Full Text: http://www.searchengineguide.com/laycock/007996.html

A Snippet:

Through hundreds of emails with Search Engine Guide readers, I can see that there are plenty of businesses out there ready and willing to invest the money that it takes to improve their online marketing. The problem that most of them have is that they simply don't know how to get started. That's where Search Engine Guide comes in. Once again, it's time for us to share the ups and downs, the good decisions and the bad, and the every day realities that come with promoting a business online.

I've 2 points here.

1
How did she start selling online? That is to say, how did people come to know about her things? If that is anything but seo, link building, etc., she should try to devote more time for that. In that case, she might hire someone to do the shipping, watch inventory, etc., so that Carrie finds time to generate leads and make the pieces.

In her narration, nowhere does she mention that she needs to spruce up her website. The issue here is prioritizing and simplifying her business.

2
This goes against Jennifer's core suggestions. If at all Carrie decides to spruce up her website, she may decide to buy [product name removed] [url removed]. I use it for one of my sites, and despite being in seo, link building, article marketing, etc. for close to 7 years, I can vouch that [product name removed] is one of the best, if not the best, package around.

If anyone says Carrie has to do things herself in [product name removed], I'll say she'll in any case have to constantly interact with a seo specialist, a link specialist, a writing specialist ... and the list goes on. [product name removed] will help her do everything to rank high in search results. This is a boon in long term, because you won't depend on others to help you out.

If you feel this is an ad for [product name removed], so it is. But this is the ONLY solution for millions of small business owners like me to succeed on the web. Pity my ethics do not allow me to use my affiliate link.

In her narration, nowhere does she mention that she needs to spruce up her website. The issue here is prioritizing and simplifying her business. I'm not sure I'm following your point. What do you mean by "spruce up" her website? Are you talking about the look of the site?

This goes against Jennifer's core suggestions. Sorry for being a bit slow, but what goes against her core suggestions?

If anyone says Carrie has to do things herself in [product name removed], I'll say she'll in any case have to constantly interact with a seo specialist, a link specialist, a writing specialist ... and the list goes on. Perhaps you are missing the point. This is about sharing ideas on how our readers can do things themselves by learning from the experts as they work with Carrie. Carrie won't have to rely on the experts permantly... unless she chooses to hire them after the project so she can focus on other aspects of her business.

[product name removed] will help her do everything to rank high in search results. I haven't used the software you mentioned and I'm all for tools that can be used to help you work more efficiently. But, "do everything to rank high in search results" seems like quite a lot to ask of a piece of software. For example...

Does the software write content?
Does the software engage in viral marketing?
Does the software establish relationships with customers, the press, and others that would like to link to and talk about a site?

...And the list goes on. If the software can be used to organize and improve productivity, that is great. But, a piece of software isn't a magic solution.

But this is the ONLY solution for millions of small business owners like me to succeed on the web. Perhaps it's "one" solution but to say it's the "only" solution is a bit much.

Pity my ethics do not allow me to use my affiliate link. Ah, no problem there. Instead of removing the link drops we would have just deleted your post if you had. ;)

Here are my replies.

Spruce-up:
Well, I'm not meaning looking good. If the content is good, that doesn't matter. What I mean is optimizing webpages with relevant KWs, looking for links, and all that one does to rank well in SERPs.

Jennifer's core suggestions:
She advocates outsourcing each work, which means Carrie has to separately (or together at times) deal with them. According to me, if she uses the product I named [which you removed], she doesn't need to spend her valuable time with them. She can do all by herself at her own pace, yet do very well in search rankings.

Coming to your point Roberts, your comment, "..Carrie won't have to rely on the experts permantly... unless she chooses to hire them after the project so she can focus on other aspects of her business...", is surprising. SEO is not an one-shot affair, it's ongoing forever. Once Carrie outsources, she will do it forever.

I'm not saying nobody outsources. Outsourcing the way you say is usually (I repeat 'usually') for biggies. They certainly need to get works done by others so that they can concentrate on their core activities. Carrie's is a small business. To my understanding, if she learns the things with the product I mentioned, she doesn't need outsourcing.

