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So with no real business, web design, webmarketing, or SEO experience I jumped into ecommerce. I do have a plan and thought I'd done my research until I found WW in Google. I knew I'd jumped in over my head with the site but after a week of lurking here I almost threw in the towel out of fear and insecurity.
I thought I'd throw out the "overall" things that I've learned and not necessarily the nitty-gritty details or all Google specific. Some are obvious and redundant to most of you but a lot for me weren't. I also utilize the search function here a bit and I've found real gems from days gone by that still apply today and have really helped.
I'd be interested to hear from everybody, newer members especially, what the one thing you learned here really helped you out. You older members talk over my head 50% of the time but feel free also. ;)
What a complete newbie learned at Webmaster World - in no particular order.
1. Work, Work, Work - OK, this belongs at #1
2. SEO Success is both art and science - there is no one true formula (Brett's step's excluded)
3. Honesty is the best policy in the long run - no hidden text!
4. A site ultimately designed for the customer and not Google is the answer.
5. How to tweak a site for Google
6. Content, Content, Content
7. Spell Check
8. Write for your customer not the search engine
9. Listen to the customer, they'll tell you what they want
10. meta description = title = H1 = <P> 1st sentence - go a long ways in the SERP's
11. meta keywords no longer have huge relevance - I said I had no experience!
12. Idea's on instilling confidence in the customer - (do a search using "Hawkgirl conversion" as the terms)
13. There are helpful people here. Try comp.lang.perl.misc sometime, yike's.
14. Idea's on marketing, copywriting, and converting
15. Keep your site fresh, add content frequently
16. Test and test some more
17. adwords
18. Read your logs
19. track your vistors
20. watch the keywords your site gets hit for - you'd be surprised
21. How PR works and it's fit into the overall picture
22. a unique selling proposition is important
23. If everybody's selling it you better have #22
24. What apply's to you may/may not apply to me and vice/ versa
25. I still don't know jack! ;)
I still haven't implemented everything I've learned yet, time and family take precedence but the site is coming along slowly but surely. 99.5% of you have more experience than me in this arena and I thank you for sharing.
Regards,
Bill
P.S. The supporters forum is truly a goldmine!