Google announced it has cracked down on “content farms” that are full of trivial articles that yield unsatisfying results.

Their intent is pure: they want to get the best possible search results for their searchers – you and me.

But their method is open to debate.

They are the sole deciders of what is good content and what is bad content.

I’ll be the first to say there are good content sites and bad content sites. Good content sites give information.

Bad content sites have some of these traits:

A jumble of dozens of articles on one page.
- Very small type that can barely be read
- Zillions of hyperlinks leading to ads
- Many blocks of ads between paragraphs and alongside articles
- Misleading pages that don’t contain the content you were looking for
- No way to find the content easily, with a search tool or a menu structure
- A very obvious game plan to make money on ads and not provide real value to readers

On the other hand, there are many sites that would be labeled “content farms” like e-how, that actually provide good value. These sites have in common:

- Useful information.
- Links to related information
- A respectful number of ads
- Attractive layouts
- Easy to read fonts

While it might be easy to distinguish between these two examples, it could actually be harder than you think. That’s because I think the latter scenario is fine, but Google apparently does not. There are many good sites that display content that Google is about to ban. That raises the question: Where do you draw the line?

Is WebMD beyond the pale because they answer many questions in simple language?

Are article directory sites content farms because their missions is to act as a middle man where they post information articles with the purpose of being reprinted on sites that want content?

And just how much information should an article have for it to be considered “good enough?”

If you don’t know about a certain topic, then introductory level material would be great. If you have a Ph.D. in that subject, then this snippet would seem trivial.

For example, if your doctor told you had atrial fibrillation in your heart, that would be the first time you heard the term. He would probably explain it, but you’d miss out on half of what he said because you’d still be in shock. So you go to Google and type the term. You’d find dozens of articles and answers about this term. Nearly all would be written for the layman that you are. You’d probably walk away from the computer feeling that Google showed you good results.

However, if you’re a doctor looking of the latest research on a-fib, you might be disappointed. However, you’d probably modify your search to something more focused like, “What is the latest research on a-fib and diltiazem?”

Both responses are useful.

On the other hand, I recall reading an article on a shopping site that said, “Thanksgiving is a major holiday in the United States. It is marked by families getting together. Many people eat turkey although some families eat other foods. They also like to watch football on television.”

This isn’t news to me or you, but if you were a recent immigrant to the U.S., it would be kind of useful, don’t you think? They can dig deeper for info about the Pilgrims, Indians, recipes for cranberry sauce and the odds on the Cowboys game. But it is a start. I’d find it trivial (and so would Google), but to newcomers, it might be exactly what they need to read in exactly the right grade level of writing.

The question is: Is it too dumb?

That’s open for debate.

Google’s actions also raise a bigger question about where your content can or should appear – and the possible de-listing that could result.

Is your site in danger of being labeled a content farm because you might have printed an article from an industry leader? Or could you be labeled a content spammer because you gave permission to have your article printed on a website belonging to your trade association or even a newspaper?

Would you be guilty of content spamming if you posted an article on your blog, uploaded it to an article site, like EzineArticles.com and submitted it to your industry trade journal?

There have been debates about the “duplicate content” question for years. I think people decided they wanted to reach the readers of those sites primarily. They did not want to try to trick the search engines.

What does Google’s new policy mean for them?

I have no idea.

I always advise people to play by the rules, play it safe and play it conservatively. You don’t want to get on the wrong side of Google because the penalty is you might be blocked from their search results.

I respect Google for wanting to present the best search results. I certainly hate getting bad results. I must admit that Google does a great job whenever I search for something, whether it be info about a-fib, the latest iPad rumors or the cheapest place to buy a product.

So Google, keep up the good work. But please be clear about:

1. What is good content and what is drivel.
2. What is good syndication and what is spam.

Honest people with something to say need to know what we can do.

To see Google’s blog about this, go here:

http://ow.ly/44SN8

This month, we had a large number of alumni clients re-start their PR LEADS subscriptions. While we’ve always gotten new clients during this recession, and we  always had a few alumni resume, this month clearly showed a great trend.

