I just know Daniel Tan for less than 2 months. Honestly, he is the Malaysian SEO genius! His unselfish sharing on his SEO knowledge has gained my full respect. Browse through the Warrior Forum, you will know how popular he is as a SEO warrior.

What is SEOPressor Plugin?

This is not just a simple Wordpress plugin. It is a plugin that has taken many websites from nowhere to first page ranking!

This plugin is how Daniel Tan helped thousands of his clients rank their websites on Google #1!

Google takes into account many factors to decide which sites will get top positions. Those factors can be categorized as on-page and off page factors.

On-page refers to stuff that is actually on your page. In other words, the stuff that both Google and your visitors can see and read. Off-page factors are all about backlinking.

The SEO formula should be:

SEO = *On-page Leverage* X Backlinking

On-page Leverage is the important multiplier!

Do you wondering why some websites with little backlinks are ranking ahead of you?

It is about On-Page Leverage!

This is what SEOPressor plugin does – give you the on-page leverage!

The basic rule of working of SEOPressor plugin is on-page SEO, which is done in a variety of ways. The plugin is a completely automated solution which manages tasks like

These things would ordinarily take a webmaster a lot of time to carry out and even then they would not guarantee any results, but SEOPressor plugin is designed to perform these important aspects of on-page SEO in an automatic and efficient manner.

The Secret Algorithm

Since its release, people have wondered about how the results of SEOPressor can match so perfectly with the results of Google Analytics. Only recently was it announced that SEOPressor uses a secret algorithm that works in the very manner that the Google search engine works to rank its websites. Using this particular algorithm, it is almost a no-brainer for SEOPressor to understand what it actually takes for a website to shoot right up the rung on the Google search pile. This is the one thing that has made SEOPressor so famous.

Now, if you have a Wordpress website or blog which is constantly updated, you will see that SEOPressor can add immensely to its SEO value.

SEOPressor plugin ver4.0 is going to be released!

SEOPressor Plugin Ver4.0 in action!

Click here for more details about SEOPressor

Today, Exabytes is a RM8.5 million revenue company with 55 staff and serving more than 32,000 clients. Very impressive and well done, Mr Chan!

Lot of young Malaysian entrepreneurs need to read his story. Click the below image to download his interview with Malaysia SME…

What are the benefits to be a top affiliate?

Well, I receive JV offer almost every week! However, I ignore 90% of them unless those are having a very impressive product and sales page.

My concern with ClickBank product is the quality. I think ClickBank need to put more effort to filter out those junk products. The other issue is the high refund rate for certain niches. Part of the reason also thanks to their simple and easy refund process.

One thing I like about ClickBank is their promptly payment and their excellent customer service. I have never experience any delay on their payment. I use the direct bank transfer method to my Singapore DBS saving account. It is fast and I usually receive the fund in my account the next day.

Besides ClickBank, my focus is on few independent affiliate programs and I really enjoy the relationship with them.

Believe me or not, I’d even received a US$100 note last year from one affiliate manager to “bribe me” to participate on their product launching.

Last Christmas, I received a men’s robe from one of the JV partners as a Christmas gift. I really feel warm even though I usually don’t use it in Malaysia

The topic of my presentation was “The Quick & Effective Strategy to Generate Qualified Prospects to Your Business”. I shared about the powerful of search engine marketing and why Google AdWords. I also shared a case study from my client and a few good practices to implement Google AdWords successfully. This is an area of Internet Marketing that I passionately research and follow.

We had a great time at this mini seminar and it was a great turnout in the Saturday afternoon.

Here is my presentation:

]]> http://www.ycng.net/2010/penang-internet-seminar/feed 6 http://www.ycng.net/2010/seo-ranking-factors http://www.ycng.net/2010/seo-ranking-factors#comments Wed, 28 Apr 2010 04:56:50 +0000 YC. Ng http://www.ycng.net/?p=269 I’m not really focus much on SEO (Search Engine Optimization) since I started using PPC (Pay Per Click Marketing). The few SEO best practices that I use for all my websites are

• primary and secondary keywords in the title tag
• primary keyword in meta description
• primary and secondary keywords in the first paragraph
• primary and secondary keywords in the image alt & title tag

Then, I create a few incoming links from my other on-topic websites with slight variations of primary keyword in the anchor text. It point to my home page as well as sub pages.

That’s it for my usual on-page and off-page optimization. The lazy way

I do not manually submit new website to any major search engines. With few incoming links from my other websites, the SE’s spider will be able to crawl and list the site naturally in few days or sometimes more than a week.

