Had the chance to be a judge at the recent Science competition at Garapan Elementary. Great stuff!

Judge Steve gets up close and personal

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I predict in a few weeks I'll be making an annoucement of a major coup in search engine ranking. (OK, maybe it won't be so major, but it will have significance for those who are launching their own websites and wish to place higher in "natural" search engine listings for particular keywords.)

As you may know, WeLoveSaipan.com is a site I launched, with the support of Angelo Villagomez with the specific purpose of placing higher in search engine listings for the keyword "saipan." We launched the site on Dec 6, at which time it placed at position 155 (page 16) and as of this morning, it placed in the natural listings at position 29 (or as high as 23 depending on what browser you use).

As I mentioned a few moments ago in an email to Angelo:


*****************************

"Angelo,
I think also that we have evidence of two distinct strategies for
achieving high ranking.

1. I think your (Angelo's) blog is where it is from (a) sheer content (which has always been the #1 key in search engine optimization), (b) keywords (i.e. the amount of times you mention "saipan", (c) links TO your site from other bloggers and (d) the frequency of your posts.

2. WeLoveSaipan is where it is primarily from linkman, which expanded
the diversity of links to us (ala bloggers, non-saipan-related sites)
and, I believe, the link from YOUR blog in particular, being a high ranked site
was critical.

There's also what I call the "grandfather clause" which seems to give higher ranking
to sites which have been around for a while like the Tribune (and yours).
I know this from my own hiphopentrepreneur.com (aka hiphopbiz.com)
site which is pretty much established now after having been around since
1997, and shows up on top on searches for "start a hip hop record label"

Now, I don't know this for sure, but I believe
Google also puts some weight on visits to a site over time which
they can get from tracking how many people click to a site after
doing a search, which means once we get on the first and second
page, we should be able to maintain our position in much the same
way that the Tribune does at a consistent position 6 or 7.

Keep in mind also that there are not that many sites about Saipan,
so this may have been a little more challenging to accomplish
had we been publicizing, say a viagra site.


W

*****************************

But, the bottom line is, that we're doing it!
So, as I was saying, I predict that within a few weeks, we'll see welovesaipan.com
on the first page of listings for search queries for "saipan." A full sequential account
of exactly what we did to achieve it will be included in the soon-to-be-released
manual entitledd "Websites That Sell" which will be announced right here!

Labels: Sideline Business Tips

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Feel like I 've been a little remiss in my promise to make this a business and lifestyle blog. I've been focusing much on the lifestyle part of it all. So, here is a little "business on the side" tip for those passionpreneurs who are thinking of writing and self-publishing a book, brought to you by the following sponsor:

It's easier to get your business degree online
if that is one of your goals.

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WITH 55% DISCOUNT, CAN I REALLY MAKE ANY MONEY SELLING MY BOOK ON AMAZON?

A client of mine recently emailed me the following:
"hey Walt,
I am not making any money selling my books because Amazon gets a
55% commission and printing and shipping the book costs me almost $13!"
What should I do?"


PART I: Crunching the Numbers
First, here's what he's referring to:
Let's say your book has 200 pages, sells for $24.95 and your printing
and shipping costs through your Print-on-Demand company = $13.50.

(i.e.
Printing = $7.00
Handling = $1.50
Shipping = $5.00
TOTAL: = $13.50)

Now, at 55% discount, that means Amazon will pay you 45% of $24.95, which is $11.23
for each book it sells on its site through the Amazon Advantage program.

You can see, therefore, that if it costs you $13.50 to make the book,
and you only earn $11.23 for it, that you LOSE $2.27 each time you make a sale.

You have two options.

1. Get your printing costs down below $11.23,
Reduce the page count, opt for a basic/media mail shipping, play around
with the trim size of the book to make it more cost effective.

