Scheduling Success... a difficult decision?

Scheduling Success... a difficult decision?

Here's another sneak preview from my book, "Quiet Determination...unlocking the gates to unlimited success !"  As usual each chapter begins with a short story from the life of the  hero of the book, Emmanuel  followed by a take away.

Before we know it, young Emmanuel has grown into a young man, just starting his a freshman year in high school. It's a new and exciting world to him. He’s meeting people from different parts of his city, and making lots of new friends as well.

Besides mandatory attendance at school,there were so many different opportunities to participate in, both in school and outside of school. Being a typical enthusiastic teenager, Emmanuel decided that he wanted do them everything he could possibly do.

His mother had always said to him,
"Emmanuel, you can’t dance at all of the weddings!"

Here's is a list of the choices open to Emmanuel.

School Related Activities:
1. school varsity teams (football,hockey,basketball,baseball,wrestling,soccer,track & field,gymnastics)
2. school clubs (chess,photography,art,French,computer, fitness )
3. homework
4. studying for tests & exams
5. Music (Jazz band,orchestra,glee club,choir)
6. student prefect
7. student council
8.getting ready for school each morning
9.peer tutoring

Personal Activities:
1.piano lessons
2.his part time job at Mr. Wilson's outdoor store
3 playing for his rep hockey team
4. chuming around with his friends
5. time for his girl friend
6. household chores
7. attending church
8. volunteering at the community centre
9. piano practice
10. rest and relaxation
11. winter/summer vacations
12. family time
13. playing with his rock band

On top of all of these activities, Emmanuel had to fit in time to eat properly and get plenty of sleep, so he would have enough energy to undertake his daily activities successfully.  He anguished over the situation he was in So many things to do. So little time to do them. He needed an eight day week. The answer came to him in a flash. 

At that very moment he recalled what his piano teacher told him one time about organizing his work load. It was last year, during a music lessons with Mr. Clegg his new teacher at the time.

"Mr. Clegg, now that I'm an advanced music student, I've got so many things to practice in order to get prepared for my weekly lessons with you. I just don't seem to have enough time practice my scales, do my finger exercises, work on my ear training,do my theory homework,and rehearse the music for the spring recital, play the music I like to play for my own amusement, prepare the rest of my repertoire for you to listen, let alone my school work and my other sport activities.        I just don’t have enough time to accomplish everything I need too. I’m simply just so over-whelmed !"
Mr. Clegg beamed knowing smile, that only comes from a lifetime of experience.
" Don't worry son, that's a very common problem that you share with a great many other successful people. Up 'till the last few years, you've spent most of your life going from day to day. Your parents told you to do this, somebody else told you to do that, and still another person in authority says, 'Emmanuel,…don't do that'. 

All your activities and responsibilities were more or less out of your control, because you were considered to be only a child who needed lots of guidance from adults.
Now that you’re a young man the world no longer considers you to be a helpless child, who must be guided every step of the way. You're  expected to start making your own decisions, taking on your own responsibilities, building you own life.  With this new freedom comes the privilege of having a world of so many different choices open up to you. Your biggest responsibility now is to choose wisely. Here's something that will help you to do just that."

Mr. Clegg reached over to his desk, took out a pencil and a pad of paper, and handed them to Emmanuel.
"We're going to do a little experiment. I want  you to write down 10 things you want to do this coming week."
Mr. Clegg waited for Emmanuel to finish his list.

"Now, he continued, “I want you to rank each item as to it's value, from most valuable, (that's number 1) to the least valuable (number  10).  The value of an activity is determined by asking yourself this question.  'What  impact will this activity have on the ultimate success of goals? '

It took Emmanuel about ten minutes before he settled on an order that the was happy with.

"Now,  beside each activity, write down the number of hours you think you need to spend on it."

Emmanuel  took a few minutes to complete this task. He realized that the most important activities required the most amount of time.

Mr. Clegg, handed Emmanuel a blank timetable.

" I want to to fill in this schedule, starting with the most valuable activity first, ending with the least important. This is the hardest, most crucial part of this whole exercise Emmanuel. I'm telling you right now before you even begin. There will never be enough time to accomplish all the things you would like to. Some things on your list will have to be left out, or postponed until  another time in your life. Are you tough enough to do that? "

Since that time,Emmanuel had applied Mr. Clegg's advice many times in the organization of his life. He knew from experience that a few well chosen goals far outshines the mediocre results gained by attempting to crowd everything in at once.

