Google Consumer Surveys will connect brands wishing to collect consumer information to publishers wanting to monetize premium content. Publishers will be able to host consumer surveys that will be presented to visitors as a replacement for advertisements, pay-walls, access to premium content and services, or any other item of value a website owner would like to offer.

VentureBeat reports Google Consumer Surveys launched this week and brands are currently paying $0.10 to $0.50 for each response to survey questions. There is an application form for interested publishers.

Example of Google Surveys Publisher partner

Traditionally, website owners would offer free content, downloads or discounts as incentive for email newsletter subscriptions or membership. Google Consumer Surveys is a promising new option for directly monetizing premium content or features on your website.

Crowdsourced services have thrived in recent years. The success of Amazon’s Mechanical Turk spurred an entire industry of crowdsourced services for various niches. Google has taken note of the success of crowdsourcing and has developed an ingenious product to fulfill the needs of businesses, publishers and even consumers who get to access to free content.

Do you think Google Consumer Surveys will perform well for publishers and businesses? Do you plan on giving it a try? Please leave a comment with your thoughts or questions about this new option for website monetization.

Google Launches Consumer Surveys, Offers New Revenue Stream for Publishers DotSauce Magazine

While doing some freelance projects for my New Year website development special, I couldn’t help but notice a trend that comes up in almost every site; keyword domains. Clients are either interested in finding a great keyword domain or already have one ready to go.

Leading SEOs and even Google’s Matt Cutts have confirmed that keywords in domain names offer benefits to search rankings. The benefits have been observed by many and even thought to be too much by some.

My personal philosophy and reasoning for using keyword domain names extends beyond this primary benefit. In this article, I will share some ideas on keyword domains and why I think everyone should consider using them.

Keyword Targeting

The #1 reason that keywords in domain names are beneficial for SEO is not because of some secret Google algorithm, it’s simply that other web properties will link to your website using the keywords in your domain or business name.

• Business Name – It’s 2012 and the domain name should now be an essential part of naming any business. I’m sure you’ve heard that picking a domain name can be frustrating. Many business owners are not familiar with keyword tools or the domain industry for that matter. This leaves an opportunity for those in-the-know to gain a significant competitive advantage using keywords in their domain.

• Generic Domains – These are the “Holy Grail” of keyword domain names, representing the exact match term(s) and nothing else. Generic domains are typically highly valued and sought after virtual real estate. However, it is still possible to acquire them on the aftermarket or speculate on new and emerging industries. Generic domains can provide tremendous boost to SEO efforts.

• Long-tail Domains – Opportunity awaits those willing to venture into the territory of longer domains. Three word domains are fast becoming commonplace and are being used to rank for exact match phrases, products and services. Developing one or more long-tail keyword phrase domains can set you up to receive consistent targeted leads from organic search traffic for those terms.

You can use the popular Google AdWords keyword tool to discover high search volume / low competition keyword phrases that may be available to register as .com domains.

Branding

It’s true that brandable domain names can work just as well as purely keyword domain names; a previous post covered all those details. As mentioned in the editorial, keywords can also play a part in the branding process.

• Keyword + Brand- Using a keyword connected to a unique brand identifier is a great strategy for those on a budget or in a somewhat crowded niche. These domains can be easier to find and may help you along the brainstorming process of naming your business.

For example, a Raleigh Catering company could find SEO benefit using a domain like RaleighCateringPros.com. The Pros suffix is relevant to the business, but will not be searched for by new customers. However, over time, the site will gain backlinks which include the phrase “Raleigh Catering.”

• Short Links – Many businesses and publications are beginning to use their own custom domain names as link shorteners. This can potentially provide additional SEO benefits through social network sharing as articles propagate through the web.

Keywords provide instant recognition which is great for usability, advertising and marketing. They also bring preconceived expectations, so be sure to deliver with relevant content.

Remember that domain names are essentially your cornerstone for SEO. You’ll still need to work hard to optimize you website, it’s content and engage in a constantly changing social web.

Do you use keywords in your domain names? Are you struggling to find a viable domain? Please leave a comment below to share your experience using domain names for SEO.

Using Domain Names as the Cornerstone of SEO DotSauce Magazine

Included in this new package-deal are lots of extras that will offer a complete business web presence ready to take on 2012. I’m making this available to anyone for less than $800.

I am also liquidating an established website forum for only $1500. Both are extraordinary deals, so please continue reading for all the details.

Start 2012 With A Modern, Professional Website

With this web development special you are getting much more than a customized design. I am offering a complete business website launch done right with search and website optimization, design, marketing, social network integration and much more.

The following 10 features and services are all included in this limited-time special offer.

1. eCommerce, Social or Membership Sites – Using the latest online business solutions such as WP-eCommerce, BuddyPress and more, we can create a wide variety of feature rich websites.

2. Professional WordPress Theme Customization – Take your choice of premium layouts from ThemeForest or other professional themes and frameworks as a starting point for your business.

3. Logo and Graphic Design – In addition to customizing your website however you like, a great looking new brand and promotional graphics will give a finishing touch.

4. Comprehensive SEO – Starting from the beginning, your website will be optimized to rank for targeted keywords of your choice. In addition to complete on-site optimization, I am now offering initial link-building and other methods of driving traffic and gaining authority for your new site.

5. Website and Marketing Copy – Content is king. So, for your business to succeed in 2012 you need great web copy. I have written for the web for over a decade and would be happy to get you started with website copy for your products or services. I will also include starter content for your company blog and social profiles.

6. Comprehensive Website Optimization – Your site will load lightning fast and will prove to be a great experience for your visitors. Several plugins, features and tweaks will make your business up to par with the latest website optimization standards.

7. Hand-selected Plugins and Extras – Along with SEO and website optimization, I will also share my favorite WordPress management plugins and other unique solutions that may fit your needs.

8. Six Months of Free WordPress Hosting – I will be glad to host your website on my server for up to 6 months at no additional cost to you.

9. Custom Facebook and Twitter Profiles – You don’t have to worry about finally getting a Twitter profile and setting up your Facebook page. Included in this package are custom social networking profiles that will be linked with your website and drive leads for you in 2012.

10. WordPress Instruction – Each of the elements of your new site may seem overwhelming, but they are really not, and I will be available to walk you through the process of managing your website effectively and easily.

All these services are included in this New Year Special for only $799.

Because many of these services demand a lot of time, I will only be able to accept a limited number of clients. So, please contact me now to express your interest in working with me to build your online business.

Example Works

Here are a few sites I’ve completed for clients who took advantage of some of these services.

RaleighPersonalTraining.com

JukeBoxxMedia.com

UDRP-Attorney.com

WritingAssignmentHelp.com

Contact Me To Get Started

Thank you for your interest in my web development services. For just $799 you can have a professional online business presence. Please contact me here as soon as possible with the details of your online business needs.

Start 2012 With an Established Twitter Forum

I am looking to liquidate TweetSocial.com a nearly 4 year old Twitter Forum. This online community of over 3000 members features discussions on all things Twitter and additionally features an application directory.

Liquidation Sale! Own this website today for just $1500.

I have not attempted to monetize or extensively market this site in recent years, however it grows organically through rankings for key terms on Google. The site receives just under 5000 unique visitors per month.

Included in the sale is all site content, design, and ownership of the Twitter profile (@TweetSocial) with 6710 followers, which as an easy way to send more traffic if you have just a few minutes to spare.

