SOPA Blackout Day

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Minor edit: If you’re thinking of blacking out your main website homepage, be sure to read these comments on SEO effects on how to avoid issues, directly from Google.
Script adopted from jQuery infinite rotator.

Recently we needed to pull together a list of top level domains for an international SEO project we’re working on. It’s tedious stuff and there’s not much out there by way of a comprehensive list. If we were just dealing with the US, then it’s easy: .com, .net, .org, .edu, .gov, .us, etc. Most of us have seen these, and a few others. But what about obscure TLDs like .ac.tj or com.ve or gob.pa. Confusing, right?

In my search I found a few resources which helped me piece everything together. The first was the TLD list on Wikipedia. This was helpful as a starting point, and is a great resource for learning more about the requirements of each country. For example, a couple of years ago I bought a 3-letter domain with the extension .am for $129. And then I did my research and discovered that Armenia has very strict guidelines regarding the content hosted on their top-level-domain, and could confiscate any domains that didn’t abide by their strict requirements (similar to the Violet Blue URL shortener scandal where Libya took back her vb.ly website; thankfully we have no such restrictions on our on-hold UTags URL shortener at uta.gs).

Regardless, this wasn’t quite the list we needed and did not have 2nd and 3rd level domains (e.g. .co.uk as opposed to just .uk). After further investigation, we found this TLD list on Mozilla. This was about as close as we could get to a complete list. However, while useful for the typical end-user, the data was not in a format that we could use. Hence, the current project.

Compiling the TLD List

After some arduous labor and some Excel magic, we developed a usable list that could be imported into a PHP script or MySQL (or SQL) database relatively easily. It’s not perfect, and not fully complete, but the data is workable. Below is the complete list of TLDs in various formats, organized by country, mashed up in a single string and even converted into a usable PHP array. Feel free to use this list for your own projects, and contact us if you find an error or have expanded upon it and would like to contribute. You may distribute the list freely as long as you leave Consorte Marketing in the filename or link back to this page from anything you publish on the internet.

Download CSV Spreadsheet of TLDs, PHP Array & Code Example

Domain Extension List by Country Code

We hope you find this list useful – you might even want to register a domain name in the process. Enjoy!

Web Design: Keep it Simple

Whether you’re just beginning to build a business online, or you’ve had a web presence for a while, knowing the tricks to ecommerce web design can help grow your business and improve your sales. There are several important things to remember when discussing website design, as well as many misconceptions. Understand the tips provided in order to improve your online customer base and your company’s reputation. Then, depending on your budget, decide if you want to make these improvements to your website yourself or utilize them in the development of a brand new website. Or, consider hiring a professional web design company like Consorte Marketing to do these things for you.

The first tip is simple; make sure each page of your website has a purpose. There is nothing more frustrating to a customer than a website without a well-thought homepage that has an intuitive design and easy navigation.

Next, your site should be aesthetically pleasing. There is a lot to be said for a clean, intuitive website. A professional design will establish trust in a potential customer and increase conversion from traffic to sales. Most people aren’t experienced in website design, and hire a designer or a professional design firm to handle this aspect of the business for them. Investing at this stage frees up time that can be spent on building other aspects of your online business.

Additionally, your site will need continued maintenance to ensure that it is up to date with the latest trends and interactive technology, and that it is search-engine friendly according to the latest algorithms. After the initial design, your site should be created in a way that makes updates and maintenance simple for either you or your staff. A good design starts with a wireframe developed by an experienced information architect. This is the “blueprint” of a website and will guide the designer during the design phase. The wireframe should contain the basics of your site, including on-page elements such as the locations for product images, banners and navigation.

If your website is an ecommerce store, it is crucial that the shopping cart, product descriptions and checkout are easy to navigate. Customers don’t need reasons not to purchase items from you, and a complicated check out process isn’t doing your business any favors – people will abandon the cart before placing their order, and you will lose the sale. Developers understand the in’s and out’s of website construction, and when their talents are paired with a landing page optimization strategy, the result is more sales for you. A few ideas for the DIY web developer: include package-tracking information, provide shipping options, and make returns easy.

Finally, a successful ecommerce website should give the customer reasons to return again and again. For instance, a strategic email marketing campaign with targeted messages for your shoppers will draw them back to your store. You’ll improve your company’s reputation and people will go to you first to buy products they’re interested in.

Following these ecommerce web design rules should land you the business increase and web presence you’ve been waiting for. Just remember the old adage and Keep It Simple.

This post is not sponsored by Google, but this has been a hot topic in the world of SEO today. Basically, Google has taken a stance against paid links for years, and now the buzz is that they’re sponsoring posts with followed links to the Chrome browser page. Is it real? A marketing scheme? Is it Google putting this out there or is it some online marketing firm spreading rumors as link bait? Google’s official statement has been released. Check out the Washington Post to read more.

