You may not be lost — but are you found?

Visibility. Perhaps that’s the only factor that counts when it comes to finding success on the Internet. How visible is your site? In other words, can your site be easily found by someone who’s interested in your content? Getting listed on search engines used to be next toughest thing after rocket science, but, lately, thanks to free web directories it’s become much easier.

You may have a professionally SEO’d (search engine optimized) website, but with listings on web directories will get you some additional boost. For one thing, think of your listing on a directory as getting a free back link to your site. Folks in the search engine business will tell you back links are like votes to your site, which will give your an extra edge over similarly SEO’d websites.

Next, it becomes easier for people who browse the web directories (think of it like Yellow Pages) to reach your site. This is so because websites are categorized by content, and you even get a brief description through you can give a snapshot of your site to potential visitors. You could also think of it as your site getting indexed in a systematic way. I find that this is a much easier and more effective way to get ‘found.’

Life in an online world

It’s an online world — from online banking to online dating. So much so that standalone computers seem like an outdated concept. However, one small detail we tend to forget is that more often than not, all data originates from a standalone. Take it or leave it, but it’s the truth.

And then we want that data to be available to us from anywhere in the world — and we don’t have our good old standalone with us. That’s exactly where online backup comes into play and shows you who’s the boss (on the other side of the world). You just access a remote server which patiently stores all your valuable data — photos, files, software, you name it — and just download only what you need. You could also password-protect files and folders, while also share them with others by allowing them access.

The cost of online has fallen drastically lately — so much so that even some of the well-established companies give you up to 2GB of storage space absolutely free. This could be extremely useful not only as a backup system, but also as a way to store sensitive data away from your laptop or office computer. Medium and large companies may prefer larger storage space, especially if they have large amounts of data which their customers or sales force will need to access globally.

Getting your SS disability when you need it

If you’ve ever breathed next to an insurance sales person, you’ll understand what I’m about to say. When you do file a claim, the insurance companies don’t trust you. To say the least, the first thing they want to do is look for loopholes. And, God forbid, if when it ever comes to claiming your social security disability, it’s more or less the same scene.

I remember reading that up to 70 per cent of disability claims are turned down during the initial scrutiny. One reason could be that the government is weed out, or discourage bogus claims, but it is still a time consuming process either way.

The majority of us, who would be in a situation to claim to social security disability would be baby boomers. In other words, the Internet filing, reprocessing, fighting denials, etc., don’t work very well for us. What I’d do in such a situation would be to talk to someone who knows what it’s all about and how to go about it. Good and sincere professional help is available on the Web these days.

Getting found

Some of us will recall that not too long ago there was a search engine named Archie. And another named Gopher. I’m talking as recently as about ten years ago, when the World Wide Web was just on the brink of exploding.

And since then, the good ole’ www has grown exponentially and is still growing. So fast and so so wide and far that unless you’re a heavyweight like NY Times or MTV, chances of your site being discovered are quite slim. Almost nil, in fact… that is, if you don’t promote them. Not everyone has a fortune stashed away as advertising budget, so one of the extremely effective solution to being found lies in the all powerful web directory.

As the name indicates, it’s nothing but a directory, with planned categories and sub-categories, brief descriptions of the websites and, of course, the address, i.e., the URL. By submitting your site to a number of web directories, you make sure your site gets a place in huge databases of websites, and, subsequently, can be discovered by anyone who look at these directories, browsing/searching on keywords.

The web directory process can be automated in many cases (sometimes with dedicated software), or you could choose which directories you’d like your site to be listed. However, not all submissions may be free of charge. Some may ask for a nominal fee for manually reviewing and listing your site, while others may request a reciprocal link from your site, which, in my opinion, is quite fair.

Either way, you only stand to benefit — the more places your website URL is found, higher the chances of being discovered. This is a straight forward, ‘white hat’ method to get back links to your site, which are crucial to get ranked on Google and other top search engines.

Online degrees making their mark

Let’s face it: we live in an Internet-based world. Where nearly everything from cash to communication is sourcing the Internet, why not education? This argument must have reached employers as well, since the latest shift in the human resources sector is the employer perspective of online education. It’s being viewed more favorably than ever before, says a new report from Industry Market Trends.

Reuters has reported that online education saw a growth of 13 per cent in 2008. While the favorable inclination for online programs in various disciplines among job-seekers as well as employers is fast increasing, some still nurture a mindset that online education is ’shallow’.

Now, I’m not saying every website that offers an online course is commendable, but if you do some research on what makes a university remarkable based on accreditation, the range of degree courses, founders, tuition fees and affordability, you’ll arrive at some top-notch online universities such as the Western Governors University (WGU).

For one thing, WGU started about the same time as when Internet really took off — way back in 1997, as a non-profit online university founded and supported by 19 US governors. It offers convenient and flexible online degree programs (designed for “busy adults”) in disciplines ranging from teacher licensure in a number of areas and business management to IT and health care.

Students complete as much as they can during their allotted six-month term, without paying extra and thus have an opportunity to complete a degree quicker.

WGU online programs are nationally and regionally accredited, which means you’re assured of a basic level of quality in education as well as transfer of credits to other accredited institutions.

Whether you enroll for a masters degree online or a baccalaureate program with WGU, you can rest assured that the tuition fee is totally affordable. This low cost is party attributable to the fact that you don’t have to pay for an expensive campus and associated amenities that are the norm with regular universities.

Getting found with Web directories

Just for a minute, let’s imagine that the Internet is a vast, dense jungle, and you own a tree somewhere in that jungle. Let’s also say that your tree bears some juicy fruit that you want people to enjoy. Great. Now, how exactly do they find out where your tree is?

Of course, the tree is your website, and you want it to be found. Again, any self-respectin’ trekker wouldn’t step into a jungle without a compass and a map (besides water, cheese, flashlight, etc.) Now that you’re reading this post, you’re similar to an Internet trekker, and you found my site (my tree).

How did you get here? Surely most of you must have been pointed here by a search engine or a social networking site (the map). So simply put, you got to be there in the map to be found out. How do you get into the map, and, more importantly, get noticed? By making sure your site ranks well, of course. (The map says, “Hey, look for this tree. Many have recommended it.”) You could do that by having more links point to your site. And how in the wide jungle do you do that?

One way do that would be try and get back links, one way or the other. Now, let’s say that your tree is bearing some exotic fruit, found nowhere else. Folks who are looking for your exotic fruit will find it easily in their map, because your tree is just one of a handful of trees bearing that fruit. And your tree tops the map listing for that fruit.

What if your tree was an orange tree? Surrounded by a million orange trees, how would the trekker see your tree in the top few? That’s where the directories come in. Have your site listed in as many directories as possible, both free and paid, and get one-way non-reciprocal links that search engines love to rank. But if you’re really looking to hit that big bunch of trekkers, paid web directories can give your tree the extra decoration it needs. What makes it all even more attractive is that it is possible to submit to the best paid web directories for free.

Stay in the jungle. But get found.