California and the new "Amazon Tax Law"
Who do you think will see the greatest impact, affiliate or the state when it comes to passing the California online sales tax law?
In my opinion, I believe that it will be the state of California or any time that imposes the tax. Why? If affiliates are making their income online, they cannot afford to stand by and continue to see a major drop of revenue of 50% or more due to the new Amazon law. And it is happening to some. Why? Many of the online retailers, not just Amazon, are opting to drop their affiliate programs in the state, or any state that has the "Amazon Tax Law", to avoid the tax. Simple solution for the online retailer? But a crushing blow to the affiliate.
That leaves the affiliate deciding whether to regroup with different products or moving from the state to recover their lost revenue. Well, for those that have the means to move, that is what many are choosing or contemplating. I can't blame them. Granted, the small affiliate without the means will be hurt because they will be forced to re-establish themselves with new products to make up the drop of income.
The end result, in my opinion, is lost revenue for the state that imposes the tax, and more revenue for states that have not imposed the tax, when "big money" affiliates or small online businesses leave the "Amazon Tax" state for states with friendlier taxes for those working online. Gee, what was the state thinking?
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Google, SEO and One Page Results
Google, SEO and One Page Results
The title is rather interesting isn't it. And with anything that is Google and one page results everyone is listening or should be if you utilize SEO.
It seems that Google is testing a new design model with the search results page, it's called infinite scrolling. Within the result pages, you will still see the top search box and navigation bar, as well as, the left panel, but the result pages will be a little more user friendly. If you want to see a sample of infinite scrolling, you just need to take a look at Google Images.
Improvement for the User:
1. Infinite scrolling could improve the user's experience, by speeding up the search process.
2. For those that do research, this will give them a wider search option to explore what is out there on the Internet.
Improvement for Websites
The infinite scroll could improve chances for websites that are sitting on page two or three, a greater opportunity of being seen.
Okay, so how is this going to affect SEO?
SEO and Infinite Scrolling
Many fear that SEO may become irrelevant because of the improved scrolling opportunities by Google. I do not believe infinite scrolling will make SEO go away. Remember, the search engines still need to know how to
categorize web pages and that is still through SEO and keywords. However, it will make people who have sites that have content that is short on quality, a need for quick improvements. Why? There is a greater opportunity with this feature for users to scan and skip to sites that actually give them the content they want.
Bottom line, Google has, and is making improvements that emphasize user experience. This has been seen with all of the Panda Updates. What has Panda Updates done? It has forced website owners to improve their sites or risk being loss in the Internet abyss. You can complain, but remember, change is constant on the Internet.
The title is rather interesting isn't it. And with anything that is Google and one page results everyone is listening or should be if you utilize SEO.
It seems that Google is testing a new design model with the search results page, it's called infinite scrolling. Within the result pages, you will still see the top search box and navigation bar, as well as, the left panel, but the result pages will be a little more user friendly. If you want to see a sample of infinite scrolling, you just need to take a look at Google Images.
Improvement for the User:
1. Infinite scrolling could improve the user's experience, by speeding up the search process.
2. For those that do research, this will give them a wider search option to explore what is out there on the Internet.
Improvement for Websites
The infinite scroll could improve chances for websites that are sitting on page two or three, a greater opportunity of being seen.
Okay, so how is this going to affect SEO?
SEO and Infinite Scrolling
Many fear that SEO may become irrelevant because of the improved scrolling opportunities by Google. I do not believe infinite scrolling will make SEO go away. Remember, the search engines still need to know how to
categorize web pages and that is still through SEO and keywords. However, it will make people who have sites that have content that is short on quality, a need for quick improvements. Why? There is a greater opportunity with this feature for users to scan and skip to sites that actually give them the content they want.
Bottom line, Google has, and is making improvements that emphasize user experience. This has been seen with all of the Panda Updates. What has Panda Updates done? It has forced website owners to improve their sites or risk being loss in the Internet abyss. You can complain, but remember, change is constant on the Internet.
Monday, August 15, 2011
All About Google Panda Updates
All About Google Panda Updates
More countries are being included in the Google Panda Update. But some sites are fighting their way back. Learn how.
Current News
Google announced on August 12 that the Panda update will begin hitting different languages around the world. these changes will be launched in all languages except Chinese, Japanese and Korean, of which, they are continuing to test for improvements.
According to Google's evaluation of the data, the change should improve search quality across the board.
How Some Sites Are Trying To Fix the Problem
Some of the hardest hit sites are the sites that offer authors an avenue to write content and earn a little money with their writing. However, the Panda Update was not merciful in it's dealing between the author writing quality articles versus those authors who were writing substandard articles. Which meant, if Google found substandard articles on the site, it penalized all, in one weekend sweep. Which meant, those authors that did conform to the "quality" criteria saw their earning decrease dramatically, and along with it, their positioning of the articles within the search engines were buried in the abyss.
So what could such a site do to remedy the situation? HubPages, have decided to divide the site into sub-domains in the hope that it will help it's authors to regain position in the search engines. And it might work. Why?
Let me explain. Since a sub-domain works like a domain in the eyes of Google, each author will be more responsible for the success or failure of it's content. Thus, the author that does have quality content, will rise in the search engines, while the content of an author that has substandard quality, will see his/her articles fall in the search engines. Has this worked? According to the CEO of HubPages, his own articles on the site have seen a dramatic improvement.