OR
2. Raise your price.
Your book has to sell for at least X, where
45% of "X" should at least cover your printing costs.
(i.e. 0.45X = 13.50
X = 13.50/.45
X = $30

If neither of those two is an option, it might still be worth it to have
your books selling on Amazon. Here's why:


I. Larger orders will ease the pain
Hopefully as your book's popularity and the demand for it
increases, you'll start to receive
larger orders. Typically, the handling charge stays the same,
while shipping increases only marginally. So, NOW, when
Amazon orders TWO copies of your book, your cost analysis
looks like this

(i.e. for TWO books
Printing = $14.00
Handling = $1.50 (stays the same)
Shipping = $6.00 (increases slightly)
TOTAL: = $21.50)

But now, however, Amazon will pay you
24.95 x 2 x .45% = $22.45 for the two books.
Not a great difference, but at least you
made $0.90 or at the very least breaking even.


II. Being on Amazon adds legitimacy to your product.
There's a good percentage of people who refuse to purchase
my books directly through my website. That's why I've added
a "purchase on Amazon" link to all the product listings on
all of my sites. (I'll share a linking option that can earn
you a few extra dollars)

III. Being on Amazon helps you reach a wider audience.
It's still the first place book buyers worldwide go to
purchase a book.

There are people who START their searches for new and interesting
books on the Amazon.com site.


Having your product on the Amazon site may result in "purchase these two items"
link associations with other products extending the market you might
otherwise not reach.

Being on Amazon gets your name out there for future clients and other channels of
income like consulting, writing, collaborations, as well as exposure to media for
reviews, etc.


IV. Everything else about your listing with Amazon is
therefore multiplied in its potential reach

Industry reviews
Customer feedback
& your Amazon Ranking
all serve to increase exposure for you and your products.
Whenever I get a great review, I add it to my Amazon listing.
Whenever a customer or client emails me a great testimonial or review,
I request that they post it to the book's listing on the Amazon site.
Once you have an impressive ranking, you can then use it on
YOUR website (This book is ranked #500 on Amazon.com!") to increase
sales through that channel.

I therefore like to think of the 55% discount as a necessary price
to pay for the exposure and legitimacy that Amazon provides--with my
focus on the future, and the invaluable intangible good will that
providing a secure sales channel provides.

Now, having said that, here are some tips on how to maximize your Amazon
relationship

PART 2: THREE Ways to Maximize your Amazon relationship

There are THREE ways I make money through Amazon.

1. First, as a publisher, I'm a member of the Amazon Advantage Program.
That allows me a regular listing on Amazon and they place an initial order to have my books in stock. Then when people order, they order more from me to replenish stock. I just filled an order for 10 copies of Turn Your Passion into Profit a few minutes ago. This method gets more orders but you only get 45% of retail.
Amazon ships the order to the customer.

2. Second, I place my own competing listing in the Amazon Marketplace.
If you look to the right of the regular listing, you'll see people selling used copies of the book listed. I offer an autographed copy at a price just a few pennies less than the regular listing. I make more money through this method, but there aren't as many takers. I ship this out myself via Media Mail.

3. Third, I am also an Amazon Associate.
If you look on my sites you'll see an option for people to purchase my books through Amazon.
I place my associate code in this link so that if they do, and/or if they purchase ANYTHING from Amazon, I earn a commission.


So, in the long run, I'd have to say that my relationship with Amazon has been a good one.
I receive frequent orders, timely payments, great exposure and enough orders of two or more books,
plus Marketplace orders to make it worthwhile.


Today I received an Amazon order for 17 copies of Turn Your Passion Into Profit.

Labels: Sideline Business Tips, Walt's Articles

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In response to an email about my ordeal getting back to Saipan
after a recent trip to New York, a friend asked me,

"...You ended with "I'm finally home." Does this mean you don't consider NY your home anymore, or even Jamaica? :-)"

to which I replied:

Home? Hmmmm....that's always been a tough one for me to be clear about.

"Home"used to be Jamaica, and perhaps it still is ultimately when all is said and done. I think I may have told you all of this before, but perhaps I need to re-say it, for my own clarity.

As great as it is, I've never really considered NY my home. It was the most familiar place to hang my hat since that's where I've lived most of my life, but it was never home. I returned there after living 3 years in Silver Spring, Maryland because I knew people there and it was easier to resume life in a familiar place. But, as I've recently realized, it was chosen FOR me. I never chose to come here from Jamaica. Nor did I choose Jamaica, for that matter. If one looks at things purely from this plane of existence, it was through history and an "accident" of birth that I ended up there, but I never consciously chose Jamaica either. (Yes, I believe from a metaphysical and spiritual perspective, my soul chose the parents, time and location of my arrival on this plane, but you know what I mean!)