Is it sufficient to rank higher? Of course not. However, this will work for the long tail keywords and geo-targeting keywords where the competition are much lower.

Search engines’ ranking algorithms become more or more sophisticated. Getting top ranking for competitive keywords for new registered domain are almost impossible. Off-page factor – quality incoming links are the most important one and it will take some times to build up.

SEOmoz composes a regular Ranking Factors publication that compiles the top ranking factors based on input from top SEO experts in the industry worldwide. Here are the Top Five Ranking Factors for 2009:

Keyword-focused anchor text from external links

External link popularity (quantity/quality of external links)

Diversity of link sources (links from many unique root domains)

Keyword use anywhere in the title tag

Trustworthiness of the domain, based on link distance from trusted domains

Click here for more details.

Note that 4 out of the top 5 ranking factors are related to incoming links. SEO is getting tougher and tougher because all links are not treated equally by search engines’ algorithm.

Now the question is how to get these quality and trusted links?

Well, there are 3 ways to do it. The hard way, the paid way and the easy way.

The hard way is to go around all related websites to start a link-building campaign. This includes directories, blogs, forums, press release and etc.

The paid way is to pay for listing at few authoritative directories such as Yahoo Directory, Business.com, BOTW, JoeAnt.com and etc. Besides, sponsor a text link at a high PageRank (PR) blogs and news release distribution service (such as PRWeb) can be quite helpful too. All these will cost over US$1K per annum.

I find Yahoo Directory is well worth the money even though it cost US$299 per year. When you get listed in Yahoo’s paid directory, you’ll often get additional links coming from Yahoo’s international locations, which are all trusted links. I paid for 2 years listing for my first website. Manage to improve my PR and obtain Google 1st ranking on few competitive keywords that I optimized. The ranking still maintain until today even though I’ve stopped paying for the Yahoo Directory listing

Lastly, the easy way (perhaps also the most difficulty way) is to create a high quality contents that everybody want to share the content either through their blog, website, email or in social media. The key is to build buzz around a site.

There is an interesting study done by AdGooroo, they found out that

Across sites of all sizes, authority, and verticals, a trust link carries a minimum of 4.2 times more weight than a spam link

A social link carries 8.9 times more weight than a spam link and 2.1 times more weight than a trust link. However, this effect appears to diminish with higher traffic sites.

It’s interesting to learn that links from social networking sites have an even higher ability to influence search engine rankings!

Even though I’m not a SEO guy, I subscribe to a paid monthly report from Planet Ocean to keep me updated with industry insights, research, latest SEO techniques and search engine marketing strategies. If you want to learn about SEO, Planet Ocean is the only one that I strongly recommended.

Search Engine Marketing Consultancy

After 7 years as an internet marketer, I finally started my own search engine marketing consultancy service, with the aim to help local SMEs to generate and convert more web visitors by leveraging on search engine platform. My core services include PPC campaign optimization & management, web page optimization and web analytics. I’ve to be honest that Malaysia SMEs (especially Penang) are still far lag behind Singapore in term of exploring the powerful search marketing. Lot of education is needed to convince them to try out Google AdWords and Yahoo Sponsored Search and it is not an easy one. However, Google is aggressively promoting AdWords in Malaysia. They give away many RM100-RM200 vouchers to SMEs to try out their ads. This is good news to me as I can target those having problem to achieve positive ROI with their campaigns.

Besides, I’m now a certified Google AdWords and Google Analytics Qualified Individual. To meet those requirements is not too difficult to me as I’ve been using Google AdWords for many years. I do agree with others that the passing mark for the exam is quite high – 85% for Google AdWords Fundamental Exam and the questions cover the entire features in AdWords. More advanced exams will be available soon in the area of search & display marketing. I will definitely take those exams once it is available. As for Google Analytics Qualification, the passing mark is 80%. To pass this exam, experience of using Google Analytics is mandatory as the questions cover the details usage of web analytics. I’ve successfully scored over 90% for both exams.

Internet Marketer

Due to my consultancy service, I’ve not been actively involved in internet marketing. Guess what? I still manage to did well in few product launches by using just email marketing and little PPC. My existing affiliate business ventures are indeed able to generate a passive income. Few partners that offers lifetime cookies affiliate programs are still generating me a few hundreds to over thousand USD monthly each without me doing anything at all.