Typical of Emmanuel,he took ownership of Mr. Clegg's suggestions made some changes to fit his own personality. Instead of making a list on a single sheet of paper, he wrote each of his potential activities on its' own  slip of paper, so he could rank them by physically shuffling them around on the table top. Being a visual person, this gave Emmanuel a tool that allowed him to experiment with different rankings, and see the results of his decisions instantly!

The Take Away

According to the University of Scranton's "Journal of Clinical Psychology", people who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don’t explicitly make resolutions.

In his book "What They Don’t Teach You in the Harvard Business School", Mark McCormack asks this question.
' Why Do 3% of Harvard MBAs Make Ten Times as Much as the Other 97% Combined ?'

Here's Mark's answer.
In 1979, interviewers asked new graduates from the Harvard’s MBA Program this question:
“Have you set clear, written goals for your future and made plans to accomplish them?”
 Here are the results to that question.
• 84% had no specific goals at all
• 13% had goals but they were not committed to paper
• 3% had clear, written goals and plans on how to accomplish them

Ten years later those same graduates of that 1979 class were interviewed again.
Now can you guess the answer to Mark's original question, ' Why Do 3% of Harvard MBAs Make Ten Times as Much as the Other 97% Combined ?'
•The 13% of the class who had goals were earning, on average, twice as much as the 84 percent who had no goals at all.
•The three percent who had clear, written goals were earning, on average, ten times as much as the other 97 percent put together.

Emmanuel had a powerful tool in the scheduling of his goals. By spending some time now, figuring out how to effectively use his time, he will be able to carry out his day-to-day activities, easily, quickly, and efficiently, accomplishing many more things, in less time. Gone is the hassle, the frustration and waste of  time trying to accomplish too many things all at once. Gone is the the classic "Jack of all trades, master of none, syndrome.
His goals dictated the activities that lead to his success.

Can You Win Over Your Audience in 20 Seconds Flat ?

Can you win audiences and influence their thinking in 20 seconds flat ?

You can read this post or watch it here.
 
You're just about to make your grand entrance  onto the stage as the conference's main keynote speaker. Your host has listed your awards,and waxed eloquently about your numerous achievements,in hopes of establishing your credibility,trust, and esteem with a group of strangers.
End of story
 
 So now you take to the stage amidst scattered applause.
- some of it's genuine, some forced,
- others applaud just to avoid the embarrassment of not being part of the group

Because you've settled for just an ordinary introduction, you have spend the next hour, skillfully trying to connect with each member of the audience. 
Proving that the information you're giving them,is so valuable and exclusive that they need to keep tuned in or their going to miss something very important that may well impact their future success, and the probability of you being invited back as speaker in the future.

       
With so much at stake, why settle for ordinary when you can have a sensational introduction !
Music is emotion! 
Emotion is memory !
It's a fact that the happiest moments of our lives are all tied to music in some fashion.
 
Your musical anthem has an a magical impact on those who are there with you, in the moment
Reignite your career as a keynote speaker,take it to the next level of success
 
Find out how you can make your presentations the most successful they've ever been.

Take emotional control of your audience in first 20 seconds of your keynote

and you've got them engaged for the duration!


That's all the time you'll need to win your audience over without uttering a single word                 In just 20 seconds flat your audience will be ready and eager to interact with you.
Step out from the crowd with your very own  20 second, tailor made anthem.


Who else wants to
- transform the energy in the room into overdrive ?
- open up minds that may be closed to listening to new ideas?

Who else wants to
- make their stage entrance in rock star fashion ?
- gain their audience's trust in 20 seconds flat
- bond with the entire audience in 20 seconds flat

Many people call branding yourself with your own personal anthem revolutionary.                   Some call it the World's best kept secret.                                                                                   I call it common sense!
 
Let me help you harness the remarkable power of music to boost your career as a keynote speaker into overdrive.
 
Get your theme tailor made music to fit your own requirements.
Make it part of your own unique branding.
Get even more startling results and testimonials from your clients.

The next time you're introduced take emotional advantage to take full control of your audience.

