Mon, 17 Jan 2011 08:20:48 -0500WeeblyTue, 11 Jan 2011 09:53:22 -0500http://www.leverageresource.com/1/post/2011/01/search-engine-optimization.htmlI get a phone call at least once a week with agents wondering what they can do to get their websites up in the search engines.  Unfortunately, I don't have an easy answer.  What I thought I would do is to give you a general summary of how search engines work and some of the basic things you can do to optimize your site.  There are basically two ways to show up in the search engines, Organically (less expensive, but time consuming) and Hiring a Professional (costly but they do the work). 

Probably the most difficult challenge in organically optimizing your website to show up in search engines is that every search engine uses a different formula to determine what websites are "relevant" to a specific search.  To make things more complicated, that formula is constantly changing (Google changed their search formula 550 times in 2009!).  Search engines send out web crawlers and scan websites to index things such as Titles, Hyperlinks, & Key Words and enters it all into their formula to determine page ranking.

So what can you do to increase your page ranking?  Here are a few tips:

 - Make your site structure simple
 - Develop a list of specific key words relevant to your site
 - Use unique title tags for every page
 - Write a compelling meta description
 - Label & add captions for all images and video
 - Use headings, boldface type and italics to call out important information
 - Choose a site title (and URL, if possible) that contains your most important key word
 - Use Google Analytic tools.

If the tips above sound like Greek to you, it may be necessary to hire a professional.  Probably the best known way SEO companies work is by utilizing a pay-per-click system.  This can work, but be very selective who you use to do this for you.  There are many fly-by-night companies out there that won't get you the results you want, but will be happy to take your money.  Interview the SEO Company, do your due diligence in checking the companies background out before you give them your money.  If they say they can get you immediate results, be cautious!  SEO doesn't work like that; it can take three, six months or longer before you see real results.

While LeverageResource.com does not specialize in Search Engine Optimization, we can help you customize your website!  If you have some updating you would like done on your website, give us a call.  Have an idea of what you would like your site to look like, but have no idea how to make it happen?  We can make it happen for you!  E-mail info@leverageresource.com for more information.

]]>Wed, 11 Aug 2010 07:20:34 -0500http://www.leverageresource.com/1/post/2010/08/the-case-against-multi-tasking.htmlTexting & driving; Talking on the phone and reading e-mails; Writing a to-do list while attendng an education class.  These are things we have all done at some point.  While you may get them done,doing the tasks at the same time takes longer, encourages mistakes, or may be simply unsafe!

Timothy Ferris writes in his book "4-Hour Work Week" (a book I reccomend by the way) that if you prioritize properly, there is no need to multi-task.  It is a sympton of "task creek" - doing more to feel productive while accomplishing less....Divided attention will result in more frequent interruptions, lapses in concentration, poorer net results, and less gratification.  He suggests setting 1-2 main goals or tasks each day and to do them separately without distractions.  You'll find you are getting more of the tasks done to move your business forward and eliminating the "busy work".]]>Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:57:20 -0500http://www.leverageresource.com/1/post/2010/08/back-up-your-files.htmlYou may have heard this one before, but just last week I had another agent call me with a story of having a horrible week because their computer got a bug in it and they lost ALL of their contacts and e-mails/attachments, etc..  Imagine for a moment if you lost everything on your computer right now.  How many HOURS would you spend trying to re-create documents, tracking down information, calling people to re-create your contact list, etc...

The good news is you don't have to go through that pain and time wasting!  There are great affordable ways to back-up your computer so if it crashes and you have to get a new one, all you have to do is press a couple of buttons and all of your files/contacts/e-mails/etc will be copied to your new computer.  Seriously friends, if you take one tip from me PLEASE take this one...Use a back-up system!

There are many types to choose from, and I did a lot of research before I chose the one I use.  I know some of you use an external hard drive to back up your files with, which is fine unless there is a fire or some other catastrophe that damages the unit.  I personally use an on-line backup system and I have actually had to use it when my desktop computer crashed last year so I can tell you from experience it works!

Do your research to find the one that fits your needs the best, but the one I use is from www.Carbonite.com.  It's only $54.95/year and it runs in the background so it is always backing up your files while you work.  If you decide you are going to use Carbonite for your back-up let me know and I'll send you an e-mail link to order it from.

The hours you waste recovering from a computer crash is well worth the $54.95/year.  If you need help getting your chosen back-up system running on your computer give me a call, I'll be happy to help you.

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