Keywords, Competition and Being Number One- Uncovering the Algorithm

By following these steps you will see that most closely guarded
secret– the search algorithm. Remember the movie “the Matrix?”
The Matrix is there, you just can’t see it. So is the search
algorithm.

It’s easy to pay a Search Engine Optimizer to give your pages
some ranking power. Unfortunately, given the inherent time
factor involved in climbing the ranks, your money may be long
gone before you know if you’ve spent your money well.

THERE IS NO MAGIC PILL

Forget any advertisement you see for instant number one search
results or automated this or that. Most are scams, and the ones
that aren’t might get you positioned, but it will be very short
lived.

Search engine optimization is an ongoing process. Achieving and
maintaining a high rank, especially on highly competitive
keywords, requires constant maintenance. If you do find a
legitimate SEO firm, it is well worth the money to pay their
monthly maintenance fee and let them continue to help you after
the initial project. At least for 6 months or a year as you
establish yourself.

In this article we’ll look at some of the intricate and complex
tasks of optimizing a page for long term ranking power. You will
learn how to read between the code and the content to find what
is necessary to bring you to the top. Being number one is easy
to say, but is quickly overwhelming when you stare at tens of
thousands of pages you want to out rank. So how do you begin?
The starting line on the road to that first page SERP (search
engine results page) ranking is not as blurry as you might
think. In fact, you can uncover the starting line, the route,
and all the scenery along the way to the finish line without
knowing the search engine algorithm.

STEP 1- YOUR KEYWORDS ARE THE CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT OF GRUELLING
DAYS OF WORK

If you have investments in the stock market you know how much
research and thought goes into choosing those securities. Now
take that same effort and multiply it by three. That’s how much
planning and revision your keywords should take.

A simple, broad key phrase like “shoes” could hypothetically
bring you up in a countless stream of different searches.
Women’s shoes, baby shoes, sneakers, high heels, etc. If somehow
you manage to settle into a good ranking (which would be
difficult) you would have more traffic on your site than you
could handle. But traffic is worthless is it doesn’t get to it’s
destination. Chances are, you weren’t that destination.

Your keywords must be focused and precise, specific to what you
are selling. Using a key phrase like “Gucci mens black leather
loafer” will bring a targeted lead to your site. You may not
reach as many people as the more generalized keyword, but the
people that do come to you have a much deeper interest in the
specific product you are selling.

Therefore you have much greater chance of converting that
targeted lead to a sale. Your keywords are your magic beans,
your winning lotto numbers, your energizer bunnies, your sales
force, whatever you want to call them. They must be perfect.

STEP 2- WANT TO BE NUMBER ONE? LOOK AT WHO ALREADY IS

Competition Analysis- no SEO book can give you this information.

Now take your keyword list and type them into a search engine.
Who comes up in the first ten results? That company that is
number one is because they have most closely matched what the
search engine algorithm says should be number one. You can learn
a great deal from them.

A. INTERNAL FACTORS

Take that number one page, and the other top 9 pages and study
them, look at the code, break them down. You are looking at the
first half of what is needed to rank in the top 10 pages for
your key phrases on that particular search engine. The list of
what to look for is enormous.

Studying the Internal Factors on a page is taking it apart to
see how it’s put together. Not how it works, but statistical
research into the precise construct and layout of keywords and
phrases in relation to each other within the page.

Start with these areas:

URL address, Page Title, Meta description, Meta Keywords, First
sentence on the page, Body copy, Bold or Emphasized Phrases, H1
or other tags, Alt Tags, Navigation system

In each of those sections, look at:

Keyword densities- the number of times your phrase and each word
in your phrase appears compared to the text around it

Where and in how many times the same phrase and words appear in
different sections

The word and character position of each phrase in each

The total number of characters

The total number of words

The quality and thought of the content

Beginning with these comparisons should keep you quite busy for
a while. A spreadsheet is quite useful. Some commercial products
are also available that can make this daunting task much more
feasible. Keep looking for other patterns and differences. You
want to duplicate them in your own page. NOT copy and steal. You
want to mimic the patterns that are bringing that page to the
position it is. Then move onto to examining the external factors
of these pages.

B. EXTERNAL FACTORS

External factors of a web page deal with the links to, from and
within a web page, both inside the same site, and out into the
web. This analysis usually takes more time because it involves
more dissection of pages beyond the one you’re trying to
optimize. In this analysis as with Internal Factors, you want to
compare and contrast your page versus the top 10 competitors,
find similarities and differences. Here is a list of criteria to
get you started.

Number of internal (to the same site) on that page

Number of external links

Number of links pointing TO that page* (see below for details)

The link/anchor text- which keywords are used and where

Google Page Rank value of incoming links

Alexa Rank of incoming links

*To get a listing of the links that point to a site, type the
following into Google, MSN and Yahoo searches:
“link:www.domainname.com”. Google tends to only show a small
portion of the links back, but MSN and Yahoo will give you much
more pertinent data.

Now you want to compare the content on each of these pages to
the one they point to. Is it of similar theme, in what context
does the link back appear and where. Subject of much debate, the
consensus is that Google Page Rank does not mean what it used
to. However, if it is in some fashion a measure of how
significant or “important” a site is, it is worth looking more
closely at the sites that link back that are of high page rank.

EVEN A SURGEON USES TOOLS

Now, this is definitely a ton of work to do all by hand. There
are software programs that can help do some of the digging and
mathematical computations for you, figuring out densities and
organizing information.

Tools like this are definitely ones a professional SEO will have
in their arsenal. But remember, these are tools, not miracle
workers. It takes a human being to evaluate and realize
connections, similarities, draw conclusions and interpret the
data. Then, you have to extrapolate this data.

Remember, you want to do one better than every site you just
examined. To do that you have to draw some conclusions and make
some educated guesses and link to even better sites.

FINAL THOUGHTS

You have access to the inner workings of every page that you
want to beat. Learn from them and do one better. This process is
not a one-time shot. It is ongoing. Check your key phrases every
week. Do the same people still rank in the top ten?

Some have probably moved. Remember too that they’re going to
adapt to maintain their positions too. If you want the ranks,
you have to spend the time, and not just once, or pay someone to
do it for you.

