No, the name is not particularly clever. Using words like Herald or Express would sound and look much slicker (ex., FashionDesignExpress.com). But using
“magazine” gives you a better edge with the Search Engines, for two reasons...
i) There’s a slight advantage to having your keyword within the domain name.
But more importantly...
ii) You’ll be using your name over and over in your copy. No one searches for
“FashionDesignExpress.” But lots of people search for “fashion magazine.” And, 73
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since few people use quotes when they search, the “fashion” and the “magazine”
do not have to be together. So this gives you “findability” for “fashion magazine”
and “fashion designers” and even “designers magazine.”
Add a byline like...
“The Fashion Design Magazine
By, About, and For Fashion Designers”
Include this on every page, under your logo.
Your magazine format gives you the flexibility to cover a wide range of topics related to fashion design and designers. Use the BREAKOUT techniques described in DAY 3 to generate more and more topics related to fashion design and designers (jewelry topics, famous designer bios, etc., etc.).
You’re off and running with a great concept like this. Just one more thought...
Let’s say that fashion-designers-magazine.com succeeds really well...
Hey, it should! You’re doing everything right. But...
It will be too late to register related domains later. Do it now, with an eye to expanding your concept in a few months or so (as discussed above for artchive.com)...
• fashion-model-magazine.com
• fashion-products-magazine.com (your future store?)
• factory-outlet-stores-magazine.com (see below)
• And, of course, tie it up all together with a Master Domain, fashion-magazine.com or THEfashion-magazine.com. This Master Site will be launched once your other sites are all up and running, much the same way that you did for artchive.com above.
Do you see the difference from these vague, more general, wide-concept, standalone “fashion” approaches?...
• “world-wide-fashion-web.com”
• “fashion-express.com”
• “best-fashion-products-on-the-Net.com”
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They are all too generic and fail to capture a useful niche-keyword in the VPP (i.e., in the domain name).
Let’s discuss your second option when dealing with a wide-open General Keyword like “fashion”...
OPTION 2) Change course -- Earlier, we used Search It! to find other “fashion-related” words like “factory outlet stores.” This term has far better DEMAND-SUPPLY ratio (searches compared to competitors) than “fashion design.”
Research like this may even point you towards changing your concept away from the “concept-level” keyword of “fashion,” perhaps aiming more toward “discount”
and “outlets” -- run these two keywords through Search It! to check both SUPPLY
and DEMAND. Your best Concept Keyword may actually be...
discount outlets
or…
factory outlet stores (that’s where we got that domain, “factory-outlet-stores-magazine.com,” above).
Surprise, surprise!
Of course, you also have to consider...
i) whether this different direction excites you as much and…
ii) the nature of the kind of customer who will search for your keywords. Make sure that you aren’t marketing to a personality type that is hard to convert, no matter what you do... ex., the “freebie-seeking tire-kicker” or the “marketing-phobic tech-type.”
You want to attract a personality that is open-to-buy. In other words, you want people who will buy something after reading your content and clicking through to your merchants.
With this in mind, think about this possible new direction...
People searching for outlet malls are certainly doing so for a reason... to save on buying! And you find lots of good online malls and other merchants that fit with your Site Concept. And you can still marry your concept of fashion to “factory outlet stores” like this...
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• WorldsBest-FashionFactory-outlet-stores.com
Geez, if this goes as big as you think it could, you could expand this concept, too!
So you also register...
• WorldsBest-SportsFactory-outlet-stores.com
• WorldsBest-ElectronicFactory-outlet-stores.com
• WorldsBest-FurnitureFactory-outlet-stores.com
• WorldsBest-MusicFactory-outlet-stores.com
• WorldsBest-WhateverElseExistsFactory-outlet-stores.com And you’ll register a strong Master Domain to tie all your successful niche sites up into one big mini-portal. So what if that’s a year or two down the road?...
• WorldsBest-Factory-outlet-stores.com
VPP = world's best factory outlet stores. It says that you have done all the research for your cost-conscious reader and will be delivering only the cream.
And think of all the creamy topics!... Articles on shoes, fur, dresses, etc., etc...
leading to great outlet links (and other affiliate links, of course).
Then you do the same for basketball, football, golf, etc., etc. My goodness!
You’ve found the mother lode.
Bye-bye fashion magazine. Hello world of discount malls!
Here’s the whole point of DAY 5...
Take your time on the domain name and the concept -- the choice you make here will literally make or break your results.
Remember what Danny De Vito said in “The Renaissance Man”...
“The choices we make dictate the lives we lead.”
