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Despite the importance of the Robots.txt file in getting your website indexed with the major search engines, many webmasters don’t offer one on their site. What is the robots.txt file you ask? If you don’t know, you are far from alone. The robots.txt file is a simple text file (no html) that is placed in your website’s root directory in order to tell the search engines which pages to index and which to skip.

When a search engine sends its webcrawler to your site, one of the first things the webcrawler will do is search the root directory for the robots.txt file. A correctly formated robots.txt file will consist of several records, each providing instructions for a particular search-bot. A record will generally consist of two components, the first is called the user-agent and is where the name of the search-bot is listed. The second line consits of one or more “disallow” lines. These lines tell the webcrawler which files or folders should not be indexed (ie a cgi-bin folder).

If you currently have a website and do not have a robots.txt file, you can create one easily. As mentioned earlier, the files are plain text, so just open up notepad and save the file at robots.txt. Most webmasters can use one record that will apply to all of the search engine crawlers. Once you have opened notepad enter the following:

User-agent: *
Disallow:

The “*” applies this rule to all bots. In this example, there is nothing listed in the disallow line. This tells the robot to index the entire site. You can also enter a folder path here such as “/private” if there is a folder that shouldn’t be indexed. This can be very useful if you are still testing a portion of your website or is a section is still under construction.

Now that you know what should go into your robots.txt file, there are several common mistakes people make when creating these files. Never enter notes or comments into the file as these items can cause confusion for the webcrawler. Also, the format should always be the user-agent on the first line, followed by the disallow(s). Do not reverse the order. Another common mistake made involves using the incorrect case. If the disallowed folder is /private, make sure your robots.txt file does not list the folder as /Private. It seems like a very minor issue, but it will cause problems if done incorrectly. Finally, there is no Allow command. You cannot tell the webcrawler what to look at, only what not to look at.

If you are still curious about the robots.txt file you can find many more complex examples online. Just try one of your favorite websites and look for their robots.txt file. For example you can go to http://www.cnn.com/robots.txt. If you need help creating a robots.txt file for your site, there are plenty of places online that will create the file for you for free. One example is http://www.seochat.com/seo-tools/robots-generator/. Despite its apparently simplicity, this file can make or break your site’s chances with the search engines. Make sure you have your robots.txt file in place and correctly formatted today.

Justin Scarborough founded Profit Program Reviews in order
to help others interested in affiliate marketing sort out the valuable
information from the many scams out there. He also runs a webmasters website
directory at www.thetopweblist.com.

The Section 508 federal U.S. mandate requires web developers to create alternative means of viewing content on websites so that people with disabilities can also experience it. When compliant with 508, web content also becomes more available to all users including those using mobile devices, laptops, voice browsers etc. Therefore, while 508 compliance is something every company needs to be working towards by law, it also affords the same businesses certain benefits that are applicable to not only users with disabilities but to all potential users.

The use of certain types of content on a website makes it difficult or impossible for people without sight or the ability to read, for example, to comprehend the given content expressed.

World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Guidelines and Levels of Compliance

The W3C has been tasked with establishing levels of Section 508 compliance based on the regulations set forth in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

It is not always easy to retro-engineer existing software to comply with Section 508 regulations. The W3C - an impartial group of web and Internet authorities. To help companies work towards compliance sequentially rather than all at once, the W3C has broken the law into three priority levels: A, AA and AAA.

Levels of 508 Compliance:

Priority 1, Level A: Provide content that, when presented to the user, conveys essentially the same function or purpose as auditory or visual content. This guideline emphasizes the importance of providing text equivalents of non-text content (images, pre-recorded audio, video). (text from the mandate itself)

Priority 2, Level AA: Ensure that text and graphics are understandable when viewed without color and that all information conveyed with color is also available without color, for example from context or markup. (text from the mandate itself)

Priority 3, Level AAA: Mark up documents with the proper structural elements. Control presentation with style sheets rather than with presentation elements and attributes. Use style sheets to control layout and presentation. (text from the mandate itself)

Validation of CSS Menu Compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act

There are several validation tools available to software developers to determine if their products are compliant with 508 standards. Pluginlab employed several validation methodologies to ensure the highest level of 508 regulation compliance. These include:

Cynthia Says by Highsoftware is a premium validation tool for 508 compliance. The software detects inconsistencies between site content and Section 508 standards. Pluginlab passed this validation test with zero errors at levels A, AA, and AAA - validating that Pluginlab CSS menus comply with all accessibility ratings.