Why? Many reasons, internal and external, with lessons that will help you grow your businesses:

1. This newsletter. I started this a few weeks ago after no having any consistent communication with my clients. Why did I stop writing the newsletter several years ago? Maybe I got lazy. Maybe I got complacent. Both are not good attributes. Perhaps just putting my name in front of people reminded people that they should get back on board. Maybe you should do some kind of communication with your clients.
2. The economy is improving. Stock market is up. Consumer confidence is up. GM is repaying loans faster than anyone thought possible. Home buying is up. Sure there are rough spots out there and the new economy has changed some business models, but things are definitely looking up.
3. Market consistently. There’s always a new gimmick and people grab at it. But 100 years of research has shown that doing the right things consistently always works if you keep on doing them, day after day, month after month. So do your PR, write articles, do webinars, teleseminars and speeches; and stay in touch with your  clients, prospects and alums, and get referrals. It all works.
4. Competition. Sure, we’ve all had competitors enter our space in the past two years. Looks like people have tried the rest and are coming back to the best. Remember that quality always wins in the end. Continue to offer great service to your clients and they’ll stick with you.
5. Marketing. I’ve started writing more articles, appearing on more teleseminars, webinars and Internet radio shows as well as offering helpful advice on Linked In, Facebook and Twitter. The result is that many people who sign up for PR LEADS put “web” or “Google” or “Internet” as the referral source. Online marketing actually works. Try it.
6. Listening to great advice from Alan Weiss, Mark LeBlanc and Christian Mickelsen. When you pay for great coaching, you are investing in yourself.
7. Law of Attraction. ‘Nuff said.

I’m sure the answer lies in all these factors and probably a few more that I’m too blind to see. So hang in there. Good times are coming!

I’ve always loved Opening Day for baseball because when you look at the standings, everyone is even. Each team is in first place. Each team has the whole world open to them.

Dan gets caught up in baseball.

Same with you. Treat Opening Day as a time to start over.

1 Reevaluate your website. Is it up to snuff? Check out the free resources at http://www.websitereviewslive.com. You might want to get in touch with my webmaster after you review his materials.

2. Reevaluate your PR and marketing plans. Are they getting results? If not, it is time to start over. Email me and we’ll set up a complimentary coaching session to see if I can help you. This offer applies only to present and former clients of PR LEADS and I *will* try to sell you on group coaching or individual coaching.

3. Reevaluate your profiles on Facebook, Linked In and Twitter. Do they represent what you are selling now? 

Go ahead. Dust off those cobwebs. You just might find some new money buried beneath them!

George Washington

In honor of George Washington’s birthday, here are marketing tips from the father of our country.

1.    Always tell the truth. Nothing hurts your credibility with reporters or prospects or customers more than shading the truth. Look at Tiger Woods and Toyota. ‘Nuff said.
2.    Eat the cherries, but don’t chop down the cherry tree. In other words, enjoy the fruits of your labors and always keep your main business well tuned for these tough times. If that means you need to get coaching and consulting help in marketing, PR and business growth, call me and I’ll explain how we can work together.
3.    Watch out for splinters. Those wooden teeth have got to hurt.

Improve Your Productivity with Done-For-You-Services

Home Depot has ushered in the era of Do-It-Yourself Service in home repair. And that feeling has definitely worked its way to the Internet, where every trainer, coach and marketer has a system that will show you how to fix any problem in your relationships or office life.

I doubt there’s ever been a similar time in history when the average person has immediate access to so much information that can improve their lives.

But wait a second. What’s wrong with this picture?

Let’s assume all the info you read and all the systems you buy are 100 percent bonafide information that will work. The question really is: should you implement these tactics yourself?

Here Are the Top 3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Buy Your Next Do-It-Yourself System:

1. Can you devote the proper time to do it correctly and consistently? Remember, everything takes time.

2. Do you have the skills to carry this out? Information marketers try to sell you on the dream that even you can do it all. They’re hoping you will forget these programs require at least one skill. Can you write well? Can you sell well? Can you design a web page well? If so, that’s great. If not, a big question mark should flash in your mind.

3. Here’s the most important question: assuming you have the time, skill and competence to do it yourself, is it a good use of your time? In other words, if you can sell $1,000,000 worth of real estate in the same time it takes to produce a six-volume CD set with instructional materials, train the trainer modules and other supplementary texts, which activity would get you more money in the long term? In other words, I don’t mow the lawn. It takes too long and it hurts my back. So I hire a neighborhood kid who does it for much less than my hourly rate. I save time and he makes money. It is a very fair trade. And I don’t have to buy “How to Mow Your Lawn in Half the Time with Half the Energy,” a six-set DVD and coaching program!

While the web might be the greatest place for do-it-yourselfers, I see a need for another kind of service: the done-for-you services. If you want to save yourself time, energy and aggravation you must find companies that can do the work for you.

