Ethical Internet Marketer – Make More Money Online… Ethically!

As you are probably aware, the search engines, especially Google, keep changing their algorithms in order to find the perfect match between visitor expectation and relevance of the pages within their index.

Like many acronyms, LSI and LSA have no meaning until you know what words those initials stand for. They sound like the names of popular television crime dramas, such as the fictitious “LSI: Miami” or “LSA:London.”

That’s not such a bad analogy, because LSA and LSI are mysteries to most Internet marketers. Not only that, but failure to use these important concepts would be a crime! Let’s try to get to the bottom of these unsolved mysteries.

LSI means Latent Semantic Indexing. LSA means Latent Semantic Analysis. That didn’t help much, did it?

Of course not. LSI and LSA are concepts that are better understood through examples. Before looking at examples, however, let’s look for clues in the words that make up these acronyms.

Latent Semantic Indexing

Definition of Latent:

Latent means “dormant, quiescent, not readily visible, or hidden.” It refers to qualities, abilities, or talents that may be currently hidden or unknown, but which might be revealed in the future.

Examples

1. His latent musical talent didn’t emerge until he had been to several piano lessons.

2. Her latent mathematical skills surprised her parents when she began bringing home very high test scores.

3. The car’s latent defects did not appear until the warrantee expired. All these examples refer to qualities or properties (both good and bad) that were always present, but took a while to become noticed.

Definition of Semantic:

Semantic refers to “the meaning, or an interpretation of the meaning, of a word, sentence, or document, and its relationship to other words in the text.” It does not mean the popular antivirus company (that’s Symantec™). It is also the study of meaning in language, or even the study of multiple meanings that a single word might have. The semantic aspect of a sentence, paragraph, or article is what it means to the reader.

Examples:

This word is most often used in its plural form “semantics,” as in “Let’s not argue over semantics.”

An example of arguing over semantics would be two people discussing the meaning of he word “war.” The first person insists war means the absence of peace. The second person is certain that war means the presence of combat. Both are correct in a sense, but it is like the argument whether the glass is half-full or
half-empty. Both parties are right about the meaning of war, but there is some interpretation involved.

For our purposes, “semantic” refers to the meaning of a word, sentence or document, how the reader interprets them, and the relationships between the words in the text.

Definition of Indexing:

An index is an “an alphabetized list of names, places, and subjects treated in a printed work, giving the page or pages on which each item is mentioned.” It is a tool for organizing printed material so that certain items in that material can be easily found again.

Examples:

The index of a book is an excellent example. If you read a book on internet marketing and wanted to review the information on affiliate programs, the book’s index would tell you on which pages the word “affiliate” appeared. You would quickly find the information you need.

Putting It All Together

Latent – refers to qualities or properties that were always present, but took a while to become noticed.

Semantic – refers to the meaning of a word, sentence or document, how the reader interprets them, and the relationships between the words in the text. Indexing – creating a list or reference for a printed work so that items within the text can be quickly found.

Therefore, Latent Semantic Indexing or LSI means a list or reference for printed material containing both the obvious and the hidden meanings and interpretations of the words, sentences, and paragraphs in that material, as well as how the words in the text are related to each other.

Latent Semantic Analysis

The definitions for latent, semantic, and indexing were presented above. All we need is a definition for “analysis.”

Definition:
Analysis – a detailed examination of elements or structure.

Examples

The best examples are the explanations you just read! The acronyms LSI and LSA were just examined. The words corresponding to each letter in the acronyms were determined, as well as the meanings of those words. The meanings of the individual words were then combined into a whole or index containing the
author’s interpretation of the concepts of LSI and LSA.

Therefore, Latent Semantic Analysis or LSA means an examination of the words, sentences, paragraphs, and the relationships between words in the printed material for obvious and hidden meanings. LSA must occur before the results can be organized and tabulated by LSI.

Why Is LSA and LSI So Important For You?

LSA and LSI are important concepts because search engines, especially Google, are beginning to analyze online documents using these techniques. Let’s restate that: Google and other search engines will be using LSA and LSI to read YOUR web pages.

Therefore you should know and understand what these concepts are. Once you do, you’ll be able to write web pages using LSI techniques. That will make the search engines happy with you and your websites. Hopefully, that will translate into more visitors and more profits.

In the offline world, LSA and LSI are techniques and concepts developed decades ago for analyzing printed documents. LSA is a technique used in natural language processing in order to analyze the relationships that exist between a specific set of documents, and the terms that are contained within those documents.

This is done by determining a main concept that relates to the terms within the documents, and that relates to the documents themselves. Once the LSA is complete, the results are compiled in an index by using LSI. The concepts and procedures are the same, whether online or offline.