Benefits of Having Your Own Unique Anthem.
 • show the audience your personality
• get their attention immediately
• you dictate the mood of the room
• your theme provides the "entertainment" portion of your talk 
• you bond instantly with your audience
• warms up your audience instantly which means:
   -your one-liners will be all the more effective
   - no need to waste time warming up the audience with small talk
   - you can start delivering message right away
• gives your client added value
• walk off the stage just like you came on....in Rock Star fashion closing on literally a much higher note

Your theme or anthem can be as simple as a piano solo or as grand as a symphonic orchestra.
How about full blast rock band !
Get a style that fits your own unique style


Where Else Can You Take Advantage of Your Own Anthem ?
- put it on your website landing page to reinforce your welcome message
-use it for background music for radio/tv commercials
-  perfect for your on squeeze page
- put it on your telephone answering message
- add to yourtube videos etc.
- it's your very own branding tool to be used wherever your imagination takes you

Building Accountability in a Team Environment

Here's another  sneak preview of my new  book,                                               Quiet Determination, unlocking the gates to unlimited success !

  


Why People Avoid Accountability

Going back to the lessons of your childhood you often heard things like, Sally do this! Joey do that! Mandy don’t do that! Ever since we can remember growing up, were we not “rewarded” for doing the right things, and “punished” for doing the wrong things? The ever-present fear of punishment feeds the blame game and discourages people from stepping up and taking responsibility, or risks.

The reward and punishment environment is perpetuated in our everyday lives, at the office, in business, socially, wherever people interact. It’s often disguised as being a useful motivational tool to achieve success, but in reality it only serves to encourage and foster the exact opposite effect...fear, censure, and shifting of blame, which ultimately leads to unlimited failure and failed dreams, rather than unlimited success. Being accountable does require a certain degree of emotional maturity, self-esteem, and courage.

According to MIT Information Services and Technology, a team is defined as,"People working together in a committed way to achieve a common goal or mission. The work is interdependent and team members share responsibility and hold themselves accountable for attaining the results.”

 K.Denise Bane, of Bloomfield College wrote an abstract titled: Avoiding Catastrophe: The Role of Individual Accountability in Team Effectiveness,
Ms. Bane talks about value of using games to teach the importance of individual responsibility and accountability, in enhancing the team’s effectiveness. Participants will be enabled to: (a) identify factors promoting team effectiveness, (b) discuss the role of the individual in the success of the team,c) use games to demonstrate individual accountability in team effectiveness .

In her paper, Ms. Bane mentions psychologist Bruce Tuckman’s model for developing individual accountability in a group/team setting. This model breaks down team building into five distinct stages:forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning in order to explain how people will better understand why problems may occur, and that things will ultimately get better in the future.

It’s suggested that the Tuckman model be explained to all game participants before they actually commence playing.
Tuckman Model for Developing Individual  

Accountability in a Group/Team Setting

Note:I would suggest reading chapter 8, “Enhanced Creativity”, for great ideas on how to make this stage a smooth and positive experience.

1. Forming
In the initial stage, team members get to know one another on a personal level. The individual's behaviour is driven by the need to “fit in” and avoid any controversy and conflict. Clear objectives, for both the team and each of its’ members are established. These objectives must be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound.(SMART) Team members tend to behave independently.
2. Storming
This is a growing stage where individuals share their ideas on how to go about reaching the team’s objectives. This stage can become destructive and painfully unpleasant for members of the team who are averse to conflict. There are bound to be differences between members, and mutual patience and tolerance must be emphasized. Judgemental attitudes have no place here. All opinions are welcomed. It’s important that team members learn about different individual work styles of and personalities of people, in regards to how they:
Relate to others
Gather and use information
Make decisions
Organize themselves and others

Here are the different work styles according to the The Margerison- McCann Team Management Wheel, followed by the personality type, according to the Enneagram Institute Personality System.  A knowledge of personality types will help make storming more efficient.