If I had to summarize the entire Affiliate Masters Course into just two lines, it would be the two you just read...
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Pick something you know and love...... AND that has excellent PROFITABILITY!
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One without the other is much less likely to succeed.Yes, you can win by doing something you don’t enjoy doing. But it’s a heck of a lot harder.
And sure... you could just say, “Hang what people will pay for. I want to do what turns me on”... and that would be OK. You might even “luck into” a winner of a concept. But it would be luck. On the other hand, if your payoff is the sheer enjoyment of doing a hobby, that’s great, too.
It takes a cold-hearted businessperson to make money at something that he does not particularly like. Few of us qualify. Of course, if you do, don’t hesitate to go where the profitability seems to be, first and foremost!
But, for most folks...
Pick something you know and love...
... AND that has excellent PROFITABILITY!
You believe you have the right domain name, but wait…
Don’t rush out to register it just yet. Your domain name will be with you a long, long time, showing potential visitors just what you have to offer. Take one more step before you make the final decision…
5.3. Refine Your Domain Name
A good domain name is...
• short and sharp
• meaningful -- conveys a clear message
• easy to spell
• easy to remember
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• unique, descriptive, and “you”
• solid, classic, not hokey
In general, if you follow the above guideline for creating your VPP, you won’t need much help coming up with a great domain name. But if you really want to make sure that you've left no cyber-stone unturned, Search It! can help you.
We’ll be using our first example where the keyword is “pricing.” The second keyword reflects our VPP, in this case, “advisor.” Ready to go?
Open Search It! and take the following pathway…
Search It! > Domain Names (STEP 1) > DomainBots Domain Namer (STEP 2) > pricing (STEP 3) > advisor (STEP 4)
Special note… do not register your domain at any of these services until you’ve seen your “very best” below.
A good domain name ends in “.com,” “.net” or “.org.” These are well established, unlike some new entities -- “.tv” for example. When you are developing your domain name, think about your visitor’s mindset. Which name has the most credibility?
What about using a country ending like “.ca” or “.com.au”? Even if yours is a local business, you will sound more impressive with a .com/.net./.org ending.
And your local business could easily add global income once your site is up and running.
I highly recommend “.com” as your first choice.
If you already have an idea for a great name and just want to check to see if it’s been taken...
Use Search It! again…
Search It! > Domain Names (STEP 1) > Check Domain Availability (STEP 2) > factory-outlet-stores.com (STEP 3)
Don’t register your domain yourself. If you use Site Build It!, domain registration is included in the price.
Got a great and available name? Super! Now check for trademarks. We’ll use 78
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Trademark Check -- Us as an example…
Search It! > Site Legalities (STEP 1) > Trademark Check -- US (STEP 2) > factory-outlet-stores.com (STEP 3)
It’s not necessary to trademark your domain. But do make sure that you don’t violate someone else's mark before you register your domain.
It would be a shame to build up a great business and then have someone who owned a trademark (before you registered your domain) force you to take it down.
Just before you register, think about expandability and brand. Generally, you should start narrow-niche and then expand when all goes well. And, as I said earlier, when the time does come to grow beyond “pricing,” you should not add
“fulfillment” or “customer support” to your “pricing” site. You’ll dilute its Search Engine effectiveness, not to mention cloud the message to your visitors.
So give some thought to expansion now. Suppose that you decide upon
“THEpricingadvisor.com.” Why not register “THEfulfillmentadvisor.com” and
“THEsupportadvisor.com,” etc., now. Eventually, you’ll link them together through a master site called “THEmarketingadvisor.com.”
Registering domains is cheap. Why not lock them all in right now? That way, your expansion path won’t have potholes when the time comes for you to grow.
Next? Registration…
5.4. Register Your Domain Name
To register your domain name, you need the services of a registrar. There are zillions of them. If you are using one that makes you happy, stick with it.
Otherwise, check out...
A comprehensive list of registrars...
http://www.icann.org/registrars/accredited-list.html
By the way, Site Build It! automatically takes care of domain name registration for you. The cost is included in the annual subscription fee. So your very best bet is simply to let us take care of it.
http://affiliatemarketing.sitesell.com/
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A simple but powerful ending to DAY 5. Before proceeding to DAY 6, please complete your DAY 5 Goal-of-the-DAY, and take note of your Ongoing Goal...
Now that you have found your perfect, “just right” Site Concept, consider the bigger picture. When you “finish” this, your first site, will you broaden the concept until you have your own mini-portal?
Or will you start a second, unrelated site?
