When I first joined the internet marketing class, we did a test on TH IT's website on Google search engine ranking. Obviously TH IT's website: http://www.th-it.com/ was no way could be found. It was hidden deeply in the long list of about 2 million web site!
My initial intention was to keep a website to provide company information to customer or prospect who make inquiry either over the phone or having a personal contact. Another way is to show customer that, "Oh! Yes, I have a website and you may browse it at this web address..." and that was my expectation back in 2004.
One year later, of course as the business grow further, I deeply felt that the website is really should have a more proactive role in helping the company's business!
After my 2 days internet seminar class
After the 2 days lesson, I started to work on modifying my website. Nothing can be done from Monday to Friday because I was too tied up with the daily business activities and hence the only time I could use is Saturday afternoon.
First Saturday, I went back to office and ended up with nothing done because my mind is still not ready to sit down to do anything yet.
Second Saturday, still nothing is done but I felt like I could slowly calm down a bit. It sounds like one going to do miditation class!
Third Saturday, I slowly could put up my mind to think about the design, the layout of the website and slowly browsing through the search engine and review the lessons learnt and trying to see what can be done or what need to be done on my website.
Forth Saturday, again I was Googling and I typed in "computer rental" as a search keyword. And of course I notice, there is a different if you select "the web" or "Malaysia only". So as a beginner, I narrowed down my search in the "Malaysia only" section. I just want to know who comes out and try to find out what type of keyword they use.
First on the list was http://www.webportal.com.my/. After I clicked on them, I found out they are actually a portal of anything and I am allowed to register and upload my website information with them, so I did it. Ten minutes later, I was so surprised to note that I was listed 1st in the webportal's computer rental page! Great, what an unexpected excitement! On search for "Computer Rental", they came out 1st in Google and my site is listed 1st in their website, then I was indirectly 1st!
Within 4 weeks after the course, I can greatly improved my website exposure to such an extend is really something great. And what could be more interesting than getting a customer within the next 2 weeks who rented from then on 3 times about 10 computers each time, for a period of 3 to 5 days each, estimated revenue is about MYR10,000!
From then on, customers continue to ring up through this special jv arrangement with webportal Malaysia for about 6 months. Some of the bigger jobs we have including the rental of 3 servers to one company who then supply them to Sarawak SPR (Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya/ General Election Commission) for about 3 months.
Need to be independent
Towards the end of the first 6 months, I realised it was not a very good solution to rely on webportal because if other company register with them, they will be on top of us and I will become no. 2, then no. 3 and then.. So in times to come, my indirect high exposure listing will be lost! So, I was telling myself,
"No! I can't let this happen, I must be able to work my way up myself, my website http://www.th-it.com must be the one on top of the list, I must be Independent!"
So I was back to my Saturday work again. This time, not only I want to be independent but I need to completely modify my website outlook!
Choosing a new host
I have a feeling, my existing host does not really serves me well, first thing I need to do is I need to choose a New Host! The question is, "Which host is a better choice?"
We all know there are hundreds of thousand of hosting company in the web nowadays, everyone offers with different package. This really took me quite a while to analyse and think over.
After a few weeks' consideration, I finally found that "Yahoo!" web hosting web services is what I required for the time being!
What attracted me to work with Yahoo web hosting services?
Confidence & Reliability
Being one of the largest search engine in the world, I believe Yahoo could provide me the reliability I required. Undoubtedly they have existed for so many years and have been very popular in the internet market.
Competitive rate
The rate they offer is very affordable and very competitive. There is no reason why I should reject them due to the rate.
Affiliate program
Yahoo! provides affiliated marketing programs which is offered at a lower rate once signed up. One of these program is such as Got Campaigner which is an emailing program. My initial marketing program depends extensively on email marketing and I have customer who rang me up after 2 years. The customer kept my email for 2 years.
Web statistics
With the entry level hosting services, I am able to view my web statistics and monitor my web site traffic.
Yahoo Site Builder
Those who signed up for their service get to down load a very useful site building program called Yahoo SiteBuilder.
This program is very easy to learn up and very easy to use. The best thing is it is very easy to enter the keyword/metatag for the webpages.
On the left it shows an example of Yahoo's web page keyword analysis and optimizaton.
Obviously there are 3 important section to take note:
1. Optimization of Title
2. Optimization of Description part
3. List down the keywords used.
Independence Day
It seems my decision to host with Yahoo! is really good! Within few weeks after I modified my website layout and design, I conquer Yahoo! Then within a few months later, my ranking in Google has move up to very good position as well.
Generally my ranking in Google for all my six product categories are ranked in the first page and most of them appeared to be top 5!
Monitoring of my website ranking is base on the following keywords combinations:
computer rental in malaysia
notebook rental in malaysia
printer rental in malaysia
server rental in malaysia
projector rental in malaysia
training room rental in malaysia
computer rental
notebook rental
printer rental
server rental
projector rental
training room/classroom rental
