tech+info+resources underground

One of the things I am constantly asked about is why doesn’t my content rich website get better placed in the search engines. I am told that they have followed all the advice about content rich pages, they have used good metatags, yet still cannot get into the top 50 never mind the top 10.

Now having content rich web pages is a must do, you can’t hope to succeed on the Internet without them. It’s absolutely useless putting up web pages with nothing more than banner ads for your affiliate programmes and expect to sell anything. Your prospective customer has to trust you, and normally has to return several times before they buy from you.

So if all they see is banner ads, they will just click through and buy somewhere else. What you need to do is pre-sell your affiliate merchandise, and leave the hard sell to the merchant involved. Picture this: a customer turns up to your page from that hard earned search engine position, sees 20 banner ads for different products and an attempt to take her money on the spot. You now have one suspicious customer and their credit card clicking back to the search engine for another link.

On the next link she finds an article fairly well written about the particular subject she is looking for and in that article are links to products that can solve the problem for her. Bingo a customer who may buy, if she clicks onto that link she goes to your affiliate merchant in a decent frame of mind where you’re affiliate merchant can do the hard sell and you have earned some commission.

Notice I said fairly well written, because you don’t have to be a copy write genius to pre-sell your products. You don’t even have to write the whole thing yourself, there’s nothing wrong with taking a pre written report and changing it to suit your needs, obviously it would be polite and politically expedient to include a mention for the original author with his or her website URL. Other than that the article can include all your links inside it.

There are many sites that include free reports with full reprint rights that you can use, and indeed free e-books as well. On the hotbobs site there are a number of free reports and e-books that you can give away from your site.

Web sites come and go each day on the Internet. If you visit a web site and find it to be a great resource, show your support for that web site by giving them a link. In addition, tell your enzine subscribers about them. By supporting your favourite web sites, you can show your appreciation for all of the hours and hours of hard work that goes into developing the web site and help ensure it will be there the next time you visit. Without your support, many of your favourite web sites may not be there in the future. Now having got the arguments for content rich sites out of the way its time to address the problem with search engine placement. Nine times out of ten sites that have good content and should have ranked higher, fail to reach their higher placement because of the way they were submitted to the search engines in the first place.

Even with content, good metatags and keywords, you still have to submit properly and that means not spamming the search engines, perfectly good web sites have been penalised by the top ten engines because they submitted to many pages at one go. You must keep a record of how and when each search engine likes to be submitted to and this is different for each one. If you have a 30 page or more web site, this can be a nightmare, and so people tend to use submission software, or services depending on there budget. The top ten search engines will detect that it is a submission service and rank you lower because of it also with submission software they can detect any multiple submissions for a single website.

So what’s the answer you ask: Surprisingly its new stealth submission software by Michael Campbell “search engine commando”. This beautiful piece of software submits to each engine with that engines logarithms in mind and at the frequency best suited to each search engine. Even better than being undetectable by the search engines it sits on your desktop and submits in the background as you are doing other things (as long as you are connected to the net of course). You don’t even have to sit for hours typing in your URL’s it automatically spiders your website for all the pages and gives you the option of deleting those pages you don’t want spidered. Ie: those that are password protected, or your thank you pages for clickbank.

This software was originally commissioned by Michael for his own use, but he has now made it available to the public and guess what you can even use it to create a site map so the search engines can spider your site much quicker. Here are some of the benefits

* automates search engine submissions with the same care and attention as if you were doing it manually * amazing software plays “within” the search engine rules of one web page, per URL, per day * spiders folders on your hard drive to find html pages, no more manual typing in URLs * software runs on your PC, no third party service will know your submissions or who your clients are * expert controls let you shut off the safety switch and take total control over your domains * tracks which page was submitted where, on what date, and what pages are next * tracks and submits unlimited pages, across unlimited web sites and does it all automatically

With the advent of new even smarter spider software it is vital that you keep up to date with the search engine submission rules or you will be placed in those out of the way pages where nobody but you goes looking for your site.

To find out more about this software and lots of other time saving idea’s visit http://www.hotbobs.com While your there subscribe to our affiliate know-how newsletter, and join are private marketing community.

We receive such a tremendous amount of unsolicited commercial email (spam) in our In-Box every day, we can certainly understand why some people become “Anti-Spam” crusaders. Since the majority is sent with phony return addresses, it is virtually impossible to track them down. While there are ways to find out where it originated, it is usually an exercise in futility, as most come from professional spam houses who own their own servers, and aren’t about to shut themselves down.