Here Are 3 Examples of Done-For-You Services and How They Can Help You:

1. I know I must develop my websites with lots of information-rich content so visitors will want to return and buy from me. However, I don’t have the time or the patience to sit down and try to figure out HTML and all of the web design and development aspects. That’s why I outsource my complete web management to Assess Communicate. They create my sites, update my content and do it for less money than it would cost me to do it myself. Remember, any activity that takes my focus from making new sales is costing me money in the long run.

2. Before I created the PR LEADS Article Marketing Service, I hired Eric Gruber to write and submit articles that promoted PR LEADS. I could have submitted the articles myself, but hiring Eric was a no-brainer after he explained that it would take about 10 hours to submit one article to 100 sites. I had better things to do with my time. For a reasonable fee, Eric found the best sites, optimized my articles so they received good placement in the search engines and even found a typo or two that I missed. Those value-added services are things I couldn’t even begin to think about, as I needed to focus my time on handling my clients. Now, I’ve joined forces with Eric, who has really taken article marketing to the next level and has helped more than 65 of my clients through the PR LEADS Article Marketing Service get the online publicity they need to sell more books, products and services.

3. My Great Teleseminars Audio Production Company is another great example of a done-for-you-service. We record teleseminars, duplicate CDs, and make transcripts and MP3s. It’s like one-stop shopping for all of your product creation needs. My teleseminar clients just show up with their audience and deliver their lecture. The next thing they know, they have a slew of products they can sell.

These are just three examples of hundreds of done-for-you services. So, before you buy your next do-it-yourself system, think twice and check online for a done-for-you service instead. You’ll have less stress and become more productive.

About the Author:

Small business expert and entrepreneur Dan Janal has created several done-for-you services that will save you time, energy and aggravation. For complete, reliable recording production, sales and administration for your teleseminar needs, go to www.greatteleseminars.com. If you’re looking for a done-for-you service that handles all of your article submission needs, go to www.articlemarketingexperts.com

Book Marketing Tips: How to Build Your Email List & Sell More Books in 6 Months

By Dan Janal

Article marketing is the best book sales lead generation technique on the Web today. Unfortunately, many authors writing articles on the Web fall short in their book marketing efforts. They simply can’t get people to visit their websites to buy their books.

This is a critical fallacy that will render your article marketing, book promotion and sales lead generation campaign worthless. People normally don’t buy on the first meeting. You must develop and nurture relationships. You must get people to visit your website and join your mailing list. If you don’t, you are wasting your time, money and energy.

Sure, it is great to write articles displaying you as the expert in your field. And, yes, it is nice to post articles that help the world in general. But if your goal is to use article marketing to build your email list and sell more books, you might be falling short if your articles don’t have a call to action that grabs readers by the throat and pulls them to your website.

So, how do you get people to come to your website, join your emailing list and buy your books?

At the end of the article you get a bio box, which is your 4 line free ad that allows you to promote yourself, your books and anything else you have to offer. In this bio box, you’re allowed to put a link back to your own website, or your Amazon.com book sales page. You must make it much easier for your prospects to click on this link than to skip it.

To do this effectively, you must create a glittering necklace of persuasion that seduces the eye, charms the imagination, and dazzles the reader. I also suggest creating an irresistible offer so people will come to your website and identify themselves. Once you capture your prospects’ names and email addresses, you will be able to create a sales-winning relationship that will boost your book sales online. If you don’t do this critical step, you’ll never have another chance to sell your books to these people.

Here are three irresistible products to help prospects make the critical decision to visit your website, give you their email addresses and buy your books:

• Free Special reports. Don’t confuse this with newsletters. These are 3-5 page reports on a special topic. Your special reports should include your own insights that prove you are the expert your prospects need and want.

• Quizzes. People love to take quizzes. Create quizzes that have 10 yes or no answers. Design questions so people will see their pain. This sets you up as the expert who has products and services that can help them. Here’s a great site that features a quiz. http://kisstheorygoodbye.com/quiz/quiz.php. Take the quiz and then see how Bob Prosen leads you into learning about his book.

• Offer a free chapter or a free sneak preview of your book. This tactic will overcome your prospects’ fears of the unknown. People will get a good feel for your book, get hooked and then buy it.

The most important part of writing articles is getting people to visit web site to buy your books. If you offer these tactics, you will build your list, get more names for your sales funnel, and sell more books online in 6 months.

About the Author:

Internationally recognized Internet Publicity Pioneer and Founder of PR LEADS, Dan Janal has helped thousands of authors just like you build their email list and sell more books with traditional and online media publicity. For more free tips and information that will help you snag more leads in 6 months than you ever thought possible, go to: http://www.articlemarketingexperts.com/articlenewsletter