By John Metzler

Small business owners may not have the resources to invest heavily in their Web presence and finding solutions to problems can be like finding a needle in a haystack. You know something’s wrong but don’t have the faintest idea how to fix it. Is it a technical issue? Are your ads not performing well? Don’t know what kind of traffic you’re getting? Web site problems can fall into a myriad of categories. So if you think your Web site sucks, a) it probably does, and b) you should read on. continue »

You’ve built a Web site, and you’re getting a decent amount of traffic. Now it’s time to make some money! We’ve compiled seven ideas on how you can turn a profit from your Web site, or at least make it pay for itself. continue »

Meta tags are the text inserted into the head of a Web page’s code containing information such as the title, author, keywords and refresh instructions for a Web page. They once had a great impact on search engine rank, but with the rise of Google’s search engine algorithms, that has changed. continue »

The word “advertising” calls to mind slick TV ads and high-end lifestyle photography created in super-expensive Madison Avenue offices — leaving many businesses to think they can’t afford to advertise their Web sites. In reality, you can advertise your Web site no matter how much money you have to spend. continue »

It’s hardly an exaggeration to say that everyone uses search engines today. That’s what makes search engine advertising a great way to connect with your target audience. Even better, you can target your ads based on keywords, and you only pay if a prospect clicks your ad. continue »

Keywords trigger your ads on the search engine. They ensure that your message reaches someone who likely has a high level of interest in your product. You can increase your ads’ effectiveness by choosing keywords that are: continue »

Search engine ads are short. You’ll need to choose your words carefully in order to make each one work toward your advertising goals. Consider how you can motivate readers to act. Will you appeal to their fears, happiness, insecurities or sense of humor? Knowing the effect you hope to produce will help you choose the right words. continue »

Google, Yahoo and Bing are currently the most popular search engines. If you know that your audience tends to use one more than the other, your choice is clear. If you’re on a tight budget, you may want to price your first-choice keywords on each search engine and go for lowest cost option. continue »

In 2005, Google began considering landing page quality in its AdWords ranking algorithm. Yahoo was quick to follow. The idea was to price the low-quality, sketchy advertisers out of the market and offer searchers a better search experience. Your landing page quality score and the cost of your keywords determine your AdWords ranking. So, building a high quality landing page can help you achieve a higher ranking and save money. continue »

Banner ads are an excellent way to get your link on another Web site and to expose a larger audience your message or products. A banner ad is usually a horizontal or vertical rectangle that includes graphic and text elements and sometimes animations. They are the main source of revenue for most Web sites. continue »