The thing is though, often they don’t even realize this is the case because when they view their websites it is often the result of using a bookmark or entering the URL directly. They are looking at their websites through tunnel-vision.

This is rarely how their clients, prospects, customers, competitors, potential JV partners and consumers search for them.

Printers and Ice Cream

Here is an example. Today I searched for “best laser printer” expecting to see the major manufacturers appear on page one of the results in Google – each fighting for the coveted number one spot. What I found though were a lot of review sites, technology ezines, and online shops. It wasn’t until I got to the bottom of page 2 that I found Xerox Canada, and, like most people, I stopped searching at page 5 – with no other manufacturer in sight.

So I decided to look at “ice cream”, again expecting one of the multinationals in the market to be sitting at number one. Instead Wikipedia is there which many might accept as reasonable, but at number two is a men’s clothing line! Ben & Jerrys (a Unilever company) finally waves a corporate flag at number 3.

Is it that HP, Canon, Unilever and Haagen-Dazs – and so many other corporates – don’t see the need to rank number one in their niches? And is this the result of corporate arrogance, or ignorance?

Even at the local level, businesses need to be aware of how their clients and prospects are searching for them. When I searched for “xxx(my town) supermarket” I found directory listings in the first few pages – not one of the retail giants that have market share in this locality appeared.

In an area that relies heavily on the tourist dollar, it seems inconceivable that those retailers are not targeting such a simple keyword (and do the same for each of their locations nationally). Their failure to do so creates an amazing opportunity for a smaller store to target that keyword, to go through the relatively inexpensive exercise of dominating it – and bank those tourist dollars.

And with the growing number of savvy SEO (search engine optimization) consultants targeting clients with just this potential, it WILL happen.

The SEO Content Gap

What I’ve found, and helped many of my clients overcome, is that while corporate websites may look professional and comprehensive, when it comes to their key terms with the search engines, they are wearing an invisibility cloak.

Their websites often give great exposure for their business and product names, but by focusing on these alone, they are leaving the door open for those very savvy niche marketers to dominate the search engine results for niche terms.

The good news is that because their sites are sound, it may be only take a few months to turn the situation around.

Corporate SEO Content

Some of the strategies that I implement for my corporate clients include:

• The creation of keyword focused content, that is constructed in a way that search engines love, which they add to their websites, on a consistent, regular basis. This content should not be confused with the static websites pages though; they are specially crafted articles, which need not necessarily appear in the website menu, but exist in an ‘articles’ section.

They do not need to be created by public relations professionals or journalists – they DO need to be written by an SEO content specialist. Their purpose is to wave a virtual flag that says “look at me” at the search engines like Google

• Leveraging these articles in ways that improve the search engine optimization of their websites, including publishing these to article directories and networks and bookmarking them.

Very rarely are corporate marketing departments or website designers skilled in SEO content creation, which is one reason why the importance of ranking for niche keywords is falling through the cracks.

Developing a program of regular SEO content creation will go a long way to improving corporate online visibility in an era when online search has become the first option for consumers looking for goods and services.

Why not make a list of some of the terms that you believe people use to find your company, and enter these into a Google search box? If you don’t like the results that are returned, then the time to take action is yesterday.

>> Enquire about my corporate SEO content programs.

Few could argue that fledgling sites take time to gather followers, and blog post with out reader feedback can look very lonely.  So in the time that it takes to establish a site and attract followers, my team and I will give your blog some SEO commenting love.

Don’t be mistaken though, I am not offering to post useless one-line irrelevant comments to your site.  They will be unique, relevant and worthwhile, designed to stimulate responses and more conversation.

More information about this confidential service is available on the Blog Post Comments page

These skills however, are not limited to the workplace. Indeed, it is by sharing information about hobbies, sports, and life skills that are, that they are offering a real legacy to the next generations.

Baby Boomers – the generation born between 1945 and 1965 – are in the box seat when it comes to leverage their skills online. They are, in general, better educated that their parents, most have remained true to their occupation (amassing high level skills in the process), they have enjoyed a variety of lifestyle choices, and most have electronic communication skills.

However, it is their parents – those who remain with us – who have some old-school skills that it would be very sad to lose. And this presents yet another opportunity: for Baby Boomers to record and preserve their parents’ knowledge.

Believe it or not, there are young people today who would like to make a cake that didn’t come from a packet in the supermarket. There are people who prefer custom made furniture and would love advice on making the perfect dovetail joint. And there are researchers who would like first-hand accounts of life during international conflicts, of journalism and science in the 40s and 50s.

The internet presents an amazing opportunity for knowledge sharing on a massive scale.