a) Reporter/adviser gives and gathers information.
      The investigator to be perceptive, innovative, secretive, and isolated.
b) Creator/innovator comes up with new or different approaches.
      The individualist is expressive, dramatic, self-absorbed, and temperamental.
c) Explorer/promoter explores new ways to succeed and likes to promote the team.
      The helper is generous, demonstrative, people-pleasing, and possessive.
d) Assessor/developer likes to analyze new opportunities and make them work.
      The enthusiast is spontaneous, versatile, acquisitive, and scattered.
e) Thruster/organizer likes to get results.
       The challenger is self-confident, decisive, willful, and confrontational.
f) Concluder/producer works in a systematic way to produce outputs
        The achiever is adaptable, excelling, driven, and image-conscious.
g) Controller/inspector enjoys the detailed and controlling aspects of work
       The loyalist is engaging, responsible, anxious, and suspicious.
h) Upholder/maintainer upholds standards and values and excellence
       The reformer is principled, purposeful, self-controlled, a perfectionist.
i) Linker at the centre of the wheel, integrates and co-ordinates the work of others in the team. The peace maker is receptive, reassuring, complacent, and resigned.

3. Norming
The team selects one goal and establishes a plan how to attain that goal. All team members take the responsibility for the success of the team's goals.
4. Performing
By this time members should be motivated,knowledgeable,competent, autonomous and able to handle the decision-making process without supervision. Dissent is expected and allowed as long as it is channeled through means acceptable to the team
Although supervisors of the team during this phase are usually participating, the team will be making most of the decisions. Teams are free to revert to any of the earlier stages as they react to changing circumstances such as a change in leadership causing the team to revert to storming as the new person/people challenge the existing norms and dynamics of the team.
5. Adjourning and Transforming
The completion of the task and breaking up the team.
Celebrate the team's achievements.


Exercise 1 

AVOIDING CATASTROPHE:  one game suggested by Denise Bane

The children’s game“Cat-a-pult,” an interactive chain-reaction game distributed by HandsOnToys. It consists of five plastic catapults and foam cats. Each participant has a catapult and a cat. The object is to adjust your catapult so that, when launched, the first player’s cat will land on the second player’s catapult, triggering the second catapult, which launches the second cat in the direction of the third catapult, and so on. The team is successful when it is able to create a complete chain reaction involving all cats. Each team member is responsible for setting and adjusting their own catapult and cannot touch the catapults of his or her team members.

The game should be followed by a discussion period generated by these questions.
1. How can an individual encourage team effectiveness?
2. How did team members encourage their team members during the exercise?
3. How did “expertise” affect the outcome?
4. If an individual does not/can not learn his or her job, how does that affect the team?
5. What would have made the team more effective?
6. What hindered team effectiveness?
What lessons can you take away from this exercise?


Exercise 2
By watching Emmanuel,the hero of our story, we learn that we too can successfully acquire new habits and skills, by holding ourselves accountable to one or two, simple yet fixed rules. Consider one goal that you have set for yourself. What simple rule, mantra, or habit can you adopt that will keep yourself accountable in your quest for success?
If sustained accountability is new to you, don't be afraid to ask someone to assist you until you "get it". It could be a colleague or friend.

There's nothing wrong with paying someone do be your task master.
I would suggest that make it very clear that your task master has permission to be exactly that… a task master who excepts no excuses, no complaints, no whining.

"Quiet Determination, unlocking the gates to unlimited success!"

Why Dreams Fail

                                       Why Dreams Fail

According to a study written in the University of Scranton's Journal of Clinical Psychology, of all the New Year's resolutions made by Americans this year, 47% were related to self- improvement / education. Unfortunately the success rate for achieving those resolutions was only 8% percent.
It's completely natural, that as members of the human species, we're all locked into an never-ending saga of trying to coax success into our corner. We read certain books because we think they'll ease our pain, or solve our problems. We pay costly tuition fees to acquire new knowledge and skills. We line up to sit at the feet of omnipotent mentors, who are remarkably successful in their own areas of expertise, and fork over huge amounts of our hard earned money in return for their products, services, advice and wisdom.
How many books have you read? How many courses have you bought? How many blue prints have been sold to you? How many magic bullets have you loaded into your weapon of instant success? The number of different paths that one can choose from, and the reasons one decides to follow anyone of them in the pursuit of happiness, success and financial freedom, are virtually endless.
The startling truth about these "secrets to success" that we all have purchased at one time or another, is that they in their very selves, are the very stumbling blocks that prevent you from achieving your goals.