For only $1500 you can be the proud new owner of the TweetSocial Twitter Forum and app directory. Please contact me here as soon as possible with your interest in purchasing this website.

Have a great new year!

New Year Web Development Special: Start 2012 With A Great Business Website DotSauce Magazine

1. Set the Right Twitter Name

Just the name, no frills.

One of the most powerful tips for ranking high for your personal or brand name is to carefully craft your Twitter profile name. Not the username, but the name associated with the profile that gets displayed as the page title.

Use the keyword, name or phrase you want to rank for. No other words, characters or icons.

Image via Flickr.

Over time your profile will gain backlinks from yourself and your own website and likely dozens more from Twitter profile directories and applications. An active profile almost always has a shot at ranking on page 1.

2. Fresh Content and Embedding Twitter Updates

One of the latest updates to Google’s search algorithm is rewarding fresh content. Google recently reported they’ve implemented this update which applies to queries posed in a way in which the newest content would be the most beneficial for the searcher.

The latest news and most-recent resources in your industry may be receiving a big traffic boost.

In other news from Google, it has been confirmed that indexing of dynamic content such as AJAX/JavaScript is now live. This includes elements like Twitter status updates widgets and advanced commenting platforms like Disqus and Facebook Comments.

Social media updates are often a source of fresh content, so these two Google updates go hand-in-hand.

3. Sharing for More Than Backlinks

Sharing your content is probably one of the most common, yet most under-utilized SEO techniques. Many website owners believe that there is not any direct SEO benefit to sharing links on Facebook or Twitter because the links are shortened, redirected, and tagged no-follow. What they’ve failed to realize is that SEO is no longer all about backlinks.

Search engines now monitor social media activity and may reward unique and valuable shares. It’s also been confirmed that no-follow links do provide some value.

Be sure to have the latest sharing button embed codes and make use of them to spread your content.

4. Engagement on Google+

The +1 button may not seem like much now, but overtime its value will prove great in terms of SEO. As more people adopt Google+ as their social network of choice, the addition of +1′s and share data will make your search results very attractive.

A page with a lot of recommendations may gain a significant boost within your network as well as friends of friends.

StudioPress has been shared on Google+.

This should encourage you to add new people of interest to your circles to grow your Google+ network. You should also advertise the Google+1 button prominently.

I’d be thrilled if you gave DotSauce Magazine the honor of a recommendation on Google+! The button is at the top right near the newsletter subscription.

5. Learning More About SEO

Likely the most valuable contribution social media provides to SEO is the latest news. Your lists, circles, groups or wall can be an excellent resource for broadening your knowledge on SEO.

Follow industry leading publications and known SEO experts to stay up-to-date on the latest in a constantly evolving industry.

I share SEO and social media marketing updates which inspire and inform me on Twitter @DotSauce and the DotSauce Facebook page. Follow and connect to keep informed.

Thank you for reviewing my tips on leveraging social media for SEO benefit. Please leave a comment below if you would like to contribute one of your own. Best of luck and happy networking.

5 Tips on Using Social for SEO DotSauce Magazine

If you’re not familiar with Premium Listings, it is essentially a domain aftermarket setup within GoDaddy’s storefront. Any domain managed with them can be priced and featured within the registration path of those searching for similar domains. I’ve previously written about some of the success I’ve had and how to setup Premium Listings on GoDaddy.

Here is the message I received from my account manager with the interesting parts highlighted:

Many of my clients are actively using our Premium Domain channel as a way of acquiring high value domains for a very small investment. In several situations, paying more money for the one right name is better than pay registration fees for 10 mediocre names.

I  have access to our master inventory of domains currently available through our Premium Domains offering. I want to help you build the value of your portfolio by making sure you’re buying the right domains, not just a lot of domains. Let’s run some searches from our list to show you that there are many domains you might be interested in acquiring. What specific keywords or niches are you actively looking  in when buying domains?

We have been hard at work developing a tool that will allow us to sort through the massive inventory of premium domain assets and being alerted when new names are added based on your keywords. This was very much a manual process up till now. Please send me your top 5-10 keywords as soon as possible.

Just a simple reply from your email with the keywords will help me to set this up.

This is great news for both buyers and sellers. It looks as if VIP account holders will soon be able to target current Premium Listing domains of interest by keyword and monitor new listings as they come in.

VIP account holders are a great audience to market the new service to. I’m sure this will bolster sales as domain buyers sign up for keyword alerts and discover good deals.

Presently, domain investors are associating the Premium Listings aftermarket with selling because there is no easy way to browse or discover good deals.

If the new service offering does well, I’m sure GoDaddy will consider making a Premium Listings keyword search and alerts tool available to the public.

Would you be interested in signing up for Premium Listings alerts? Will this encourage you to list your domains? Please leave a comment below with your thoughts.

GoDaddy Begins Marketing Premium Listings to VIP Accounts DotSauce Magazine

By actively building your online presence and dedicating time to proven online marketing and sales techniques you can start selling domain names more frequently.

In this article, I will share tips and techniques that have benefited me in the past and continue to provide great outlets for selling domains today.

[Header image via Flickr]

Personal Branding

An important starting point for domain flipping is to have a legitimate identity. Nobody truly wants to do business with an anonymous person. If you can own your name online I highly recommend it; MarkFulton.com is one of my most prized possessions. Create a website and interlink your social profiles as a platform to build your personal brand identity.

Blogging

After setting up your identity on the web my next recommendation would be to begin blogging. This can either be at your personal web page or a new company page or brand identity. Write a few posts about topics related to your domains, the domains themselves, post a sale, share some news; the point is to get original content indexed and have an outlet to advertise and accept inquiries.

Email List Building

With your blog setup, now is a great time to setup an email list and start capturing verified emails. Offer an incentive whether it be blog updates,  domain deals, a free download or eBook. Use a dedicated newsletter management service such as MailChimp that will not only let you send out your blog updates, but email your list directly and track conversions.

Networking

There are millions of people who buy domain names, build websites and start online ventures who are not exactly involved in domain industry circles. Network with fellow domainers on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, then spend some time branching out to related industries. Connect and engage with people you are sure know what a domain name is and maybe even own a few already.

Keyword Niche Marketing

A popular, albeit dated, domain flipping tactic is to market to small businesses, blogs and on forums associated with the keywords in a domain.

I don’t recommend commenting on blogs, posting on an excessive number of forums or spamming business owners. These practices can leave a permanent record of your domain sale and are usually not effective. Alternatively, you can target hashtags or keywords on Twitter using InboxQ.

Domain Forum Engagement

After you’ve checked out some of the niche forums, don’t forget we are flipping domains after-all. If you are confident that your asking price is reasonable enough for fellow resellers, compose a sales thread on NamePros and DNForum ($50 membership) for one of the easiest and fastest methods of domain flipping.

Domain Auctions

The right auction both online and offline can provide good exposure to your domain sale. You’ll have the most success here with well-aged domain names. Consider submitting your domains to some of the leading free domain marketplaces, live domain auction events or online auctions such as Flippa and Cax.com for a great opportunity to flip domains.

Advertising

Spending a little money to advertise a sale can pay off for the right domain names. Consider creating a banner or text advertisement campaign to feature on a high-traffic destination to get targeted exposure. Google AdSense and Facebook Ads are cheap and could spark a sale.

What are your top domain flipping techniques?