Benefits of Working, Online or Offline, Beyond Retirement

Continuing income

Even with life savings, the increasing costs of living and longer life expectancies of retirees may render a retirement fund insufficient. Weak markets have taken their toll on investment properties threatening the liquidity of retirees. Working part-time or full-time ensures continuous income for retirees.

Improved health

Doctors have long been aware of the important health benefits of staying active at an older age, particularly for mental health. Moreover, a study conducted by the University of Maryland suggests that older individuals who continued working, whether full-time or part-time, after retirement had fewer major diseases or disabilities than those who stopped working.

Social interaction

Lack of social activity has been linked to rapid decline in motor function leading some specialists to recommend regular social interaction for elderly people. Working presents opportunities for regular interaction with others and is recommended for the elderly.

Happy disposition

Older people tend to pursue their passions in their retirement years, starting new career paths that they have always dreamed of or establishing new businesses. This promotes positive attitudes and feelings of happiness and well-being.

Working From Home For Older People

Internet technology and advanced computer applications have made it possible for many people to work from home. A reliable computer and good internet connection, and, preferably, a dedicated workspace, are that is needed in most cases. If video tutorials help to get techniques and messages across, a regular video camera (even the inexpensive Flip camera will do!) will be required.

Anyone who wants to succeed in working from home for an employer must have strong self-motivation and an openness to change, as traditional working arrangements take on alternative forms online. On the other hand, managers who wish to tap the valuable experience and expertise of older people need to consider flexible job structures and workloads and to offer training and mentoring as well.

Get Paid For Knowledge Sharing

2011 has heralded a new form of peer-to-peer teaching and learning, with the recent launch of learnable.com.

Learnable.com

This online platform has made it possible for people with knowledge on just about any topic – from worm composting to writing code – to create information products and sell them to a worldwide audience of information seekers.

The beauty of learnable.com is that ‘teachers’ create their product just once, and it remains for sale in downloadable form, on the site for as long as the teacher chooses. It is the classic example of how to earn a recurring income.

Learning is a lifelong pursuit, so this site is ideal for older people to learn about different topics as well. The courses are inexpensive, ranging from around $10-50.

Your Own Website

Selling

Knowledge has value. In these days of instant gratification, young people who want information, want it NOW, and they are willing to pay to have it NOW. Their being able to find and access the information that you have to share is made easier by having a well architected website, that the search engines rank well.

Setting up your own website has become so easy, with services like SuperFastWebsites who can have a good looking, easy to manage, website up and running for you in no time – for just a few hundred dollars.

If you have trouble writing the website content to promote your products or services, it has never been easier to outsource content writing.

Armed with your product or service details, a website and a PayPal account, you can be selling online in a snap.

Posterity

Preserving the knowledge of older people for future generations via an online platform is a powerful gift to future generations. Video hints and tips can create a bond between generations that has before now been impossible.

Creating a website as a means of preserving knowledge, e.g. A video of Grandma making the traditional family festive cake, or Dad pruning his prize roses, allows simple, yet priceless, skills are kept alive.  Putting the video on a simple WordPress website can be extremly simple: easy upload to YouTube, then copy the embed code to your page or post!

Paid Employment: Work From Home

For those looking for paid online employment, there are many options – and the list grows daily, including:

Customer service representatives

This employee answers incoming calls, takes orders, tracks existing orders and handles customer complaints for clients. Most companies offer paid training periods which can benefit the elderly.

Online juror

In the United States, attorneys who are working on cases need to obtain important feedback about the details of their cases by presenting them to online jurors who sit in mock juries. Digital files in various video and audio formats make this type of job possible without leaving home.

Virtual assistant

Companies have increasingly tapped the services of virtual assistants who perform various administrative tasks such as making travel arrangement, sending out letters and other support services that may be done through the phone or Internet. Anyone who wants to work as a virtual assistant may need knowledge in computer software applications, desktop publishing, project management, spreadsheets and database management.

Online tutor

Teaching students online is also a popular job that the elderly can do. Usual subject areas for teaching include world history, physics, science, math and English. Advanced learning programs may also offer tutorial sessions for helping students pass the SAT. Online tutors need to pass an exam for subjects they intend to teach.

Freelance writers

Writing online includes many activities such as copywriting, article and press release writing, proof reading, technical and resume writing. To excel in this field, one must have a good grasp of spelling, grammar and punctuation.

Other types of work that can do from home are consulting and mentoring where their long years of experience are an asset.

Online work opportunities for retirees abound in the Web but the challenge lies in determining which ones are legitimate and not mere scams. As a rule of thumb, anything that promises instant wealth without any effort or which charges a fee to obtain additional information about a job is not a legitimate offer and must be ignored.

Reputable work at home sites, where jobs are posted, include ratracerebellion.com, alpineaccess.com and Elance.com.