Language is no barrier to LSA and LSI. If two sets of documents are written in different languages, they can be analyzed via LSI and catalogued by LSI if one set can be translated to the other set’s languages.

The task becomes easier of both sets of documents are written in the same language, which does not necessarily have to be English.

What does all this mean to you?

As a final consequence, it means for you that the days of keyword stuffing are over! If that’s what you’re currently doing to optimize your web pages, you should stop it now. Instead, make use of synonyms for the same words and try to find related words which you can use on your pages. This will make the theme “stick” and keep the search engines AND visitors happy!

Autoresponders are automated “sales people” that tirelessly follow up with your customers so you don’t have to. You simply create a series of letters and decide how often you want them to be sent. Then, when people sign up for your autoresponder series, each follow-up letter is sent on the precise schedule that you’ve established. Now, how easy is that…?

What can you do with autoresponders? You can do anything that you can do with e-mail. Here’s some of the most popular ways that people use autoresponders these days:

• Deliver FREE Reports
• Provide Technical Support Follow-up
• Deliver Online Sales and Training Courses
• Deliver Frequently Asked Questions
• Process Online Forms

There are essentially three types of autoresponder available. Each one has its own benefits and drawbacks, and it’s up to you to determine which one meets your needs best. Here’s a look at your options:

PC-Based Autoresponders

This is a software package that you install right on your PC. It parses and processes incoming mail through your existing e-mail client and responds to messages that meet your criteria.

Advantages

• You typically pay a one-time fee and you own the software.
• It’s easy to use but typically provides only the most basic autoresponder services.

Disadvantages

• It only works when your PC is on and connected to the Internet.
• It’s only as fast as your Internet connection
• Your ISP may not allow you to send large quantities of mail.
• You could get shut down if a subscriber forgets that they asked for your autoresponder series and makes a SPAM complaint

Owner-Managed, Web-Based Autoresponders

This is software that you install directly on your own web site. While some of the packages are full-featured, many are weak and buggy.

Advantages

• You typically pay a one-time fee and you own it.
• Some versions have advanced features.
• It’s as fast as your server’s Internet connection.

Disadvantages

• You need advanced technical knowledge to install and maintain the autoresponder.
• You have to own your own web site and domain name.
• You may exceed your web host’s daily bandwidth limits if your autoresponder series is popular.
• You could get shut down if a subscriber forgets that they asked for your autoresponder series and makes a S~P~A~M complaint

Autoresponder Service Provider

This is an autoresponder service that you simply sign up to use. Everything is hosted on the service provider’s web site. You pay your monthly fee and you have full use of the service.

Advantages

• You don’t need any technical knowledge
• You don’t need to own your own web site or domain name
• You don’t have to worry about e-mail or bandwidth limits
• Most autoresponder operators realize that autoresponder S~P~A~M complaints are usually bogus, so they are more lenient when you get one.

Disadvantages

You have to pay a monthly fee but, in most cases, it’s more than worth it to not have to deal with all the hassles of running your own.

Most marketers, except for the really tech-savvy and those who have very deep pockets, opt for using an autoresponder service. It just makes sense.

Deciding what type of autoresponder you want is just the first step. No autoresponder is a good deal if you don’t understand the secrets of using them to make money.

Personally, I am using a service called Aweber. It’s more than worth their monthly fees because I can be sure that my messages are getting delivered.

There are so many things out there that you can do… and I know it’s hard to decide what’s right for you. But I will tell you this. There is nothing more powerful than building relationships with like minded individuals. That in and of itself can rocket your business forward.

Building alliances and sharing lists etc. with other businesses with related products or services is how the big boys get to be big boys.

The people with lists of 100K or more didn’t do it overnight and with little opt in forms on their sites & a bit of traffic… some might of over a long period of time, but most likely it was through big campaigns and joint ventures (just like I have done recently with Fabian Lim – we did a simple ad swap and it both brought us tons of new subscribers!).

There is no need to worry about spammy or tricky techniques to grow one’s online business… there are tried and true methods that marketers have been using for years that have not changed… that existed before the Big Dot Coms… and still exist today.

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Blogging, in my mind, brought balance to the Web Universe & helps us focus on what’s important… content.

It gives us an opportunity to streamline our delivery… it quickens our ability to be heard…

It provides us with a simple content management system, yet powerful & flexible.

I use WordPress… I used to use blogger.com, but I like controling my content on my own server. I don’t like the fact that they can swipe out your business if they don’t do things to their liking…

Is there an advantage to having a blog from a search engine perspective? No, not really.

You could have the same results if you just added fresh content to a site that is crawled regularly… of course, it does speed up the process of getting to that point… but in the end, the same rules apply.

AND it depends on the SE you are targeting. I know my blog is bombarded by MSN for some reason… My most current blog is only 3 months old, but most of my traffic comes from MSN. It’s amazing sometimes how quickly their spider is there after I publish/ping.