Don’t ever believe anyone who says they can guarantee any kind
of results. And ask them how they will optimize your pages. If
they explain to you something like the above, then you’ve
probably got yourself someone experienced and honest. You money
will be well spent and you’ll quickly recover it

Ten Reasons to Letu-b-u

Wouldn’t it be great if you could find everything in one place? Wouldn’t it be fantastic if you didn’t have to go searching all over Kingdom Come for just the right item? Wouldn’t it be ideal if you could get everything you need and everything you want in one convenient stop? And wouldn’t it be even better if that one stop were in the comfort of your own home?

We spend half our lives trying to get somewhere else. Imagine the time and energy you could save if you could pick up all the necessities of life at one store. Let’s face it – that’s why Wal-Mart is such a hit; it’s the epitome of “one-stop shopping.” People complain that superstores such as Wal-Mart are driving “the little guy” out of business; but the fact of the matter is that Wal-Mart provides the consumer the opportunity to get it all, at a low price, in one place: groceries, sundries, toys, hardware, clothes, sporting goods, office supplies, whatever. In fact, Wal-Mart isn’t necessarily “cheaper” when it comes to certain items — but it’s the convenience that makes the sale. Be honest — given the choice between picking up the dog food at the same store and at the same time as buying little Johnny’s new sneakers or little Mary’s school supplies as opposed to standing in line, loading up the car, driving across town, and doing it all over again? The ease more than makes up for the headache or the few pennies saved – consider the deal closed.

But that’s the direction today’s consumerism is headed – simplicity. People want their lives to be easier. People want to be able to make their own choices on their own time.

LETU-B-U understands this. Unlike so many other websites that sell either Health products or Beauty products, LetU-B-U sells everything the educated consumer wants for Health and Beauty, from vitamins, minerals, and supplements to lotions, perfumes, and accessories. One-stop shopping – there it is again. In today’s market, LETU-B-U is just what the doctor ordered – it’s also just what the dermatologist ordered, and what the fashion consultant ordered, etc. This is one website that lives up to its name and actually does what it says it does. It’s the one place that lets you be you.

Want to lose weight? There are over two hundred diet and weight loss aids listed at LETU-B-U. Want to find the perfect perfume or cologne? LETU-B-U has over a hundred and fifty scents available, for both men and women. Bath and body products? Personal care items? They’re all here. Best of all, LETU-B-U has a wide variety of Gift Sets for that special someone in your life. And you never have to leave the house.

Simplicity.

Health products available at LETU-B-U range from vitamins and supplements to anti-aging aids, products for digestive disorders, antioxidants, and bone/joint care. Want to build muscle or trim fat? For the fitness enthusiast, LETU-B-U provides a wealth of products and services. Supplements, herbs, stackers, weight-gainers – anything you need to keep your body in tip-top condition.

There’s more. LETU-B-U also offers a variety of handbags, umbrellas, watches – items that don’t fit neatly into any one category but can bring a smile to the grouchiest of faces.

Ten Reasons LETU-B-U should be your One-Stop Shop for Health & Beauty Products:

1. You can do it in your pajamas.

2. Great selection, low prices.

3. You get to keep an eye on the stock ticker.

4. Christmas shopping: DONE.

5. No driving in circles looking for a parking spot.

6. Elevator music by request only.

7. Home delivery.

8. Where else can you get a light-up umbrella?

9. Pat Priceless!

10. Great selection, low, low prices.

Go For Comfort And Style In Buying Shoes

When you select a pair of shoes to purchase, you definitely would want them to be in the style that reflects your fashion sense as well as provide the comfort that you need when you wear them. With the wide variety of designs and styles being offered now in the market, you no longer have to sacrifice comfort for style. The market is filled with numerous choices that carry the latest trends coupled with the comfort you so desire in shoes. So your shoes does not only complement your outfit, they feel comfy as well for your pretty feet.

For men, many prefer to own shoes that match with almost whatever they wear. They favor to have a fewer pair of shoes that will go well with their work clothes as well as with their clothes for a casual day out. For work, they would desire shoes that provide comfort so I would recommend a pair of loafers. They do not only go well with your work clothes they complement any casual wear as well. If your work is frequently on the field, you should get shoes that not only support but protects your feet as well from any injury. For athletic shoes and sneakers, go for those with extra padding or cushioning. Before making any purchase though always try on different pairs of shoes and make sure that it fits your feet well.

For women, the shoe industry is offering an abundant number of brands, designs and styles to choose from that they often get overwhelmed and confused over the choices available for them. For work, stick to the classics that go well with your corporate attire. Always go for the type of shoes that is appropriate for career wear like conservative pumps. If you are frequently on the run, go for flat heeled shoes and avoid high heeled shoes that can just give you aching feet at the end of the day. Though stiletto heels most often complement any outfit be it a formal suit or an evening gown, they can be downright uncomfortable. If you desire high heels select those that wouldn’t be giving you difficulty in balancing your walk. Always try on the shoes and walk in it for a while before deciding to buy it. Get a feel of it and see if it doesn’t feel uncomfortable.

Nowadays, it isn’t difficult to find a pair of shoes that not only goes with the style or trend that we like but one that also gives the necessary comfort for our feet. With numerous choices to choose from, select the pair that suits you best.

Why a Killer Video Game is the U.s. Army’s Best Recruitment Tool

By David Verklin and Bernice Kanner

Authors of Watch This, Listen up, Click Here

Since the last draftee reported for duty in December 1972, Uncle Sam has had to hustle to staff an all-volunteer armed force. In the case of the U.S. Army, that meant recruiting 80,000 new soldiers every year — essentially replacing more than the entire workforce of BellSouth every 12 months.

Advertising did the trick initially. After “Today’s Army Wants to Join You” fizzled, in January 1981, “Be All You Can Be” became the battle cry. For two decades, wrapped around ads that made this branch look as adventurous as an Outward Bound course, it resonated with 17-to-24-year-olds (of whom the Army is the nation’s largest employer). Then, in 2001, that was scuttled for an “Army of One.” (“Even though there are 1,045,690 soldiers just like me, I am my own force . . .”) Critics scoffed that the new tin slogan was misguided (isn’t conformity more valued than individuality in the barracks?); the Army countered that it was effective.