Most people simply delete the clutter, or create filters with their email package to automatically get rid of a lot of it. There are some however, whose primary mission in life is to get rid of all the spam on the Internet.

Frustrated by their inability to get rid of most of it, they might find a valid email address, and like a hawk seeking its prey, pounce upon the offender. They relentlessly pursue their intended victim, and file a complaint with every email address provider they can identify.

Some fanatics seem to take great pleasure in getting someone’s domain blocked, or being shutdown by their ISP or email provider. But wait - what if the complaint is not valid. We all know how easy it is to forge someone’s valid email address, and many spammers do just this. If a complaint is filed against that stolen address, the true owner is being unjustly accused. At the very least they will have to defend themselves, and worse case they are shut down. This is wrong.

Others obtain software that parses their email, and automatically sends a complaint to every provider found. Now, having a spastic moment, they might do this with a newsletter they subscribe to, and asked to receive. That means that the provider of every email address found in the newsletter will receive a complaint. This includes the authors of articles in the newsletter, all advertisers who list an email address, as well as the publisher. This action will cause people who are not guilty of spamming significant problems. This is unconscionable.

The typical scenario is that someone subscribes to a newsletter with a free email address, and forwards their email to their permanent email address. They receive the publication, decide they don’t want it, and try to be removed from the distribution list. They are told that they are not subscribed under that address, which is true. Forgetting about the fact that it is actually being sent to their free account and being forwarded, their level of frustration increases with every copy received, and they fire off their complaints.

People who make unfounded complaints, like terrorists, are guilty of a crime. No, they don’t kill anyone, but they could put legitimate people, who are not spamming, out of business due to their complaints. They are, in point of fact, depriving someone of the right to earn a living, and should be legally liable for any damage they cause.

Don’t get me wrong - I am as sick of receiving this garbage in my mailbox every day as everyone else. I don’t like to receive unsolicited commercial email. I can’t stop it however, and I don’t think anyone can. I don’t like receiving ads for porn sites, for legal representation, viagra, cellular phones, printer cartridges or anything else that winds up uninvited in my email.

I don’t have a surefire solution to this problem, but do know that it is wrong to persecute the innocent on the outside chance of getting a spammer, who will simply spring up someplace else.

The anti-spam fanatics who pursue tactics like this are more of a problem than the spammers they are trying to get rid of. While I can take steps to eliminate the spam I receive, I can’t prevent the fanatics from making false accusations, which could be detrimental to my reputation and business.

Face it - the number of spams received from misdirected individuals is miniscule in comparison with those received from the untouchable pros. Rather than persecuting legitimate people who are not guilty, why not take some steps to provide a workable solution.

Spam is theft, Spammers are thieves, and should be treated as such. They are stealing your available resources, not to mention your time to sort through it. Legislative solutions have become mired, and remove lists don’t work. Filtering email is only a partial solution, as much spam is an HTML document that you can’t eliminate on a keyword in the body of the note, and since they use a different address every time it is sent, it is virtually impossible to block.

In my judgement, the most effective way to keep unsolicited mail from getting in your email box, is to enact legislation that requires the letters “ADV” to precede the subject of the unsolicited email. That would identify it as an ad, and allow you the option to easily filter the email to where you wish.

Something must be done, and a reasonable first step would be to send a copy of this article to your elected representatives, and demand action on their part.

The least effective way is to make complaints to ISP’s found in an email, as the majority of the time, you won’t be getting the real offenders. You could however, wind up hurting someone who is not guilty.

The Harvesters - Part 2 by Laurie Rogers Copyright 2001

Remember from part one, we are not talking about those folks who pick veggies out of the garden in the fall. This is definitely NOT an episode from Martha Stewart, although I’m curious to know how get my tomatoes to stop bruising, ooops, sorry got a little side tracked for a moment! It happens to the best of us, espicially when you’re weeding (pardon the pun) through all that spam trying to find your “real” email messages.

You know the important stuff, that really does need your FULL attention. And half the time you can’t find it because it’s buried under all that JUNK MAIL, I know how you feel, somedays I’d like to run to the highest mountain and SCREAM my head off. Maybe they’d listen, cause I sure as heck don’t get a response when I’m screaming at them through the computer. (You’re not the only one huh?)