WAVE by WebAim is used to assist developers and designers in the creation of software with AAA level 508 compliance. All Pluginlab modules passed without error at level AAA compliance, putting it in a singular class of software.

Site Valet by WebThing provides diagnostics for forms, scripts, HTTP, mark-up analysis and processing, HTML, XML, EARL, Link Checking and spell checking. All Pluginlab modules passed validation with zero errors at levels A, AA and AAA. Once again, a third validation that Pluginlab CSS Menu Modules simplify compliance with 508 regulations.

CSS menus in particular are becoming a primary means of navigating a website’s many pages and thus are a key component in 508 compliance. CSS menus that provide the necessary support should include such features as keyboard-only support, voice and text reader support and so on. In turn, this level of compliance will also help with search engine optimization of site pages containing CSS menus.

Ethan Kaufman a developer at PluginLab with over 7 years experience in developing standards compliant websites. His expertise are Web Site Navigation and CSS Menus scripts.

Puppy website is a company which creates and develops affordable, enriching pet websites for those who are looking to sell dogs and cats. Here, you can get various strategies in promoting your pets to loving homes located all over the world as well as enhance the success that you are already experiencing in this industry of Puppy Website.

It is important that you acquire some level of exposure in your endeavors, if you plan to sell any type of pet animals. If people do not know what you offer, it is rather very difficult for you to sell dogs and cats. Yes, there are chances to sell your dogs and cats through advertising. However, by using local newspaper to place ads and business cards to promote your products and services actually dampen your exposure. Owning a website will ensures that you’ll be able to stay at the forefront of the numerous competitions. You can advertise as long as your wish purchasing a professionally enhanced website from Puppy Websiteand move your business online is an effective way.

Another advantage of choosing the website is that you do not have to experience any complications associated with your own and focus your energies on ways of selling pet animals. Almost all the people are attracting by web graphics and “Puppy website” work on this mainly showcasing your products, your services and all of the pets that you are seeking an owner for. The individuals here are highly trained professionals who can build you a custom pet website visibly attractive that visitors find engaging and user-friendly. You will notice an enormous increase in the amount of inquiries regarding the pets that you have for sale, once you implement the website that is created for you.

An individual trying to sell dogs and cats often finds it difficult to reach the specific audience who are not only interested in their pet animals, but who will also be well suited for those they have for sales. You can now save your precious time by allowing PuppyWebsite to create an attractive website tailored to meet your specific needs, quickly and effectively. Now you spend your full time on the pets focusing in the areas that are most essential.

Many individuals do not realize how much money they spent annually placing ads in the newspaper, business cards or any other advertising campaigning. PuppyWebsite is a cost-effective solution who creates and develops affordable pet websites with more interesting features such personalized logo, and online catalogs for customers to browse through. You will have to pay only once and enjoy the service for your life time with an excellent tool that can be used to promote and sell dogs and cats!

Exposure is fundamental when it comes to any online business. Having a professional website to sell pet animals is a one of the best way to increase your recognition by spreading the word, boosting your sales. You will find that the exposure occurs on many different levels by employing the use of the services offered by “Puppy Website”. Visit PuppyWebsite today! Maximize your profits and be successful in your pet niche.

Ranju Kumar is assistant editor of Puppy Website and its professional web designing company and they have been creating pet websites for over last 6 years offers the best service and advice on pet websites and increase your sales opportunities!!

Visitors are the lifeblood of any business. No visitors no sales; no sales no money. This rule is more than a reality for online businesses. Online businesses strive on lots of visitors because visitors on your site mean conversion and more conversion means more sales.