Then Iraq exploded.

Despite adding thousands of additional recruiters, upping the enlistment bonus and funding for college, fattening the ad budget, and ratcheting up the patriotic appeal, the Army could not fill its boots.

So the Army added more marketing weaponry. It hosted town hall meetings where civilians could meet soldiers and hear about their accomplishments. It tried product placement: Army mechanics on the Discovery Channel’s Monster Garage tricked out a Jeep. And it launched a thoroughly engaging computer video game that quickly became a gold standard of “advergames” for its effectiveness and realism. Gamers take such real military roles as Intelligence (18F), Engineer (18C), Communications (18E), and Combat Medic (18D), and fire the same weapons the Army has. And when they fire on the run, their aim is less accurate.

Before it was released on July 4, 2002, many expected the $7.3 million game would join the ranks of the $436 hammer and $640 toilet seat as a study of excess. Few predicted “America’s Army” would become the artillery’s most effective marketing tool, conveying the authentic military experience in a voice that prospective recruits want to hear.

More than seven million users have registered (anonymously so as to squelch any fear of recruiter harangues) with 10,000 to 50,000 new ones downloading the shoot-em-up daily. In a dozen running and gunning missions, players advance through the stages of soldierhood — drilling in basic training, target practicing with an M-16, learning about basic emergency medicine, and, finally, diving into combat. The game has been downloaded more than 16 million times, 20 percent of entering cadets at West Point have played it, and between 20 and 40 percent of new Army recruits have played it as well.

“They seek it out rather than the other way around,” noted Chris Chambers, deputy director of the Army Game Project within the Army’s Office of Economic and Manpower Analysis. At an average cost of 10 cents per hour versus $5 to $10 per hour for a TV commercial, it delivers immersion rather than mere impression.

“America’s Army” has proven to be such powerful weaponry that an official game store does brisk business selling collectible action figures, clothes, coffee mugs, and other doodads emblazoned with the logo. The Army builds parties and tournaments across the country around it. A wireless version and sequels including “America’s Army: Special Forces,” where players try to earn a Green Beret by completing Special Forces missions, have been released. Apple created a knockoff: Boot Camp. And the Army now even uses it extensively in training.

Uncle Sam Wants You . . . to play . . . and he’s not the only one. Everyone is getting in on the virtual action. Some, like the Army, create a whole game that functions as a sales brochure. Just as the Army promoted its pro-military message through gameplay, the United Nations World Food Program aims to educate about its mission to combat hunger worldwide. In “Food Force,” players steer a helicopter over the war-torn island of Sheylan, (a fictional cross between Sri Lanka and Somalia) and drop relief supplies to a population with little shelter and less food. Or they create food rations, schedule shipments, or take a supply truck through hostile terrain.

In the racing game, “Volvo Drive for Life” (playable on Microsoft’s Xbox), players are rewarded not for finishing first, but for avoiding accidents. Wander in for a test drive at a Volvo dealer and you can try it in the showroom. Dealers can bestow game cartridges on select prospects and customers. After its royal mascot tromped through “Fight Night Round 3″ (on Xbox 360), Burger King created action games around its bizarre king and made them available for just $3.99 to customers who bought a value meal. (Most games sell for at least 12 times that). Nike went beyond athletes wearing its shoes in the video game NBA 2K6: Tournament players are given different pairs of virtual footwear and choose which to put on from their Nike shoe locker depending on the task. They can also personalize the shoes with the same customization feature that’s on Nike’s iD web site.

In other advergames, marketers hitch a ride. In “CSI: 3 Dimensions of Murder,” Visa’s fraud-monitoring capabilities shine when a suspicious charge on a victim’s credit card triggers investigation by a forensic-sciences team. In Tom Clancy’s “Splinter Cell Chaos Theory,” the protagonist, secret agent Sam Fisher, scales a bright neon sign for Axe deodorant and quietly enters a lunchroom inhabited by a Diet Sprite Zero vending machine. (Axe also created Mojo Master, an online game about picking up women.) In “Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow,” Fisher retrieves a message from a Sony Ericsson smart phone to learn who the villain is. In “Burnout Revenge,” players drive and crash a Carl’s Jr. delivery-truck. And players in Activision’s ‘True Crime” titles take a break from fighting gangs to recover stolen Puma sneakers.

Some marketers install games on corporate web sites or designated URLs, like “Life Saver Candy Stand,” or FiletoFish.com, the web site where a division of McDonald’s posted “Shark Bait” (in English and Spanish). Players must protect the filet-of-fish sandwich from attacking sharks. For Wachovia, Carat’s Fusion recreated the tricky 17th-hole par 3 at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. Players evaluate distance and wind conditions on this 217-yard hole to pick a club: Crowd noise lets them know if they’ve made a good virtual swing. Wachovia has sponsored the annual PGA championship since 2002: The game was fashioned to promote that, sell tickets, and create viral buzz. H&R Block’s “Deduct-A-Buck” game at the deductabuck.com web site is tax-time seasonal. Players who correctly answer questions about what they can legally write off in this Seventies-TV-quiz-show-style game win prizes.

Hollywood and Nashville hardly launch a movie or song anymore without serving up a side of game. And despite hefty royalty rates for movie titles, an action hit will almost certainly be reincarnated on a console. Turner’s “Witchblade” promoted the TV series, and games built around Men in Black II, Spider-Man, and Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course were meant to promote the new releases. Along with ads for Sprite, the sci-fi game “Planetside” featured ads for the movie Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo, and in the free version of “Anarchy Online” a 15-second trailer for V For Vendetta played in a continual loop. Ads for Batman Begins in “Splinter Cell” were timed to its release in local markets.

The Da Vinci Code got its own PS2 game. Paramount Pictures crafted a Mission: Impossible III game for cell phones while Miami Vice had an accompanying game to play on Sony’s handheld PSP.

This is about more than fun and games. Yankee Group estimates that by 2007 a serious gamer will lurk in every fourth home in America. Nielsen says three out of four residences with guys under age 34 have a game system. More people slay orcs in the medieval-style quest for virtual gold and power, “World of Warcraft,” than live in Denmark. In 2006, gamers across the globe owned more than 100 million PlayStation2s and 40 million Xboxes. In the United States, video games already raked in more money than the movie box offices, and Yankee Group says the industry will top $8.3 billion by 2008. PricewaterhouseCoopers says globally it will reach $55 billion by 2009. That explains why a cottage industry in Los Angeles builds game consoles into the backs of Lincoln Navigators.

