No, we're not just talking about an html site map with links to all the important content on your web site!

We're talking about the Sitemaps scheme as launched by Google in the summer. Given that Google says they have launched it to enable them "…to expand our coverage of the web and speed up the discovery and addition of pages to our index." then you really ought to be taking it seriously.

If you've already taken a look at Sitemaps and been put off by techie talk of Python and xml feeds, then you need to read this article:

http://www.searchengineworkshops.co.uk/articles/xmlsitemaps.htm

We demystify Google Sitemaps so that you can set up your own Sitemap quickly and easily using a tried and tested online free tool ensuring that all your important web site content gets indexed by Google. It's also perfect for those of you with dynamic web sites with tricky URLs that Google may be struggling with to include within its indices.

This is an important step forward in overall SEO strategies and, for once, Google appears to be giving up a helping hand. Thanks Google! Find out more about these strategies and other important new developments within SEO and SEM on our January workshop.

One January Workshop is already full so make sure you check out our supplementary January Workshop date @

http://www.searchengineworkshops.co.uk/dates.htm

This one is also likely to sell out fast so don't put off your New Year Resolution any longer. Call us now!

There is no doubt that Microsoft is about to do battle with the mighty Google - both are currently trying to negotiate a deal with AOL after Yahoo! withdrew from that particular fray. Microsoft has seen off much bigger rivals before and one suspects quite relishes the challenge of knocking Google of its No 1 perch.

We now seem to have a possible MSN tactic to achieve this monumental task, that is, being paid to use their engine.

In the interview with Bryan Glick in Computing Magazine ( http://www.itweek.co.uk/computing/news/2145417/search-engines-offer-financial ), Bill Gates said

”As search becomes competitive and people realise that other offerings are as good [as Google], or are even significantly better, there will be price competition.

You will get some free content or a cheque, or some incentive to use a different search engine. Competition for users has not even kicked in. I can assure you it will not stay that way.”

The really interesting bit comes next:

”We are going to run some experiments on that in the next year.”

Now that could throw the search engine world into turmoil, because if MSN starts offering an incentive to use its engine then Google might be forced into following suit. The idea of Google paying us to use their engine for search is just too sublime!

Keep up-to-date with the search engine world and web analytics by attending one of our Search Engine Workshops and/or ClickTracks training. We have now posted dates for December and January. Act fast, as one of our Workshops in January has already sold out! See:

http://www.searchengineworkshops.co.uk/dates.htm

We have one more place on our Search Engine Marketing Workshop next week on 8th and 9th November in Richmond upon Thames. We're offering four hours of mentoring for a month after the workshop finishes for anyone who wants to fill the last spot. See:
http://www.searchengineworkshops.co.uk/registration.htm?1101

Don't delay because the next Workshop is unlikely to take place until well into January due to the Christmas holidays!

This week's snippet is based on PR - a valuable tool in increasing online visibility. Press relations is an integral part of off line marketing so why do webmasters omit to use PR when promoting their sites online? Whatever the reason, they are missing a very important trick. Sally recently attended a recent mini conference held in London and run by PR Web of Washington State.

If you're omitting to use PR as part of your online strategy you need to read her detailed article here on how PR can be a valuable tool in increasing online visibility:

http://www.searchengineworkshops.co.uk/articles/pr_seo.htm

By the way, if any of you have an article that you think would be valuable to share with other readers, please feel free to submit them to us. For those that we publish, we will obviously give credit to the author and a provide a link to their site ... so get writing now!

If you would like to have a chat about our Workshops in general or our clickTracks training events, please call Marie or Sally on 020-8255 7064.