The Biggest Database Ever

The internet is the ultimate museum, library or employement agency. It is a way for any individual – regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, culture or disability to learn, teach and work. And it provides an unprecedented opportunity for older people to financially benefit from the knowledge that they have gathered over decades.

Seizing the opportunity for you, your parent, your grandparent or your charity to profit from that knowledge, is just the click of a mouse button away.

Document sharing directories are websites primarily used for disseminating files of various types online. To start sharing documents, all you need to do is create a free account and upload files in popular formats such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF. Unlike traditional article distribution sites which can take some time to publish your articles due to strict editorial rules, content sharing sites make your documents available to the public immediately upon their upload.

Anyone can use content sharing sites but only those who follow document sharing strategies will reap the best results in SEO.

Use targeted keywords: Keywords remain vital in document sharing for SEO. Determine the best targeted keywords through intelligent research and use these phrases in the document’s title, filename and body. Make it a habit to save your documents in filenames containing targeted keywords because content sharing sites often adopt your filenames during upload.

Secure your links: Links included in articles shared at traditional article distribution websites are not always retained by the people sharing them elsewhere. At document sharing sites, original links of a document’s author may be secured by saving these in “read only” PDF format.

Build links: Link targeted keywords strategically placed throughout a document to your website. Link them as well to different pages on your website to obtain indented listings. Maximize the footer of all your document’s pages by including links to your website.

Observe document word count: For purposes of SEO, the standard document’s word count is between 400 to 600 words. This range is enough to provide helpful information while retaining a reader’s attention.

Leverage old documents: Article marketers often accumulate large volumes of articles that are useful to readers. These documents may still be used in content sharing sites with just a small amount of editing.

Visual design can also boost document sharing SEO strategies and it’s easy to use colours, varying font types and sizes and appropriate layouts because content sharing sites accept different file formats. Present informative articles in newsletter styles, use bold typeface as headlines, add images and use coordinating colours throughout your document for aesthetic appeal.

Step 6: Choose a Web Hosting Plan and Company ($US10/month)

A Web Host is a company whose  servers store your website files – you will need a hosting service to publish a website.

I did quite a bit of shopping around before deciding on HostGator as the Host for my website. They offer 24/7/365 phone support, 99.9% uptime, and have a 30 day money back guarantee. The plan you choose depends on the use of your website, but for 100gb of disk space and 1,000gb bandwidth, the monthly cost was $US10/month

Many hosting plans require you to pay for 12 months up front. I was uncomfortable with this as it may be impossible to track down an organisation that shuts down after collecting your (and others) one year membership dollars. Paying monthly suits me just fine.

So take a look at the HostGator site, especially the Hosting Tips page.

If you are planning to have more than 2 websites up – and this will certainly be the case if you are planning on doing some internet/affiliate marketing, the I suggest you consider signing up for a Reseller Account with HostGator.  This allows you UNLIMITED domains on the one account for $US24.95 per month.  As I mentioned, I now have around 35 websites, and it still costs me $US24.95 per month – and I could have a hundred more for this price.  Think about the future.

Step 7: Change Your DNS Server Details

When you purchase your domain name from either Name Cheap or GoDaddy you will be automatically assigned a Domain Name Server (DNS) account with them.  Once you sign up with HostGator as your Web Host they will provide you with the DNS account details for your website.  You will need to go back and sign in to your GoDaddy or Name Cheap Account and change the DNS details on record there to the ones (there will be two numbers) allocated by HostGator.

Step 8: Publish Your Website!

With XSitePro, this is literally done with the press of a button. I have to admit that this was one step where I needed to tap into the resources of the XSitePro Forum – and within two minutes I had the reply to my query and saw how I had made one little mistake that was fixed with a few key strokes.  Fantastic! A great example of how it’s best to ask for help than to agonize over details.

So there you have the basics – now you can see how easy it is to have a presence on the internet.

Step 5: Download XSitePro2, and DO THE TUTORIAL – DON’T SHORTCUT THIS STEP

Devoting 2 hours to this tutorial will save you hours of heartache down the line. Armed with XSitePro and the XSPCheat Sheet, all you need is your own material and imagination to begin assembling your Website pages.

After doing the Tutorial, you will be able to build a website from scratch – no problem. And its a good exercise to do this.  But know also that XSitePro has some great templates that are ready to go – really you just “fill in the gaps”.

It is a good idea to put together a ‘mind map’ or just write down what you want your website to say, whether the objective is to get a message across, or to sell a product. It is so easy for your enthusiasm and ideas to carry you towards making your first website all-inclusive. But you will soon see how complex and fragmented your website becomes if you attempt to include too many diverse topics.

