Do any email marketing? There are a few ways to go about it. You can use a mailer website, where they manage your emails, and send the emails for you. You can host your own software on your server, or you can run software from your local computer and send email that way.

Using a service to manage your email mailings and subscribers can be an easy way to go, but it usually is associated with some kind of cost. You either have to pay a monthly fee depending on the number of subscribers, or you have to include one of their ads in your message. I’m personally not a fan of either one.

The second way to go is to host the software on your own server. There are some free ones that work OK at best, or you can get a paid version like Omnistar’s email marketing software. With the paid versions you typically can get support in regards to installing, and just the basics in running the software. I think one of the most important aspects of running your own software is that you are not limited to the number of subscribers. Many of the free scripts only support a limited number.

The third option is running your mail software from your local computer. Their are several powerful software packages out there, but two common issues come up with these. You risk getting kicked off of you internet service provider for possible spamming, and additionally, extra time is required integrating their software to work with your site. Not fun.

A few other things I like about software packages like Omnistar, is that is’t not just a bulk email marketing software. You can do site surveys, send automatic campaigns, and you can even set it up to email subscribers on their birthday. It also has sixteen templates that come with the software. The downside for some, is that it costs $257. That is chump change though if you have a mailing list of a thousand or more.

If you are interested in trying Omnistars software for free, you can sign up for a free trial: Demo Sign Up

Tools, marketing email, marketing, omnistar

For those of you in the UK here is another seo and marketing site for you, TopClickMedia.co.uk. Before I even saw their URL I new I was on a UK site when I saw “looking at search engine optimisation” on their SEO page. The clue is the “S” and not a “Z” in optimization. Top Click Media specializes in PPC, SEO, and web design/branding.

It’s All Abou the Clicks

That’s their tag line, getting you the clicks. I know that’s what I want. To be a little more specific though, I want quality clicks. Top Click Media’s primary business is getting you clicks with quality pay per click services. The do campaigns on Google, MSN, and Yahoo, and have been managing ppc campaigns for over seven years. They also do campaigns on cell phones and Facebook, but what I have read about advertising on Facebook is “stay away”. I’m sure if it is done carefully it can work though. Facebook might also be important for branding techniques. I’m not a marketing expert, so you will have to ask someone like Top Click Media.

Ad-Doctor

Another great service they offer is Ad-Doctor. I think this is a great idea. What they do is make sure your ads will a high percentage click thru. This is important for two reasons. The first reasons is that you want clicks. The second reason is that better performing ads cost less per click. Getting more for less is good, and testing with no experience in this can be an expensive venture.

Overall a nice looking site, and when you check it out, you will find it is clearly all about the clicks. I’m sure they are doing well.

Websites and Blogs, seo marketing, seo, top click media, uk

Looking for an online marketing company? HubShout is an online marketing company that offers SEO services as well, and apparently they do it very well. They managed to rank 2nd on Google for the keyword “SEO technology”. That’s not an easy thing to do considering the 10,000,000 plus other sites competing for it..

HubShout will first prep your site for search engines, help you build up your links to improve search engine rank, and will even manage a paid search campaign. Building backlinks is one of my favorite methods because it works two fold. It improves your search rankings, which gets you more visitors, and it also improves your visibility. Forget the search engines for a second. Having a ton of links pointing to your site will generate traffic on their own. Especially if they are on a popular site. Before you get started with them though, make sure you take advantage of their free consultation.

You can also find on the site a list of seo articles if you are determined to do things yourself, or are just doing your research. Online marketing is still a challenge, and it’s easy to waste your money quickly so as I have said many times before on this blog. Do your homework before starting a campaign. An even better idea is talk to an seo expert before you start your site.

seo hubshout, marketing, seo

Here is another search engine marketing site for you, Seologist. Their logo doesn’t do them justice on my site. Their template is cool I think. Anyhow, Seologist offers a variety of marketing packages ranging from $800-$2000. All of the plans they have will help optimize your site for keywords, but on the internet today you need a lot more than keyword optimization. Optimizing your site is just the starting point for their packages.

Google AdWords

Seologist SEO plans also include search engine marketing. This most likely means buying ad space on Google or Yahoo. When a SEO marketing company offers a service like this, make sure they are AdWords qualified or Yahoo qualified. Here is a quote what it means to be qualified from Google’s site.

This individual has met Google’s requirements to attain recognition as a Qualified Google Advertising Professional.

If they are not qualified you could be throwing money down the drain by inexperienced, self proclaimed specialist. It’s not a difficult qualification either, so if your “SEO specialist” can’t pass it, well, you know. Burn money burn. Seologist are qualified by Google.

Comparing the Plans

Seologist has four basic plans: Pop, Funk, Jazz, and Fusion. The names go with the theme of the site. They have a nice side by side comparison, SEO Ontario, and if it were up to me, I would just get the most basic, Pop. By going with the Pop plan you can always request the specific things that the higher up plans  have, making it a little more custom for you.

Free Quote

Can’t hurt to get a quote. At Seologist you can get a free quote, and another thing I like about this site is that great big phone number on top. I would always insist on talking to the specialist before making an order online for SEO work. Whatever company you select to use for doing this type of marketing, be as informed as possible. This is an easy place for a small business owner to just throw money away making a poor decision.

seo adwords, google, marketing, seo, seologist

Webmaster Forums, there are a ton of them out there for sure, and many all seem the same.  They all have the same or similar topics, but really, many are quite different. Some are good for selling ad space, some are good for learning code, and some you can find great search engine advice. The list goes on. In an effort to find something for everyone I have created a category just for webmaster forums on this blog. I plan on reviewing as many as I can in hopes to find something just for you. This is post #1 on this site for the Forum category.

Webmaster Forum UK

This first review is about Webmaster Forum UK, also known as WebmasterServe. WebmasterServe is a relatively new forum, created in 2008, but it has been rapidly growing in recent months. The site keeps pretty busy with a lot of off topic chatter, a good sign for an active community. It’s main point of interest though, is the buy and sell websites section. The site owner is actively trying to improve this section, and it should be relatively easy based on the other marketplace activities going on this forum.

Webmaster Tools

Something I also like about this forum, and I am guessing should be an interest to this sites readers are the webmaster tools they have. They have a pretty extensive list of generators to help you build things on the fly. Make forms, drop down menus, robot.txt files quickly as easily. They additionally have a SEO tool section.

UK Based

For those of you in the U.S. know that this is a UK based forum. I know many of you like to join forums just to help spread the word about your own sites. A UK audience may be on the other side of the Atlantic, but a good rule of thumb for marketing online is to make 20% of your target audience global. Joining the forum on the other side of the world can give you new perspectives, and a new audience. Hope to see you there!

Webmaster Forums marketing, seo tools, uk, Webmaster Forums, webmaster tools, websites