Sorry that it took me so long to get this part 3 out but as many of you already know I have been very busy. I know I was planning to use some seller's stores in this part but I decided not to at this time as critiquing another store wouldn't be right when I need to do so much work to my own store.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this Search Engine Optimization post is information I have gathered through reading information that is readily available on the internet and on eBay. Many will say I'm full of it and I will have to agree. Use this information at your own discretion and enjoy reading.
This topic is continued from
SEO Secrets and Tips Part 1
and
SEO Secrets and Tips Part 2
Search Engine Optimization SEO Part 3:
In part 2 I made mention of meta tags but failed to fully explain meta tags. Meta tags are controls that webmasters and site owners use to tell search engines what they want the search engines to do. The Meta Keyword and Meta Description tags have been widely used by webmasters to tell search engines what information their page is about. As you have probably already figured out, meta keywords and keywords are relative terms and this is why I failed to talk further about Meta tags in part 2. In the eBay system we need to concentrate on our keywords because we only have the ability to alter our meta keyword tags which will help you and your products in many search engines.
For more information on META TAGS:
Back to Basics: META Tags
How To Use HTML Meta Tags
Search engine optimization is not only about keywords, title tags, and alt tags. It is about getting your links out on the web. Quite simply, the more the search engines find your links on the internet the more weight they will apply to store, site, and your products in the results.
There are many ways to accomplish this. The best way seems to be to associate your products with an article about your product. A 300-600 word article is usually sufficient in accomplishing this. Where do you put your articles, you ask? EVERYWHERE you can! Put your articles in blogs such as the eBay blogs. Write a guide about your products and put it in the eBay guides section. Be sure to use item specific keywords and provide a link into your store category for that item. I would suggest that you only write one article or guide per item type. Example: Ball Caps Write a guide about how to properly size ball caps or about the quality or maybe even the history of them. (Something that is on my long to-do list.) MySpace and Facebook blogs are another great place to leave your articles as long as you are courteous about it. Many have been spending time using the comments section of MySpace which does create traffic and is beneficial in that way. But, if you are looking for a stronger and more consistent flow of traffic you need to use the blogs to move your products into the top page or two of the search engine results.
Another useful SEO secret is that many of your competitors writing quality articles and submitting them to free article submission sites. If you do a Google search for free article submission you will find an endless number of sites that provide this service for free. One major caution! When signing up for any of these services make sure you use any alternative email account that you might have access to. Gmail, yahoo, or msn email accounts will serve well in preventing the spam that you will receive from several of these free services. Yes! I am speaking from experience.
Whenever possible always use some type of signature with a link that sends potential customers directly to your products or store.
A new item that I have just learned about is the usage of keywords in the naming of your image files. This is suppose to provide additional keyword descriptives to your products, store, or web site. I was not aware of this until Steve with Steves Coins and Supplies provided me with a link to eBay's Seller Outreach. Thank you, Steve, for providing this important Search Engine Optimization information.
After spending much time reviewing the stores of the many who have been participating and enjoying my writings about Search Engine Optimization and SEO Secrets and Tips, I have been very impressed at how many of you have spent time applying my rants. Don't get frustrated when the results don't happen over night. Just keep working at it and get those KEYWORD LINKS out there and THEY WILL COME! ;-)
Happy Selling!
Mr. tjwindart
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BALL CAPS, BOONIE HATS, MILITARY BALL CAPS, and WIND SOCKS
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Edited by tjwindart at 04/23/2008 8:52 PM PDT
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Edited by bunnies28 at 12/23/2008 11:21 AM PST
Thank you very much for taking the time to share this information. I was initially sorry that you were not doing the store critiques, but the information that you shared is useful and appreciated. Keep us the good work.
Sincerely,
Susan
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FREE SHIPPING SALE - No Price Increase!
We pay the shipping on all items! YOU SAVE $$!
We pay the shipping on all items! YOU SAVE $$!
Susan,
Thank you and I am truly sorry. The lack of critique was as much a matter of time as it was my needing to do much work on my own store before I can critique another's. I will say that the new store owners who are looking to make improvements to their stores really need to take a look at your Rug Haven store and Brenda's Naughty and Nice Lingerie. Both are exceptional stores from MY point of view. New store owners stand to gain a lot by examining the way you two have done your stores. The only advice I would have for you is to write some guides about your rugs. Anything interesting that you can think of or what they are made of or even some history about rugs. The search engines put a lot of weight on guides for some reason and you would see worth while gains from doing so.
There are several new and hard working store owners that are working hard to add to their stores and the way the content in their stores is layed out. Those who keep working at it will hopefully end up with successful stores. The ones that just open a store and expect it to reap huge rewards will most likely not succeed.
Mr. Boo (The Kev Meister),
Thanks and I hope you are able to apply this info. to your website and see the gains from it, also. There's so much for us to learn as so called webmasters, isn't there?
Mr. tjwindart
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BALL CAPS, BOONIE HATS, MILITARY BALL CAPS, and WIND SOCKS
Thank you so much Trent! That means a lot to me! I appreciate the great words!
