The Benefits of VPS Hosting

Seemingly out of nowhere, VPS has become the preferred hosting solution for small to medium sized businesses.  VPS stands for Virtual Private Server, a solution that effectively bridges the gap between the limitations of shared hosting and the flexibility of dedicated server hosting.  A VPS is created by virtualization software which partitions a single physical server to form multiple servers within it.  Each virtual server is completely independent of its neighbors and functions like an actual networked server.  What makes VPS hosting so popular is that it provides control at a level similar to a dedicated server at a price not to far removed from affordable shared hosting .

Here are some of the benefits that come along with VPS hosting:

Stability: Unlike shared hosting, the traffic and activities of other VPS customers will not adversely affect your operation.

Performance - Having your own allotment of resources allows you and your visitors to enjoy faster load times.

Dedicated Resources - VPS hosting provides you with more disk space, CPU and RAM.

Flexibility - You have the freedom to choose the operating system and software you want to install on the server.

VPS Features

The features and services of VPS hosting vary depending on the provider.  Although the ones you will need all depends on personal requirements, here are a few you may want to look out for:

Root Access: Root access will grant you with complete control over your VPS account from configurations to software installations.  All of the actions can be handled from the interface of your control panel application.

Management and Support: Similar to a dedicated hosting account, VPS hosting calls for you to manage your own server .  However, there are many companies that provide support and management services to assist with administrative tasks.  This feature is invaluable if you lack technical savvy.

Server Monitoring: A good VPS provider will actively monitor its network and hardware your account relies on.  This ensures the physical security of the server and also helps defend against virtual threats such as hackers, malicious software and DDoS attacks.

Multiple Domain Hosting: Although shared hosts offer multiple domain hosting, most of them do not provide enough resources for you to do so and still enjoy a smooth performance.   Many VPS providers offer plans that allow you to host multiple websites without suffering performance issues.  In most cases, you can set up separate email accounts and allocate specific resources for each individual site.

Managed Data Backups: As with any hosting solution, a VPS plan should offer a way to backup your data.  Because anything could occur within the provider’s network, it is recommended that you choose a service that allows you to manually backup your own data to assure that it can be restored at any time.

VPS hosting offers an inexpensive way to get many of the features, resources, control and flexibility of a more costly and complex dedicated server.  With the technology increasing in popular, prices are dropping rapidly, assuring that you can find a reliable VPS solution that meets your hosting needs.

Browsers Aiding in Website Attacks

Website attacks are on the rise with intruders using an array of hacking techniques from cross site scripting to SQL injection.  Although careless development and insecure applications play a major role in a site’s vulnerability, the typical web browser is a contributing factor as well.

Despite the fact that several improvements have been made, none of the top web browsers are completely secure.  Because of this, many web security experts are projecting that website attacks will continue to be an issue.  The combination of enhanced functionality and the lack of adequate security implementations have left a number of browsers vulnerable to sophisticated attacks.  Some researchers are saying that the increasing number of exploits is the direct result of Web 2.0 technologies and advanced web hosting features.

Evolution in Technology Opens Doors to Further Threats

Things were fairly innocent in the early days of the internet when static pages were prevalent, before technologies such as JavaScript and Active X came into play.  Today’s World Wide Web is dominated by dynamic web-based applications and complex server-side scripting languages, factors that enable browsers to be used in various ways to exploit websites.  Gary McGraw of Cigital, a software security company, agrees that these feature-rich designs have made browsers far less secure, stating that they are structured more like complete operating systems.

This past September Google released Chrome, its new web browser which was immediately faced with stiff competition in the form of Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari and Opera.  While internet users have a wide variety of browsers to choose from, the options are still limited in terms of security, including Chrome.  Experts contend that the browser war of who can out do one another in the feature department is what ultimately leads to these security vulnerabilities.

Though quite serious, the security issues associated with today’s popular web browsers are not attributed to a lack of effort.  Some say that developers are doing all they can but when considering the fact that website attacks such as cross site scripting and cross site request forgery are typically the result of design, these flaws tend to be much harder to fix than bugs found in software code.  Observers suggest that the vulnerabilities are not going to disappear entirely but do stress that browser developers can do more to enhance security.