Thanks for reading through my tips and techniques for selling domains, now it’s your turn. I would love to hear about your own domain flipping practices. Share your story in the comments area or just fill us in on a great domain sales resource.

Domain Flipping: Advanced Tips and Techniques DotSauce Magazine

First, a quick word on why a quality brand is important. A recent study shared by eConsultancy found that just 3% of traffic to eCommerce websites comes from social media, while a staggering 46% comes from brand familiarity. Your domain is your brand.

Brand familiarity boosts web traffic

Brandable: What You Don’t Need to Worry About

Keywords

For once, you can throw Google AdWords keyword data out the window–well, almost. You may still be interested in targeting a specific keyword to be a part of your brand name, particularly if you will be using a two-word domain as a keyword/brand-word combination. You can now create your own words successfully if you follow a few guidelines featured below.

Definitions

The language of the internet evolves much faster than Merriam Webster can keep up. Your brand does not neccisarily need to have a known definition. I decided to name my Twitter forum community “TweetSocial.com” 3 years before it was included in the Oxford Dictionary as a new word for 2011.

What Makes a Domain Brandable?

Pronunciation

How a domain name is spoken aloud is one of the most important factors in determining brandability. Often called the “radio test,” you can simply ask a few friends to spell out a domain name over the phone or in person. If your domain name can not be understood clearly and remembered through word-of-mouth marketing that will hurt your brandability.

Length

While many brands use three-words I recommend first researching two-word options. When it comes to the internet, shorter is always better.

I would estimate the majority of valuable brandable domain sales are between 4 and 6 characters. Virtually all four-letter domains and quality, pronounceable five-letter domains have been claimed, so you’ll need to browse the aftermarket for extremely short brands.

Meaning

Not to be confused with a definition, meaning lends some since of relation to a particular product, service or industry. “DotSauce” is a play on hot sauce, but the dot connects the publication with all things Internet. Use an industry term, relevant word, idea, color, or some other identifier that the target audience will associate with.

Appeal

When looking for brandable domains to potentially resell, you’ll want to make sure that you have meaning, as described above, but you also want to be sure that there is a possibility that the domain will actually sell. I’ve shared some tips for picking domains that have selling potential in the past. It helps to get into the mind of an entrepreneur working in a particular industry; would they find this domain a viable or premium option to build their business on versus a keyword or longer domain?

Discriptors

Some words are simply great or must-haves for certain industries which can make it hard to find suitable brand options. If you’re looking to go the discovery route, you may find the Bust-A-Name tool with built in thesaurus very helpful for finding related words and descriptors for your brand names.

Pull out a sheet of paper and take a few minutes to jot down any quality keywords that may describe your area of interest. You can then plug those keywords into Bust-A-Name along with the other root word you would also like included to see what is available.

Detractors

Now that you know what elements contribute to a great brand, there are a few things you definitely want to consider avoiding when selecting quality brandable domains.

• Doubled up letters (‘SportSShop,’ ‘KinGGames’) – Domains like this do not do well with the “radio test” mentioned previously and it opens up the possibility of losing traffic to typos.
• Intentional misspellings (Flickr) – Dropping vowels, replacing S with Z or doubling up certain letters just looks plain unprofessional and is not good for memorability or usability.
• Unintended meanings – I’m sure everyone has seen the list of unfortunate domains like PenIsland.com. Watch out for hidden meanings you might not want to associate your identity with.
• Domain hacks (Del.icio.us) – Some people are fans of these quirky brands that use the TLD extension as part of the brand name itself to create a word. I believe this can hurt memorability and marketing efforts online and in person.

Researching and flipping brandable domain names is not a walk in the park and it certainly pays to be patient. The right end-user may not come along for a year or more. Now is a great time to start investing in quality .com brands as they are becoming increasingly rare and domain prices are trending upward.

Can’t wait?

Consider joining the DotSauce Domain Club to learn more about domain investing and browse our members-only inventory of $19 .com names, including dozens of quality brandable domains.

Investing In Quality Brandable Domain Names DotSauce Magazine

The Next Web shared the interesting story of how Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff, gave a very special gift to Steve Jobs as thanks for his influence and sage advice.

In 2003, Benioff brought a few members of his executive team to visit Steve Jobs. The words of wisdom he would receive turned out to have profound implications for both Salesforce and Apple.

“You have a fantastic enterprise application here, but you’ve got to build an ecosystem.”

The Salesforce.com team took the advice to heart and developed a new technology called “App Store”, where users could buy enterprise applications and run them within Salesforce.

The project ended up launching under a different name, “App Exchange.” But, Benioff liked the App Store name so much that he purchased the domain name AppStore.com and corresponding trademark.

Years later, in 2008, Benioff was in the audience when Steve Jobs announced his own App Store. After the announcement, Benioff went up to Steve Jobs and offered the AppStore.com domain and the trademark rights as a gift, in appreciation of his help in 2003.

Apple now defends the trademark in court and uses the powerful generic brand to reign-supreme over other application platforms. Now that is a domain that is truly priceless.

How Steve Jobs Got The AppStore.com Domain and Trademark For Free DotSauce Magazine

I’m pleased to be sharing a bunch more new bookmarklets I’ve come across recently in a great post by Tom Critchlow on SEOMoz. These SEO-centric bookmarklets provide immediate access to pertinent data from Google and leading SEO tools.

The bookmarklets below may appear like regular hyperlinks, but you will need to drag and drop these links to your browser toolbar or save them as bookmarks for them to function properly. Consider creating a folder to drag the bookmarklets to if you plan on using many of them.

Domain Name and SEO Bookmarklets

These bookmarklets, when clicked from the browser toolbar, will provide quick access to valuable information and analytics about the website currently being viewed.

Bookmarklet: OSE Report (Drag & Drop link to your toolbar)
Description: Open Site Explorer by SEOMoz offers a comprehensive SEO report

Bookmarklet: OSE Top Pages (Drag & Drop link to your toolbar)
Description: Analyzes a domain name for the most authoritative pages

Bookmarklet: OSE Anchor Text (Drag & Drop link to your toolbar)
Description: Displays a report on the anchor text used to link to a domain

Bookmarklet: Google Site Search (Drag & Drop link to your toolbar)
Description: Performs a query to retrieve all indexed pages for a domain

Bookmarklet: Google Cache (Drag & Drop link to your toolbar)
Description: Access the most recent Google cache version of a URL

Bookmarklet: Google Insights (Drag & Drop link to your toolbar)
Description: Performs a search for the term popularity of a domain name without the TLD

Bookmarklet: Google Ad Planner (Drag & Drop link to your toolbar)
Description: Runs a comprehensive report on a domain including traffic estimates and related sites

Bookmarklet: SEM Rush (Drag & Drop link to your toolbar)
Description: Comprehensive PPC  marketing report

Bookmarklet: MajesticSEO (Drag & Drop link to your toolbar)
Description: Displays a report on backlinks to a domain over time

Bookmarklet: Topsy (Drag & Drop link to your toolbar)
Description: Shows the latest engagement activity on Twitter for a particular domain

More Bookmarklets

Get 12 more domain and SEO bookmarklets from my previous article for quick access to data on DomainTools, Estibot, Archive.org, Compete, Delicious and others.

Share the Time Savings

I hope you’ve enjoyed these time-saving bookmarklets for domain name and SEO research. Please consider sharing this post with your fellow web professionals if you found them particularly useful.

What are your favorite bookmarklets? Leave a comment below and let us know which ones you use the most or share a useful bookmarklet not mentioned here.