Collectively, interactive ads embedded in quizzes and games made up more than $1 billion of the $12.5 billion in online ad revenue in 2005, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau. Nielsen (which now measures the industry) expects advertising spending within games will jump from $75 million in 2006 to $1 billon by 2010. Mitch Davis, CEO of Massive, thinks it could be almost twice that — and account for about 3 percent of all media spending, just shy of what advertisers spend on the Internet.

Copyright © 2007 Carat North America, Inc. from the book Watch This, Listen Up, Click Here by David Verklin and Bernice Kanner Published by John Wiley & Sons Inc.; April 2007;$24.95US/$29.99CAN; 978-0-470-05643-1

Shine by Dressing for Success

Dress for Success. Is that irrelevant in today’s business world? How much importance do we place on “dressing up”‘ for work? Well I think in some instances – not enough.

What message does your image send? Do you feel confident in the way you present visually through what you wear? It seems that there is still a lot of confusion in the work place about how we should dress. I read a posting recently on small business website Flying Solo which detailed one guy’s dilemma about what to wear to a client interview and possible photo shoot. To wear a tie or not to? Well the reaction from the comments posted were varied, from “I wear a funny bowtie to break the ice”‘ to “my best suit”‘ to “who cares?”‘

How well do you understand the image you put across? Image is created by a lot of different ingredients acting together. Physical appearance, dress, voice, manner, the views you express or the fact you don’t express any and the way you react to the people around you. These impressions are made instantly. Images are so powerful because however little you may like it they do say something true about your personality. It’s no accident that you dress, talk and behave the way you do.

So what is your visual appearance like? Do you grab the first thing you see in the morning or put some thought into what is the most appropriate outfit for that day? Having an extensive wardrobe of all the latest fashions isn’t really necessary. Establishing your own image and a strong sense of individual personality and style is the key. You may only need a few quality, signature pieces that reflect your individual style and that you can mix and match. You don’t have to look different every day, you just need to look good and look professional.

Let’s look at the scenario of work from home.

Get up and get dressed! Ditch the pj’s and trackie daks. Put on something smart and comfortable. I’ve often read that it helps to have a separate work place in your home, a dedicated office phone line. Well it’s the same with your personal brand. To be making calls, sending emails and acting in a professional way to run your business, means dressing in a professional way too. Now I don’t mean you need a shirt and tie or a corporate outfit but choose clothes that make you feel like you’re working. You must look smart not only in the eyes of the people you’re around but your own as well.

Going out to meet a client? Dress appropriately for the occasion. Do your research. You wouldn’t go to a client meeting without knowing something about the company. Find out how the boss dresses, that’s a start, or the code of dress in that organisation and take it up a notch. After all you’re there to win the client’s business and that won’t happen if you dress inappropriately or look like a slob.

Think about what they’re looking for. If you’re in finance, law or other professional services they want you to look like a credible, successful business person. You might be in IT or a creative service. Your potential client wouldn’t expect to see you in a 3 piece suit. However does that mean you need to wear jeans and scruffy sneakers? Think about it, plan it out. You are part of the package that you’re presenting to the client. People shouldn’t judge us by our outward appearances, but of course they do.

I know a number of professional speakers, it’s the industry I’m in. Let me share an example of two men, both $10,000 speakers. One works mostly with creatives yet has invested time and money into developing his image, finding the right cut to suit his body shape, wearing flattering colours, and choosing smart casual outfits. He looks like a $10,000 speaker. Another with a great reputation for the work he does with leading entrepreneurs still chooses to wear the tried (or maybe tired) and trusted jeans and black jacket. Mmmmm.

This scenario should be considered also by those that work in a slightly more casual workplace environment or have to endure casual work days. Jeans just don’t cut it. They are what you wear when you are out and about at weekends or going out with friends at night.

Your appearance does label you; therefore it is crucial to get the right label! If your appearance shows that you care, people will recognise this. If you look like a slob, they begin to question your professionalism. It’s not trivial to concentrate on your outward appearance. When you carefully select your wardrobe and create your look and personal style, you propel yourself forward by having a unique self brand.

Let’s take a look at the corporate workplace.

Each workplace usually sets its own standards. However in the corporate environment there is an underlying code of dressing which is smart and professional. Suits have been the most acceptable form of dress in most industries with a trend today toward more casual wear particularly in IT and advertising and similar industries. Men have it easier than women in the matter of image. They at least have an example to follow. If everyone in the office wears suits there’s no question they will do the same.

I think if you have one good working outfit for every day of the week that is all you really need. The idea is to mix and match and choose good, quality pieces. You can update with shirts, ties and accessories. What your clients or bosses want is someone who looks speaks and acts like they think someone in that position should speak or act. I think a woman or man who dresses smartly, elegantly and looks neat has a clear image of his or herself and what they are presenting to the outside world.

What do you think?

Keywords, Competition and Being Number One- Uncovering the Algorithm

By following these steps you will see that most closely guarded secret– the search algorithm. Remember the movie “The Matrix?” The Matrix is there, you just can’t see it. So is the search algorithm.

It’s easy to pay a Search Engine Optimizer to give your pages some ranking power. Unfortunately, given the inherent time factor involved in climbing the ranks, your money may be long gone before you know if you’ve spent your money well.

THERE IS NO MAGIC PILL

Forget any advertisement you see for instant number one search results or automated this or that. Most are scams, and the ones that aren’t might get you positioned, but it will be very short lived.

Search engine optimization is an ongoing process. Achieving and maintaining a high rank, especially on highly competitive keywords, requires constant maintenance. If you do find a legitimate SEO firm, it is well worth the money to pay their monthly maintenance fee and let them continue to help you after the initial project. At least for 6 months or a year as you establish yourself.

In this article we’ll look at some of the intricate and complex tasks of optimizing a page for long term ranking power. You will learn how to read between the code and the content to find what is necessary to bring you to the top. Being number one is easy to say, but is quickly overwhelming when you stare at tens of thousands of pages you want to out rank. So how do you begin?