Hopefully, someone will invent a system where you can talk to the email that comes in, the person sending can hear you right at that moment. That’d be awesome eh? Someone sends you some spam and you CAN tell them what is on your mind! You know, HOW you “really” appreciate their message. Although, I do NOT think we’d get much work done, cause we’d be too busy cussing them all out.

You have really got to wonder WHY they keep spamming cause *NOBODY* buys their stuff. And let’s be realistic for a moment, what in the world is the point in sending 1 person 500 copies of the SAME darn ad? I’m not the one who’s the MORON here! I can read, I simply choose NOT to read spam. And NO matter HOW many times you send it, it’s STILL not going to change my mind. (You’d really think they’d CLUE in after the first 250 copies.)

Is there some kind of contest out there that we’ve been missing? Do they offer awards for this kind of junk? I’m curious because, nobody buys their stuff, so what EXACTLY is the incentive? If it is a contest what qualifies you?

*The Most Creative Spammer

*The Spammer - who actually got “A” sale!

*The Spammer - who’s ISP never got shut down for a month!

*The Spammer - with most FAKE addresses

*The Most ANNOYING Spammer

What do you win if you qualify? 5 million FAKE email addresses? Cause you know they’re not going to give out a REAL prize! (Once a con always a con) And do they all compete for Spammer of the Year? It sure seems like it! The fact is life goes on, and no matter where you go and what you do, there will always some “STUPID” moron that just HAS to break the rules!

P.S. Try not wear out that good old delete key!

Did you miss part 1? Send a blank email to mailto:harvesterspart1@optinfrenzy.com

Why do we hate spam so much? By Linda Landry (c)

Everyone agrees that spam is BAD! We obviously hate it because we named it SPAM. The garbage lunch meat packed in a can and made from leftover animal parts; the next thing to waste! Yes, I agree it is annoying to have your electronic mail box filled with unsolicited mail. But isn’t that what the delete key is for? Once you eliminate the unwanted item, it is as if it never existed. So why do we get so upset? Is it because we get unnecessary mail telling us how to grow body organs we don’t have or how to get more pleasure from sex? Or is it the pornography we did not request and we are embarrassed that someone may think we did? I am sure the large part of our concern is ‘catching’ a virus. We can protect ourselves from this contamination with software just as we can protect ourselves from germs by taking precautions. We cannot totally eliminate the possibility of becoming infected. But we have learned to live with the reality of germs. Will we ever become accustomed to the reality of a computer virus? We have adjusted to junk mail in our snail mail boxes and telephone solicitors dialing our number without permission, so why do we get so upset about spam? It has become the number one topic and it is being labeled as abuse. Perhaps we should just learn to use our delete key and appreciate the availability of this free avenue of communication; before it becomes regulated.

(Linda Landry is the Editor/Publisher of CYBERSHOPNEWS which is a weekly free ezine. A copy can be reviewed on her site at http://www.galleryogifts.com. Brother site: http://www.galleryodefense.com You may contact her about this article at cybershopnews@aol.com Reprint permission is granted if the article is printed in it’s entirety and with this resource box.) _____________

1. There is money to be made in spam. The goal of the spam racketeers: crack your passcodes, dig into your credit card and bank account information and sell it to third parties. The method: set up zombie “spam host” computers all over the world that will send virus-laden spam emails. The viruses will then burrow through your security layers and trace your every move and keystroke. In fact, your computer could be functioning as a spam host right now. Why is that fairly devastating? Because you could end up on a spam blacklist tomorrow… and as an internet marketer, the last thing you need is a tainted IP address, ticking people off with unwanted spam that you had no idea you sent!

2. Spammers transmit viruses via files and links. The purpose of a virus might be, a. to destroy your system “for sport,” or b. to hack in and gain access to your files and personal information. If you open emails from parties whom you don’t know and start clicking and downloading things, there’s a good chance you’ll infect your machine. The evil doesn’t even have to come from email. It could be lurking in a harmless, fun little celebrity clip you wanted to download. Spammers play those kinds of tricks.