It’s great to have RSS capabilites built in with any blog…

I think, the most important thing blogs have done for people is given something that is already designed for them and provides everything including content management without them doing a thing if they don’t want.

Simplicity.

I love WP because it’s easily modified for one. Plus I LOVE the category function.. I love that it’s set up to connect to other blogs… with a natural linking mechanism built right in.

A perfect match for doing what the web was designed to do. Link.

Links make the (Internet) world go round…

Oh, and comments… what a great way to build a following and stay in touch with your community of visitors by allowing them to comment on your posts and you in turn can communicate with them within those comments…

Search… what a great search function built in. Even I use it!! I’ll often want to go back and reference posts I made. All I have to do is do a search!

I could go on and on… but I think you get the picture. I like WordPress blogs.

I think every website should have one either internally or through a sub-domain. Why not!? You have a new product or a new article on your website… reference it in your blog and POW! crawled and one quick inbound link.

The real beauty is, it forces us, reminds us, makes it easy to create fresh content. And that makes the SEs happy and our clients, customers and community happy, too.

I will tell you, I have numerous websites AND Plenty of opportunity to add fresh content… all I have to do is FTP. But do I do it? No….. Why? Too much work I suspect… too many steps… create a new page… enter and format content… upload etc.

A blog. If I had a thought right now… If I wanted to comment on this thread, all I have to do is go to my favorites and hit my “Press It” link… a window will pop up with this thread’s link already embedded with a title and I make a few comments, format and BOOM! Fresh content…. PING!

10-15 minutes a day… a small article a day… that really adds up! 30 a month! 365 a year!

Easy. Just easy… But unfortunately, most of us are not consistent enough. Myself included!

The Development Process

The development of your website design is one of the most central phases of your marketing tactics to establish your position in a marketplace. Without a strong and constructive design, you fail to reach the customers necessary for achieving your marketing goals. The development phase consists of several phases that include:

• Selection/Development and Final review of website design and technical needs
• Branding
• Development of specific strategies for ecommerce and marketing
• Testing
• Taking your website live

There are specific parts that need to be developed before your web existence and business strategy is ready to go live on the Internet. Once these things have been developed, your company is ready to reach your customers and secure your position among your competition.

Website development: Develop a web presence that is based on your business branding and design. The combination of all three elements will reinforce your online business strength: branding, design, and website development.

E-commerce development: A constructive and easy e-commerce experience is significant for capturing the confidence and self-assurance of your customers. This includes all aspects of e-commerce: product database, product display, security, and shopping cart.

Marketing strategy

The advancement phase is the prelude to your marketing strategy. Marketing requires a strong and solid development phase from which to have a triumphant launch. The development phase of your business strategy should be as meticulous as possible before you go live with your website. The more safe and sound the multiple divisions of your company existence are the more success you’ll maintain.

Your Business Design

Developing a design for your business that augments your image and reinforces your web presence is critical to the success of your business. Your aim is to create a design for your company that you can use across the board: advertising, branding, e-commerce, and web distinction.

The final result of the design procedure is the level transition between all facets of your company exposure to your customers. You want a design that is outstanding and recognizable, and that suggests confidence and reliance from your customers.

There are several strategies that you need to build up in order to accomplish a successful design, design strategy and the design itself.

Design strategies include:

Logo and company identity

Devise a company logo that is introspective of the image you want to portray to your customers.

Web design

Develop a web design that is revealing, simple to navigate, and impressive to visitors. Create an encouraging and easy e-commerce experience for your customers.

Design strategies include:

Simple Design. Create a design that is uncomplicated and crisp for ease of recognition.

Bold. Your design should be daring and clear-cut about the statement you want to make yet simple enough to lure customers to involve themselves in your web pages.

Interactive. The design of your company should be completely interactive linking the visual communication with your customers and your web presence.

Once you expand your company design you’ll soon see a noteworthy return on the investments that you’ve made, as you reach customers and build up your place among the competition. Design is all about reaching your customers and interacting with them in a way that gets their consideration so they don’t forget who you are.

Make sure that you have strategies in place that apply successful and affirmative branding for your business.

Some strategies that you should keep in mind include:

(1) having clear and accurate goals, and know what it is that your company stands for,

(2) have a mission announcement that is strong and definite so that you know exactly where your business is going and how you want to get there,

(3) be single-minded and unvarying in the way you deal with your customers so that they know what they can expect each time that do business with you, and

(4) remember that branding is all about reaching your customers and staying in contact with them. The bottom line is that branding allows you to sell your products or services to customers in a way that makes you stand out from the crowd of competitors that are each looking for their share of Internet business.