So the question is how much is each visitor worth to you? I’m sure you will answer that each visitor means a lot of money. Since online businesses need a solid marketing strategies to bring visitors on the website for potential sales rather than a brick and mortar business.

Each visitor is a potential buyer so you need to focus on each and every visitor that visits your site. You need to address their needs more vividly and you have to build an impressive sales letter that would help the visitor to decide. You need to help your visitors to make more sales. It is a rule of the thumb that you have to capture every visitor visiting your site because each visitor can give you a lot of sales and if you manage to satisfy every other visitor; you will get repeat sales which is very important if you want to have constant revenue.

To capture visitors on your site, you need to optimize it accordingly. A good sales letter, user-centric design and ideally an online chat service to allow people to decide easily. There are many software that help you cater to a visitor’s need. Consider the following points to convert visitors on your site because each visitor means a lot to you:

1. Write an enticing sales letter - Be clear and to the point. Visitors don’t have time to spend reading a sales letter. You should focus on informing visitors about your products and how it can benefit them

2. User-centric design - Don’t use a lot of colors on your site. In short don’t make it difficult for a visitor to search a product on your site. Make it simple and user-centric. Avoid using Flash and other animations. Make it simple and easy so that an 8th grader can easily understand what you are offering

3. Online Chat service - Ideally put an online chat service on your site. If you don’t want to spend a few dollars on it, you can use GoogleTalk badge to chat with your visitors. A good chat service allows you to see visitors on your site and it gives you an opportunity to invite the visitor to chat with you. You can sell them anything once they trust you. Online chat service increase the trust of the visitors

4. Videos - Videos are hot! By putting a few videos of your product on your website, you increase sales conversion. People love videos and it is an opportunity for you to show your product and use good graphics and impressive storyline to convert your visitors. A site with relevant videos have a higher conversion rate than the sites with no videos

5. Solve problems - Most of the online users visit a site to solve a problem. If your product is a solution to a problem, you have to emphasize on that. You should be a problem solver. Selling a product shouldn’t be important for you; solving people problem should be the main concern.

6. Email Newsletter - Another great way to increase the worth of each visitor is to offer them an incentive to sign up for your newsletter and / or to get them to sign up for your blog updates. So instead of the regular visit and leave. You’ll be in front of them month after month through your newsletters and blogs.

So if each visitor means a lot to you, you should test good strategies to make sure you capture each visitor to your site. The formula for online success is to believe that every visitor is worth a million dollar and you should do anything to capture more visitors on your site to be successful.

For more information visit Netlyte | texas web design firm. You can also request information to find out how we can help you build a great website for your business. Visit website designers in houston

Webmasters are often told that publishing more online content, on a regular basis is a good formula for success on the internet. A deep, content-rich website boosts search rankings, positions your organization as a trusted resource, and even helps increase sales.

Compelling online content is one of the quickest ways of establishing a direct relationship with the potential online customer and to help draw that consumer into a sale.

A new study from the Online Publishers Association (OPA) found that the time Internet users spend viewing online content is up 37 percent from four years ago. This statistic alone should tell us how important content, on our websites, has become.

A new method for easily distributing online content is called a web feed and the technical format that makes it possible is called RSS, which stands for Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary. Really Simple Syndication is a popular technology for notifying users of updates to content in a website, blog, or Internet TV channel. You can monitor news, blogs, job listings, personals, and classifieds.

More and more sites offer feeds, which you can identify by a small button that says either RSS or XML. However, if you click one of these links, you will most likely get a page full of code in your browser. To properly read the feed, you need an RSS reader and you can get one for free or on a trial basis at download.com.

Another form of content increasing in popularity is video. With the advent of youtube this media is becoming a very common and effective means of displaying content on a website.

It can be entertaining as well as a great tool to effectively get your message across to your visitors and increase traffic to your site. Video is also easier than ever to produce because of a new wave of tiny cameras, inexpensive editing software and more powerful computers.