10 More Time-Saving Domain and SEO Bookmarklets DotSauce Magazine

First, a quick heads-up to Domain Club members, a new available domain list was just published exclusively for you alongside this public sample list. Login now to take a look.

The domains featured below were originally published on the Domain Club private forum on May 15th, 2011. These are the remaining domains that were not claimed by members.

Handpicked Expired Domains

This list of available domains is courtesy of the DotSauce Domain Club and were available as of the time of this posting.

Please do not republish elsewhere. Enjoy!

• DeluxeSoap.com
• TimeshareFAQs.com
• StealthMarketer.com
• RentalTerms.com
• ShopRealtime.com
• LittleFreebies.com
• OnlineMulti.com
• StangRacer.com
• PleasureWand.com
• AutomationDaily.com
• BlastoffBlog.com
• ThumbnailTool.com
• MarketplaceList.com
• WarriorWeek.com
• BodyBlogging.com
• RevenueTrend.com
• InviteZone.com
• SweetAddict.com
• BundledBusiness.com
• ClothingFreebies.com
• AffordableDVDs.com
• BlazerSales.com
• SeasonalSites.com

The original list featured 12 more names that have since been claimed.

To get exclusive, instant access to new and archived handpicked expired domains, read about our Domain Club Pro membership.

Previous Expired Domain Lists

If you didn’t find anything of interest in this list, you’re welcome to have a look at the few remaining domains from the previous three samples.

• Handpicked Expired Domains #1
• Handpicked Expired Domains #2
• Handpicked Expired Domains #3

As always, using this promotional link for $7.49 domains at GoDaddy you can take advantage of special savings on registrations.

Handpicked Expired Domains List, Quality .Coms Available to Register DotSauce Magazine

For almost any type of website you’re looking for, I can create a great solution using WordPress, the webs’ most popular and user-friendly content management system.

Get this cool deal on professional WordPress development for only $300 until the end of this sweltering hot summer.

Here is a list of types of websites available as starting points, though I would be happy to discuss other options you might be interested in.

• Personal blog
• Professional portfolio
• Professional business web presence
• eCommerce or affiliate product portal
• Niche magazine
• Startup web presence
• Community / forums
• Question & answer hub
• Directory
• Classifieds
• Job board
• Membership site

August Development Special

Included in this special offer are the following features and services.

• Beautiful designs using the latest standards. Integrate your existing logo or get a new one.
• Full search engine optimization services
• Social media integration and other interactive features
• Advanced WordPress plugins make site management simple and boost performance.

Let’s Build Your Professional Website

I will be in close contact with you throughout the development process to get your feedback and direction as well as to explain how to manage the site. My work will not be complete until you are 100% satisfied with your website.

Hot August, Cool Deal: Professional Website Development Only $300 DotSauce Magazine

I came across an insightful article on Inc. Magazine recently featuring 5 negotiation tips that can definitely relate to domain sales.

First Mover Wins

In particular, negotiation tip #3 suggests an idea that is contrary to popular belief. Is it better to ask for buyers to make an offer or to set your asking price? The answer may surprise you.

Some studies suggest that the outcome of a negotiation ends up being closer to what the first party proposes. The article quotes an interesting excerpt from Negotiation, a book by Adam Galinsky and Roderick Swaab.

“In our studies, we found that the final outcome of a negotiation is affected by whether the buyer or the seller makes the first offer. Specifically, when a seller makes the first offer, the final settlement price tends to be higher than when the buyer makes the first offer.”

So, as it turns out, it should prove beneficial to your bottom-line to set an asking price you are comfortable with. Thinking back on my own personal sales history, this seems to make sense. If we look at the industry as a whole, the vast majority of domains that are sold started with asking prices.

Domain investors should definitely take advantage of the opportunity in pricing their domains. When listing your domains for sale on your portfolio or public marketplaces, set a reasonable asking price to put negotiations in your favor before they begin.

Related: Top 10 Reasons Your Domain Name Won't Sell

Still a Place for Offers

Of course, it is OK to accept offers for particular domains you are not ready to price or are not interested in selling in the short-term.

Be sure to research comparable domain sales and analytics for your domains and stay abreast of the latest domain pricing trends to decide if an offer is reasonable.

Negotiation tip #5 offers sage advice for dealing with low-ball offers you will inevitably receive:

Don’t take it personally. If you respond with a cool head, there may be an opportunity to make a deal no matter the starting point.

Related: Domain Sales Strategy: How To Be Three Steps Ahead

Asking Price vs. Make Offer DotSauce Magazine

In an effort to make the monthly link roundups easier to consume I’ve left out updates on marketing, social media, small business and entrepreneurship.

If you’re interested in getting all the updates please connect with DotSauce on one of these networks.

Stay In The Know: Connect With DotSauce

Twitter – (See top of sidebar to follow –>) Join 15,000 others who follow @DotSauce tweets on domains, SEO, marketing and web development.

Facebook – (See top of sidebar to like –>) Like DotSauce on Facebook where you’ll receive almost all the resources shared on Twitter, though more focused on domaining. Plus receive special announcements and exclusive offers for fans.

LinkedIn – If you are a web professional or work in a related industry, I would be glad to have you connect with me on LinkedIn. Twitter updates are broadcast to the LinkedIn stream.

Google+ – Add me to your circles. I’ll be sharing special updates and resources with Google Plus connections soon.

Web Development

It seems the theme for July is speed. Included are several great resources and some big news from Google on the webpage performance front.

Domaining

The domain industry continues to get exposure in the mainstream media. July was a busy month with several major industry moves and great editorials.

SEO

The web at large is catching on that social media and SEO go together. Google+ has been the tipping point, time to get on board.

Thank you for checking out these recommended news articles and resources. I hope you’ve found some beneficial information that can help your business or website.

As always, you’re welcome to share these links with your followers individually or by using one of the share buttons below. Any mentions are greatly appreciated.

Web Development, Domaining and SEO Link Roundup for July DotSauce Magazine

Google’s official Page Speed announcement reports speed improvements of 25% — 60% on some websites. The service works by routing your DNS requests to Google’s server where they rewrite your website and serve it to visitors faster with optimized CSS, image, text and script compression, caching and other tricks.

[Header image via Flickr]

Is Google’s Page Speed Service really necessary? I’m not convinced it’s for the masses yet because most of these techniques are available freely. However, I’m sure there is a large market for individuals or businesses who are willing to leave website optimization up to Google. It can provide some peace of mind in knowing that all the many best practices for optimization are taken care of for you.

Try It Out

You can see how the Page Speed Service would improve your website performance now at WebPageTest.org.

For now, the service is free for a select number of webmasters who sign up here. Google plans to charge a fee for usage in the near future.

Related Article: Instant Pages: Google Plans to Preload #1 Search Result

My Page Speed Service Results

I ran the DotSauce Magazine homepage through the comparison test. You can view my results here. Google was only able to speed up the site by about 0.1 seconds, a 1% improvement. Not surprising really as I have taken steps to increase website performance manually.

Page Speed Service Comparison

Don’t get me wrong, I did see some benefit to the service. The start-rendering time as reported by the comparison did show a marked improvement. Some images began loading 14.9% faster as you can see in the results, particularly on the visual comparison.

I attribute the already fast load time to optimization techniques and resources recently featured in my article, 12 Tips and New Standards for Optimizing Your Website. I highly recommend you implement most, if not all, of these tips if you haven’t already.