All the necessary prep work for your affiliate business is finished. You finalized and registered your domain. The foundation is now secure.
Get ready to build your site. We’re going back to Content (C
), where it all
begins…
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6. DAY 6
Build A Site That Gets The Click!
Rome.com was
NOT built in a day!
Yes, finally! We’re ready to start building!
Let’s just take a look back at what we’ve done…
• examined PREselling and its effect on Conversion Rates (DAY 1)
• identified a potential niche concept (DAY 2)
• brainstormed a list of profitable keywords (DAY 3)
• researched quality affiliate programs and other income streams (DAY 4).
• chosen a domain name that reflects your VPP (DAY 5).
Impressive work! You truly do have a rock-solid foundation to build upon.
During DAY 6, you will create a structure for your site. This is where you start the C
T
P
M snowball rolling by writing content designed to “get the click!” Let the construction begin!
Goal-of-the-DAY... Build a home page, and one TIER 2 Keyword-Focused Content Page.
Don’t know HTML? Intimidated by FTP and other Web technologies? Relax.
Site Build It!'s “through-the-browser” site-building tools can help both the seasoned pro and the complete “newbie” build a vibrant and profitable online business easily! SBI! makes the technology invisible so you can focus on building your business!
New features are constantly being added to SBI! at no added price...
6.1. Follow the Winning Formula
Showtime! Like any great show, whether it’s baseball, or the theatre, or the Olympics, a successful outcome is all about preparation. And boy, have you prepared!
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And all that preparation has convinced you that your show should be...
WorldsBest-FashionFactory-outlet-stores.com
Yes! What started out as “fashion” has turned into a site about fashion factory outlet stores. After all, you yourself love buying clothes and shoes at a great price. Oh the thrill of stopping by a new freeway-side outlet mall and finding beautiful, cheap buys at a Tommy Hilfiger outlet!
While you love the idea, money talked, too. Search It! indicated a good Demand: Supply ratio (i.e., profitability). Your methodical research has uncovered a high-potential business!
Now it’s time to build income through content (i.e., to build a site that “gets the click.”) Since I’m still in “2-line-summary mode,” let’s boil down the essence of
“building income through content”...
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Deliver valuable content to your readers...... AND tasty content to your spiders.
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Your site must be a WIN-WIN-WIN-WIN proposition for four parties...1) your visitor
2) the Search Engines
3) your merchants, and...
4) YOU!
Let’s look at each WIN...
6.1.1. Your Visitor Wins
Your visitor must get what she is looking for -- outstanding information.
OVERdeliver with original, high-value info. If you don’t do this, she simply clicks the BACK button to the Search Engine and says... “Next!”
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6.1.2. The Search Engines Win
The Search Engines are in business. Their product is the quality of their search results. Help them make their product better, and they’ll love you.
Search Engines use computer programs called spiders to go out and bring your site back to its home (i.e., the Search Engine’s database). Then when someone looks up, let’s say “factory outlet stores,” another program decides whether your site or a site with a similar theme is more relevant.
You must honestly convince each Search Engine that you are the most relevant (at least in the Top 20 search results, preferably in the Top 10) for the keywords that you target. Trick the engine and your success won’t last long. When the Search Engine discovers your game, it will ban you.
Why? Tricks hurt a Search Engine’s product instead of helping it.
Help the searcher -- your potential visitor and your merchant’s potential customer. Solve her problem or her quest. Satisfy the whole reason why she is doing the search.
Do this and you add value to the Search Engine’s product.
Use this approach and you will never have to worry about the Search Engines. They become partners with you in an effort to deliver quality content to searchers. And that means…
• No tricks in comment tags or invisible links.
• No fear about the SEs banning you because of your “tactics.”
• No worrying about using your keywords in the right place/amount.
• No wasting time, and trying to “stay on the cutting edge” ahead.
• No 8 versions of the same site, one for each major engine.
• No off-target keywords to suck in untargeted customers.
• No competitors will complain about your tricky methods.
• No multiple domains, hidden inter-linking, etc.
There’s simply nothing to fret about. Sleep well and enjoy solid, stable results by doing everything right the first time with the right process and tools…
C
T
P
M
Keep your focus on creating one “best fit” site which scores well with most of the engines for most of your words most of the time. Write your page for the customer, first and foremost. No games.
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OK, on to the third win of WIN-WIN-WIN-WIN...
6.1.3. Your Merchants Win
Your merchants want sales. As we have seen, the best way to deliver that is through outstanding content that gains your visitor’s confidence and increases your credibility. Then use “in-context” text links to refer/recommend/direct those visitors to places that you believe will deliver great value.