In general, development teams only have a little time to address browser vulnerabilities before the hacker community is able to discover them.  Developers are being encouraged to practice browser security just like those who make other software products.  This is extremely important as the major web browsers literally have hundred of millions of users.  One solid approach towards website security is standardized authentication, something that would need to be addressed by system administrators.  Another recommendation is for browser developers to design products that alert users when they are being directed to intranet zones such as localhost or RFC1918 as attackers are increasingly targeting internal devices.  Security firms have also predicted that the manner in which data is handled when requests are made between a browser and website should play a critical part in future designs.

Determining Your Niche Market

If you plan to start an E-commerce business, one of the first things you need to decide on is a niche market.  A niche market is simply a group of consumers you are targeting that have specific needs or interests.  Because these consumers generally partake in similar activities, they are more likely to demand similar products or services.  By focusing on a niche market, you can find a way to discover and meet those particular needs.  In this article we will provide you with a few easy ways to select a niche market and begin your venture with E-commerce.

Place an Emphasis on the Product Before the Marketing Plan

When deciding on a niche, it is better to first settle on a market that has specific needs and then develop products or services to fulfill them.  So many people have failed at online business because they focused solely on marketing a product before finding someone who is actually looking for it.  This failure is typically the result of an insufficient demand or the fact that one or more competitors already have a stronghold over the market.

While the internet is prevalent, it isn’t the only medium where niche markets are important.  Several companies have gained success by establishing a market and then catering to that specific niche.  Microsoft develops operating systems and other software products based on the needs of PC users.  Adidas manufacturers footwear targeted for the athletic population.  These examples demonstrate how important it is to choose a niche market and then focus your marketing efforts around it.

Selecting a niche market doesn’t have to be a difficult task.  You can begin by focusing on a  market that ties into your area of expertise or interest.  Although the internet allows you to branch out and try many things, it is much easier to succeed with something you are passionate about.  This reduces the learning curve and the frustration that comes along with starting a business.  Instead of viewing it as tedious work, you are more likely to find your E-commerce as fun and hopefully prosperous.  You should also perform deep research in the market you are looking to break into.  This involves checking out competitors to get some ideas on the demand for certain products and services.  Additionally, you need to learn how consumers go about finding these items online such as what keywords they enter into search engines and so forth.

Where to Find Your Audience

Depending on who you are target, your niche market just be waiting in a forum, chat room or newsgroup based on something you specialize in.  By monitoring the activity in these sites, you can determine the needs of your niche market and discover what is in high demand.  This form of social networking can be quiet valuable to your business.

Settling on a niche market is the first critical step towards establishing an E-commerce business.  This is what sets the model for how your business will operate and develop into the future.  By taking a little time to figure out exactly what consumers are after, you can market your products or services accordingly and increase the probability of succeeding.

Domain Keys in the Fight Against Phishing

Anybody with an email address is likely to have countless amounts of phishing messages in their inbox, and they may not even realize it.  This type of threat usually doesn’t come at you with the attention-grabbing headlines of advertising spam or the unbelievable plots attached to the fraudulent messages carrying Nigerian scams.  In many cases, a phishing message doesn’t look much like spam at all, even though it is a well crafted plan to steal your money.  Believe it or not, a large number of people have fallen victim to this clever scam so it is important that you know how to recognize and avoid it.

What is Phishing?

Phishing is a sophisticated scam based on social networking.  Unlike other attacks where intruders rely on vulnerabilities in a server or website application, these scam artists would prefer that the system remain intact.   Instead, they look for vulnerabilities in the actual person themselves, hoping they can find someone who is trusting enough to believe the alarming message in their inbox and respond or follow the provided link.

There are essentially two types of phishing.  One approach involves a scam artist sending you an email and purporting as a representative of an institution you do business with.  This could be any type of company from a bank to someone pretending to be affiliated with PayPal or eBay.  They will inform you that there is problem with your existing account and that your login credentials are needed to fix it.

The second approach is similar yet distinct from the method above.  A phony representative attempts to alarm you by stating that there is a problem with your account.  However, they don’t ask for you to respond with your login credentials, but simply follow the provided link so they can either verify your personal information or correct the problem.  After clicking the link, you are not redirected to an official online banking or PayPal website, yet a rogue site that looks strikingly similar, so much that distinguishing it from the real deal might be difficult.  Upon entering the requested information, you are essentially handing over the keys to your valuable assets and possibly your identity.

So, what role will DomainKeys play in the fight against phishing?  As a product owned by Yahoo and integrated into its web-based mail system, the technology will help to protect you against email scams in the following ways:

Website owners register their Domain Name Servers with the DomainKeys system from which emails are required to be transmitted from a registered server.