How did Google Page Speed work for your website load time? Would you pay a subscription fee for this service? Please leave a comment below with your thoughts.

This should prove to be a valuable service that will help boost business by reducing website bounce rate and increasing search rankings.

Google Launches Pay For Page Speed Service DotSauce Magazine

[Header image via Washington Post]

I’ve been disappointed in recent days to see some web industry leaders and mainstream publications come out against ICANN’s approval of the new TLD system, scheduled to go live in 2012.

There are concerns that new TLDs are just money-making schemes that provides no value to the internet, or that trademarked names are going to be rampantly squatted upon. Do you believe any of this is true?

This open survey features a few poll questions that should offer an idea of reader confidence or lack thereof in new TLDs.

New Top Level Domains Opinion Survey

Please submit your answers for the 5 brief poll questions below.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

Consider sharing this survey to include your networks’ opinion on new Top Level Domains.

Thank you for your participation. Please subscribe to DotSauce Magazine or come back at a later date to review the results.

Opinion Survey: New Top Level Domains DotSauce Magazine

[Header image via Flickr]

Multiple Domains Multiplies Risk

I have a semi-dedicated server that I use to host all of my web properties, domain development projects and many client websites. Before today, my public directory had something like 100 folders representing multiple domains for various websites, mainly WordPress installations.

I found out the hard-way that exploits within a particularly vulnerable script on one directory can lead to complete access of the public_html directory. In my case, a neglected old WordPress installation came back to bite me in the butt. I also discovered a vulnerability within an old PHP-LinkDirectory installation.

It’s something I should of known was possible, but never thought an exploit would be so bad as to lead to this.

The hackers placed code within .htaccess files, redirecting Google bots to spam sites. Normal visitors, including myself were none the wiser as search rankings were taken over. It’s an all-too-common, devious form of hacking that you should be wary of.

Luckily, several observant readers reported that something was awry with my search listings (they are still screwed up) and I was able to contact Google to remove the suspected hacking warning.

Avoiding This Disaster

Nobody should have to go through the experience of losing all their hard-earned search rankings. There are several actions you can and should take to prepare for and avoid a potential hack when using multiple domains on the same host.

1. Move inactive projects to a new folder, hidden below the public_html level
2. Be vigilant and timely about updating all web software
3. Regularly check notices from Google Webmaster Tools
4. Monitor website content changes through a third-party service such as CodeGuard

I’m not too worried as DotSauce Magazine should bounce back in the coming days and weeks.

I would greatly appreciate your support in sharing our content and +1′ing articles to help speed the process along. You can earn rewards like free domain registration through our loyalty program if you do. Try out one of our share buttons to sign-up for free.

Security Vulnerability When Using Multiple Domains On The Same Host DotSauce Magazine

Domain Holdings has debuted a new domain development platform called DomainPower, a follow up to Rapid Domain Builder, it’s 2010 predecessor . The new development platform will focus on content development for SEO performance and engagement, and will feature multiple revenue opportunities.

DomainPower offers dozens of niche website frameworks suited to specific industries (Shopping, Insurance, Travel, etc.). Sites are enhanced with plug-ins such as social media integration. Enhancement services such as website content, link building and directory submission are also featured.

DomainPower Powered Sites

Here are a few examples of sites running on the DomainPower platform.

Innovative Analytics and Reporting

While I have not had the opportunity yet to dive into the DomainPower platform (signups are approved manually), I know that their analytics will play an important role.

According to the feature list DomainPower includes A/B testing, alerts for under-performing domains, and keyword tracking across search engines–all firsts for the industry as far as I am aware.

What do you think of DomainPower? Will you ditch WordPress powered sites or standard parking pages to give it a try? Will the revenue share be enough to compete with other emerging parking options? Please leave a comment with your thoughts.

Domain Holdings Raises $2.9M to Energize DomainPower Development Platform DotSauce Magazine

If you have an eye for business, you will be able to see how the Domain Club model is intended to work. I would like to take this opportunity to clarify and discuss a few matters to anyone interested about our process and how specific Domain Club features work.

Group buying sites rely on sales volume to make up for the discounted pricing offered to members. The Domain Club works the same way, offering nice .COM domains to members at a discounted rate of just $19 each.

Domain Club Exclusivity

One of the points I would like to clarify is that while our pricing is exclusive to Domain Club members, our domain inventory is not necessarily exclusively for sale on DotSauce.

I have got back into domain sales recently, putting in work behind the scenes to resell some inventory at a markup.

I’m pleased to report that business is good in just the first few days of dipping my feet into the water of domain liquidation in 2011. That’s right, I am making easy sales of domains currently offered to Domain Club members for just $19 each. In some cases domains have sold for several hundred dollars and many are selling easily for $50-$100.

Domain sales activity and valuations are on the rise, hitting an all-time high in May 2011.

Vision

If I can do it, you can too. That is my true goal for the DotSauce Domain Club. I want to help you succeed and feel the best way to start is with quality keyword, brands, and product domains.

As Domain Club membership grows, both users and myself will reap the benefits of increased activity; more inventory and more content. I hope to continue to prove the value offered by an affordable monthly membership fee for access to exceptional deals on .com domains and domain sales resources.

Join the DotSauce Domain Club today to get first pick of domains for just $19 each and instantly access our private forum where you can learn the best places to resell domains and other insider domain sales resources.

July Update

Members, be on the lookout for a big inventory update and handpicked expired domains list very soon.

I have been quite busy this month, but I have not missed my regular domain research. I will be making considerable additions to the Domain Club inventory and publishing a handpicked expired domains list soon.

Getting Back Into The Domain Flipping Rhythm DotSauce Magazine

IDNX.com will continually monitor trends in domain prices month-to-month. The interactive chart includes 6 years of sales data or over 200,000 domain sales from the world’s largest domain name marketplace.

The IDNX price index value can be directly compared to select economic indicators that seem to correlate very closely.

• NASDAQ 100
• Google’s share price
• Revenues from online ads (US)

Here is a glimpse of IDNX as compared to revenues from online advertising in the US. Domain prices have recently regained strength from a dip in 2008 and early 2009 to grow to an all-time high this year in May.

These comparisons offer an unprecedented view of the domain name industry. It shows domain buyers and sellers are taking their virtual real estate seriously and are making economically motivated, informed decisions.

IDNX provides a great leap forward in legitimizing the often misunderstood world of domains. Cheers to Thies and Sedo for their work and dedication to bettering the industry.

What do you think of the potential for this new tool? Please leave a comment below with your thoughts and consider spreading the good news by sharing this article with your network.

Domain Name Price Index Goes Live in Partnership with Sedo DotSauce Magazine

Domain Club membership plans are already affordable, particularly with the recent introduction of the Plus membership. So, you won’t typically see coupon codes enabled. Act now to join in with added savings.

All Memberships $4 Off

For the next 24 hours, you can get $4 off your first membership fee. That means signing up is just $5 for a Plus membership or $16 for a Pro membership.

With a Domain Club Plus membership you are able to buy up to 2 domain names each month. Domain Club Pro members can claim up to 8 domains each month and enjoy added services such as exclusive access to handpicked expired domains.

All Domains $4 Off

I’m also applying this discount to every domain name in the $19 quality .com inventory. That’s right, all domains are just $15 for the next 24 hours.

