Sunday, November 27, 2005
Finding Ways to Monetize Your Website With the SearchIt! Free Research Tool
The SearchIt! free search tool consists of a window with two dropdown boxes and two text boxes. In the two dropdown boxes, you select the type of search you want to do. In the two text boxes, you select the search criteria (such as keywords or URLs) you want to use.
Rather than repeat the introductory info about SearchIt! that I shared previously, I suggest that you see the October 2nd blog for this information. Or simply realize that it is important to click all the links and read all the instructions that SearchIt! tells you to do.
You'll find SearchIt! A LOT easier and more valuable to use if you do that.
Using SearchIt!
Last week we looked at using SearchIt! for some interesting ways to test the effectiveness of your website. This week we'll look at how SearchIt! can help you find ways to make money with your website.
In the Step 1 dropdown box, scroll down under C-T-P-M and select Monetization.
Click the dropdown box for Step 2: Select Search Type. You'll see the following options.
Google AdWords Preview
This option shows you the types of Google AdSense ads that would appear on a page that targets a specific keyword. Take the primary keyword for a page that you're considering running Google AdSense ads on. Type it in the Step 3 box. Click the SearchIt! button.
I especially encourage you to read the intro page for this search. It has some excellent links on it to help you understand and make money with Google AdSense.
Once you've read the resources, click the link at the bottom of that page to show the ads that would appear on your page.
What Are Your Keywords Worth?
This option shows you the actual bids for ads on your targeted keywords in Yahoo! Search Marketing (formerly Overture). Type the keyword you want to check in the Step 3 box. Click the SearchIt! button.
Click the link at the bottom of the info page to see your results. Before you see your results, a verification page will appear that asks you to type a series of four numbers and/or letters into a box. This is Yahoo! Search Marketing's way of preventing automated search tools from hammering their databases. The letters and numbers are written so that only the human eye can discern them, thus ensuring that only live people access their database.
Type the letters and numbers into the box and click the button to see your results.
You will see the ads and the amounts bid for them in Yahoo! Search Marketing. While bids for that keyword will not be identical in Google AdSense, you can get a good idea of the relative value of the keywords you are targeting.
Find Affiliate Programs
This option lets you search for affiliate programs on AssociatePrograms.com, the top database of affiliate programs on the Web. Type a topic or product in the Step 3 box. From experience, I'd say to start with a broad topic. For example, if you want to check out coffee tables, start by searching for furniture. I've found that using more specific products often result in getting no results.
Click the SearchIt! button.
Again, I suggest that you check out the resource links on the intro page. They have some good information that can help you make money with affiliate products.
After you've read the resources in the links, click the link at the bottom of the page to see your results.
Let eBay Help You
This option lets you check eBay to see what kinds of products related to yours are selling there. The value of this search option is largely for either brainstorming or checking eBay as a potential outlet for your products.
Type the product in the Step 3 box and click the SearchIt! button. Click the link at the bottom of the page to see your results.
You can click any applicable links in the Matching Categories links at the left of the screen. And if you want to research how well items are selling, I suggest that you select the Completed Items box under the Search Options heading at the left of the screen and click the Show Items button.
You will then see only completed auctions for those items, giving you a chance to see how many of them really sold and how much they sold for. This is one of the key elements of eBay research. You need, though, to be logged in to your eBay account to access this kind of data. If you don't already have an eBay account, you can sign up for free, so there's no problem doing this kind of research.
Next week
This Sunday, I've covered some ways to uncover effective ways of monetizing (making money off of) your site. Next week I'll start covering some site research tools, starting with various ways to determine your site's popularity.
All in all, SearchIt! can find you lots of valuable information. The main thing to remember is to READ THE DIRECTIONS. With as many tools packed into this one interface, you're not going to take one look at it and intuitively understand how to use every one of them. But the directions they give are easy, and they do more than just tell you how to use each tool; they also throw in tips on how to use the results you receive to make your site more successful.
SearchIt! is one of these free tools that really produces value for you. I recommend that you check it out and make it a part of your web marketing arsenal.
