If you have heard the term KEI and scratched your head wondering what it is, let me enlighten you.  KEI stands for Keyword Effectiveness Index.  If you are doing keyword research for your business, KEI can help you choose hot keywords and find out how many people are competing for those keyword phrases.  It offers a sort of index that tells you how hard it will be to optimize for those keyword phrases.

I found this great post on Derek Gehl’s blog that clearly explains what KEI is and how to use that number to choose hot keywords and find good niches for your product.

Just watched a kick ass webinar on SEO strategy by Omniture.  The webinar points out how SEO strategy for large and small sites differs.

According to Omniture, on page SEO techniques account for 80% of the ranking equation for a large corporate website.  For a small business website, on page SEO accounts for only about 20% of the ranking equation.

Here are 5 off page SEO techniques that I have found help newer, smaller websites boost their search engine rankings quite effectively!

1) Link building – the number and quality of backlinks to your website
2) Social Media
3) Blogs
4) Submitting Press Releases online
5) Article promotion in article directories

One of the key points I “got” in this video is the importance of using 1 keyword phrase per page and declaring that the authoritative page for that keyword.  So anytime you create a link to that specfic page, you need to use that exact keyword phrase as the keyword rich text for the link.

For example if I optimized my product page for “marketing consulting service” then anytime I make a link on my website or blog to that product page, I need to use the words “marketing consulting service” as the hotlink to that specific page.

Another thing that will boost your indexability is to create a Google site map.  If you go to www.google.com/webmasters it will help you create an XML feed that helps Google find and spider all the pages of your website.

Watch the free SEO webinar 30 SEO Strategies for Corporate Websites.  You’ll learn a TON.  I did!

I want to apologize for being away for so long, but it’s been a really tough summer here. Turns out that I will now be joining the ranks of divorced work at home moms. This summer I filed for divorce. My ex is a really great guy, we had been married for 14 years and basically grew apart. We tried counseling for about a year and weren’t able to put the pieces together. I am so thankful we are able to remain good friends thru this all.

So now I am on my own. I am excited for this chance to create a life of my own design. Now I have a chance to pursue hobbies, personal interests, and live a truly authentic life. It’s really funny, for the past 10 years I spent so much of my life helping others to create a life they love with their own work at home business. Now it’s time for me to focus that energy on creating a life I love for my kids and myself.

I am doing great. Just learning how to enjoy time being alone. I am a pretty social person. I am trying to stay connected to friends and sticking close to church for support.

I am so thankful for the many friends I have made online. I truly have developed a wonderful sisterhood and network of friends on the internet. Thanks so much to all of you for your love and support. I truly feel loved.

I am so thankful for my online businesses. I am truly blessed to have passive income that has provided for my kids during this difficult time.

Mostly, I want you to know why I have been away. Also, I know there are a lot of divorced and single work at home moms in our Webmomz community. I am gaining a new understanding for your courage, tenacity, and what you do to be there for your kids and put food on the table with your at home businesses.

Are you a single or divorced work at home mom? Have you gone thru a divorce and learned how to support the kids on your own? What have you learned about yourself in the process?

The pain we suffer in life allows us to transform, to grow, and be more than we were before. Let’s share together our experiences and be stronger, bolder, braver women for ourselves and our families.

With much love,

Kristie T