The starting line on the road to that first page SERP (search engine results page) ranking is not as blurry as you might think. In fact, you can uncover the starting line, the route, and all the scenery along the way to the finish line without knowing the search engine algorithm.

STEP 1- YOUR KEYWORDS ARE THE CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT OF GRUELLING DAYS OF WORK

If you have investments in the stock market you know how much research and thought goes into choosing those securities. Now take that same effort and multiply it by three. That’s how much planning and revision your keywords should take.

A simple, broad key phrase like “shoes” could hypothetically bring you up in a countless stream of different searches. Women’s shoes, baby shoes, sneakers, high heels, etc. If somehow you manage to settle into a good ranking (which would be difficult) you would have more traffic on your site than you could handle. But traffic is worthless is it doesn’t get to its destination. Chances are, you weren’t that destination.

Your keywords must be focused and precise, specific to what you are selling. Using a key phrase like “Gucci means black leather loafer” will bring a targeted lead to your site. You may not reach as many people as the more generalized keyword, but the people that do come to you have a much deeper interest in the specific product you are selling.

Therefore you have much greater chance of converting that targeted lead to a sale. Your keywords are your magic beans, your winning lotto numbers, your energizer bunnies, your sales force, whatever you want to call them. They must be perfect.

STEP 2- WANT TO BE NUMBER ONE? LOOK AT WHO ALREADY IS

Competition Analysis- no SEO book can give you this information.

Now take your keyword list and type them into a search engine. Who comes up in the first ten results? That company that is number one is because they have most closely matched what the search engine algorithm says should be number one. You can learn a great deal from them.

A. INTERNAL FACTORS

Take that number one page, and the other top 9 pages and study them, look at the code, break them down. You are looking at the first half of what is needed to rank in the top 10 pages for your key phrases on that particular search engine. The list of what to look for is enormous.

Studying the Internal Factors on a page is taking it apart to see how it’s put together. Not how it works, but statistical research into the precise construct and layout of keywords and phrases in relation to each other within the page.

Start with these areas:

URL address, Page Title, Meta description, Meta Keywords, First sentence on the page, Body copy, Bold or Emphasized Phrases, H1 or other tags, Alt Tags, Navigation system

In each of those sections, look at:

Keyword densities- the number of times your phrase and each word in your phrase appears compared to the text around it

Where and in how many times the same phrase and words appear in different sections

The word and character position of each phrase in each

The total number of characters

The total number of words

The quality and thought of the content

Beginning with these comparisons should keep you quite busy for a while. A spreadsheet is quite useful. Some commercial products are also available that can make this daunting task much more feasible. Keep looking for other patterns and differences. You want to duplicate them in your own page. NOT copy and steal. You want to mimic the patterns that are bringing that page to the position it is. Then move onto to examining the external factors of these pages.

B. EXTERNAL FACTORS

External factors of a web page deal with the links to, from and within a web page, both inside the same site, and out into the web. This analysis usually takes more time because it involves more dissection of pages beyond the one you’re trying to optimize.

In this analysis as with Internal Factors, you want to compare and contrast your page versus the top 10 competitors, find similarities and differences. Here is a list of criteria to get you started.

Number of internal (to the same site) on that page

Number of external links

Number of links pointing TO that page* (see below for details)

The link/anchor text- which keywords are used and where

Google Page Rank value of incoming links

Alexa Rank of incoming links

*To get a listing of the links that point to a site, type the following into Google, MSN and Yahoo searches: “link:www.domainname.com”. Google tends to only show a small portion of the links back, but MSN and Yahoo will give you much more pertinent data.

Now you want to compare the content on each of these pages to the one they point to. Is it of similar theme, in what context does the link back appear and where. Subject of much debate, the consensus is that Google Page Rank does not mean what it used to. However, if it is in some fashion a measure of how significant or “important” a site is, it is worth looking more closely at the sites that link back that are of high page rank.

EVEN A SURGEON USES TOOLS

Now, this is definitely a ton of work to do all by hand. There are software programs that can help do some of the digging and mathematical computations for you, figuring out densities and organizing information.

Tools like this are definitely ones a professional SEO will have in their arsenal. But remember, these are tools, not miracle workers. It takes a human being to evaluate and realize connections, similarities, draw conclusions and interpret the data. Then, you have to extrapolate this data.

Remember, you want to do one better than every site you just examined. To do that you have to draw some conclusions and make some educated guesses and link to even better sites.

FINAL THOUGHTS

You have access to the inner workings of every page that you want to beat. Learn from them and do one better. This process is not a one-time shot. It is ongoing. Check your key phrases every week. Do the same people still rank in the top ten?

Some have probably moved. Remember too that they’re going to adapt to maintain their positions too. If you want the ranks, you have to spend the time, and not just once, or pay someone to do it for you.

Don’t ever believe anyone who says they can guarantee any kind of results. And ask them how they will optimize your pages. If they explain to you something like the above, then you’ve probably got yourself someone experienced and honest. You money will be well spent and you’ll quickly recover it.

Competition and Being Number One- Uncovering the Algorithm, Keywords

By following these steps you will see that most closely guarded secret– the search algorithm. Remember the movie “The Matrix?” The Matrix is there, you just can’t see it. So is the search algorithm.

It’s easy to pay a Search Engine Optimizer to give your pages some ranking power. Unfortunately, given the inherent time factor involved in climbing the ranks, your money may be long gone before you know if you’ve spent your money well.

THERE IS NO MAGIC PILL

Forget any advertisement you see for instant number one search results or automated this or that. Most are scams, and the ones that aren’t might get you positioned, but it will be very short lived.

Search engine optimization is an ongoing process. Achieving and maintaining a high rank, especially on highly competitive keywords, requires constant maintenance. If you do find a legitimate SEO firm, it is well worth the money to pay their monthly maintenance fee and let them continue to help you after the initial project. At least for 6 months or a year as you establish yourself.

In this article we’ll look at some of the intricate and complex tasks of optimizing a page for long term ranking power. You will learn how to read between the code and the content to find what is necessary to bring you to the top. Being number one is easy to say, but is quickly overwhelming when you stare at tens of thousands of pages you want to out rank. So how do you begin?