Saipan, therefore, is the first country I've lived in that was by my own free will and choice. In that regard it represents a whole different ballgame of happiness.

Having said that, I'm also open-minded and adventurous in regard to where I live. So, by no means does this move represent anything final either.

I'm at a place in life where I'm enjoying the residual benefits of a lot of work I put in for the past 10 years (yes, even when it seemed like all I did was sit around at the computer wasting time, this is what I was building) :-)

"It" is still not complete, but I can continue to build it at any pace and in any place that suits me, and so the goal is to simply experience more paces and places.

There's a growing list of places this nomadpreneur adventure will take me. I'll be traveling and enjoying life, and who knows, I may change into a completely different person along the way at any time.

In an interview, Bob once said (by the way, every true Jamaican is duty-bound to quote "Bob" Marley at least once in every conversation!), "My home is in my head."

So who knows, perhaps there is no real home for the nomad, just a series of happy experiences on a never-ending journey.

I love you and all my friends I made while in the states, and there is no way to minimize the tremendous impact you all, ACN, Columbia, the Port Authority, Tag Team and "the Briarwood 7" have had on my life. But it would not be beyond the realm of possibility that I simply sail off into the sunset and all this becomes simply a pleasant memory of happy times gone by.

Yes, there is a sadness about it all as well. Separation in the pursuit of happiness brings with it a sense of loss and sorrow, I admit. But happiness must prevail.

I want to be happy, and for now at least, happiness means honoring the call from afar, indulging my preferences, and never allowing myself to be bound by the familiar, or shackled by the chains of habit and circumstance. I can't allow NY or any place to hold me simply because it has become habitual, no matter how sweet my friendships there are.

So, to answer your question, "You ARE returning, aren't you?" If you mean am I returning for the occasional special event, the answer is yes. But if you mean shall I return to resume living in America, then the answer is "who knows." Just as I made and kept a promise to myself never to return to the corporate world, THIS move as well is based on the same kind of promise never to live somewhere that doesn't resonate with whom I wish to be....

you ask a writer a simple question, and you get a book
in reply!--Walt


Now having said all that...let the adventure continue!

See The World (Quicktime Version)

Labels: Lifestyle

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I retired from writing new life rhymes last year...but this is a story that had to be told!--

WHEN BLOGGERS MEET Sit back for a spell for there's something to tell ahh, my friend, yes you're in for a treat For I'll tell you a tale to which others will pale when the bloggers on Saipan meet! Yes, they came out in style just to chat for a while some drank coffee and some came to eat Strangers greet you by name (it's an odd type of fame) when the bloggers on Saipan meet! Yes, the Captain was there, then Mike pulled up a chair Bree and Cinta and Gus found a seat Brad and Bev came on through Melissa made her debut when the bloggers on Saipan meet! Then the laptops came out just like we joked about and the bloggers pulled off a rare feat Growing close as a team with eyes fixed on a screen when the bloggers on Saipan meet! Then old bloggers taught new showing just what they should do the camaraderie there couldn't be beat That's the way things will go as this group's sure to grow when the bloggers on Saipan meet! Yes, you should have been there if you missed it, don't fear for the love-fest is bound to repeat Come the next time you hear "A WeLoveSaipan affair!" when the bloggers on Saipan meet! For they'll meet once a moon come tsunami or monsoon final Wednesday when month is complete all in favor say "aye" so for now it's goodbye 'till the bloggers on Saipan re-meet! (c) Feb 2007 Walt F.J. Goodridge p.s. And for those who should ask or who took me to task There were two whom I seemed to delete Among the proud and the few were Angelo and Walt, too when the bloggers on Saipan did meet! :-)

The first WeLoveSaipan Network Blogger "Meet up" on the island of Saipan (L.to R) "Captain Carl" Brachear, Gus Kaipat, Brad Ruszala, Angelo O Villagomez, Cinta Kaipat, Niña Rivera, Melissa Simms, Walt Goodridge, Mike Tripp, Bev Cabanatan, Bree Reynolds

Labels: Life Rhymes, Lifestyle

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