| If you have a web site, one of the most important | | | | use this to look at links to your competitor's page. You |
| questions you can ask is, "How much traffic am I | | | | may see a directory or other site you could contact |
| getting?" No matter the purpose you had for starting a | | | | about getting your site linked to. There are lots of other |
| web site, this is generally a question that would interest | | | | buttons and tools on a Google Toolbar, like the one |
| you. Even if the purpose of your site or Blog is just to | | | | that shares the page you are viewing with Facebook |
| inform and entertain your audience, knowing how | | | | friends, but I will leave you to do a little exploring. |
| many are in the audience ought to at least pique your | | | | To get the Google Tool bar, just Google, "Google |
| interest. In this post, I will mention a few helpful gadgets, | | | | toolbar". |
| sites, and tools that I have found interesting and helpful. | | | | Site Meter |
| Google Analytics | | | | Another useful tool I found was a traffic counter. I'm |
| Google Analytics is an analytical solution that gives you | | | | sure there are lots of fine products out there that |
| insights into your site traffic and how effective your | | | | track the traffic coming to your site. One I like is site |
| marketing has been. The Google Analytics dashboard | | | | meter. It is very unobtrusive on your site even if you |
| provides easy to use features that let you see and | | | | use the free version. I have not used the paid version |
| analyze your web site's traffic. With Google Analytics, | | | | so I can't really comment on the value you get for |
| you're more informed of the source of your traffic and | | | | using site meter in the paid version. |
| the keywords that brought that traffic to your web | | | | With site meter, you get about the same information |
| site. Even if you're not marketing a product, Google | | | | as you get from Google Analytics but in real time. |
| Analytics can just be a fun tool to use to see who is | | | | Quite frankly, I like the cool logo added to your page |
| visiting your site. | | | | when you add the tracking code. It's not nearly as |
| Use of Google Analytics is free and signing up for it is | | | | conspicuous as traffic counters I see on some web |
| easy. The only problem you may encounter is adding | | | | pages displaying a running total of visitors. Visitors to |
| the tracking code to your site. In order to track every | | | | your site can click the logo and see how many visitors |
| page on your site, you will need to add the code to | | | | and page views you get on your site. Of course this |
| every page. That is very easy if you use something | | | | can be a positive or a negative depending on whether |
| like a server side include that automatically appears on | | | | you are pleased with the number of visitors to your |
| all your site's pages. You can just add the tracking | | | | site. |
| code to the "include" and it appears on all your pages. | | | | To get site meter, visit: |
| When you sign up for Google Analytics, the code is | | | | Mike's Search Engine Rankings |
| generated by Google for you to add to your site. Add | | | | I use this site quite a lot. The feature I like is the ability |
| the code, then log in to your dashboard and see all | | | | to compare how your site ranks for certain keywords |
| kinds of facts about your traffic; how many, from | | | | across multiple search engines. You simply type your |
| which region, which browser they use, what keyword | | | | domain name into one field, then type the keyword in |
| brought them to your site, Their screen resolution, the | | | | which you have an interest in another field. Hit the |
| type browser they use, and even what color socks | | | | enter key, and you get results on how your site ranks |
| they are wearing are all answered in the Google | | | | for the entered keyword on 8 different search |
| Analytics dashboard. Well, all except the sock color, I | | | | engines. I realize there are programs like Web CEO |
| just threw that in to see if you were paying attention. | | | | that will do this for even multiple keywords. I like the |
| To sign up for Google Analytics, just Google, "Google | | | | simplicity of accessing online and not have to take a lot |
| Analytics". You will get a link on the search page that | | | | of time for a program to initialize. I also like the fact that |
| will take you to where you can sign up for it. | | | | it is free to use. |
| Google Toolbar | | | | The site that has this page rank tool, is called Mike's |
| Another Google product that is very helpful is a | | | | Marketing Tools. Mike offers several advertisements |
| Google Toolbar. (Google is going to take over the | | | | on the site for all sorts of SEO tools and web hosting. I |
| world). The Google Toolbar has several features | | | | have not used any of the products advertised on the |
| including a search field built right in so you do not have | | | | site. I'm sure Mike won't be happy about hearing that in |
| to visit Google to begin your search. There are lots of | | | | case he Google's his own site and finds this post. You |
| other cool features I won't get into, but one feature of | | | | may find some tool or service there that you like and |
| the Google Toolbar that I use a lot is the page rank | | | | maybe if you do, I will have done my part to help Mike, |
| indicator. Google assigns a page rank from one to ten | | | | since his ranking tool has been so beneficial to me. |
| of how important Google feels a web page is. Of | | | | You can find the free page ranking tool at: |
| course gets a page rank of 10. Any new site will start | | | | I hope you find at least one of the tools mentioned in |
| out at a page rank of 0 and usually not move up for | | | | this article helpful. I welcome comments about other |
| several weeks until Google has indexed the site and | | | | tools or gadgets you have found useful for your web |
| believes it has relevant content. | | | | site. |
| Along with the page rank indicator is a drop down | | | | Contributor's Note |
| arrow that shows all the back links to the page you | | | | Just as a principle of full disclosure: I have no financial |
| are viewing that Google has indexed. You can also | | | | interest in any of the products or web sites mentioned. |
| get this information by typing | | | | I don't receive ad revenue nor do I do affiliate |
| "link: a Google search box. (replace "mydomain" with | | | | marketing for any site mentioned. Use your own |
| your domain name, of course). The drop down arrow | | | | judgment as to the suitability of any products you may |
| beside the page rank indicator just makes it faster to | | | | choose to use off any of these sites. |
| look at the backward links to a page. You can even | | | | |