Ottlite.com is a popular lighting website, particularly among crafties – people who engage in crafts like knitting as a hobby and a business. Ottlite primarily sells desk lamps and modern lighting fixtures such as compact mirrors.  They also offer a large selection of plant lamps and LED lights. The majority of their products are difficult to find in stores. It is because of the specialty, niche nature of their business that its affiliate program has flourished in recent months.

Join Ottlite’s Lighting Affiliate Program

Commission Junction is an affiliate network that has seen much success over the years. When Ottlite made the decision to partner with CJ, they had many choices in management, but decided that Consorte Marketing would provide the best affiliate marketing services.

We are pleased with the results and hopes to help Ottlite grow their ecommerce business for many years!

Solution

Google decided to encrypt search query data for logged-in users, such that they cannot be tracked in Google Analytics. They did this by setting SSL Search to default for all logged-in google users. Their official blog post on October 18, 2011 explained their goal of making search more secure. I’ll spare everyone the conspiracy theories behind the reasons for this major change and stick to the facts.

The end result of this change was that website analytics – either through Google or another analytics package — have become less accurate. These encrypted results show as (not provided) rather than an actual keyword in Google Analytics. Estimates are all over the place but see to hover around 10% of search queries being completely anonymous and skewing results. Merchants are no longer able to associate keywords with conversions. SEO providers are no longer able to provide accurate reporting data to their clients. Besides being unable to report specific keyword traffic results, we are even unable to differentiate between longtail results and keywords related to a client’s brand name. Simply put, there is no way to measure ROI for organic search campaigns.

There are a number of hacks to estimate keyword traffic. Cross-referencing Google Webmaster Tools, setting up advanced segments and manipulating keyword data by using filters to associating entry-pages to a website with the expected keywords used to find them and estimating traffic sources based on known values. But ultimately, the only true solution needs to come from Google.

Protecting the Privacy of the End User

If we assume that any solution to this reporting problem requires that the user’s personal information, including the search query he or she used to find a webpage, then it stands to reason that any information used for reporting needs to be aggregated in the background. This means that Google would probably need to collect browsing data anonymously, then send that data back to Google Analytics in such a way that a merchant will not be able to associate specific keywords to a specific user or transaction. This would be nearly impossible for websites with very little traffic or few conversions. However, a reasonable level of anonymity may be reached when there is ample data. For example, if Google Analytics were to report a keyword/transaction pair that led to a sale on a particular day, to a website that averages one sale per day, the merchant could very easily associate that keyword with the customer who placed the order. However, if Google were to provide this data for 50 transactions, to a website that generated 50 orders per day, the likelyhood that an ecommerce store owner would be able to make this association diminishes significantly.

The Solution

First, please note that although I know a fair amount of PHP and MySQL, I am by no means what one would consider a developer. I’m just a guy who understands SEO and website analytics, with something of a logical mind to form a solution. This initial plan is far from perfect, and may contain flaws. It is simply meant as a starting point for a discussion to find a real solution that Google, if compelled to do so, may take note of and proceed with a very well-thought plan.

First the diagram, then the explanation:

Solution to Google Analytics Encrypted Search Reporting

Explanation

Here’s how it works:

1. The user performs a search query on Google, and clicks a link
2. Rather than sending that traffic directly to the merchant website, Google runs a small redirect script to capture anonymous data before passing that traffic to the website in question.
3. Google looks up the UA-XXXXXXXX-X ID associated with the website, if it exists. This ID is stored to a new database table along with all search data – keywords, date, etc. and assigns a Guaranteed Unique ID (GUID) to that record.
4. After writing this information to the database,  the GUID is passed back to the website, sans keyword and other data.
5. In the event that this visitor ends up making a purchase, the website sends the GUID back to Google Analytics along with all purchase data.
6. Google associates this conversion and all relevant data  with the original source keyword and demographic information and stores it to the database.
7. On a daily basis, Google runs a script that checks whether enough data has been collected so as to maintain a high degree of privacy. If enough records exist in the database then that data is sent to Google Analytics to replace the (Not Provided) token with the appropriate keywords.

Want to make an impact? Send a link to this or another solution to analytics-feedback@google.com – your voice will be heard!

1. Start early and plan your strategy.
Giving yourself ample time to plan your marketing strategy means a greater success rate. Leaving your planning and implementation until the last minute can cause serious problems that drive customers away. With the holidays fast approaching, make sure to plan now and give yourself enough time to implement your best ideas.