I also managed to achieve Clickbank Apex status based on my performance in 2009. Hmm… I’m now one of the top Clickbank Affiliate in the world. Sound great Unfortunately, I’ve not focus on it for the past 6 months

Internet Ventures

I find few untapped market in Malaysia while I was doing PPC competitive intelligence sharing with my potential clients. I have few ideas and JVs where I need to focus on for now. One of them is related to e-commerce store solution.

Part-time Study

I’ve completed half of my MBA modules. Another 1.5 years or more to go. Some of my friends was wondering why I take so long for my part-time study. Well, this is the schedule planned by the business school and I do not want to overstretch myself. Compared with other program offerred locally, Manchester program are pretty tough due to strict control by the University. The fees is quite expensive even though their world ranking has dropped since I enrolled into the program. Hope the pound sterling will depreciate further

My Plan…

Well, I’ve decided to refocus on internet marketing/ventures as I find it’s more rewarding and worth my time. As for my consultancy service, it would be great to have 8-10 good retaining clients. At the moment, I do not market it aggressively as I need to focus on internet ventures. I may consider to promote my service out of Malaysia. Unlike in US & Europe, it is really a limited market for PPC management service here. Besides, I’m also planning to start another blog at my search engine marketing consultancy to share more about PPC.

Cheers!

It especially slapped advertisers that use “name squeeze” pages, since name squeezes tend to have very little content.

Lately, it also slapped a product review sites which happen to most affiliate marketer. They suddenly had high minimum bids for many of their keywords and its quality score dropped to 1 overnight.

Surprisingly, some of the review sites are well build out and consistently updated. They have all the elements that meet Google’s quality criteria.

Now, Google is recommending them to bid $10.00 on each keywords to appear on first page!

Based on the research from several well-known marketers, a major telltale sign for Google is when the landing page is heavy with affiliate links to other vendors and sites.

One quick fix that I find helpful to overcome Google Slap is to move the landing page to a content site with a high page rank. Pause the exisiting campaign that slapped by Google and copy it into a new campaign.

Building a good quality content site is always helpful to overcome such situation and I’m grateful that I’ve several content websites to leverage. My first SBI site is even treated as an authoritative site where I enjoy a Google top listing with submenu.

For affiliate marketer, the most important lesson from Google Slap experience is to shift the mindset from traffic broker to value added affiliate.

We can turn it into something of value for ourselve by

1. offering our own legitimate content
2. building our own mailing lists

This is a long term approach to build a true asset.

Below video from Google’s Chief Economist, Hal Varian, is worth watching to understand the quality score. He explains the AdWords Ad Auction and how the max CPC bid and quality score determine how much we pay for a click.

Take a look at this promotion video for Socialnomics, a new book authored by Erik Qualman…

From Socialnomics

Social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter are fundamentally changing the way businesses and consumers behave, connecting hundreds of millions of people to each other via instant communication. This is a massive socio-economic shift that is fundamentally changing the way consumers and companies communicate and interact with each other.

Welcome to the world of Socialnomics—where consumers and the societies they create online have a profound influence on our economy and the businesses that operate within it. Online word of mouth and the powerful influence of peer groups have already made many traditional marketing strategies obsolete. Today’s best businesses and marketers are learning to profitably navigate this new landscape.

Brands can now be strengthened or destroyed by the use of social media. Advertising is less effective at influencing consumers than are the opinions of their peers, making direct-to-consumer marketing messages less valuable each day. But savvy companies are using online networking sites as massive focus groups and as an efficient means of communication with consumers. If social media isn’t a part of your business strategy, you’ve already fallen behind the curve—and your competition.

In Socialnomics, Erik Qualman offers a fascinating look at the impact of social media on business to reveal what the future holds and how businesses can best take advantage of it. He explores how social media is changing the way businesses produce, market, and sell products; how it eliminates inefficient marketing tactics and middlemen; and how businesses are connecting directly with their customers through popular social media platforms.

Social media will continue to change the way businesses market products and how consumers and businesses interact with each other. If you’re a marketer or business owner, the big question is whether you’ll keep up with those changes. Socialnomics is an essential resource for anyone who wants to understand the implications of social media, and how to tap its power to increase sales, cut marketing costs, and communicate directly with consumers.

Whenever my friends approach me for information about the start up of internet marketing, I always recommend them to consider SBI! because the package is completed with domain, webhosting and the most important – the valuable internet marketing lessons, suitable for a beginner who know little about web design and web site marketing.

I was using SBI! for two years before switching to XSitePro to build the rest of my sites (to cut cost ). Two weeks ago, I signed up SBI! again to build my website for my upcoming coaching services (more coming… ).

Wow, SBI! has included a lot of new features!