I have approached kerryfinchwriting.com as my business website, after setting up a personal site, one for writing services, and several other related sites.  I am bringing everything related to my writing services and training business back to this site alone. I have pared back dramatically from my original sites – learning that “Less is More”.

Choose Your Web Design Software ($US197)

Again, I really had no idea, and so I took advice from my mentor, James Schramko (see below). His recommendation was XSitePro which I have since found to be fantastic – great tutorial and clear instructions. By all means, ask around and take advice from someone who has actually USED the software they are recommending.

All I can say is that I am delighted with XSitePro, the program designed specifically for website marketers. It served me well as a novice, and as my skills develop, I am able to implement its other features and tools. Powerful stuff.

I have put the current price (February 2009) and its a real bargain, if when you read this it is still at this price I recommend you GRAB IT. If its not, then too bad – you missed out! But even at its full regular price of $US297 – it is a great value product. And the support and help you get from staff and other users via the Forum is worth gold. Buy XSitePro2 now.

Take a look at this >> video << on the features of XSitePro2 to get an overview!

Step 4: Enlist the help of James Schramko’s XSP Cheat Sheet (Free Bonus)

Now this is a real, genuine bonus for you if you purchase your copy of XSitePro through one of the links above. Here’s the background:

A chance meeting with James Shramko gave me the confidence to set up my own website and start my own online business. His guidance has been invaluable, and I am sure you will find that the knowledge he shares through this XSP Cheat Sheet will greatly enhance your XSitePro experience.

“Cheat Sheet” gives the impression of maybe one or two pages – but this document is over 80 pages in length, and if you are planning a marketing website, it will become your Bible. He tackles issues like importing videos, Search Engine Optimization, Keywords, and so many tricks and tweaks that he has gathered throughout his long involvement in the use of XSitePro.

If this sounds like a foreign language at this stage, don’t worry. I promise you it will become clear – and you will learn, as I have, the value of the XSP Cheat Sheet.I have been so impressed with James’ enthusiasm and integrity, that I invite you all to learn more about his expertise in web design and marketing.

His XSP Cheat SheetTM has become my constant companion and will certainly make a HUGE difference to those using the fabulous XSitePro to design their website.

Take a look at this Cheat Sheet but don’t buy it for $39.95! Once you have purchased your copy of XSitePro2, send me a message with your details and after I verify the sale, I will ask James to send it to you FREE.

>> Learn more about XSitePro2 Features

Over the next few posts I’ll attempt to document my journey through the sometimes confusing basics of setting up my first websites.  Putting together a website for the first time can be VERY daunting. Whether you are a stay at home mom, retiree, student, potential internet entrepreneur, or anyone who just wants to learn a new skill, it is difficult to know where to start.

Now I don’t profess to be an expert – but starting from scratch is still fresh in my mind – 25websites in 18 months later! So I might just be able to cover more of the real basics that the more experienced guys just skip over – and give it to you in plain English.

I am also going to try to give you as many links as I can to the sites that you will need, and an approximate of how much each step will cost you. Some you will need to lay out straight away (your software, purchase of your domain name and your web hosting service), some are free (your PayPal account) and others can wait until you decide if you need them or not. This will depend on the purpose of the site.

If its just for information, you probably won’t need any more. If you are planning to sell a downloadable product or get into affiliate marketing (all will be revealed!) then you will certainly need some more tools.

So here we go:

Step 1: If you don’t have one, set up a PayPal Account.

You will need this for transactions over the internet including for the next two steps. If you have had experience with eBay you may already have set up a PayPal Account – great! That’s Step 1 taken care of. By using this payment method, you are not divulging your credit card details to each merchant with whom you trade (not advisable, and most merchants prefer to transact via PayPal). AND having all transactions recorded at a central point, makes for much easier account management.

Learn more or sign up for a personal PayPal account (non-merchant)

If you are planning to sell products online, then I recommend you set up a PayPal Merchant’s Account – there a lot more benefits.

Step 2: Register Your Domain Name (approx. $US9/year)

Having set up your PayPal account your next step is to register a Domain Name, i.e. your own dot com. It can cost as little as $US9 to register a domain name – I was amazed at this low cost (but then I really had NO IDEA)!

But before you get too carried away with clever names, register your own name as a dot com first. This is so when you become rich and famous (if you’re not already), you won’t find someone else cashing in on your celebrity by registering a dot com in your name – Yes, they can! as many high-profile people have discovered.
I wanted to register KerryFinch.com, but found there was a journalist/politician in Tasmania, Australia, with that name who had already registered the domain name. So I am KerryAnneFinch.com. I have registered this, and several other domain names with one company, GoDaddy, and a few others with NameCheap as I wanted to compare their support and service.

More coming…………