The starting line on the road to that first page SERP (search engine results page) ranking is not as blurry as you might think. In fact, you can uncover the starting line, the route, and all the scenery along the way to the finish line without knowing the search engine algorithm.

STEP 1- YOUR KEYWORDS ARE THE CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT OF GRUELLING DAYS OF WORK

If you have investments in the stock market you know how much research and thought goes into choosing those securities. Now take that same effort and multiply it by three. That’s how much planning and revision your keywords should take.

A simple, broad key phrase like “shoes” could hypothetically bring you up in a countless stream of different searches. Women’s shoes, baby shoes, sneakers, high heels, etc. If somehow you manage to settle into a good ranking (which would be difficult) you would have more traffic on your site than you could handle. But traffic is worthless is it doesn’t get to it’s destination. Chances are, you weren’t that destination.

Your keywords must be focused and precise, specific to what you are selling. Using a key phrase like “Gucci mens black leather loafer” will bring a targeted lead to your site. You may not reach as many people as the more generalized keyword, but the people that do come to you have a much deeper interest in the specific product you are selling.

Therefore you have much greater chance of converting that targeted lead to a sale. Your keywords are your magic beans, your winning lotto numbers, your energizer bunnies, your sales force, whatever you want to call them. They must be perfect.

STEP 2- WANT TO BE NUMBER ONE? LOOK AT WHO ALREADY IS

Competition Analysis- no SEO book can give you this information.

Now take your keyword list and type them into a search engine. Who comes up in the first ten results? That company that is number one is because they have most closely matched what the search engine algorithm says should be number one. You can learn a great deal from them.

A. INTERNAL FACTORS

Take that number one page, and the other top 9 pages and study them, look at the code, break them down. You are looking at the first half of what is needed to rank in the top 10 pages for your key phrases on that particular search engine. The list of what to look for is enormous.

Studying the Internal Factors on a page is taking it apart to see how it’s put together. Not how it works, but statistical research into the precise construct and layout of keywords and phrases in relation to each other within the page.

Start with these areas:

URL address, Page Title, Meta description, Meta Keywords, First sentence on the page, Body copy, Bold or Emphasized Phrases, H1 or other tags, Alt Tags, Navigation system

In each of those sections, look at:

Keyword densities- the number of times your phrase and each word in your phrase appears compared to the text around it

Where and in how many times the same phrase and words appear in different sections

The word and character position of each phrase in each

The total number of characters

The total number of words

The quality and thought of the content

Beginning with these comparisons should keep you quite busy for a while. A spreadsheet is quite useful. Some commercial products are also available that can make this daunting task much more feasible. Keep looking for other patterns and differences. You want to duplicate them in your own page. NOT copy and steal. You want to mimic the patterns that are bringing that page to the position it is. Then move onto to examining the external factors of these pages.

B. EXTERNAL FACTORS

External factors of a web page deal with the links to, from and within a web page, both inside the same site, and out into the web. This analysis usually takes more time because it involves more dissection of pages beyond the one you’re trying to optimize.

In this analysis as with Internal Factors, you want to compare and contrast your page versus the top 10 competitors, find similarities and differences. Here is a list of criteria to get you started.

Number of internal (to the same site) on that page

Number of external links

Number of links pointing TO that page* (see below for details)

The link/anchor text- which keywords are used and where

Google Page Rank value of incoming links

Alexa Rank of incoming links

*To get a listing of the links that point to a site, type the following into Google, MSN and Yahoo searches: “link:www.domainname.com”. Google tends to only show a small portion of the links back, but MSN and Yahoo will give you much more pertinent data.

Now you want to compare the content on each of these pages to the one they point to. Is it of similar theme, in what context does the link back appear and where. Subject of much debate, the consensus is that Google Page Rank does not mean what it used to. However, if it is in some fashion a measure of how significant or “important” a site is, it is worth looking more closely at the sites that link back that are of high page rank.

EVEN A SURGEON USES TOOLS

Now, this is definitely a ton of work to do all by hand. There are software programs that can help do some of the digging and mathematical computations for you, figuring out densities and organizing information.

Tools like this are definitely ones a professional SEO will have in their arsenal. But remember, these are tools, not miracle workers. It takes a human being to evaluate and realize connections, similarities, draw conclusions and interpret the data. Then, you have to extrapolate this data.

Remember, you want to do one better than every site you just examined. To do that you have to draw some conclusions and make some educated guesses and link to even better sites.

FINAL THOUGHTS

You have access to the inner workings of every page that you want to beat. Learn from them and do one better. This process is not a one-time shot. It is ongoing. Check your key phrases every week. Do the same people still rank in the top ten?

Some have probably moved. Remember too that they’re going to adapt to maintain their positions too. If you want the ranks, you have to spend the time, and not just once, or pay someone to do it for you.

Don’t ever believe anyone who says they can guarantee any kind of results. And ask them how they will optimize your pages. If they explain to you something like the above, then you’ve probably got yourself someone experienced and honest. You money will be well spent and you’ll quickly recover it.

About the author: Did you find this article useful? For more useful tips and hints, points to ponder and keep in mind, techniques, and insights pertaining to web design, do please browse for more information at our websites.
http://www.infozabout.comhttp://www.numbering.infozabout.com

Travel: Traveling Light on a Cruise

On a cruise, you would meet new people and new people means, new impressions. How could be impression be formed?  There are factors and though it is shallow to think of, the way a person dresses up affects how people around look at him or her. A well-dressed person is often regarded of as a confident person. But, others are so timid to look at.

How could one still be fashionable without having to carry the whole closet? You are on your way away from home; packing is the next thing to consider. As you travel, you must bear in mind that you have to travel light, bring what is only important and what are your must-haves. It will be a big hassle on your part if you carry with you an extremely heavy bag, Instead of giving you the break of your life, it will surely break your shoulders apart.

Packing the things you need is so important. How to do it?

Casual, formal and informal are things or clothes one must consider bringing as present from them In daylight, shorts tees, Capri pants, sneakers, slippers and simple tees are fine for me. These are sources of comfort and they are much suited for the ordinary days. Your bikinis, sunscreen lotion, flip flops, sunglasses, and your necessities for the beach.

