Site promotion is something I’ve known I need to do but wasn’t sure how to go about it.  Michelle MacPhearson has helped tremendously with this but I have found that there is a lot that can be done to promote a site.  It got a little confusing for me so I created a toolbar to help me out.

It may help you, too.  You can use it for any site you have, niche store or otherwise.  You can see it at Website Promotion Toolbar.  It is free to download and install.

A word to those currently using the BANS Toolbar.  You CAN install both of these toolbars if you use IE.  BUT, if you use FireFox you can have only one installed.  This is due to the software I use to create the toolbars, not because of something I did.  I wish this were different (I want both in FF!) but it is what it is.  If this changes I’ll be sure to post it.

Lastly, this toolbar, as with the BANS toolbar, is not yet compatible with FF version 3.  Again, this is due to the software I’m using to create them.  As soon as these are compatible with version 3 I’ll post it.

Feedback is welcome.

Rochelle

Lately I’ve been moving away from complete Build A Niche Store (aka BANS) sites and moving towards BANS and blogging sites.  Sometime soon I’ll post how to set up a WordPress blog (it’s very simple) and explain how to work blogging with niche stores.

Until then, for those of you who may already know how to set up a blog, take a look at the template that Mark over at www.thenichestorebuilder.com has created.  He has made a template (with more to come) that incorporates both BANS and blogging. 

What does this mean? It means you can have one site that has both a blog and BANS store on it.  You can do this without Mark’s template, and simply have two different looks. The blog will have one template and the niche store will have another template.  But if you use Mark’s template you will have both the blog and niche store using the same template.  Therefore, they will look as though they are on the same site (which they are).

As I said, check it out: BANS/Blog template.  I’ve installed this template and have to say that Mark has done his typical excellent job.  Yes, you have to pay for this template, but you can install it on as many sites as you want.  And, if you aren’t comfortable installing it yourself, you can pay a little more and have Mark do it for you. 

If anyone installs this template please share your thoughts about it.

Rochelle

If you are currently using free keyword research tools then you will want to check out this incredible deal currently going on at Wordze.  Wordze is a keyword research tool and they have lowered the price to their keyword research tool for the remainder of July to just $4!  That’s an incredible savings over their normal price.  Plus, if you sign up for their July special you will also get a discounted price for the month of August.

Don’t hesitate on this deal because the sooner you sign up the sooner you will find keywords and keyword phrases.

Rochelle

Some of you may already know about this website but for those who don’t, it is definitely worth checking out.  Giveaway of the Day is a site where they give away one software program each day for free. 

They give away some excellent software!  Today’s software might be helpful to some of you if you intend to write content for your niche stores.  Today’s software is Typing Assistant.  Per the creator of the software, “When typing, a smart Typing Assistant prompt window opens to show you possible words you are typing. Then with one key stroke it completes the word for you. The program automatically learns the words you type, and automatically expands user-defined shorthand to full text, so that the more you use the program, the smarter it becomes and the more you find it useful.”

Here are a few things you need to know about any software you install from Giveaway of the Day:

• You must install the software on the day it is offered.  If you download a program today but wait until tomorrow to install it then you will be out of luck.
• You must register the software (if registration is required) on the day it is offered.
• If you ever reformat your computer and have to reinstall all your software, you will not be able to reinstall anything that came from Giveaway of the Day (because all programs are installable only on the days they are offered). 
• Most programs are for personal use only so make sure you read the Terms and Conditions before installing anything for commercial use.
• You can signup for their daily email so you never miss out on an opportunity.

In my case, I use Acronis True Image to make copies of my hard drive so if I find myself in a situation where I need to reformat my computer again, I will restore my system to one of my hard drive backups instead.  If the Giveaway of the Day software is on the backup then I haven’t lost it.  (I also always take a copy/snapshot of my hard drive after installing a Giveaway of the Day program for this reason.)

Rochelle