How so?
Oddly enough,the answer lies in the mindset that you employ in your pursuit of success. Most people mistakenly believe that by merely coupling the desire for success in their lives with specific tactics as laid out in the form of a book, a lecture, a seminar, or teacher, is the key to achieving unlimited success.

For sure, the information that you bought, regardless of where it came from, is all very valuable , but in the real world, the path to attaining success is determined by your mettle, your grit and determination. These characteristics have to be built from the ground up, both mentally and physically. It's imperative that you posses them if you want to execute all of the prescribed tactics and strategies that will supposedly lead you to success.
Authors of self-help books know that the people who buy their products and services already have the need & desire to: change their lives, solve their problems, take away their pain. If all it took was reading a book, and nothing else, we'd all be happy, free, millionaires, just basking in the sun on some beach in paradise.
In reality most people simply stop their forward momentum after reading the last word, on the last page of their self-improvement books. Few if any, take the time to digest & internalize what they've just read, or to put into practice the knowledge found in these wonderful books. They simply move on to the next next book thinking that everything that they just read will automatically bring success into their lives. You can't buy success like you buy groceries.

How many times have you attended a boot camp, seminar, or self-improvement course when no sooner have you finished it, (usually right in the middle of the whole experience when your enthusiasm and emotions are at fever pitch, putting you in the “I’ll-agree-to-anything-you-say” mode ) when all of a sudden the host makes a pitch to sell you yet another product or service?
I equate this to going to your favorite restaurant and ordering a delicious ten course meal, and then just before desert, the waiter tries to sell you an extra fifteen course meal for the next time you visit the restaurant. You haven’t even gotten the benefit of your first meal. It’s still sitting in your stomach waiting to have its' nutrients extracted and beneficially used by your body.

“Dear Kory
I have admired your persistent quiet determination and attention to details. It is more than talent; it's a mature determination. I could do well to apply the same to my life. May God bless all of your efforts." Neil S.

This is a note I got from a gentleman whom I met many years ago. Neil was the custodian of a certain concert venue in downtown Toronto where I was to give a concert that very evening. Unbeknownst to myself, Neil was watching as I prepared the stage for the concert. I spent the better part of that Saturday afternoon, climbing up and down a ladder hanging stage lights, drapping the curtain backdrop, checking the P.A. system, getting my grand piano delivered and tuned. The list of chores in preparation for that concert seemed almost endless.

I was moved by Neil's heart-felt & profound acknowledgement, that he'd scratched on 3x3 post-it note and sent to me in the mail. The fact that someone was so impressed by something that I considered to be a normal everyday routine, was truly moving. I put that treasured note away, with the knowledge that sometime in the future, it would have a direct bearing on my life.
The message in Neil's note churned around in the back of mind for years, and true to my prediction, his words "quiet determination", became the genesis of my transition from composer/songwriter/musician, to author and keynote artist.
Those two simple and profound words, "quiet determination", as Neil could plainly see, are the foundations of my success in life. That's the way that I conduct my life, with "quiet determination" in all things.

I had to ask myself how I came by this mindset for success. Was I a natural genius? Were there external factors involved? Was I in the right place, at the right time? One thing I knew for sure was that I didn't come by it consciously.
In self-analysis, I realized that I am successful at so many different things because of the character I developed in the pursuit of my musical goals.  The skills that were developed in this pursuit is what has prepared me for success in life.

I'm not a millionaire, nor am I loosing sleep over how to become one. I'm not famous, nor do I fain to become a celebrity. Success means different things to different people. We've been brainwashed by the media to think that success is defined by how much money we have, how many things we own. You only have to look at number of rich and famous who are actually miserable, wretched, depressed, and generally dissatisfied & unhappy with their lives. Robin Williams was certainly an eye opener for the world.

I measure my success by the amount of personal satisfaction I have in my life. According to the things that are important to me. Part of my success comes from knowing that I'm in control of my own destiny; knowing that I'm in control of my own time; knowing that I'm content with my modest lifestyle; knowing that the people in my family are safe and sound.
Do I want to improve myself ? Of course I do. Who doesn't. As I said earlier, it' s human nature to want to improve one's position. But at the same time, I'm not denying myself the success that I've already attained.