For the night time something a little formal will do the trick, try on something strap for women and for men, trousers and blazer may do. Dressing up does not mean that you have to be very fancy, all you need to have is presentable clothes, easy to carry and the most important thing is it is being worn with confidence.

Being on a cruise does not mean you have to forget how you look especially if you are out for the singles cruise. There you have to be attractive in some ways because you are there in search for someone. Traveling light while not having to look messy will surely make your cruise unforgettable.

Always take care of your belongings when you set out for a cruise, traveling light will help you do this much easier. Moreover, having so many loads to carry along your trip will not help you achieved your purpose of relaxation. It would even resort to stress or anxiety- so beware!

It will be hassle- free, stress-free and it may be a wonderful start of something you have been wishing for, with someone you have been waiting for.

Keeping Football Feet in Good Health

In the footwear war between style and substance, comfort remains king.

Shoe makers are streamlining their styles and injecting coziness into their shoes more than ever before Leslie Gallin said after scouring the offerings at the World Shoe Association Show in Las Vegas.

Gallin hand picks the high-end brands showcased at The Collections at the show. The former Geoffrey Beene vice president said the wobbly economy means consumers will ditch their Carrie Bradshaw ways in coming months and instead make like Cinderella, using more discretion when choosing which shoes are best for them.

Gallin noticed five footwear trends that could help shoe buyers make dashing decisions:

Keeping comfort close — Shoe designers are making way for such amenities as silicone foot insoles that add cushy support and specially treated leathers that help shoes fit like gloves. The comfy luxuries aren’t just being reserved for sneakers anymore. Gallin said fashion-forward shoe companies are taking big risks to make their designs feel as fabulous as they look.

“I think Generation X realized it first,” said Gallin. “The Baby Boomers were still sacrificing comfort for style. Then, we finally discovered you can have both. Now, I think everyone is on the same page. Designers and manufacturers are putting real scientific knowledge into their shoes in order to save the comfort.”

It’s a jungle down there — Call it a comeback. From python to zebra skin, animal printed shoes stampeded across the WSA Show in several different styles. This time, however, texture has become just as important as the pattern itself. Shoe makers are now making it a point to infuse slick and velvety depth into animal printed shoes without compromising the integrity of your own hooves.

“It doesn’t have to be real, but it’s doesn’t also have to appear fake,” said Gallin. “Manufacturers are doing a great deal with paper. It’s eco-friendly and looks like snake skin, yet it’s strong enough to use to make shoes and handbags. I defy most people to tell the difference between it and real snake skin. It’s completely unbelievable.”

The push for prints isn’t limited to creatures. Wallpaper-inspired designs are coming off the walls and onto consumers’ feet. Designers displayed several formal and causal shoe styles at the WSA Show that were embossed with rich and regal patterns worthy of being glued to the most formal of rooms.

Old is new again and again — Vintage styles and colors from the 1930s to the ’50s have left a lasting impression on the footwear industry.

Jewel tones and old-school metallics such as rose gold and muted silver continue to be popular choices for women’s footwear. Peep-toed shoes also have become an elegant but not over-the-top shoe construction staple while classic one- to two-inch heels provide modern comfort.

“That really translates across America regardless of price-point,” said Gallin. “They tend to be far more realistic. Yes, the high, high heels are certainly here, but that’s more for dressing up and going out, not necessarily your average shoe. These vintage-inspired styles really lend themselves to shorter, comfortable heels.”

Making another statement — The green movement has extended to your feet. Almost.

“It still has a way to go,” said Gallin. “It’s going to take Europe embracing this trend and mixing it with the technology. The top of the shoe might be eco-friendly, but the bottom might not be. There’s definitely a shift in that direction because it also makes the shoe lighter. Anything that makes a shoe light is good.”

Meanwhile, non-leather vegan shoes were more prominent at the WSA Show, thanks to advances in synthetic manufacturing and chemical treatments. The materials are virtually identical to their genuine counterparts, but they’re still more expensive, which means consumers looking for animal-free shoes don’t have quite as many options.

Flats will get you everywhere — Don’t worry, ladies. Flats — ballerina, square, platform, whatever — are here to stay. Gallin said the simple style that has been sweeping the industry in the past five years shows no signs of leveling. Despite a desire to introduce new trends, shoe makers had plenty of new non-heeled slippers to show off to retail buyers. It’s another example of comfort.

“Every maturation of flat is here to stay,” said Gallin. “That kind of comfort will never go out of style.”

for more information, please visit www.ishoesclub.com

God’S Warriors

Megan Nolan emerged from the bowels of Montmartre’s Abbesses Metro station into a cold and raw late afternoon in January of 2001. Rawer and colder, it seemed to her, than when she had entered the Metro near her apartment in the Latin Quarter only twenty minutes earlier. To catch her breath, she lit a Gauloise and stood near the station’s covered entrance. A passing businessman slowed to stare at her as she stood and smoked. Her strawberry blonde hair flowed down to the shoulders of her dark green, au courant wool overcoat, which itself flowed down to the tops of her knee- high Prada boots. Under the coat, she had on faded jeans and an ivory-colored cashmere turtleneck sweater. She did not wear jewelry in Montmartre as she had heard stories of the sudden knock down and necklace-, or worse, earring-grab by marauding boys. Her hair and her gold-flecked green eyes were her best accessories anyway. She did love jewelry though, to wear and to sell, which is why she was going to see her friend Annabella Jeritza, the widowed gypsy fortuneteller whose shop was only a few blocks away near the obscure little Olney Park.

Skirting the Square Jehan-Rictus with its ridiculous Je T’aime wall — a mass of blue tiles with stylized I Love You’s in various languages written on them — Megan headed east on Rue Yvonne le Tac, whose name always made her smile because she had stolen Yvonne Taccopina’s boyfriend in high school and then broken his heart like it was a dry twig. And Yvonne’s too, into the bargain. In her shoulder bag was a white gold, heart-shaped pendant in its original Raumet velvet box, given to her for Christmas by her current boyfriend, Alain, whose father owned the Raumet chain. This Annabella would find a buyer for and receive a ten percent commission. At Harry Winston yesterday Megan had located a similar pendant priced at $7,800. She expected to net $2,000, which she would add to her account with Pictet & Cie, her private Swiss banker on Avenue des Champs-Elysees.

