knowledge and experience do you bring to your business and what areas are you weak in and will need help or further education?

Step Three: Your Business Organization and Legal Considerations

What type of company are you going to form?

* Sole Proprietorship,
* Partnership,
* Corporation
* Limited Liability Company

Each offers significant benefits depending on your situation and goals.

You’ll want to take a look at the certifications, regulations, and insurance needs for your industry and location. Additionally, you’ll want to take a look at how you’re going to handle financial reporting and taxes.

Step Four: Operating Requirements

What do you need to start and grow your business? This is the place on your business plan where you outline what you need to get started, for example your office equipment. You’ll also want to outline the tasks required to run your business and who will perform those tasks. For example, an accountant or bookkeeper, a shipping and fulfillment person, a virtual assistant, a copywriter and so on.

Step Five: Financial Goals

What are your financial goals and how will you achieve them? Outline your present finances, how much you have to invest into your business. Also outline your financial goals and how you’re going to achieve them. If you’re seeking financing from an outside source, this section will be looked at very closely. You’ll want to create a budget along with your pricing strategy for your products or services.

Step Six: Sales and Marketing

This is a big section of your business plan and perhaps the most adaptable – it will change as you grow. In this section you’ll want to outline your competition, who they are and what they do well. You’ll also want to outline your strengths and how you’re going to position yourself above your competition.

You’ll also want to outline your marketing strategy and the various tactics you’re going to take to promote awareness and sales. For example are you going to have a website, flyers, and advertisements and so on.

Step Seven: Executive Statement

This is the conclusion of your business report and where you’ll wrap it all up into a nice concise package. You’ll include your mission and vision statement here along with a summary of the previous six sections.

Congratulations! Once you’ve completed your business plan you have a plan you can refer to, to keep your business on track. It’s the best way to attain your goals and to achieve the business success you desire.

Step #1  Make sure you have a home business personality.

Are you organized, self motivating, and able to work by yourself for long periods of time?  Great!

Step #2  Decide what type of business suits your needs and personality.

There are a large number of home based businesses you can open up, everything from a transcriptionist to a massage therapist, from a ghostwriter to an eBay store owner.  Spend a considerable amount of time learning about the types of businesses which are available and what fits your needs, interests, and personality.  Ideally your home based business will be something you can profit from for years and years so you want to make sure you’ll enjoy it.

Step #3 Learn about the technology and resources available to you.

The internet and related technologies have made owning a home based business accessible by most everyone.  Email makes it easy to communicate with customers all over the world, shopping cart software makes it easy to accept payments even while you’re away and website technology helps you create a community of people interested in you and your business.

Step #4  Plan, plan, and plan.

A business plan isn’t a luxury, it is a necessity.  You’ll want to outline your goals, your reason for being in business, your budget and start up finances, your assets, your strengths and weaknesses, your competition and your marketing strategy.

Step #5  Operate your business as if you were in the office.

It’s tempting to work when you feel like it, to stay in your pajamas all day and to not hold yourself as accountable as if you were in the office with a boss peering over your shoulder.  Yes, the freedoms of owning your own business are great however you’ll be more productive, professional and profitable if you keep regular business hours, you can set these hours to fit your needs of course.  If you get dressed and brush your teeth in the morning you’ll just feel better and more productive and if you treat your business and your customers as you’d like to be treated.  It helps to have a designated work space in your home, a home office, where you’re able to close the door and focus on business.

Step #6  Know your role.

When you own your own business, especially in the beginning, it’s easy to try to be everything.  You’ll be your own accountant, your own lawyer, your own fulfillment center your own sales and marketing team – you’ll wear all the hats.  However this isn’t the best way to be productive and profitable.  Outsource what you can and focus on your strengths and the tasks which bring in the most profits.  Above all, remember that you are the CEO and it is your job to be the person who builds and grows your business.

Step #7  Remember to maintain a balanced life.

Make time for fun and self care.  It’s all too easy to let your business consume your life 24/7.  Burnout occurs and you start losing interest in your business.  Profits suffer and so do your loyal customers.  Take time to celebrate life, your successes and your friends and family.  Balance is essential for a successful home based business.
Knowing and keeping these seven steps in mind before you start a business will help you successfully get it off the ground and to keep it running profitably for as long as you desire.

Step One: Create a Workspace

Staying focused and motivated when working from home requires a home office. Yes, maybe the kitchen table or the couch could work. However, placing yourself in those locations is just asking for distractions.
When you create a designated workspace, your frame of mind changes immediately when you walk into it and sit down. You’re mentally more ready to focus. Make your workspace comfortable enough that you enjoy being there yet not so comfortable that you want to be there when you’re not working or that it becomes a place to hang out.

Additionally, when you create a workspace, your family will take your working from home more seriously. It becomes easier to set boundaries. When you’re in your office, you’re working and you’re not to be disturbed.

Step Two: Create a Schedule

Okay so maybe one of the things you love about working from home is that you don’t have to create a schedule however a schedule will help you stay focused and productive. When you create your schedule, remember to schedule in breaks, household chores, time with your family and meals. It’s easy to say, “I’m going to work from 10-4” however actually sitting there and working for six hours is going to be a lot more difficult. Give yourself breaks and downtime during the day. When you schedule in your distractions, your working time is much more focused and it’s easier to stay focused because you know you have breaks to look forward to.

Additionally, make sure to schedule days off. It’s easy when you work from home to work from the time you get up until the time you go to bed seven days a week. It’s a sure way to suffer burnout quickly. Plan vacations, days off, and time for yourself to stay motivated.

Step Three: Eliminate Distractions

Make a list of distractions. Perhaps it’s laundry, your children, your friends calling you for coffee, appointments and errands. Make a list of these distractions and then find a way to eliminate them.

For example, if your children are a distraction, then how can you plan your day around them? Can you trade childcare days with other parents who work from home? Can you hire a sitter for part of the day? Can you work around their naps?
Staying motivated and focused when working from home is possible. Rather than modeling your work from home life around what you feel you should do, take a look at your reality, your needs and personality, and create a work from home life that works for you. It takes a little planning and premeditation to get the job done.