Jeff
The SearchIt! free search tool consists of a window with two dropdown boxes and two text boxes. In the two dropdown boxes, you select the type of search you want to do. In the two text boxes, you select the search criteria (such as keywords or URLs) you want to use.
Rather than repeat the introductory info about SearchIt! that I shared previously, I suggest that you see the October 2nd blog for this information. Or simply realize that it is important to click all the links and read all the instructions that SearchIt! tells you to do.
You'll find SearchIt! A LOT easier and more valuable to use if you do that.
Using SearchIt!
Last week we looked at using SearchIt! for some interesting ways to test the effectiveness of your website. This week we'll look at how SearchIt! can help you find ways to make money with your website.
In the Step 1 dropdown box, scroll down under C-T-P-M and select Monetization.
Click the dropdown box for Step 2: Select Search Type. You'll see the following options.
- Preview Google AdWords
- What Are Your Keywords Worth?
- Find Affiliate Programs
- Let eBay Help You
Google AdWords Preview
This option shows you the types of Google AdSense ads that would appear on a page that targets a specific keyword. Take the primary keyword for a page that you're considering running Google AdSense ads on. Type it in the Step 3 box. Click the SearchIt! button.
I especially encourage you to read the intro page for this search. It has some excellent links on it to help you understand and make money with Google AdSense.
Once you've read the resources, click the link at the bottom of that page to show the ads that would appear on your page.
What Are Your Keywords Worth?
This option shows you the actual bids for ads on your targeted keywords in Yahoo! Search Marketing (formerly Overture). Type the keyword you want to check in the Step 3 box. Click the SearchIt! button.
Click the link at the bottom of the info page to see your results. Before you see your results, a verification page will appear that asks you to type a series of four numbers and/or letters into a box. This is Yahoo! Search Marketing's way of preventing automated search tools from hammering their databases. The letters and numbers are written so that only the human eye can discern them, thus ensuring that only live people access their database.
Type the letters and numbers into the box and click the button to see your results.
You will see the ads and the amounts bid for them in Yahoo! Search Marketing. While bids for that keyword will not be identical in Google AdSense, you can get a good idea of the relative value of the keywords you are targeting.
Find Affiliate Programs
This option lets you search for affiliate programs on AssociatePrograms.com, the top database of affiliate programs on the Web. Type a topic or product in the Step 3 box. From experience, I'd say to start with a broad topic. For example, if you want to check out coffee tables, start by searching for furniture. I've found that using more specific products often result in getting no results.
Click the SearchIt! button.
Again, I suggest that you check out the resource links on the intro page. They have some good information that can help you make money with affiliate products.
After you've read the resources in the links, click the link at the bottom of the page to see your results.
Let eBay Help You
This option lets you check eBay to see what kinds of products related to yours are selling there. The value of this search option is largely for either brainstorming or checking eBay as a potential outlet for your products.
Type the product in the Step 3 box and click the SearchIt! button. Click the link at the bottom of the page to see your results.
You can click any applicable links in the Matching Categories links at the left of the screen. And if you want to research how well items are selling, I suggest that you select the Completed Items box under the Search Options heading at the left of the screen and click the Show Items button.
You will then see only completed auctions for those items, giving you a chance to see how many of them really sold and how much they sold for. This is one of the key elements of eBay research. You need, though, to be logged in to your eBay account to access this kind of data. If you don't already have an eBay account, you can sign up for free, so there's no problem doing this kind of research.
Next week
This Sunday, I've covered some ways to uncover effective ways of monetizing (making money off of) your site. Next week I'll start covering some site research tools, starting with various ways to determine your site's popularity.
All in all, SearchIt! can find you lots of valuable information. The main thing to remember is to READ THE DIRECTIONS. With as many tools packed into this one interface, you're not going to take one look at it and intuitively understand how to use every one of them. But the directions they give are easy, and they do more than just tell you how to use each tool; they also throw in tips on how to use the results you receive to make your site more successful.
SearchIt! is one of these free tools that really produces value for you. I recommend that you check it out and make it a part of your web marketing arsenal.
Jeff
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