| To succeed online amidst the noise and clutter you | | | | Sure there may be flowers and other sweet |
| need discipline to drown out the chatter and to focus | | | | distractions, but nothing so pungently overwhelming |
| single-minded on the one task at hand. | | | | as to drive them in scattered directions to and fro |
| You may be wondering... | | | | until they've no recollection of where they started |
| "Just what might that 'one single focused' purposeful | | | | from nor how they got somewhere else clear across |
| task be?" | | | | the globe! |
| Well, I believe that to succeed online you must aim | | | | These are a handful of observations that I have |
| for ONE core business site that is authoritative in | | | | made regarding Authoritative Websites:o They link- |
| nature. You also must create a long-term site plan | | | | And not in a bad way. They don't link haphazardly, |
| and lay this all out on paper before you start slapping | | | | such as through some free-for-all classified parking |
| up pages to stake your claim in this internet universe. | | | | lot, the old system of FFA site links is passe. |
| All great sites have one thing in common: They are all | | | | They link with a purpose. If you want reliable |
| born out of a core, central theme that ties all of their | | | | linkbacks, then make your site worth mentioning. You |
| peripheral offerings seamlessly together. | | | | must give quality materials, lots of it and for FREE. |
| It's true that you can (and should) start thinking of | | | | Monetize later, after you've built credibility, readership |
| ways to monetize your site in the early planning | | | | and trust. Always remember, people come online for |
| stages. And, it's true that you should consider | | | | information and they will be loyal to those that |
| promoting multiple streams of income so that you're | | | | provide that information and to those that educate |
| never overly reliant on a single provider of products | | | | them and then offer to help them solve the very |
| or services. | | | | problem that brought them there in the first place.o |
| However, chasing the next latest-greatest product | | | | They have a human element- "What, I have to talk |
| launch or magical software will not only distract you, | | | | to people?" Uhhhh, yeah.. |
| it may very well drain your account soon before | | | | People buy from those they know and trust. The |
| you've given yourself the opportunity to establish a | | | | best authoritative websites have a human element |
| core foundation upon which your online universe may | | | | that is clearly visible and does not hide behind the |
| revolve. | | | | curtains of anonymity and ethereal electronic |
| "So What Exactly Are These So-Called 'Authoritative | | | | bandwidths. Trust and relationships must be built. |
| Websites'?" | | | | Surprised? I hope not.o They give pure, |
| "And Just How Might One Go About Creating Such A | | | | unadulterated value for the visitor's time- "What, I |
| Site?" | | | | have to come up with original and legible content?" |
| Well, It's certainly not magic. It's logic... | | | | Allrighty, let's see.... |
| It's what you have left after you've removed all | | | | Hear me out please, before you start slapping nasty |
| forms of erratic buying decisions made through | | | | PLR (private label rights) content up and trying to |
| fatigue and despair over your current financial or | | | | cash in on Google AdWords. Say the following three |
| work situation. | | | | times fast... |
| It's what you have left after you've awoken from | | | | "No No, No..." |
| illogical, magical, wishful thinking that there may just | | | | Don't waste your money. If it's poo poo, your reader |
| be some hands free money machine that vomits | | | | will not stay for illegible content. |
| cash from selling trash. | | | | People are educated for the most part and they are |
| It's the realization that you can not just buy some | | | | pretty sick of posing as 'crown jewels' - I know I am. |
| turn key solution, walk away and sleep on in to | | | | You can use PLR content but only if you polish it up |
| awaken on 'pillows stuffed with Benjamins' that | | | | some and if you make it legible (some of that stuff |
| materialize overnight. | | | | is just written for the search engines and so |
| You want magic? Go to Las Vegas. They have great | | | | keyword dense its to the point of stupidity). |
| illusionists there. | | | | Another thing worth mentioning in regards to value |
| You want a business? Then treat this like a business. | | | | is... (drumroll please)... Web 2.0! |
| Treat the first year like a college education. And if | | | | Yes, apparently google (and other engines) are |
| you've ever had adult education, you know what it | | | | relying heavily on media driven content. This means |
| feels like to come home from your full time job and | | | | that they are actually trusting us 'mortals' to pick and |
| burn a few candles throughout the night. It's all the | | | | choose while deciding what's worth mentioning, |
| same. | | | | bookmarking and sharing. And it's giving good rankings |
| Online as in offline, the price will be paid. | | | | to sites that create general chit-chat and buzz online. |
| The learning curve will be steep, and perhaps yet | | | | The chatter in this instance is a good thing. |
| steeper as you encounter technical and electronical | | | | You need to think about what's HOT, think about |
| pitfalls along the way. | | | | what's stirrin' up the people these days and |
| Solution? Never say you've tried and failed a dozen | | | | remember that you're writing for an authoritative |
| times. Say, you've tried and discovered a dozen | | | | website which speaks to ONE person at a time. |
| ways that it doesn't work!! Then dust yourself off | | | | To clarify, you are speaking to one person of a |
| and pick up the pace starting from where you last | | | | certain and specific demographics, so don't go trying |
| stood before you tripped on your feet... | | | | to sell an Obaman to a McCainan, 'cause that shoe |
| So back to our dilemma.. an "Authoritative Website" | | | | won't fit... |
| what might that be? | | | | Talk to your prospect, reach them where they |
| Well to understand what an Authoritative Website is, | | | | resonate and weed out the clutter for them. This will |
| it's best to analyze the components of what it may | | | | surely bring them back.o They provide originality in a |
| contain... | | | | 'me-too' world. |
| How it has been assembled? What can you find | | | | This takes work. And this work has got to scream |
| there? How is it presented? Who does it represent | | | | 'YOU' all over it. People are attracted to original |
| and how well does it speak for it's creators? When | | | | thoughts and to creative twists on the same-old |
| was it established? And how well does it resonate | | | | same-old. People want what's new and current and |
| with it's target prospect? | | | | this is the way to travel in this reader-driven |
| An Authoritative Website has a definite game plan. | | | | environment that turns the cranks of this Web 2.0 |
| It has a flow and a clearly defined target prospect. It | | | | machinery. |
| speaks that prospect's lingo, it answers that | | | | Be willing to work harder than most, willing to study |
| prospect's questions (perhaps even before they ever | | | | your market, ready to learn who your prospects |
| knew they had one), it drives it's visitors down a | | | | really are and where they hang out online. Yeah, it's |
| clearly marked yellow brick road towards one | | | | work. But it is very profitable and tons of fun if you |
| well-defined call to action... | | | | choose a niche that turns you on. |