2. Give your website a festive theme.
Using iconic holiday images (whether they be Christmas, Hanukkah or simply generic) puts added pressure on consumers by reminding them that ‘tis the season to buy gifts for friends and family. Festive websites get consumers into the holiday spirit and cause them to be more likely to purchase gifts and spend money.

3. Categorize your items based on best sellers, supply buying guides, and display hot gift ideas.
These options make your website easier to navigate for potential customers and give them confidence that the items they are purchasing will be loved by their friends or family. Consider adding the option to divide your items by price, best sellers, or buying guides (“For Her”). Prominently featuring your best selling items on your site will draw interested customers in.

4. Use social media to market products and advertise promotions.
Social media gives businesses a chance to build a relationship with the consumer. Using this platform to market and advertise provides customer feedback and serves as a great ecommerce online marketing strategy.

5. Mobile Commerce
Sending short, concise mobile emails during the holiday season is crucial. If you plan to use a mobile platform, make sure that your information is correct, there are no grammatical errors, and you convey as much information in as little space as possible.

6. Offer gift cards
Many people aren’t sure how to shop for their friends and family. Therefore, offering a gift card ensures that the consumer’s money is spent with you, but doesn’t tie them down as far as picking out a gift.

7. Offer consumers holiday promotions, discounts and incentives.
During the holidays, money is tight for most families, and many consumers find themselves in search of the best deal. When setting up your discounts and promotions, make sure they have an expiration date and clearly explain their function and validity.

8. Give consumers the option to sign up for a holiday newsletter.
Generally, the option to sign up for a holiday newsletter is included on a confirmation page with the customer’s ordering information. Holiday newsletters deliver the most important information about your company to your customers in a timely manner.

9. Shipping
During the holiday season, make sure your shipping options cater to last-minute shoppers. Provide overnight shipping for an increased cost, and don’t limit your shipping options to the United States only.

10. Saying “thank you” post purchase
Thanking your customers for doing business with you leaves them with warm feelings and decreases the potential for buyer’s remorse. This platform is great for promoting future sales opportunities.

Following these tips ensures that consumers have a positive experience on your website, feel more comfortable purchasing from you, and return in the future to buy again. Build your website in time for the holidays and cash in on the Christmas season.

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Sell on Craigslist

The first step is to select your city and select “post to classifieds.” After you’ve clicked this, select “for sale” as the type of posting and then choose the item category from a list.

Next, enter a clever and descriptive title for your post. Remember, Craigslist buyers are scrolling through long lists of titles and only the most creative will stand out from the crowd. Make sure your title is both eye-catching and informative, as most buyers will be on the look-out for a scam.

The third step is to enter your asking price and location. Do not give out your home address. A general area and a personal email are sufficient. If you want to avoid spam emails, make sure you opt to keep your email anonymous.

Provide a detailed description of the item you are selling, and be upfront about the condition of the item. If you can, include pictures of the item as many buyers want to see an item before making a trip to look at it in person. Buyers can separate ads into listings containing images and those that do not, so appearing in both lists will improve your chances of selling your item for your asking price.

Finally, set up a public location and a convenient time to meet with potential buyers. You can include this information in your post if you want to include the maximum information but you do not need to. Communicate this information with potential buyers and don’t waste your time on buyers who refuse to call you back or cannot meet you at a time that is convenient.

Selling products is the easy part. If you’re looking to sell your services, it becomes much more complicated and we’ll address that in a future blog article. If you’re currently responding to gigs and help-wanted ads on Craigslist and just aren’t finding new customers, there are plenty of good reasons and we’ll give some free pointers in the future. In the meantime, if you’re offering professional services on Craigslist, such as weekly cleaning, landscaping or wedding planning, contact Consorte Marketing if you want help with optimizing your campaign. We’ll not only get you traffic, but we’ll devise a strategy for you to get it to convert into lifelong customers.

Join the GSMNation.com Affiliate Program Here

The website features an intuitive Phone Finder tool and other great features that engage customers and increase conversion. GSM Nation isn’t just an ecommerce cellphone store, it is a place where customers are the top priority and the selection is based on quality devices. They even have an international warranty available for phones that otherwise would not be covered.

GSM Nation Cellphone Affiliate Program

According to the website, GSM Nation is on a mission to:

1. encourage the US wireless industry to shift away from the practice of roping customers into restrictive, overpriced contracts.
2. To improve online shopping from a complicated, stressful, and opaque experience to one that goes beyond simple retail altogether and includes complete transparency, customizable service, tech support, advice, and more.

468x60 Promotional Banner for GSM Nation

With this unique value proposition and the latest devices from companies like Apple, Blackberry, HTC, Samsung and Sony Ericsson we expect that the GSM Nation affiliate program will be extremely successful.

Any interested webmasters, publishers or PPC affiliates should contact us.

Join the GSMNation.com Affiliate Program Here