After several years, I find their site building processes are indeed a valuable e-business lessons still.

No wonder, 30 accredited centers of higher education in US are selecting SBI! as the way to teach undergraduates, MBAs and Continuing Education students how to use the Web to build a successful online business.

The “valuable lessons” I mean here is the CTPM process…

… the step-by-step process of how to turn your knowledge into Content… and your Content into Traffic, then PRESells those visitors and converts them into Money.

That is what makes SBI! unique… and effective.

Before building a website, it is so critical to invest time on planning stage to develop the site content blueprint.

• Brainstorming

This Brainstorming process is all about Think – Plan – Consider – Research – Adjust.

Otherwise, you will just build another unvisited website, like most of the websites out there.

If you are interested to find out more about CTPM process, click here to look “inside” at the guide that SBIers actually use and how they build a small but flourishing and profitable business on the net.

This online SBI! Action Guide shows you how to execute the natural, powerful CTPM process, using SBI!’s easy-to-use, integrated set of tools.

Even though you are using other website builders, I am sure you will pick up lot of useful information especially the steps to develop site content blueprint. 

Google Cash method  was first published online by Chris Carpenter in 2003 and revised 4 times thus far. The original Google Cash method was focusing on direct linking through PPC advertising. However, the latest revision focuses on landing page techniques as well.

Suzanne, the Affiliate Manager from NetPicks contacted me early last month about the launching of UST-Forex Edition.

Due to my active promotion on another product launched on early June, I did not want to promote another product within such a short period to my targeted email lists. Hence, I decided to try direct linking with Google Search as well as its Content Network.

Here was the launch schedule for UST Forex Edition that I received from Suzanne:

6/22 – JV email #1 with first pre-launch content

6/24 – JV email #2 with second pre-launch content (Link to the blog) + blog contest

6/26 – JV follow up webinar announcement, and blog contest reminder

6/28 – JV follow up email with webinar reminder and blog contest reminder (optional)

6/29 – Launch Webinar and Blog Contest Winner Announced – JV email early morning reminder (optional)

6/30 – JV email #3 with launch opening announcement

7/2 – JV email #4 with third piece of launch content with launch close warning

7/3 – Launch Close

7/6-7/8 – 2nd Chance Order Page Re-Open (optional – probably 2 emails)

Based on my experience, I knew it is going to do well with this proper launching formula.

Social proof, reciprocity, credibility, urgency and scarcity are the techniques that have been tested many times and it works in a product launch processes.

I have participated with several high-ticket Forex product launches with similar launching formula. These products were converted well through my targeted email lists but I have not test it with direct linking through PPC advertising.

Hence, I decided to give it a try.

My idea of direct linking was about sending the visitors to their opt-in page to download the free trade management software. With this plan, my advertising campaign only scheduled to run for 7 days, from 22^nd until 28^th June. Then, I let NetPicks to follow up with the leads referred through my PPC traffic.

Here was the nice design sales page that went live on the launch day:

The result? You guess…

I generated 6 sales on the launch day (29^th June) but 1 sale was refunded a week later.

Excluding the refunded amount, my total commissions earned was US$869.75. Here are the sales screenshot:

You will be amazed knowing that I only spent US$66.04 on Google Search and Content Network!

This means that I spent $1 to make almost $13 in return

The following screenshots were my 5 ad groups for my Google AdWords campaign:

Ad Group #1

Ad Group #2

Ad Group #3

Ad Group #4

Ad Group #5

Total advertising cost was only US$66.04.

It generated 37 leads according to the NetPicks’ affiliate report as shown below:

Within these 37 leads, 5 of them were converted into sales. This was 13.5% conversion rate – extremely good conversion for a US$500 product.

Well, this case study is merely just a case study!

The aim is to show that the direct linking method still works under certain conditions.

I do not recommend to apply it especially on Clickbank products where there is fierce competition unless you are very creative on your keyword research.

I have to be honest that direct linking is not my cup of tea.

In fact, it is not a viable long term strategy!

To be successful in PPC affiliate marketing, you need to be clear that there are certain aspects of the sales funnel that you have control over but not all.

You have no influence over what your visitors see once you direct them to a merchant website.

I always prefer to drive traffic directly to my landing page where I have certain control on the visitors such as pre-sell the recommended product as well as entice them to opt-in for free report, and etc.

My advice is to stop thinking affiliate marketing as a money making tactics. Always think long term instead of just generating instant income.

List Building is the KEY!

With the correct mindset, you will always find a cost-effective way to build targeted lists – an ASSET…