DomainKeys incorporates an additional header to message, identifying the sender’s domain name server to verify where the message originated.

The message is then verified by the web-based mail system which analyzes the header to ensure that it originates from where it claims.  If the header isn’t validated, the message is automatically sent to a spam folder.

Yahoo has been working to push DomainKeys as a standard for web-based anti-phishing for sometime now.  With Gmail recently picking up the technology, it’s very likely that it will become standardized in the very near future.  Unfortunately, internet criminals are quite persistent and seem to find a way around the most efficient security mechanisms.  Whether you use a free web-based mail system by Yahoo, Gmail or through your own website, the best advice is to never respond to a suspicious email or click on any links.  If a message appears legitimate, contact the company personally and speak with an official representative.  This will determine if someone was trying to bait you with a phishing scam.

The In’s and Out’s of Domain Names

Domain names are what allow internet users to easily navigate without having to remember IP addresses.  Instead of typing in a long number, you type in a name that is usually much easier to remember.  Domain names are generally referred to by their TLDs (top-level domains) with the most common being .com, .net and .org among others.  The name to the left of the TLD is considered a second-level domain with the levels going as high as third, fourth and so on.

In the Beginning

Domains first surfaced back in 1985, starting with only six.  The popularity of today’s internet and World Wide Web has lead to several types of domains, many of which are still intended to identify certain entities and make it easy for users to find specific content.  When introduced by the World Wide Web, both .com and .org where intended for different purposes. .com was intended to represent commercial entities while .org was to be used by organizations.  The second-level domain was meant to identify a specific entity or business with the third-level usually specifying the location of the host server.  The high demand of .com resulted in a number of non-commercial entities seeking to own website addresses under this TLD.

Domain Abuse

Domain names have been a hot commodity for sometime and are widely abused.  Cyber squatting is one such exploit which describes someone trying to generate traffic to their site by leveraging the name of a well known company.  While laws have been set in place to protect prominent internet companies, another ploy known as reverse domain hijacking emerged and brought forth a slew of new problems.  Reverse domain hijacking refers to a company or individual claiming a domain as their own trademark when someone else actually has legal rights to it.  Despite the internet’s growth and the phenomenon behind domain names, there is still no one organization designated to govern this huge system.

Because domain names have been around for years, many of the good ones are no longer available.  This has caused many people to resort to complicated names or those that don’t necessarily suit their business.  It has also lead some to register unique domains by taking the name of any existing third-level domain and adding different symbols to mimic popular companies.  This is a strategy often employed by scam artists and malicious code writers looking to compromise visitors.

Availability

Domain names are widely available these days, typically sold by companies known as registrars and even web hosting providers.  The price for a domain varies from company to company but the cost is significantly cheaper than past times.  Well known domain registrars such as GoDaddy may sale domains at anywhere from $5 to $10 per year while a web hosting company might offer a free domain and registration for purchasing a monthly plan.

With so many companies offering service, buying a domain is easy, though you may not always get the name you want.  If you have something clever it mind, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to secure it now before its no longer on the market.

Shared Hosting: The Ideal Small Business Solution

Shared hosting is the most popular web hosting solution today, ideal for individuals and small business owners as well.  So, what exactly is shared hosting?  Well, as the name implies, it refers to an arrangement where you share space on a web server and resources such as bandwidth and RAM with other hosting customers.  Though shared hosting providers are abundant, the key is finding a company that will set you up for success.  This article will provide a checklist to help you use the shared hosting platform as a vehicle to establishing your small business.

Finding a Reliable Shared Host

In order to give yourself the best chance of succeeding with a small business, you need a shared hosting provider that takes hosting serious.  First and foremost, they should be dedicated to making sure your site is always up and running, ensuring that visitors enjoy a smooth performance.  If your site is frequently down due to technical difficulties or performs sluggishly, converting visitors into customers will be nearly impossible.  You can better assure accessibility and performance by looking for these technical specifics:

Uptime - This refers to the amount of time your site will be available on the web.  Right now, the industry standard is 99.9% so anything less than that can be considered unacceptable.  Don’t simply take the provider’s word on its advertised guarantee.  Do a little investigating and find out how the percentage is calculated and what is actually covered in the guarantee.

Disk Space – If you are planning to start an online business, a shared hosting plan must provide an adequate amount of disk space to store your content.  You probably won’t require a tremendous amount of storage space so look for something that suits your needs rather than falling for the glamorous “unlimited” offering.

