Who Should Read This Book This is a book to read if you want to take your knowledge of website optimization above just about everyone else out there. Website Optimization is not a book for an internet novice. It is for website designers with knowledge of how a website should be designed and who want to improve the speed of their website. It also targets website marketers who are interested in finding ways to improve their conversion rates. Finally, it is for project and business managers who may not know all the ins and outs of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) but are at least familiar with the concepts and already understand their value. I recommend you read this book if you:  Already have a website,  Work closely on one,  Have any responsibility or interest in improving online results  Website Optimization gives you information you can use. The book is in 2 parts. Part 1 – Search Engine Marketing Optimization The first part is “Search Engine Marketing Optimization”. This explains how to increase website visibility and boost conversion rates. King clearly explains the steps you need to improve natural SEO. A major part of natural SEO is using your keywords in the most effective manner. King breaks natural SEO into 10 easy to follow steps that can be posted next to your computer as a to-do list for each page that you create. Pay Per Click This section also includes two very descriptive and very useful chapters on Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising. It includes a wonderful case study showing the results of one company in a small, competitive niche market that changed their PPC practices and had an immediate 100% improvement in their conversion. This conversion rate increased to 600% a short time later and eventually leveled off at 500% over their starting conversion rate. These two chapters alone will make Website Optimization worthwhile for most readers. Conversion Rate Optimization The final part of the first section of Website Optimization covers Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO). King lists the top ten factors a site owner must know to maximize his conversion rate. For a marketing expert, these 10 factors might be obvious. But all too often several, or at least one, of these factors are ignored or not given full consideration, For example, you should give the most important content on your website the best placement on your website. Since readers begin scanning a page at the top left and consider the bottom right to be the least important, the most important content must be at the top left. Many readers now associate the right side of a website to be associated with advertisements, so this area is best for testimonials or links to your products. Again, for many readers, this chapter alone can dramatically increase conversion rates and is worth the cost of the book. Part 2 – Website Performance Optimization Part two of Website Optimization is about “Website Performance Optimization”. Website performance is how to design your website at the early stages to deliver content as quickly and efficiently as possible. A page that takes 10 seconds to load is one that your readers will not see. Readers will use their ‘back’ button and move on to your competition if your pages do not load fast enough. King includes some tricks to combat this, such as using the best format for images and placing your slower loading pieces lower on your page and initially out of sight if possible. This gives your reader a better experience and increases the chance that he will remain on your site. Let’s face it. Keeping people on your site increases the possibility of making a sale. CSS Optimization And Ajax Optimization Part two also as two chapters that are more complex and aimed at website designers. These are two chapters are on CSS Optimization and Ajax Optimization. They cover optimizing the programming code to speed up your websites loading time. These chapters may be too difficult for a nonprogrammer to understand fully. However, understanding the ideas, if not the actual practices, will help you decide if you need to work with a programmer to modify your site to deliver better performance. Website Optimization is often a team effort. This knowledge is useful for all team members. From personal experience, I can say that you do not need to be an expert in CSS to put in some of the code. I am in the nonprogrammer category. Of course, I had an initial learning curve when first faced with HTML and CSS, but now I know the effort was well worth it. In fact, when I first started using CSS on my website I did not even know I was using it. It was just a little bit of code I used to make my site look better.  Website Metrics The final chapter covers website metrics. There is an old saying that “you can’t manage what you don’t measure”. King divides metrics into four distinct groups:   Volume – how many visitors, how many page views, how many downloads and so on.  Content – helps understand how readers respond to presentation, layout and the persuasiveness of your pages.  Objectives – are the readers doing what you want? Buying, signing up, commenting, voting or other objectives.  Means – this is directly marketing. The paths the reader follows into, and away from your objectives.  As a marketer this is the section I hooked onto first. Although not mentioned in Website Optimization, the two tools I use to measure metrics are Google Analytics and woopra. Both of these has its own strong points. And of course, there are many other tools to choose from. Website Optimization gave me further insight into how I can use metrics to improve my own results. For Serious Website Contenders On top of King’s 15 years of experience, which comes through in his own book, King also references all the other books, studies and websites where he gathered information or verified his personal findings. This is very useful information. It gives you the places to go for more in-depth information on any particular subject that interests you. A great bonus. Anyone who takes website optimization seriously, and is committed to improving online results, should read Andy King’s Website Optimization. It is not a lazy afternoon read. It delivers a bit more than thought provoking entertainment. You can, however, easily read this book section by section in the order they interest you. This book has brought my own website optimization skills up several notches. It is extremely useful. And it provides a depth of information I have not found in any other book. In addition, it is a great reference tool to keep handy, with bullet point action lists and how-to guides to solve specific problems. My copy now sits in my “one meter away from me” personal reference section. Website Optimization is one book that has definitely earned its place in this group. And yes, I have already recommended a close friend to read it.  Are you committed to speeding up your international sales cycles? Learn how to combine cross-cultural marketing tools and international sales strategies for faster sales. Join us on the International Sales Road Map Would you like to develop your international business? Are you a beginner at international sales and marketing? Read the Beginners Guide Discover Your International Business

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/seo-articles/website-optimization-by-andrew-b-king-718787.html

About the AuthorCindy King
Cross-Cultural Marketer & International Sales Specialist
 
Over 25 years field experience in aligning cultural offers for international sales.

International content strategy
Custom publishing in English to build international markets B2B international lead generation

40km south of Paris, France – GMT+1
Cell: +33 6 98 91 86 11
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If you are thinking of starting a small business online, then you need to consider the types of internet marketing techniques that you will be utilizing. Without marketing your business, you will have no customers and therefore no profits. The right kind of marketing is crucial, even for smaller businesses. The first step should be in developing your website, so that when it is marketed, it will produce optimum results.
 
An internet marketing plan for your small business is extremely important; however, your website must first be ready for online viewing. This means thinking about the design you want, in order to present your company it in a way that will draw in the individuals you are targeting. In most cases, this will be the only interaction that consumers have with your company. What they see on the website is what they know about you. Make sure that it is well designed and optimized for peak performance.
 
When you start marketing your online business, you will want to start with the basics. First you will want to define your target audience. For example, if the product you are marketing is made for young mothers with small children, then you will not want to concentrate on men in their fifties. Knowing the demographic for your product helps give you an idea of the best way to market it online. Once you are able to recognize your demographic audience, there are several ways that you can begin marketing to them. You may choose to use banner ads, email campaigns, e-zine ads, pay-per-click advertising and SEO techniques to promote your site.
 
It is important to remember that when you begin your internet marketing for your website and business, that it is directed toward your particular audience. Next, it is very important that you decide what type of marketing is right for you. There are many different types of marketing out there and not all of them will work for every product and service. Research before you begin and seek out business advice from experienced business owners about online marketing programs; your time spent will pay off.
 
If you have never done any internet marketing, then you might not be sure exactly what will work the best. This is actually going to be found out through trial and error. Some marketing techniques that have done well for other businesses, might not work well for well for you. If you are looking to start a small business and you aren’t sure about how to go about marketing your site, then try getting some business advice from someone who has already gone through the process. There are lots of people online that have started a small business and would be more than happy to help you. Try consulting some online forums that deal with marketing and seek information from those who have been there.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/small-business-articles/starting-an-online-business-2672945.html

About the AuthorIn addition to the research and online forums you might look at come and visit Marketers College. Andrew Wilson wants to help you learn Learn Internet Marketing Come over we have free online business training videos and teaching for visitors and registered members. See Automated SEO Software.

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