The software I mentioned doesn't write, but very succinctly helps to write, it does not develop links by itself, but clearly shows how to get links. It does many other things, it's too small a space to mention all of that.

2 adages I wish to mention:

"Seeing is believing", and "Learn fishing, so you don't depend for your next food".

Lastly, you've not mentioned how Carrie earns money now. As I said earlier, I repeat again that Carrie's is more of business prioritizing. As I understand, the website she needs is to supplement her business, not something she cannot absolutely do without. Seen from this angle, there's no need to outsource her work till the time her business grows up to the point that her website demands more attention.

Thanks Roberts for allowing me to put some ideas.

W2C,

Just a thought, but perhaps you might like to wait and see how the series actually progresses before you decide that it's not a practical idea.

This is what we call a learning experience.

Carrie is not outsourcing the work, she's getting a team of experts to brainstorm with her to come up with ideas that she can impliment herself. The series will outline things so that readers can get idea for their own businesses.

The only article that you've read so far simply says who she is and who is going to help her, I haven't written a single word yet about what's going to be done.

Thus, I'd offer up this piece of advice...

"Patience is a virtue."

People, I'm freaking out! Where's the next post. These multiple post article segments from Mrs. Laycock are awesome. Let's get #2 up!

Thanks for all of the help.

Mike

Jennifer's core suggestions: She advocates outsourcing each work Having experts share ideas and information with the readers isn't advocating outsourcing.

You don't understand the article or the point of the series. The reason I don't think you understand the article is I don't think you bothered to read it.

Coming to your point Roberts, your comment ... is surprising. SEO is not an one-shot affair, it's ongoing forever. Uhhh, where exactly did I say it's a one-shot affair? :scratchhe


Once Carrie outsources, she will do it forever. Not true. If she chooses to do the work herself she won't need to outsource.

Outsourcing the way you say is usually (I repeat 'usually') for biggies. Then you'll really enjoy the series because you'll learn about doing it on your own. The majority of our readers aren't going to read the series and outsource. They are going to take what they've learned and do it themselves.

The software I mentioned doesn't write, but very succinctly helps to write, it does not develop links by itself, but clearly shows how to get links. It does many other things, it's too small a space to mention all of that. So it sounds like it's a tool designed to help you work more efficiently. That's cool. But that's a far cry from you declaring the software...

"is the ONLY solution for millions of small business owners like me to succeed on the web."

It's a tool, not a magic solution.

2 adages I wish to mention:
"Seeing is believing", and "Learn fishing, so you don't depend for your next food".You are going to love reading Jennifer's articles then. Every day she helps small business folks learn how to do it for themselves. And, she can point to her own successful sites as ideal examples of how well what she is teaching works.

Lastly, you've not mentioned how Carrie earns money now.You didn't actually read the article did you?

If you had, you would know how she earns money.

Man, this isn't that complicated. I know a lot of you work in the field of SEO and such, but the bottom line is to learn the basics, how driving qualified traffic works, then combine those principles with the principles of mail order and direct marketing.

I understand that not everyone thinks like a salesperson, but essentially you must identify your customers and figure out a way to reach them, and assume you have the best product out there.

As far as website design, I am NOT a tech or design person, but my feeling for an internet store site is simple- make it easy to use, easy to navigate, and easy to buy. Flash and fancy stuff is not necessary if your getting qualified prospects to your site.

Ease up-learn and burn, baybee!

ehrenpreis,

I agree completely! It's all about learning the basics, which is what this whole article series is about.

The thing to remember is that most small business owners tend to launch businesses bases on their passion for their product, not based on their knowledge of sales tactics.

For someone like Carrie that "just wants to make jewelry" but that isn't yet large enough to hire a full marketing staff...it can be a bit daunting to figure out how to get going. Hopefully, we'll help clear that up for her with some nice and easy advice. :)

Lastly, you've not mentioned how Carrie earns money now.

I have a lucrative career in the field of lapdancing... and when that goes south Ethan (my 4 year old son) and I plan to open a lemonade stand.;)

CDM

I have a lucrative career in the field of lapdancing... and when that goes south Ethan (my 4 year old son) and I plan to open a lemonade stand.;)

CDM
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