You’re welcome to browse the inventory and domain statistics before you buy. The Domain Club inventory features keyword rich product domains, quality brands and other select .COM domains with web development and resale potential.

Claim Your Fourth of July Savings

Use this coupon code when signing up for Domain Club membership or buying domains from our inventory to save $4 each!

8C405

Check out the Domain Club features and membership plans to get started. There you’ll find details about the many valuable resources and services offered exclusively to members.

This special offer and coupon code will expire on July 5th at midnight EST.

Please leave a comment or get in touch with any questions you might have about Domain Club membership. See you on the inside. Happy Fourth of July! Have a safe and fun-filled holiday.

Happy 4th! Come Celebrate With A Special 24 Hour Domain Sale DotSauce Magazine

I have categorized and selected choice updates from the month of June in today’s link roundup.

To receive updates like those featured here, as well as more interesting resources and breaking industry news, please follow @DotSauce on Twitter.

Most of these links are also shared on the DotSauce Facebook page.

Branding & Domain Names

Each month it seems the domain name industry is featured in the mainstream media more and more. With ICANN’s approval of the new generic TLD space this month, I am confident this trend will continue. I found these headlines and resources particularly interesting.

Online Business

I’ve been pleased to read many informative and inspiring articles from respected entrepreneurs and industry leaders this month.

Web Development & SEO

Nearly a dozen great articles on SEO have been featured this month. The industry is evolving rapidly; optimizing for site performance, social engagement and producing quality content are becoming increasingly important to become an authority site.

Marketing & Social Media

These articles can help get you on the right path towards social media success. Get updated on the latest trends and social marketing techniques.

I hope you’ve enjoyed these resources and are able to use what you’ve learned to improve your online business. Join 15,000 others who follow @DotSauce on Twitter to stay in-the-know.

You’re welcome to retweet any of these links to your own following or share the entire link roundup. Have a great holiday weekend!

Domaining, Online Business and Web Development Link Roundup for June DotSauce Magazine

Many domains from the original list have been claimed by members, but I would like to share some of the remaining domain names with the public so everyone can get a glimpse of the great value offered in these handpicked expired domain lists.

Handpicked Expired Domains

This list of available domains is courtesy of the DotSauce Domain Club. Each one was available to register as of the time of this posting.

Please do not republish elsewhere. Enjoy!

• BicycleFans.com
• DuneSurfing.com
• TelephoneTunes.com
• NotepadReview.com
• PrintPrize.com
• DatabaseHelper.com
• ShopUpdates.com
• InternetMini.com
• ReportDisplay.com
• TweetDownload.com
• JPGDirectory.com
• DownloadTouch.com
• ToysAccessories.com
• LocalBreaking.com
• LocalListingsTV.com
• AuthorityCoupons.com
• BeatBits.com
• RomanticTeddy.com
• ArtistsToday.com
• WarriorWealth.com
• ConsolesAccessories.com
• RecessionSpecial.com
• Dozur.com
• Styus.com

GoDaddy is currently offering this $7.49 .com domain registration promotion.

The next sample list is ready to go, so be sure to subscribe to the weekly newsletter or our RSS feed.

Previous Expired Domain Lists

If you didn’t find anything of interest in this list, you’re welcome to have a look at the few remaining days from the previous two samples.

• Handpicked Expired Domains Sample #1
• Handpicked Expired Domains Sample #2

Get First Pick of the Best Domains

Want to get first pick of these handpicked lists months before everyone else? It’s just one of the many benefits of Domain Club membership.

Sign up for a Domain Club Pro membership to get instant access to more quality expired .com domains. We can even send you an alert when new lists are published.

Thanks for checking out the third edition of Domain Club handpicked expired domains. Please leave a comment with your feedback or to share a domain you’ve claimed.

Handpicked Expired Domains DotSauce Magazine

These conferences are extremely valuable to industry professionals. This is an opportunity to attend a popular search and social meetup in 2011 for free. Experience first-hand training, keynote speeches and networking; boost your SEO and social media knowledge and rub shoulders with industry leaders.

Conference Crashin’ Time

SEOmoz is giving away 2 tickets to each of the following conferences in a random drawing.

• MozCon - Seattle, WA – July 25th – 27th, 2011
• SES - San Francisco, CA – August 15th – 19th, 2011
• Social Media Summit - San Francisco, CA – August 15th – 16th, 2011
• Wappow Search and Social Hawaii! – September 26th – 29th, 2011
• SearchExchange - Charlotte, NC – October 3rd – 5th, 2011
• Conversion Conference East – NYC, NY – October 19th – 20th, 2011
• Distilled PRO Seminar - London, UK – October 24th – 25th, 2011

Enter to Win

For your chance to win, simply signup for a free SEOmoz PRO trial by June 29th at midnight.

That’s not much time to enter the giveaway. So, check out SEOmoz PRO tools now with no obligation to purchase and a sweet chance at a free conference pass.

Friendly Reminder

DotSauce is hosting a slightly more modest giveaway that ends on Jun 30th. You can enter to win a free design package from Logo.com after checking out the latest web development special.

Conference Crasher Giveaway from SEOmoz DotSauce Magazine

I’ve recently discovered a new, possibly better solution for displaying a domain portfolio within any WordPress page using the My Domain List WordPress plugin which is available at CodeCanyon for $12.

As it turns out, this plugin is a great way to both market your domains for sale and manage your portfolio privately.

[Header image via Flickr]

Automated Whois Information

One of the key perks of My Domain List is automated retrieval of whois information. This is a great feature which enables you to keep up-to-date on all of your domain information from multiple registrars in one central location.

My Domain List Management

The following data is displayed for all domains within a private domain management page.

• Domain registrar
• Owner name
• Whois creation date
• Ownership change date
• Expiration date

These details can be displayed publicly as part of your domain list table or kept private.

If you would like to manage your portfolio with My Domain List while keeping some domains private you can do that as well. Select the “Unpublish” to set a domain to only be visible through the domain management page.

Your domain list is displayed by placing a shortcode within a post or a page and customizing it to suit your needs, as in this example.

[my-domain-list-portfolio show='owner,extension,registrar']

With this initial release of the plugin there are some features left to be desired (such as domain search and categories), but all the essentials seem to be covered. The UI is well designed for both owner and visitors and the Make Offer process is user-friendly and inviting with a fixed priced domain.

My Domain List Screenshots

Here are more screenshots of the Domain List display and the private back-end. You can review the full plugin documentation here.

My Domain List – Full Demo

Incoming Offers Stats – Displayed on WordPress Dashboard

Optional Pagination by Letters

Get My Domain List

My Domain List is available exclusively at CodeCanyon. The WordPress plugin is reasonably priced at just $12. This is a bargain for being able to manage and market your domain names for sale.

Let me know what you think. Please leave a comment below if you decide to give it a try.

My Domain List WordPress Plugin: Market and Manage Your Domains DotSauce Magazine

I’ve also published a new recently expired domain list today at the Domain Club forums for premium members’ eyes only.

Today’s sample list is a bit longer, but I imagine the majority will be claimed just as quick.

Handpicked Expired Domains

This list of available domains is courtesy of the DotSauce Domain Club.

Please do not republish elsewhere. Enjoy!