Will subdomains work for every site? Maybe, maybe not. Bottom line, time will be the determining factor in how subdomains will work for HubPages, or any other site. Just keep this one thing in the back of your mind, with anything that is associated with the Google algorithm, you should always be cautiously optimistic, and ever vigilant. And most importantly, write quality, original content.
More countries are being included in the Google Panda Update. But some sites are fighting their way back. Learn how.
Current News
Google announced on August 12 that the Panda update will begin hitting different languages around the world. these changes will be launched in all languages except Chinese, Japanese and Korean, of which, they are continuing to test for improvements.
According to Google's evaluation of the data, the change should improve search quality across the board.
How Some Sites Are Trying To Fix the Problem
Some of the hardest hit sites are the sites that offer authors an avenue to write content and earn a little money with their writing. However, the Panda Update was not merciful in it's dealing between the author writing quality articles versus those authors who were writing substandard articles. Which meant, if Google found substandard articles on the site, it penalized all, in one weekend sweep. Which meant, those authors that did conform to the "quality" criteria saw their earning decrease dramatically, and along with it, their positioning of the articles within the search engines were buried in the abyss.
So what could such a site do to remedy the situation? HubPages, have decided to divide the site into sub-domains in the hope that it will help it's authors to regain position in the search engines. And it might work. Why?
Let me explain. Since a sub-domain works like a domain in the eyes of Google, each author will be more responsible for the success or failure of it's content. Thus, the author that does have quality content, will rise in the search engines, while the content of an author that has substandard quality, will see his/her articles fall in the search engines. Has this worked? According to the CEO of HubPages, his own articles on the site have seen a dramatic improvement.
Will subdomains work for every site? Maybe, maybe not. Bottom line, time will be the determining factor in how subdomains will work for HubPages, or any other site. Just keep this one thing in the back of your mind, with anything that is associated with the Google algorithm, you should always be cautiously optimistic, and ever vigilant. And most importantly, write quality, original content.
Monday, August 08, 2011
Article Spinners-Do They Really Work?
Article Spinners-Do They Really Work?
Writing articles should mean writing quality content. However, some people feel that they can write one quality article and spin it into many with article creation software. But what do you get with this type of software?
If the individual does not manually go over the content that has just been spun they will literally see a mass of words that make little or no sense. I've read, or tried to read a spun article. Yes, the title was enticing, but the content was senseless and frustrating to read. Is it that noticeable?
Yes, it is extremely noticeable. The article(s) that I have read had language that was disjointed and meaningless. And, there was no white space between the words. In my opinion, this is a great way for your article to be denied. So, what can you do?
If you decide to use an article spinner, read the spun copy, correct the spacing, the words for meaning and manually place the articles in a few article directories. Why? You will be more apt to retain your online creditability and have your article accepted. Are you saving time? No, but in this case, you'll be saving your creditability and your potential for traffic.
However, if you choose to use an article spinner and do not heed my warning. In most cases you will find that:
1) Google will most certainly place your article in the abyss of the Internet for no one to see because it doesn't offer quality content.
2) Readers will not read your article. They will click away after trying to read the first paragraph of unreadable, and beyond incomprehensible text.
3) Article Directories will not accept your article, if there is human intervention.
To conclude, with the last slap that Google has given the Internet regarding content, you need to be concerned about quality of content. If you're not concerned, then anticipate losing your place in the search engines and along with it, a loss of traffic.
Writing articles should mean writing quality content. However, some people feel that they can write one quality article and spin it into many with article creation software. But what do you get with this type of software?
If the individual does not manually go over the content that has just been spun they will literally see a mass of words that make little or no sense. I've read, or tried to read a spun article. Yes, the title was enticing, but the content was senseless and frustrating to read. Is it that noticeable?
Yes, it is extremely noticeable. The article(s) that I have read had language that was disjointed and meaningless. And, there was no white space between the words. In my opinion, this is a great way for your article to be denied. So, what can you do?
If you decide to use an article spinner, read the spun copy, correct the spacing, the words for meaning and manually place the articles in a few article directories. Why? You will be more apt to retain your online creditability and have your article accepted. Are you saving time? No, but in this case, you'll be saving your creditability and your potential for traffic.
However, if you choose to use an article spinner and do not heed my warning. In most cases you will find that:
1) Google will most certainly place your article in the abyss of the Internet for no one to see because it doesn't offer quality content.
2) Readers will not read your article. They will click away after trying to read the first paragraph of unreadable, and beyond incomprehensible text.
3) Article Directories will not accept your article, if there is human intervention.
To conclude, with the last slap that Google has given the Internet regarding content, you need to be concerned about quality of content. If you're not concerned, then anticipate losing your place in the search engines and along with it, a loss of traffic.
Monday, August 01, 2011
MLM and Surveys-Can You Really Make Money
MLM and Surveys-Can You Really Make Money?
I thought that I would take the time to revisit these two types of programs. Why? Because both these programs promise you a way to make money with little effort and no experience. By the way, these four words "little effort" and "no experience" should be red flags for those new to the Internet.
I've written an article called "MLM, Surveys and Quick Money, Really?" This article will explain how both programs work, and include my own experience with these type of programs. As you will find out, I'm not an avid fan of either.
I thought that I would take the time to revisit these two types of programs. Why? Because both these programs promise you a way to make money with little effort and no experience. By the way, these four words "little effort" and "no experience" should be red flags for those new to the Internet.
I've written an article called "MLM, Surveys and Quick Money, Really?" This article will explain how both programs work, and include my own experience with these type of programs. As you will find out, I'm not an avid fan of either.
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