Bandwidth – Equally important is bandwidth, often referred to as data transfer.  Bandwidth is another resource that is often advertised as an unlimited offering, but just as with disk space, that simply isn’t true.  We suggest selecting a shared host that offers an accurate amount of bandwidth to support your web traffic.  Without enough, your site will lag.  If you exceed the allotted amount, you could be taxed hefty overage fees despite the unlimited offering.

E-commerce Tools – Shared hosting is your ticket into online business and essentially the world of e-commerce.  Depending on the nature of your business, some of the e-commerce features you may want to look out for are shopping cart programs, multiple email accounts, SSL support, and database access among other features.   These tools will give you the ability to open up an online storefront, keep in touch with customers and facilitate secure transactions on your site.

Support - A small business hosting solution just wouldn’t be complete without solid support.  A reliable shared host should offer support 24/7 to step in and make the save when you have questions or concerns.  If they can’t provide quality customer support, the overall quality of their hosting service is questionable as well.

The most attractive benefit of shared hosting is cost efficiency.  By referring to this checklist, you should be able to find a small business solution that is both reliable and affordable.

The Insecurity of the Open-source CMS

Open-source content management systems are incredibly popular these days.  Unfortunately, one issue that has always plagued this type software is security.  On the surface, it would seem as if open-source software is more secure than commercial products based on the reported number of security vulnerabilities and activity in the community.  However, this is far from the truth and a misconception that has resulted in trouble for many website owners.  With a proprietary solution such as the Microsoft Content Management Server, you are generally provided with support and insurance against security flaws.  With open-source solutions, you are forced to rely on the support of the software’s developers and user community which means that nothing is guaranteed.

Elements of CMS

The open-source CMS consists of various elements, many of which contribute to vulnerabilities.  The average software includes add-on modules, encryption mechanisms and a plethora of scripting errors.  These elements can simply be a part of a certain product or included into the entire system.  Completely securing such an application on a web server is no easy task.  All publicly accessible server applications are designed for around the clock availability, providing access to visitors and attackers alike.  Without the proper security implementations, an open-source CMS is essentially wide open for an attack.

Insecure software can inflict a significant amount of damage, especially when it comes to a program as functional as a content management system.  When vulnerabilities in such software are exploited, the best result could be the defacing of your website.  The worst case scenario would be the exposure of sensitive data that blemishes your credibility and possibly ruins your business.  There have been various reported instances where vulnerable systems resulted in the leakage of Social Security numbers, credit card details and other personal information.

Joomla, Drupal and other CMS Targets

It is no surprise that some of the most widely used open-source content management systems such as Joomla and Drupal are among the most targeted on the web.  The fact that the source codes of these systems are freely available and have numerous installations make them a prime target.  While the average visitor can’t distinguish between a commercial and open-source product, they tend to be easily identifiable to attackers.  A simple web browser along with the viewing of URLs and HTML patterns in search engine results can give a hacker all the information they need to strike.

One of the most attractive aspects of the open-source CMS is that you can customize and actually own a particular product.  On the other hand, because the software is originally developed by someone else, it is very likely that there are a few things you don’t know about the program, meaning you can’t ensure security after making changes.  This is why many open-source systems include disclaimers against third-party modification as well as the overall security of the software, basically telling developers to use at their own risks.

With so many people handling the code, it is unpractical to think that any open-source CMS will ever be 100% secure.  The best thing you can do when relying on these solutions is to understand the risks, make sure you are using the most recent versions and design your web pages with caution.  Attackers are persistent but not nearly as powerful when their methods of attack are limited.

SEO and SEM: What’s the Difference?

SEO (search engine optimization) and SEM (search engine marketing) are two of the hottest concepts on the internet today.  While these terms are often referred to as one in the same, there is actually a big difference between the two methods.  SEM is rather broad and can be used to describe various aspects of website marketing as it relates to the search engines. In this regard, SEO can simply be considered as an essential element of SEM.  Whereas SEO primarily consists of keywords and links, SEM is far more extensive.

Paid Inclusion

Paid inclusion is something that is heavily discussed when the topic of SEM comes up.  This simply refers to paying a directory or search engine to immediately add a website to its database rather than designing the site to naturally attract search engine robots.  Some view this method as their only option for being listed while others are totally against it.  The hard truth is that there is no way to pay your way to the top of the rankings.  Search engines are increasingly disqualifying sites trying to purchase listings, leaving all their efforts futile.  If this is a practice you choose to partake in, make sure you are aware of the consequences.