You have to build success one-brick-at-a-time. These bricks have many names. Some call them attitude or mindset, others will say bearing, temperament, behaviour. Take your choice.
I call my bricks "quiet determination".                                                                                      
 In the end they all mean the exact same thing... "success".


What is quiet determination?                                                                                              
Where is it found?
Is it something you can acquire ?                                                                
Are you born with it?    
Can you buy it somewhere ? 
Is it a secret society ?                                                                                                                                                                                                         

I've made an in depth study of of those two powerful words in the writing of my first book, "Quiet Determination...unlocking the gates to unlimited success! ".  It's a not-so-fictional book about a youngster named Emmanuel, who develops an outstanding repertoire of personal skills, as well as an exceptional character. He accomplishes all of this while taking what seems like normal, everyday, innocent, piano lessons. 

Robert. G. Allen #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Creating Wealth and The One Minute Millionaire , says, "Quiet determination"... teaches you the secret mindset to achieve your own unlimited success!

In the book we watch the impact that music has on Emanuel's life, following his transformation from a young school boy into a successful businessman. In the end Emmanuel realizes that his success in life is the direct result of the not-so-musical lessons he learned in music class.

It should be well noted that by no means does Emanuel's story suggest that you have to be a musician in order to be successful in life! Heaven knows, there are truckloads of musicians with failed lives out there. 

Ordinary people,despite their background, can prepare themselves to attract unlimited success by acquiring and holding fast to the same mindset and skills that Emmanuel acquired over a relatively short time span in his lifetime. Anyone can make their dreams come true regardless of what they, themselves, think they can, or cannot do. Regardless of what the odds may seem to be. In spite of what others may say.

The important thing is to remember that it takes many, many bricks to construct this building known as success. Attitude, mindset, bearing, temperament, behaviour...they're all human attributes and characteristics.

A person's character can be positive, negative, affirmative, passive, agreeable or disagreeable. Our behaviour and personality are shaped by two different things.
a) the natural set of characteristics/ personality that we are born with
b) what psychologists call learned behaviour
It's important to note that the manner in which you manage, or use your bricks, always dictates the outcome of your dreams and goals, so you have to ensure that your bricks are organized properly, so that your structure takes on the desired shape (goal) otherwise we're left with chaos, confusion, and failure. Human nature demands that our universe remain a consistent and orderly place. In their turn, all structures must be built on a good and solid foundation, if they are to have lasting and positive value.

The foundation I use to build my structure on consists of three main cornerstones.
System: The manner in which I organize or arrange my success bricks
Creativity: Putting my own brand on each and every brick.
Leadership: Keeping an open mind to change

All the knowledge in the world will never give you unlimited success, if you are not mentally & physically prepared to accept success when it comes a-knockin'.

"So many times, we over-think "how" we're going do it, that we do the worst thing of all...we don't do it! Stop worrying about how your dream is going to work. Just start working on your dream. The time will never be "right" or "perfect". And if you've already been pursuing a dream and you're feeling defeated? Get up,get back up. Keep creating...and don't believe your unsupportive thoughts!      Tiamo De Vettori

Making Your Site Accessible to Search Engines (pt 19)

                                Making Your Site Accessible to Search Engines

Indelible Content 

- must be in HTML  text format

- non text format such as images, flash files etc are invisible to search engine spiders

- use  "alt attributes" in html, ( a text description for images) to provide search engines with a description of the pictures etc.

  

Spiderable Link Structures

- spiders use links on web pages to discover other web pages & websites
- therefore you should have links to other pages of your website on your landing page
- don't expect spiders to find these other pages if there's no link to them
- limit number of links per page to about 100, or risk the chance that Google may stop spidering additional links


XML Sitemaps
Google, Yahoo & Microsoft support a protocol known as XML Sitemaps
Sitemaps allow you to supply search engines with a list of the URLs you want them to crawl
Sitemaps don't guarantee the crawling of a URL, but are a compliment to search engines everyday link-based crawl

Creating an XML Sitemap
Find a sitemap generator on internet such as:
www.google.com/webmasters/sitemaps/siteoverview/
www. sitemaps.org.xml
www.xml-sitemaps.com
www.sitemapspal.com
www.sitemap.xmlecho.org/sitemap

 

Managing & Updating  XML Sitemaps

After your has been crawled, monitor results & resolve any issues that are exposed.
Update sitemap when new URLs are added, or you've added a volume of static pages, on
the big 3 search engines.
No need to update XML sitemap when updating content on existing URL's.