6.1.4. You Win
YOU must win, too, of course. How?
Ah, that’s the easiest part. If you get the first three WINS right, you will succeed.
Think about it...
OVERdelivery to your visitor ensures repeat visits, confidence and ongoing sales. The Search Engines will never ban you. And, as you become a super-affiliate, your merchants will pay you more and more, perhaps even giving you special bonuses and deals!
I call the road to your WIN this special name...
6.1.5. FIND-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-KACHING
Follow the sign-posts along this winning road…
1) FIND -- Your potential visitor must find you in the Top 10 (no worse than top 20) of the search results for your keyword. If your potential customer does not find you on the first or second page of the Search Engine’s search for your keyword, well, you simply don’t exist for that word.
Game over.
2) CLICK -- Your potential visitor must read the “Title and Description” that the engine uses in the search results, and must find them sufficiently compelling to 84
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click to your site. If your Title and Description are boring or tacky, your potential visitor will probably not click to your KFCP (Keyword-Focused Content Page).
Game over.
3) CLICK -- Your visitor finds high-value content, learns to trust you as someone honest who delivers, and so follows your recommendations... CLICK again! If your page delivers poor, low-value info (or even worse, a sales pitch), you still get the click... on the Back Button to the Search Engine’s results page. “Who’s next?”
Game over.
4) CLICK-kaCHING -- Finally, your visitor arrives at your merchant in a “feeling smart about myself” and open-to-buy mood, ready to click that buy button!
Did I just hear a cash register?... kaCHING!
Ahhh... if you get the FIND-CLICK-CLICK right, that last CLICK-kaCHING is almost in the bag!
FIND-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-kaCHING...
To accomplish that, all you have to do is...
Get the first three WINS right. The fourth WIN, your WIN, follows automatically. And all you have to do to nail down those first three WINS is...
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Deliver valuable content to your readers...... AND tasty content to your spiders.
***************************************************
OK. Let’s start with the physical layout of your new site...6.2. Think “Pyramid” For Your Site
Your Theme-Based Content Site is made of a home page that gives the “what's in it for me” about your site. It elaborates on the VPP (Valuable PREselling Proposition) and delivers the major benefit statements (more on content-building in the next section).
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Think of your site as a pyramid…
Now for the details…
6.2.1. The Structure of Your Site As A Pyramid
The home page crowns the pinnacle. It’s a Keyword-Focused Content Page (KFCP) that focuses on your Site Concept keyword. Your home page should never link out of your site -- it’s too early. (The only possible exception would be for Google ads.)
Its job instead is to link to 5-15 KFCPs that you expect to be most profitable. It must get the click to at least one of these pages. This is important for two reasons...
1) Your visitor hits a “money page” -- Your most profitable Keyword-Focused Content Pages weave “in-context” text links to your merchant-partners while OVERdelivering great content. This is how you make your income, so you want to lead your visitors to your highest potential pages ASAP.
2) Your spider-buddy follows the links and indexes (i.e., brings back to the Search Engine’s database) your most important pages first, and most reliably… the deeper a spider has to go, the more likely it is that he misses and fails to bring your bacon back to his database home.
So we want to structure the site so that your most valuable pages have the best chance of being dragged back to all those spiders’ homes.
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These 5-15 pages are called TIER 2 pages because they are on the second TIER below the home page.
Each TIER 2 page should…
• focus on a keyword that has a high profitability score
• fit with your best monetization opportunities
• be a good “hub” page.
Links on TIER 2 pages can go in four different directions...
1) Links Down Link to related TIER 3 pages. Each TIER 3 page should be related to or a subdivision of its TIER 2 (ex., "Anguilla Villas" TIER 2 links to a variety of individual Anguilla villas, each of which is a TIER 3). Again, the more good content you have, the more favorably you are viewed by humans and SE
spiders. And the bulk of your content will be, should be, TIER 3.
2) Links Up Link back up to the home page. This provides both the human visitor and the SE spider with added value.
Every TIER 2 should have the above two types of text links. The next two are optional, according to circumstances...
3) Links To Money Link to a monetization option (i.e., where you make money). For example, this could be as simple as placing Google AdSense ads on a TIER 2 page or blending in-context text links to ClickBank affiliate merchant-partners into the content. Or it could be links to a sales page for your e-book or a Contact Us page to sell your service.
4) Links Out Link to outstanding, related, non-competing content authorities in your niche. Thes