Advertising

Advertising is another SEM technique employed by online businesses.  This method involves taking out advertisements on search engine result pages.  These ads are typically display based on keywords a user inputs into a search engine with costs ranging on the number of impressions or appearances of the ad.  What this simply means is that you must pay for the advertisement whether it drives traffic to your site or not.

Pay Per Click

PPC (Pay Per Click) ads are common in SEM as well.  You can have complete control over your campaign with the freedom to select the keywords that trigger your ads, the copy you want inserted and usually how much you want to invest.  Hence the name, you are only required to pay when someone clicks on an ad and is then redirected to your site.  Two of the major PPC networks are Google and Yahoo Search Marketing, each of which come with advantages and disadvantages.  When signing on for either program, be prepared to invest a substantial amount of time and money into running such a campaign.

Unlike genuine SEO, the SEM practices mentioned above offer one major benefit: immediacy.  If money isn’t an issue and you want to increase your visibility on the web right away, one or a combination of these techniques could be the way to go.  Take heed that the disadvantages may be far more detrimental to your efforts.  If your site isn’t designed accordingly, visitors could be turned off when they do get there.  A site that is difficult to navigate and doesn’t deliver what the visitor is looking for is the easiest way to blow your SEM campaign.

SEO First and Foremost

In short, no SEM campaign can be complete without practicing sound SEO first.  The primary goal of SEO is to make the site friendly for both the search engine and your visitors.  So even if you plan to spend money on PPC campaigns and other SEM elements, be sure that SEO is covered before you start heavy promotions.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Ensim

Control panel software is a main fixture in today’s web hosting packages.  These programs are very important as they give you the ability to manage the essential features of your account from adding domains and creating emails accounts to setting up FTP accounts and performing web-based backups.  While cPanel is efficient and rightfully the leading the control panel software, this program is platform specific and can only be used in certain environments.

Ensim is one control panel available for Windows and Linux platforms.  This powerful software is able to cover a wide range of hosting needs from reseller and dedicated server accounts to providing solutions for small businesses and large enterprises.  Although Ensim does offer benefits over popular applications such as cPanel and Plesk, it does have a few drawbacks as well.

Advantages

The Ensim control panel gives you a well designed professional interface.  There are separate sections dedicated to various components for managing your hosting account.  Although most of  the essential features are made accessible on the screen, they are integrated nicely and serve as more than eye candy.

Unlike many control panels, Ensim supports a wide range of operating systems including Web and Standard versions of Windows along with Linux-based systems such as Fedora and RedHat.

Additionally, Ensim offers the same interface for all levels of control.  This enables familiarity for anyone that needs to use a control panel with a combination of root, reseller, end-user and mail user capabilities.

The Ensim control panel is powered by in-house software and doesn’t rely on third-party solutions.  One inclusion is Ensim Power Tools, a program that is comparative to the Fantastico script installer found on cPanel accounts.  Another Ensim tool is the built-in spam filter that performs well with the pre-installed webmail utility.  New versions also include comprehensive reporting tools for viewing critical resources and web stats.

Disadvantages

Despite its professional appearance, one of the biggest knocks on Ensim is that the interface is incredibly difficult to skin.  You can however, incorporate logos for your brand with relative ease.  In this regard, cPanel offers more extensive branding as Ensim has very few skins available.

Another disadvantage of Ensim is that it isn’t as widely installed as cPanel, a factor that presents challenges to the reseller.  This could be a turn off to potential clients who are not aware of the software and its capabilities.  Additionally, end-users may find the interface more difficult to navigate than the simple, yet user-friendly environment of cPanel.  Despite its professional structure, the newer versions of Ensim appear to be more geared for the experienced webmaster.  Fortunately, the software does offer tons of documentation to help you get more familiar with navigation and all the essentials.

Conclusion

As you can see, Ensim does have minimal drawbacks along with a plethora of features that make it a solid choice for web hosting.  The advantages greatly outweigh the disadvantages as this control panel has the ability to do what others can’t.  Whether you are looking to dabble with shared hosting or something more flexible such as a VPS, the Ensim software can provide the tools needed to effectively manage your business.

Web Hosting with PHP-Nuke

When searching for a web host, you need to look for much more than storage space and bandwidth.  The overall quality of service is critical and should include around the clock support, tight security and redundant backups.  Aside from that, a host should be able to provide you with tools that add ease to the tasks of building and administering your site.  There are several programs that will help you accomplish this; a dynamic CMS named PHP-Nuke is one of them.