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You don't stop laughing because you grow old; You grow old because you stop laughing!
Click here to check out my Ebay Store
Click here to check out my Ebay Store
I believe in giving credit where credit is due. I would have put links in there but that was when all the stores weren't showing up. For a second I was thinking Rug Haven closed her store. ;-(
There is nothing bad about anyones stores. I just wanted to point out a couple of great examples that we all should strive for.
Mr. tjwindart
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BALL CAPS, BOONIE HATS, MILITARY BALL CAPS, and WIND SOCKS
yeah..now with seller circle and your threads Trent, I think I am going to change my ebay user id to naughtyandnicelingeriedotcom...Its so long, but what do you think??
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You don't stop laughing because you grow old; You grow old because you stop laughing!
Click here to check out my Ebay Store
Click here to check out my Ebay Store
Brenda,
I really don't think I would change a thing if I were you. Maybe the name 'Sexy and Nice Lingerie' would work. We all know how sex sells and Sexy is a highly searched for word.
]:)
Mr. tjwindart
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BALL CAPS, BOONIE HATS, MILITARY BALL CAPS, and WIND SOCKS
Really?
I understand your view, but the store name and URL address is Naughty and Nice. Hmmm..something to think about.
I also thought I should change the user id because people always forget my user id because of the name of the store..even in the threads. Most people call me Naughty or use my real name. This is going to drive me crazy! LOL I have been going back and forth with it for a while.
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You don't stop laughing because you grow old; You grow old because you stop laughing!
Click here to check out my Ebay Store
Click here to check out my Ebay Store
Let's see, now what do I call you? We'll just go with 'evey' for now. LOL
Seriously! I was just having fun with the name of your store anyway. I really don't think there is any benefit in making changes because of all the links you have out on the web linking back to your store. I have also considered this. The thing I am thinking about right now is maybe lowering my subscription and just starting a second store (like I really need the extra headache).
I am seriously considering it though.
Mr. tjwindart
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BALL CAPS, BOONIE HATS, MILITARY BALL CAPS, and WIND SOCKS
I was thinking about seller cirlce really. They supply an rss feed and such..I thought it may help. It wouldn't hurt anyway...we'll keep pondering this issue..lol
--
You don't stop laughing because you grow old; You grow old because you stop laughing!
Click here to check out my Ebay Store
Click here to check out my Ebay Store
Just another pondering.
Seller Circle is another great tool we can use to get our stores out there but... the reality is that they are another affiliate system that really should be looked at as that. I'm not sure either way whether search engines utilize the links in the affiliate sites. I personally have not seen any search results showing anything for our store to indicate that they are doing anything.
I would consider applying my thoughts and efforts as to how to get more backlinks into your store through other means such as blogs.
Once again, another mindless pondering from me. :^O
Mr. tjwindart
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BALL CAPS, BOONIE HATS, MILITARY BALL CAPS, and WIND SOCKS
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Edited by tjwindart at 04/30/2008 7:52 PM PDT
Your mindless pondering looks good to me Trent..lol
So many things to do...I just have to sit and actually do them!!!
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You don't stop laughing because you grow old; You grow old because you stop laughing!
Click here to check out my Ebay Store
Click here to check out my Ebay Store
Hello Trent, Susan from Rug Haven. Thank you for your kind words and advice. I am working on a review and like your other suggestions as well. I'll be implementing some guides soon as I can. So many people buy old, used rugs and I have been working on a guide for why this is not good or healthy. Really appreciate you even taking your time to view our Store. My Sister and I have been working hard at it, but I would be remiss, if I did not give credit where credit is due. So much of our new design at Rug Haven is due to the talents and hard work of Mr. Boo (The Kev Meister),KFTB, Kevin has been a tremendous asset to us, and we are thankful for the professional work that he has done on Rug Havens' new design. I was working on listing some braids yesterday, went to get into our Store, and it said that it didn't exist. A prompt call to eBay displayed that it was a site glinch, and soon came back up. One of my dearest friends is very ill, or I would have responded sooner. Trent, I sincerely appreciate your time, compliments, advice and encouragement.
Susan:)
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FREE SHIPPING SALE - No Price Increase!
We pay the shipping on all items! YOU SAVE $$!
We pay the shipping on all items! YOU SAVE $$!
Susan,
I think several of us were caught off guard when the glitch happened. With the problems we have been having with the internet, I am wondering if the net isn't under one of those pesky attacks right now. Maybe eBay got caught up in it. Hard telling!
From what I've seen Kev, The Meister, does some nice work. My applause to him for the great job he has done! He's done a far better job at web design than I have. B-)
You are also to be given credit for the hard work you put into your sales. Since your banner was purchased on Store Promoter I have watched your feedback numbers just keep soaring. There's many of us who wish we could just latch onto some kind of nitch market like you have done so well.
We are both sorry to hear about your friends illness. Hope they are getting better.
Mr. tjwindart
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BALL CAPS, BOONIE HATS, MILITARY BALL CAPS, and WIND SOCKS