3. Spammers often lead double lives as… surprise… programmers. This is why internet security is never really “up to date”. Spammers hack and crack the old code, render it obsolete with nifty programming tricks, and force the purveyors of such technology to develop new methods of protection and charge their clients more money to upgrade. Imagine for a minute how much cash can be made from living a Dr.-Jeckyl-Mr.-Hyde spammer/programmer playing-both-sides-of-the-coin existence. It’s almost… criminal. Wait, no, it IS criminal!

4. Spammers can hack your system via social networking software. It’s as simple as connecting when you’re connecting, typing in a few commands and gaining instant access to your machine. Again, the motive is typically identity theft. A spammer might have himself a fine old time dipping into your bank account every now and again. If he’s logging in as you, who would know?

5. Spammers are not mentally challenged, as their spelling would have them appear. They spell words incorrectly on purpose to get around the various spam blocking devices in your email and on your server. It obviously works, or you wouldn’t get so much spam.

6. Spammers can invade your privacy with a dirty little tool called a keylogger. Once they gain access, they download a program that monitors and records exactly what you’re typing - including YOUR PASSWORDS. You can bypass a keylogger with an anti-keylogger, but if you’re resorting to that you’ve likely got some other issues that need emergency attention anyway.

Now that you know the stark truth, what will you do to protect yourself? Read on for the light at the end of the tunnel.

Here are Five “Stupid User Tricks” You Can Use to Thwart the Evil Trojan Horse and Other Unwelcome Visits from Spammers

1. Run a firewall program. It doesn’t have to be whatever high-priced breakthrough bells-and-whistles technology Bill Gates is putting out. Your firewall can be one of the freeware programs put out by any one of a number of trusted internet security experts. Make sure your firewall is of course current, and stays engaged and active in the background as you’re working. Your firewall won’t do you much good just sitting there in “off” mode, taking up space on your hard drive.

2. Never view your Microsoft Outlook in the “preview pane.” Here, the innards of your email take mere seconds to become exposed. Next thing you know, YOU’ve been exposed.

3. Don’t set your file download preferences to “automatic download” - you might as well put down a welcome mat for hackers. Even if you’re Quick Draw McGraw and never let funny emails get by you, there’s always the slight chance of that one slip-up where your wrist lurches forward, the email pops open and suddenly you’re downloading the demon seed and sealing your own demise.

4. Don’t talk to e-strangers. No kidding - online networking has become yet another way for the evil spammer to maraud as an innocent party who just wants to be your new pal, when really he wants to ogle your PayPal. If you meet up with potential customers on the internet, make sure that you speak to them on the phone or in person before conducting any business.

5. Don’t EVER download executable files. Executable files end in .exe. These are program files, which are what spammers use to worm their way in and wreck your system and your life. Don’t download them from email, don’t download them from a random website that you think looks cool, and don’t download them from your “virtual buddies.” And especially, don’t download an .exe file if your friend sends one in the form of “a really funny email forward.” Spam = Not Remotely Funny.

6. Control-Alt-Delete or pull the plug. If you hear unearthly groans emanating from your machine after visiting a new website or opening a suspicious email, something’s afoot and it’s most likely a Trojan Horse. Do a control-Alt-Delete and view what’s running. If it looks strange, hit Control-Alt-Del again and restart. Or, simply PULL THE PLUG to halt the invader — then get that firewall going, like I told you to, dang it!

7. Run anti-spyware and anti-virus regularly. There are plenty of freeware programs for these purposes available on the internet. Do your homework, learn which ones are the most reputable, get your layers of protection in place and then make sure you clean house regularly.

8. Change your passwords every so often. If someone hacked your machine at one point but you wiped him out with your handy Trojan Horse eradicator, that’s super. However, if he still has your passwords? Not so great. And definitely do not use your pet’s name as your password and then go on six different user groups and start yapping to everyone in the free world about what that old rascal, Muffy the Cat, did again today.

9. Don’t use online banking services. Just don’t.

10. Send your ezine through a secure autoreponder system. NEVER send your email newsletter mailings from the email program on your personal computer. All that a spammer has to do is subscribe to your list and give himself permission to send you offensive mail anytime. Don’t set up one of those free PHP forms to collect subscribers, either. You’re setting yourself as a prime target to be hacked and have your server infiltrated. Next thing you know, you’re one cooked goose, and all because you took the low-budget route. Not smart!

I wrote this because I don’t want you making the same mistakes as a web business owner that I did. I hope it comes in handy for you.

Copyright 2006 Dina Giolitto. All rights reserved.