• ReviewReader.com
• EmailDock.com
• KeyboardMobile.com
• ComputersAuthority.com
• CodingManual.com
• EnergyMonth.com
• CancelFlights.com
• CaliforniaLovin.com
• PromoPurchase.com
• ExoticsBlog.com
• HeadlinesBlog.com
• AntiqueBasket.com
• PowerfulMachine.com
• ChartAstrology.com
• ChristianChain.com
• LandSelector.com
• UpdateGenie.com
• DownloadCover.com
• AdvertExpert.com
• TradingDistrict.com
• FuturityNews.com
• EmploymentAffiliate.com
• NetworksInstalled.com
• ImprovingIncome.com
• ElectronicsClassified.com
• PowerfulList.com

GoDaddy is currently offering this $7.49 .com domain registration promotion.

The next sample list is ready to go, so be sure to subscribe to the weekly newsletter or our RSS feed.

If you’d like to get exclusive, instant access to choice domains, learn about Domain Club Pro membership which includes high-quality handpicked expired domain lists, exclusive $19 domain inventory, and many other resources and services for domain investors.

Thanks for checking out the Domain Club expired domain lists sample. Please leave a comment with your thoughts or to share a domain you’ve claimed.

Expired Domains Available to Register DotSauce Magazine

What was traditionally thought of as a blogging CMS has been transformed into a powerful, user-friendly development platform. Virtually any type of business website can be created using a combination of innovative WordPress theme design and advanced plugins.

Continue reading to enter to win professional logo design! (No purchase necessary)

For a limited time I am offering these special rates on development services for the following turnkey web development solutions powered by WordPress.

Updated June 22 – I’ve lowered the prices to make them even more attractive. Pay half up-front to get started and the remaining half when your website is completed. Contact me to get started.

Magazine / Blog / Business – $350

Below is an example of the many high-quality, visually appealing and flexible themes for creating a web based publication, blog or business website.

Affiliate Product Portal – $350

Create a niche affiliate site and earn commissions by referring customers to popular products. Bonus: A plugin will track stats and create custom affiliate URLs.

Product Reviews – $350

Similar to an affiliate portal, you can review products and promote affiliate products. This layout is intended for ratings and reviews from you and a community of visitors.

Q&A Site – $400

Question and answer sites are a popular new trend that is great for business and getting advertising revenue.

Classifieds – $400

Find an audience for professional classifieds site to help people market their products and services. Collect listing fees through PayPal.

Job Board – $400

Certainly a great time to develop a job board as many are looking. Connect employers and job seekers and collect listing fees through PayPal.

eCommerce Storefront – $400

Whether you have your own products or are selling digital goods, this turnkey solution makes use of a flexible shopping cart, but has options for external purchase options.

Membership Site – $500

With premium membership plugins you can setup private membership site and collect subscription payments. A-List Blogging site shown as example.

Group Buying Site – $650

This wildly popular trend is sweeping the world by helping small businesses profit and customers save money. It will take some commitment to get the site started, but the rewards can be big.

These innovative new WordPress themes use the latest standards from WordPress 3.0. Much more than incredible designs, they are built for turnkey online business. Theme and plugin files, documentation and authorized licences are included.

You can select one of these turnkey solutions  to customize and launch your online business, or you can request a comparable design to work with. Pick any premium WordPress theme the web has to offer, the cost will be included in the service fee.

Added Features & Services

The following features are included with all turnkey development options at no additional cost.

• Professional logo design and theme integration
• Design customization and widget setup
• Social media integration
• Navigation and content map setup
• SEO review, consultation and latest plugins
• Website performance optimization and plugins

Pay half to begin development and half upon completion!

That’s right, I can get started for an initial payment of half the special rates listed above. You can then pay the remaining half when the website has been completed and you are 100% satisfied.

I would be happy to discuss design options or answer any questions you might have about the development process.

Please get in touch as soon as possible; availability will be based on demand. Contact me here with details about your development needs to get started.

Logo Design Giveaway

The team at Logo.com has been kind enough to offer professional logo design services to one lucky DotSauce reader.

This is a $199 value!

There is no purchase necessary, anyone is eligible to win. Simply connect with the Rewards widget below and follow the instructions to earn entries.

• Comment on this post saying how a new logo design will help you (+1 entry)
• Like DotSauce on Facebook (+1 entry)
• Tweet about this giveaway (+1 entry)
• Bonus (+unlimited entries): Share your invite link to earn +1 entry for every unique click-through and +5 entries if your friend joins the giveaway.

Enter to Win

Update: Abhinav Gulyani has been selected as our lucky winner. Enjoy your new logo!

This giveaway ends on June 30th at midnight EST. Thank you for participating and good luck!

Again, please contact me soon with your interest in my turnkey web development solutions.

Turnkey Professional Web Development Special and Free Giveaway DotSauce Magazine

Along with Voice Search for desktop, Google has introduced a brand new concept in search; preloading the webpage of the first search result.

As a user performs a search Google will use web rendering technology to load the webpage of the #1 search result behind the scenes. When the user navigates to the top search result the website has already been loaded and the site renders instantly.

Coming to Chrome Browser Soon

Google’s Amit Singhal states pages load 3 to 5 times faster for the average user. VentureBeat reports the feature is now available on the developer version of Google chrome and will début in the public beta later this week.

It’s obvious Google is committed to a faster search experience, most notably by rewarding websites that are optimized with better search rankings. When Instant Pages goes live the competition for the #1 search position will become much more intense, but the reward will be all the more sweet.

Extremely Beneficial for Website Owners

This is incredible news for website owners, especially those ranking well for many search terms. If you’re not, it’s time to read up on some of the new rules of SEO.

With instant load times, visitors’ time on-site and lead conversions will increase, bounce-rate will be reduced and more unique visitors will be recorded via analytics. Clicking on the top result will become preferential for the average user. Hopefully Google will expand Instant Pages feature to further top results so that more websites can benefit from instant loading times.

You can get some results now, the previous article here on DotSauce features several resources and tips for website optimization that can increase website speed.

Below is a video demonstration and introduction to Instant Pages.

Instant Pages: Google Plans to Preload #1 Search Result DotSauce Magazine

I’ve kept watch and tried out many new web development techniques. I’ve also held an active interest in engaging with readers directly on site and through social networks as much as possible.

In this article, I share the optimization techniques and resources that have been most beneficial to me as a web developer and blogger.

Site Header Tips

1. Optimize your title. By default, WordPress and other CMS’s append your website name to the end of title tags on posts and pages. Using your choice of SEO optimization plugin, such as All In One SEO or WordPress SEO, you can configure post titles to contain just the title of your post.

This technique has proven to be beneficial for ranking well for key terms within post titles. It works because you will eventually receive backlinks with better anchor text and more relevancy on social network shares.

2. Set a default image URL for Facebook & LinkedIn sharing. In the past, images accompanying my articles when displayed on social sharing services like Digg, Facebook, bitly, and others always seemed to be the wrong one or missing entirely! The problem annoyed me to the point that I had to seek out a solution.

I was ecstatic to finally work out a simple way to define the proper post image every time. Plug this code into your site header to define the image URL.

<link rel="image_src" type="image/jpeg" href="post-thumbnail.jpg" />

3. Set an author link attribute. (New) Google, Bing and Yahoo recently announced a joint initiative hosted at Schema.org. This HTML tagging platform will work as a framework for defining the structure of a website and individual bits of data. This initiative to create a more open web filled with rich data is just getting started.

Google is getting started right away with a new way to connect authors with their content across multiple websites. Simply define rel=”author” when linking the author’s name in post display as shown here.