Your Internet Image: When you’re developing a company representation it means that you’ll be creating a “character” for your company that customers can recognize with and want to do business with. The individuality of your company will be a blend of many things, such as the facts of your business, the aims of your business, the style of advertising that you choose to use, and the history of your business.

All of these basics will tie together to leave a lasting sense on your customers that can make the difference between the success of your business or its failure. You want to leave a affirmative and lasting impression on the public and your potential customers.

Many large and flourishing companies have worked hard to develop their company image. Part of this illustration is having an image, or brand, that customers can recognize.

Developing your company representation means that you need to identify many parts of your business that include:

• Knowing just who your target market is and how to reach them.
• Developing and refining a company image that is constant and revolves around your target market.

“The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but significance – and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning.”

Oprah Winfrey

Be a specialist

At school you had been taught that you needed to know as much as you could about all kinds of topics that you were probably not even interested in (e.g. for me the horrors were math and physics…). It would not have made sense to have been focused on just one of these subjects because if you had done that, you would not have made it to the next grade.

In Internet marketing it all is a little different. Here, you should NOT try to be the ‘Mr. or Mrs. Knowitall’ but the specialist, the go to guy/gal, in ONE area of Internet marketing. This can be e.g. an SEO expert, the software developer, a Google Adwords specialist or a copywriter or more recently, the Web 2.0 guy/gal.

Personally, I would brand myself as the software developer since that is where my expertise is. But more recently, I have also become very experienced in creating VRE (virtual real estate) websites using WordPress so I can also say that I am a blogging specialist.

Whatever it is that you do, make sure you learn as much as you can about your area of expertise. Strive to become the best you can be. Just like a doctor or a lawyer learns everything he can about his medicine or laws, you need to do the same in your area.

And it never stops. If you have a passion for something, you will like it to learn more and more about it in order to become the best.

Give me crap and I’ll let others know…

Personally, I love to educate myself about all the new ways of making money online (this is a treat of all the top Internet marketers – they never stop educating themselves!). I am the kind of guy people want to have on their lists because I am constantly buying their stuff – presupposed it’s not just rehashed material (and if it is, I’ll get myself a refund).

As long as I am getting at least one good idea from a product which can make me more money when implementing it in my own business, I won’t be asking for a refund. But give me crap and not only will I be asking for my money back but I’ll let my list know about it as well so they can avoid it and not waste their hard earned money…!

Focus on one project at a time

When I was attending the Internet Millionaire’s Bootcamp in London in October of 2006, Mike Filsaime said something on stage that I’ll never forget: “You need to focus on one project at a time”. Even though it sounds so simple, most people do completely the opposite.

Focusing on one project at a time will bring you income much quicker than trying to get multiple projects finished at the same time – something which can almost never be achieved. So the key to success is just to focus on the one project that will be bringing you the greatest revenue within the shortest amount of time.

You know, even I, as a very experienced Internet marketer, sometimes made the mistake of wanting to achieve too much at the same time. Instead of working on one project until it was finished, I was trying to handle 3-4 projects at a time. And the result was that nothing got finished in time and my income was suffering from it. Because not being able to finish a project means less income.

In Internet marketing, you better come up with new products quickly because you will soon be forgotten if you don’t. You must be the innovator, the one who is coming up with new, helpful products that your subscribers and customers want to buy from you.

(For example, that’s why I relaunched my Niche Content Websites – membership site because I saw that my business wasn’t different enough from the businesses of others who were selling the same kind of products. I wanted to get a better USP – a unique selling proposition which was better than most of my competitors by selling UNIQUE websites to people who are interested in making a living from niche type of VRE websites. This has become the solution for people who can’t design their own websites or don’t know how to implement monetization modules – now everything’s done for them…!)

If you don’t know what they want, ask them! Your products must become the solutions for their problems.

Outsource everything you don’t want to do yourself

And you don’t even have to create these products yourself. That’s what outsourcing is for. No one is expecting from you, if you e.g. have a great idea for a software tool, that you need to create it yourself. Just hire someone on Elance.com or ScripLance.com, tell him or her what you want to have done, and they’ll do it for you – at a very reasonable price.

For example, I had my AffiliateTurbo software programmed by a programmer which I found on ScriptLance. I paid about $400 for it and I made more than $10,000 from this tiny investment. And the same was the case with my Blog Promoter software. (in the meantime, I’ve sold both businesses for several thousands of $$… they simply were too work intensive as they required a lot of updates on an almost daily basis).

By knowing what you want to achieve and what your goals are, you’ll actually get there much quicker. You simply need to be the one who plans it all – it’s not necessary that you are doing everything yourself. And all the steps which are needed to get there, will fall into place almost automatically.

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(This article is an excerpt from my Revenue Blueprint ebook. If you liked the article, then why not get yourself a copy of the complete works at www.revenueblueprint.com/ ?)