Audio content is also very popular and very easy to produce. You can send an audio email, create an audio tape to market as a product or just use it as a means of welcoming visitors to your website. Create Audio Newsletters, Adsense Sites, e-Books and Blogs to increase your online profits, build huge opt-in lists and get repeat visitors.

Internet users ages 45 plus believe online content is focused on younger age segments and so it’s important to design content that is relevant and engaging to all age levels. Not surprisingly, says the Online Publishers Association (OPA) study, younger respondents are most likely to say online content is focused on people their age.

Well-written online content is crucial to a website’s success. The key to making money from content is getting yourself bought by Microsoft or one of the other giants in the industry. But if Microsoft doesn’t come calling don’t despair because you can still do very well for yourself with a website that’s rich in quality content.

One of the challenges, in the beginning, to creating content is overcoming the fear “what should I write about”? You don’t have to be Edgar Allen Poe to be a successful Internet Marketer. Just take a look at some of the top marketers BLOG’s and this should prove my point. My suggestion is that you write about something you enjoy and the words will flow like tap water.

Also try to write as if you’re having a conversation with a friend. In other words be you. Don’t try to come across as a literary genius. None of us are and we shouldn’t try to write like one because, more than likely, it just isn’t going to happen.

Try to add fresh content to your site on a daily basis. The search engines, like the rest of us, like to be fed on a regular basis. We also should try to make the content as tasty as possible by using keywords throughout but not at the expense of quality.

Most online content is still written as HTML pages and uploaded via FTP. Online content is now offers greater interactivity thanks to developments like Macromedia’s Flash and Shockwave plug-ins or software add-ons to Web browsers that allow them to interact with animated graphics.

The demand for online content is growing daily and by all indications there doesn’t seem to be any decrease in this demand coming in the foreseeable future.

Bob Withers is a professional sales and marketing person with over twenty years in the field. He has also turned his sights on network marketing to apply his trade. If you want to get in touch with Bob or learn more about sales and marketing please visit:
Free Sales and Marketing Advice

If you have a website, adding a simple HTML email form to your site, such as a feedback form, contact form, or other HTML email form, can be a tough task. Most programming novices create their first website using pre-developed templates and have no advanced knowledge of HTML programming. As a result, creating a simple form that can email the responses from the form to the webmaster can be a difficult and frustrating task.

If you just posted a new website, but you do not have a HTML email form uploaded and you need to quickly provide a way for your visitors to contact you, then you should simply post your email address on your Contact page. However, if you want to create a sophisticated online form to collect information from your visitors and respond to their questions, you need to know something about HTML and another programming language called PHP.

Installing the email form on your website is the easy part. If you are not familiar with how to create the code for a form, there are many different online tutorials that can teach you how to create the code. After that, you will need to create a file that will process your form after someone fills it out and send the answers to you via email.

The code used to process a HTML form is often referred to as Formmail. Formmail is written in a programming language called PHP, which is more advanced than HTML. There are many websites where you can download the Formmail file for free. Formmail has been used to process and email the results of web forms since 1997.

When you download Formmail, make sure it has code that prevents spam from being sent through your HTML form. There are many different versions of Formmail floating around the internet, and some have built-in spam protection while others do not.

Many times, inexperienced programmers will put an online form on their website that does not include code to at least try to prevent spammers from utilizing the HTML email form to send spam to hundreds or even thousands of people. As a result, those who have been spammed complain to their internet service provider, who then directs the complaint to the hosting company that handles your website. This can be a huge problem.

If you do not have the patience to create your web form yourself, there are more than a few form creation services on the internet that provide a simple way for you to create a form without doing any programming. These third-party form creators usually do not provide you with the PHP code you need to process the form. Instead, they process it for you on their own servers.

If you are comfortable with programming, you might want to try to create your HTML email form yourself with the help of some online tutorials. If you do not have the patience to do the work, use an outside service that creates the form for you. Either way, it is important to have an HTML form so that people can contact you directly through your website.

Jim Pretin is the owner of http://www.forms4free.com, a service that helps programmers create a free web form with the code to email the web form responses.