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Website Effectiveness Resources

Website Performance Optimization Tools, Search Engine Optimization

Website Performance Optimization Tools

Spinwave Image Crunchers - GIF Cruncher, JPEG Cruncher, and Optiverter - will shrink your graphics file sizes for you. Basic Crunchers versions are available to use free on the site. Full software versions are in the low-$. Optiverter, mid-$, reduces images in over 50 formats and is designed for use with large quantities of graphics. 

Net Mechanic’s HTML Toolbox checks your Website for broken links, load speed, HTML code errors, browser compatibility, and misspelled words. You can conduct automatic and/or manual testing of your site. The annual cost is based on the size of your Website and starts in the low-$.

UsableNet offers LIFT, a Website analysis service. It tests your site against a collection of navigation, structure, graphic, and presentation rules. The resulting report lists pages with possible problems along with explanations and suggestions to fix the problem. With a yearly subscription, you receive an unlimited number of reports. The subscription rates are low-$ for a single site and high-$ for multiple sites.

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Search Engine Optimization

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE The HighRankings.com forum is full of high quality search engine optimization advice from consultant / speaker Jill Whalen and other professional SEOs. (Sidenote: Bobette Kyle, WebSiteMarketingPlan.com Network publisher, is Moderator of the Web Marketing forum.)

The Search Engines Interaction Chart shows the relationship between search engines, including providers and recipients of paid listings, main results, secondary search results, and directory listings.

Search Engine Watch, Danny Sullivan’s search engine site has free limited access. Read submission tips, search engine statistics, and reviews; sign up for a free monthly newsletter; and more. There is also a members-only portion of the site, accessible to paid subscribers. As a paid subscriber you can access specific in-depth information as well as information about how each major search engine works. Subscribers also receive a timely twice-a-month newsletter.  An annual subscription is low-$.

Word Tracker provides a process to identify relevant keywords and rank them according to a scale they have developed. The scale accounts for search popularity as well as the number of competitor listings for the keyword and is available for numerous search engines. The site offers a free trial, with the full version available by subscription. The cost is low-$ for one week’s use and high-$ annually. 

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These resources were originally developed as companion to the strategic marketing plan development book How Much for Just the Spider? Strategic Website Marketing for Small-budget Businesses. I've updated them as additional appropriate resources come to my attention. In developing these resource lists, I scoured the Web for resources useful to small-budget businesses and entrepreneurs. I looked for sites and services that would help you learn more about Internet Marketing and help you get things done efficiently. My focus is on services that appear to be designed for the needs and time frames of small businesses. Bobette

To the best of my knowledge, resource information was accurate at the time of this writing. Current programs may vary from those reported here. Please let me know if you find any outdated information. Although my intent is to list only upstanding products and services on the site, I cannot personally  make any guarantees. It is wise to check any company out before purchasing, signing any agreement, or making a commitment. Online fraud bureaus and consumer groups are one way to do this. Among them are The Better Business Bureau (and BBBOnline), Fraud Bureau, The Federal Trade Commission, the Internet Crime Complain Center , Complaints.com, and Scambusters. Bobette