What is PHP-Nuke?

PHP-Nuke began as a fork of a news portal called Thatware.  The software grew to popularity very quickly and has spawned various systems of its own including PostNuke, DragonFly CMS and Xoops.  Though primarily used for automated news publishing, PHP-Nuke is a full content management system capable of creating dynamic websites for many purposes.  Its main initiative is to allow webmasters to create huge online communities where moderators and users can post content and make comments.  The core of PHP-Nuke is packed with features and numerous add-ons are available to enhance its functionality.

The PHP-Nuke CMS is scripted entirely in the PHP programming language.  In order to function, it requires server components that support the language such as Apache and an SQL database like MySQL or Postgre SQL.  Under the GNU General Public License, the source code of PHP-Nuke can be freely distributed and modified.  The latest version, 7.5, is the first to come with a $10 download charge.  Depending on the web host, you could get this amazing CMS as a part of your monthly hosting plan.

PHP-Nuke for News

PHP-Nuke comes included with various modules.  One you are most likely to try first is the News module.  This component allows you to place news items in different categories and automatically sorts them by date on your homepage.  Another module is for archiving which enables easy indexing by users and the search engines.  When site members submit their content, you have the final say on which articles are approved and can manage the entire process from a simple administrative panel.

Whether you want to publish news and articles or simply a huge site for your business, PHP-Nuke can help you get it done.  Here are some of the features:

Advertising - Easy management of your advertising campaigns with support for HTML, JavaScript and Flash

Encyclopedia - A robust module for managing terms, phrases and their definitions

Forums – Simple implementation and management of discussion forms

Members List – Displays a full list of all the members on your site

Search Engine – Allows users to easily find content on your site

News Submission – A simple form that allows users to submit news and articles to your site

Private Messaging - Allows members to communicate or block out other members

Avantgo – Service that offers a mobile version of your last 10 published articles

Conclusion

On its own, PHP-Nuke is a dynamic CMS capable of building amazing websites.  With the aid of add-on modules, the system is greatly enhanced with twice the power.  If a thriving online community is something you are after, you stand to benefit tremendously from a web host that offers or supports this software.

Targeted Website Marketing

One of the biggest mistakes online business owners make is the belief that they must generate millions of hits to make an impact.  Besides, what’s the sense in having all those visitors if no sales are being made?  As profits are vital to longevity, most will agree that they would rather have hundreds of visitors making purchases rather than those simply coming and going.  The best way to achieve these type of results is to indulge in targeted marketing.

Know Who You Are After

Before doing any marketing, the first thing you need to determine is your niche market.  This involves learning just who is interested in your product or service, where they are located, about how much they can afford and most importantly, how you are going to attract them to your site.  All of these factors must be determined before investing any of your time, effort and money into a marketing plan for your website.  Making rash moves could easily leave you with failed results.

One first glance, targeted marketing may seem as if you are limiting yourself.  However, this method actually enhances your chance of success is it qualifies visitors for you by weeding out those you are not interested in what you have to offer.  It doesn’t matter what type of business you are in or the marketing scheme, the goals are all the same – find visitors and convert them into customers.  The key to website marketing is knowing how they search and where you niche audience is located on the web.

Going Beyond the Search Engines

There is no doubt that some of your potential customers will originate from a search engine while others will simply stumble upon your site.  Some of the best traffic includes those who originate from a special invitation.  These visitors are pre-qualified, already possessing a strong interest in your content.  This is the type of traffic you want as they are more likely to have specific needs you are able to meet.  Fortunately, the internet is an entrepreneur’s dream and offers various ways to reach out to those looking to find you.

One place where you might find potential clients is a site that offers email discussion lists.  Look around for somewhere your niche audience hangs out and sign up with the site.  ISP-Lists is currently one of the most popular spots, offering more than 40,000 different groups.  Here you can reach out to the community and ask for help, invite members to your site and even generate sales.  While the topics are categorized in general fashion, finding one that fits your interest should be fairly easy.

Not to be downplayed is the power of newsgroups.  Some call Usenet the most underrated gem online due to all of its great resources.  These special interest groups are packed with potential customers, housing everything from author groups to those with interested in alternative energy.  Pick your topic and there is almost sure to be a newsgroup specifically designed for your niche market.  So while search engine marketing is essential, you can get even more targeted traffic by roaming where your potential clients hang out.