Internet Marketing Strategy

I set up so many WordPress blogs, for myself and others, so its really easy to overlook a step or two during the setup process once in a while. Let this post be a reminder to you, readers, and myself, to add these five nifty plugins. We do want our websites to be the best that they can be, no?

WordPress Automatic Upgrade
I definitely try to remember to install this on all of my WordPress blogs, it saves so much time when you have twenty or more blogs to upgrade when a new version comes around. WordPress Automatic Upgrade does exactly what the name details, automatically (well, you click a button in your control panel after it alerts you a new version is available) downloads the newest stable release of WordPress, and installs it. Perhaps we’ll see this plugin included like Akismet someday?

Live Comment Preview
Shows your readers exactly how their reply to your post will appear, in real time. Pretty neat feature that really increases the interaction between the user and your website.

WP Auto Tagger
WP Auto Tagger makes great use of the Yahoo! API to match search results against your current post’s content and provides relevant, popularly searched tags automatically. It doesn’t override any tags you suggest, either.

Nicer Trackbacks
The way WordPress displays trackbacks to your posts from other websites is kind of ugly, and kind of not that SEO friendly. Well, don’t forget to change all that to suit your needs with this WordPress plugin.

Most Commented Posts
Show your hottest topics with this plugin, which displays these posts in your sidebar much like the “Most Popular Posts” or “Recent Comments” sidebar items.

Don’t forget to bookmark the Five Most Overlooked WordPress Plugins, so you don’t forget next time!

Your website is your business (as far as we’re concerned, it might be a personal online home for others that do not use the internet to fatten their wallet, but i digress) … so why not model your website’s structure like companies structure their brick & mortar headquarter buildings?

When you walk into a corporate office, do you immediately become disoriented, and lose a sense of why you came there, and forget where you wanted to go? No! Anyone who walks into that office, regardless of actually knowing exactly what or who they want to see, can easily choose a destination and reach it. Everything is easily accessible. There’s usually a directory that lists every office in the building (on a website: navigation, site map, about), and what it does. And, if you’re still lost, there’s usually a secretary (on a website: support, contact, faq) that can help you out.

You can tell which companies have been built for success (and achieved it) by the architecture and design of their building, lobby, and offices. Their buildings rise several stories, the lobbies are spectacular and immaculately designed, the offices overlook the city and have painted walls (not egg shell, ho-hum white) … These companies all have WEBSITES that MATCH the “luxurious professionalism” they have designed their building with, I guarantee it.

Structure and design your website for “luxurious professionalism” and get yourself there sooner!

P.S. This post is for tomorrow, I won’t be able to post because I’ll be to drunk to type! Happy Memorial Day!

P.P.S. Check out what’s coming over at passive progress … excited? Sign up for beta testing if you are.

1. So I know your mouth works fine, but will you listen to what I have to say?

So many webmasters are puzzled because they can’t attract the same audience someone else can, or they can’t get the same links someone else can, or they can’t solve the same problem someone else can, and are forever baffled. Well, you already have the best examples to gain experience from, SOMEONE ELSE. Make sure to read other blogs in your niche and profit from their knowledge and past experiences.

2. You have something to share, but no one knows you or respects your opinion.

This is because you don’t network with other bloggers and webmasters in your area of expertise. You’re a nobody. If you help people solve their problems, they will look to you in the future for more help. If you initiate a conversation with someone, they will recognize you in the future as well.

3. You don’t actively engage your readers.

Maybe it isn’t your style because you are a journalist or reporter blogger type … but always make sure to respond to comments your readers make, and try to bait them into conversation by asking questions or requesting feedback.

4. You haven’t set a goal for yourself to achieve.

You can’t just say, “I want it to make me rich!” and not expect there to be pit stops on the way. Set monthly quotas for yourself, outline realistic traffic and profit goals and do your best to match or exceed them.

5. I can’t find my way around your website.

An easy to use, uncluttered interface is the way to go. Sometimes a website I’m visiting might have all the information I need, but I can’t get to it or the page is so obscured by funky styling and obnoxious advertisements that I don’t even read a word before I’m looking for that little red x.

I’m curious, did your blog or website fall into any of the five? Did I help you stop choking?