Welcome to the latest issue of the Wickford Web Works E-newsletter.

In This Issue:

1. Central RI Chamber Seminar a Success
2. North Kingstown Chamber Expo a Success
3. Search Engine Strategies Conference March, 2nd 2004
4. Statewide Chamber Expo April 27, 2004
5. Free Search Engine White Paper Available
6. Search Engine Update

I hope you are all doing well in the New Year and that you continue to gain useful insights from this newsletter. I expect a very busy 2004 in the web design and online marketing world as many businesses expand into the web and increase their online advertising efforts.

If there is ever any subject you would like me to cover in a future issue please send me an e-mail and I will be happy to oblige.

Sincerely,
Margaret O'Connor
Owner, Wickford Web Works


Special Events
This past January some of you joined me for a seminar sponsored by the Central Rhode Island Chamber, similar to one I did last year. The topic was "Strategic Web Site Marketing - Keeping Up". The 2 hour seminar was well attended and covered strategic design planning and the ever increasing hot topic of search engine marketing.

We discussed the differences between "natural" search engine results and "paid listings" and I gave out my FREE white paper to serve as a guide to increasing your own ranking in searches performed using such search engines as Google, MSN, Yahoo, AOL and others.

I'll likely be giving another seminar with the Central RI Chamber this Spring. Stay tuned at the Central RI Chamber's web site and right here at this Newsletter. See: http://www.centralrichamber.com/events.htm

Wickford Web Works was also in attendance at the North Kingstown Chamber Expo held at The Quonset O in January. It was a great evening of networking with local businesses.

Coming up

• On March 2nd is the start of the Premier Event for Search Engine Marketing & Optimization - Search Engine Strategies 2004 Conference & Expo. I will be attending the conference and will be sure to come back with the latest and greatest of strategies and search engine company news.
  
  The knowledge gained at this premier event is invaluable to me as I continue to help my clients and you stay on top of the complex and changing world of search engine marketing.
  
  
• On April 27, visit me at the Statewide Chamber Expo at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet. Visit www.centralrichamber.com for more information.

FREE White Paper

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Search Engine Marketing has hit the streets.

In this white paper I provide an easy to follow step-by-step strategy to promote your web site through search engines without breaking the bank. You'll learn free web site optimization strategies and be introduced to the paid solutions including "pay per click" and "paid inclusion".

Click here to download the FREE White Paper.

Search Engine Update
Google Changes
Last Winter 2003, Google made some major changes to their search engine algorithms that upset many web masters and search engine optimizers. The keyword rankings of many web sites changed dramatically, almost overnight.

One of the most noteworthy lessons of the Google "update" is that it is time to get back to basics with your web site optimization. Rather than trying to trick the search engines into ranking sites high, many are realizing that its better to focus your efforts on creating informative, quality web site content that is naturally optimized by making the words on your site reflect your target keywords.

A second noteworthy lesson is to mirror your successful off-line relationships on-line with link exchanges. Google evaluates where your links are coming from. Hundreds of links from a site that are unrelated to yours (link farms) will get you dropped from the Google index. However, if you get links from well respected, highly traficked web sites such as local chambers, Better Business Bureau, industry organizations as well as directories like superpages and switchboard.

You can build natural web site optimization into your content update strategy. If you don't have a simple strategy for periodically reviewing and updating your content, please get in touch with me. I am working with some cost-effective services that can help you up-grade your content and improve, your marketing communications.

Yahoo Changes
Yahoo has switched from using Google's search technology to using its own to power its "search the web" search function.

That's it for now. Remember, when you think WWW, think Wickford Web Works.

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