<a rel="author" href="http://markfulton.com">Mark Fulton</a>

Site Speed Tips

4. Track page speed with updated Google Analytics code. (New) Last month Google introduced a revolutionary new feature as part of the upgraded Google Analytics, tracking website load times.

With a little adjustment to your tracking code you can begin receiving reports on site speed analytics. Get this rolling and watch as the next few tips greatly reduce page load times.

_gaq.push(['_trackPageLoadTime']);

5. Minify JavaScript and CSS files. WordPress Minify is a must-have plugin for any site using JavaScript files and detailed CSS.

Automagically have all these files compressed and combined. This will reduce the number of HTTP requests, significantly speeding up page speed performance.

6. Compress images and serve them across multiple sub-domains. Another highly recommend solution for improving website speed is the WP Smush.it plugin which compresses images as you upload them.

I still recommend saving all images for the web using PhotoShop before uploading. Then let Smush.it work a little extra magic to reduce the file size further without noticeably compromising quality.

Additionally, hosting some images on different sub-domains allows them to be loaded simultaneously instead of one at a time.

7. Place non-critical JavaScript calls in the footer. By placing your JavaScript calls just before your closing tag you make sure all critical content and design layout is rendered before JavaScript enhanced elements. This is as important for user experience as page loading time.

Ironically, the new Google +1 button code suggests placing the script tag in your header. Put it in the footer instead!

Increase Conversions

8. Split test your business and lead generation copy. We’re hearing more and more about split-testing or A/B tests in recent years as easier tools are made available. The smallest of changes in copy, color or positioning of call to action elements can sometimes yield big returns.

Here are some economical choices for getting started with split testing your website content.

• Google Website Optimizer
• A/B Theme Testing Plugin for WordPress
• Visual Website Optimizer

9. Reduce bounce rate by engaging readers. There are a lot of great methods for engaging website visitors, encouraging them to stick around longer and click-through to further pages on your site.

I’ve written some common sense suggestions for reducing bounce rate in the past. Simple things like improving your navigation or adding images to content can help.

I have been pleased with increased engagement here at DotSauce Magazine using the following applications.

• Wibiya Toolbar (red toolbar at bottom of window) – An incredibly useful toolbar with lots of applications.
• Punchtab Rewards (“Rewards” icon at bottom left of window) – Encourage return visits and sharing content with Punchtab’s innovative new social rewards layer.
• HelloBar – Run a promotion in the header of your site to get immediate attention. Simple app with lots of thought put into it.

I have 5 beta invites to HelloBar for those interested. Please leave a comment and let me know you’d like one.

Extend Your Reach

10. Go mobile. I use the WPTouch plugin which automatically generates a mobile optimized version of DotSauce Magazine. Have you looked at your Google Analytics browser reports to see if many visitors are using mobile devices? It’s likely more than you think.

Greatly improve their user experience and conserve server resources by implementing a mobile optimized display.

11. Get social. Love them or hate them, social networks are driving traffic and allowing your following to engage and endorse your content. Discover the best widgets and sharing buttons for your website and include them in prime positions such as at the top of your sidebar or directly after post content.

I recommend you highlight the big 4; Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and email.

• Facebook Social Plugins
• Twitter Website Resources
• LinkedIn Share button
• Google +1 Button (New)
• Sharedaddy (Part of JetPack for WordPress)

12. Become a curator of the latest news and resources. This suggestion goes hand-in-hand with getting social. The most influential people on social networks are found generously sharing editorials, news and resources. It’s a great way to build a following and get recommended.

Every day I share a selection of domaining, online business and web development resources on Twitter, the DotSauce Facebook page, LinkedIn, social bookmarking and social news websites. I’ve been doing this for years and have found the practice to be very rewarding.

I’m now using Keepstream to publish a monthly roundup of the best links here on DotSauce. You can also find over 90 industry leading publications at the new DotSauce News site.

Next Up: Optimizing Publisher Experience

I hope you’ve enjoyed these tips and techniques for optimizing websites for both search engines and readers. I’m considering a related post that will feature methods of optimizing your experience as a publisher on the backend of a website. This year, I’ve discovered some very interesting tools and resources that make professional blogging that much easier. Stay tuned.

Thanks for reading my tips. Please leave a comment if you have any questions or suggestions about this article, I would love to hear your thoughts.

12 Tips and New Standards for Optimizing Your Website DotSauce Magazine

Domain Club members won’t claim all the available domains and they’re often cherry-picking from our high quality $19 domain inventory, so I’ve decided to offer sample lists for all DotSauce readers to enjoy.

This first sample list was taken from the initial handpicked expired domain lists offered exclusively to DotSauce Domain Club Pro and Business level members during our launch 3 months ago.

Handpicked Expired Domains

Please do not republish this list.

• CollegePhilosophy.com
• TradingFiles.com
• WeeksWeather.com
• BloggingBrand.com
• FightsMedia.com
• IdealNotebook.com
• LinkRedirects.com
• UpdateSolutions.com
• PerfectLullaby.com
• LasikOptics.com
• BooksBase.com
• BlogSignature.com
• BenchTraining.com
• NetworkPackage.com
• DeskMemo.com
• TransportFood.com
• FlirtProfile.com
• PoliticalRankings.com
• PreviewCasinos.com
• UsefulDownload.com

GoDaddy is currently offering this $7.49 .com domain registration promotion.

The next sample list is ready to go, so be sure to subscribe to the weekly newsletter or RSS feed. And, of course, you can always get a Domain Club Pro membership for instant access.

Heads Up Domain Club Members

A new handpicked expired domain list will be published on the member forums later today!

Claimed Domains

For a glimpse at activity on the inside, here are a few of the domains from the same list that were available to Domain Pro Club members, but have since been claimed.

• ThemePulse.com
• WheelForums.com
• CaliRiders.com
• WatchRank.com
• ExpertArticle.com
• WallpaperCloud.com
• GreatBookmarks.com

Don’t miss out on great finds like these. Learn about the many Domain Club Pro membership features, including exclusive access to new and archived handpicked expired domains.

Pro and Business level members are able to register these domains on a first-come, first-serve basis and can set up a convenient email alert to stay on top of newly published lists.

I hope you find one of the domains from this list of interest and are able to see the value in this particular Domain Club feature. Please leave a comment if you have any questions or would like to say thanks for a domain that you’ve registered from the list. Your feedback is always appreciated.

Handpicked Expired Domains Available To Register DotSauce Magazine

I’ve made some adjustments to our Plus membership to appeal to those interested in claiming one or two quality .com domains from our inventory each month.

Affordable Plus Membership

Plus members can now take advantage of up to two $19 .com domain deals per month for an affordable $9 membership fee.

Join the DotSauce Domain Club today to start making money reselling our quality .com domains.

Handpicked Available Domains

In addition to their pick from our $19 quality .com inventory, Domain Club members enjoy private access to regularly updated, handpicked lists of recently expired .com domains. These domain lists are made available to Pro and Business level members on our member forums.

Beginning next week, I will begin to publish small samples of these handpicked expired domains to the public here on DotSauce.

The samples will be taken from earlier month’s lists so that members have plenty of time to consider claiming any available domains before they are published.

I have to remind everyone who has the best lists, right? There have been 6 full lists and 2 bonus lists published on the inside since the Domain Club launched.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions about the DotSauce Domain Club I would be happy to help. Contact me here or leave a comment below.

Bringing Back Handpicked Expired Domains! + New Domain Club Offer DotSauce Magazine