If your site has multiple URL's that  refer to the same piece of  content include only  a canonical version of each URL.
This will suggest to the search engines which is the preferred version of the page.
Don't include the following:
1.Multiple URL's that point to identical content
2. low value pages on your site
3. URL's  that include tracking parameters

Upload your  sitemap file to the root directory.
Monitor the results of your  XML sitemap after your site has been crawled, & fix any outstanding issues.
View your stats & diagnostics for Google Sitemaps at: google.com/webmasters/sitemaps/siteoverview

When you add URL's to your site update your XML Sitemap with:
1. Google use your Google Sitemap account or HTTP request
2.Bing
3.Yahoo

No need to update  sitemap if you're adding content to existing URL's.
Good idea to remove deleted pages  to avoid broken links.







 

DIY Internet Marketing/ pt 18 (Keyword Tools pt 2)

Determining  Keyword Value

Identifying Relevant Keywords
Use terms that will convert to immediate action.
eg. "wedding pianist toronto". 
Searchers are more likely to perform the corresponding action (ie. the intent behind the search)

Determining Conversion Rates
Any action a searchers does is considered a "conversion".
eg. call now, purchase now, etc.

Choosing which word to target depends on understanding the demand for that word/phrase, which is then coupled with the work required to achieve a desired ranking. This is summed up as keyword competitiveness.

 This competition level depends on the following metrics:
1. Search demand volume (number of people searching for that word)
2. Number of paid search competitions & bid prices for top 4 positions
3. Strength  (age,link power,relevance) of 10 top results
4. Number of search results

SEOmoz has a keyword difficulty tool that can give you all of these metrics & gives you a comparative score.

Testing Ad Campaigns & Third Party Search Data
Remember that data provided by keyword tools is not precise, because the data sources that search tools use is limited in itself.

However , if you make use of Google Adwords, you can get much more accurate data.
Simply take your subject words & do an Adword campaign. You want to target for a #4 or #5 position (word volume) which should be high enough that your ads run all the time, yet low enough that the collection costs won't be too high.

Next, you want to study the value of achieving certain rankings by using organic results. You can estimate this by leveraging what you know about about how click-through rates vary, based on organic search position.

Using the graphic to left,a term that is searched 52 times a day, the site that is in  the #1 position will get 22 clicks per day.

Next, you can estimate your conversion rates as well, by extending the Adwords campaign to include conversion tracking, which is a free capability.

Be aware that, although paid search results get less traffic than organic ones, paid results have a higher conversion rate of 1.25- 1.5 times greater.



Landing Page Optimization
This is the practice of testing variations of a web page/website to see which gets the best results.
As in any testing situation, test only 1 element ( keyword,colour schemes, castle to actions etc.) at a time so you can pin point which variant made a difference.


                                                               
Leveraging the Long Tail of Keyword Demand

As mentioned earlier, the long tail of the search is where 70% of search queries begin. In 2007, of all the search queries that Google was receiving, 25% of them were queries that Google had never seen before.

Here are a few ways off finding long tail terms.

1) Look for webpages that do well for searches that are relevant to your target market &
     then extract the top 10-50 common search phrases at the head of the distribution graph for
     your industry.
- search  Google, Bing, Yahoo for each term
- for each page of the top 10-30 results ,extract the unique text
- remove stop words & filter by phrase size
- remove duplicates of your keywords
- mine down as far as you feel is valuable

Although the terms you'll find using this method will have a lower search volume, they will be fairly relevant. Make sure human eyes are doing the work to ensure the "common sense"  element.

2) expansion of #1 above
- text mine Technorati & Delicious
- use documents from specific results( local, academic etc.) to focus keyword mining efforts
- mine forum threads on your subject matter( use inure:forum  to mine conversational keywords
This methodology is very effective,as your results will reflect your efforts

3) Editorial Content for Long Tail Targeting
- your chances of showing up for a long tail search are greatly improved if that long tail phrase,
or if all of the words that make up that phrase are on your page
eg. recording studios in downtown Toronto

Yes, keyword research is complex & time consuming, but, it returns high rewards.