Alain would no doubt eventually ask her why she hadn’t worn the pendant, which would give her an opportunity to tell him that she decided what she wore and when, not him. She could sell it if she wished, couldn’t she? Or was it a gift with strings? Alain, who was lithely and sensuously beautiful, and whose unconscious sense of superiority exuded from his every pore, was, when all was said and done, a twenty-four-year old child who could — and would — easily be brought to heel. Only three years older, Megan felt ancient compared to her new lover, too worldly wise for her own good. Not a good feeling, but there it was, and there was all of Alain’s unearned money, his very real sexual charms, and of course his father’s jewelry.

As Megan strolled along Rue Durantin, she was stared at by the lost boys, whores, pimps, drug dealers and pickpockets — the cream of Paris’s low life — who hung out in and around the bars and greasy spoons that lined the avenue. Clutching tightly to her bag, her naturally proud and erect bearing making her look taller than her five-foot seven inches, she tossed her hair in defiance, and moved with apparent casualness through the carnival that was Montmartre, especially on market day, when the tourists showed up in busloads to be victimized. At the corner of Rue Caulaincourt, she ran into two prostitutes whose garish makeup and fantastic dress she had used in a story about slut chic that the editors at Cosmopolitan had bought thinking they were on to something new in the world of fashion. The mother-and-daughter team named Marie and Michelle had been agog with pride when Megan photographed them and gave them $50 each for their “personal story and image rights.”

Megan stopped to chat, noticing as she did, the girls’ pimp, a large and muscular mulatto named Sky, watching them through the plate glass window of the pizzeria on the corner. It was Sky who had actually taken the girls’ hundred dollars and signed their names to the releases that Megan carried in her bag at all times. Sky had hit on her, and Megan’s smile in response had not been one of complete dismissal. Afterward, she made it a point to stop by the pizzeria — Sky’s office — to chat him up. A graceful and attractive man of about thirty-five, with close-cropped hair and incredible light blue eyes, Megan was not going to sleep with him, although in another lifetime she might have. Her instincts however — the instincts of a woman alone whose only protection was her wits and her cunning — told her that such a man would be worth knowing, if only to have a friend in the wilds of Montmartre.

On the next block, Megan turned into an alley that led to a weed and rubble-strewn courtyard that serviced several of the six-story apartment buildings on Rue Durantin and the street behind it, including Annabella’s. In the good weather, she would sometimes find Annabella in the courtyard hanging clothes or sitting drinking tea with her gypsy women friends, some of whom were young mothers watching their children playing. Megan, beginning around the age of sixteen, was acutely aware of the envy and jealousy she aroused in other females. Their eyes were paint brushes dipped in fear and hate. Annabella’s friends — gypsies to the bone — painted her with the hottest of colors. Though she was allowed to pass unhindered because of her friendship with the old fortuneteller, she was hoping not to have to deal with any gypsies on her way to the back entrance to Annabella’s shop. At the end of the alley, she slowed and stood behind a rusted dumpster to survey the scene ahead. Relieved to see the courtyard empty, she was about to step from behind the dumpster when she saw Annabella hurtling across the ramshackle wooden porch at the back of her building and down its three steps to land sprawling and twisted in the weeds under a naked clothes line.

Before Megan could react, Annabella’s son, a swarthy and arrogant little man whom Megan had seen once or twice about the fortuneteller’s shop — reeking of alcohol each time — emerged from the back door, through which he had obviously thrown his mother. When he reached Annabella she was trying to rise and he helped her by grabbing her by her brassy orange hair and lifting and turning her to face him before slapping her twice across the face with a fully arcing forehand and backhand, the backhand jarring her loose from his grip and knocking her back to the ground. There Annabella lay, inert, her rouged cheek resting on an old magazine — it looked like Paris Match to Megan–while her son leaned over her to say something before spitting on her and turning to go back into the building.

Megan took a step toward Annabella and then stopped as her friend lifted herself on one elbow and began in halting strokes to smooth her long cotton skirt down her legs, which, stick-like and clad in stockings rolled to just below the knee, had been exposed almost to the waist when she first hit the ground. In the old gypsy’s profile, Megan could clearly see the welted hand mark on her right cheek, its reddish hue deepening by the second so that it looked like it had been painted on, part of a costume or ritual. Megan remembered — she would for a long time — the cloud of rouge that had risen from Annabella’s wrinkled face as each downward blow from her son’s right hand landed with a sharp snap like the lash of a whip. Megan remained in place, only her eyes visible over the top edge of the dumpster, and watched as Annabella slowly pulled herself to her feet. Searching the ground, trying to steady herself, the old palm reader spotted something and then stooped to retrieve the multi-colored kerchief she wore at all times on her head. Carrying it in her hand–the bobby pins must have gone flying — she walked unsteadily but not without dignity into the building.

* * *

Eight months later, near the end of a hot day in early September, Megan stood at the filigreed wrought iron fence that bordered the grassy playing field of L’Ermitage International School in the leafy suburb of Maison-Lafitte, west of Paris. Through the fence’s sturdy bars, she could see a group of middle school girls, eleven- and twelve-year olds, playing soccer amid the elongated shadows cast by the chimneys of the nearby seventeenth century castle that had given the town its name. The girls all wore the same black shorts and Nike sneakers, the teams differentiated by the colors of their L’Ermitage-embossed T-shirts. The girl she was interested in, Jeanne, had just scored for the green team. Megan did not know the score as she had arrived mid-game and there was no scoreboard, but she knew the goal was important by the way Jeanne’s teammates surrounded her in brief exultation before setting up for the ensuing kick-off.

An older girl, a freckled American-looking blonde around sixteen or so in a chic blue skirt, striped top and the ubiquitous Nikes, was doing double duty as referee and scorekeeper. When she blew her whistle to end the game, Megan leaned in as Jeanne passed, fifty feet or so from the fence, as she made her way through the post-game handshake line. With her raven-black hair and dusky coloring, Jeanne looked nothing like the rest of the girls, but her flushed face and the sparkle in her dark, piercing eyes — her team had apparently won — spoke of a happy child, her place in her small world secure. Megan knew this had not always been so.

The girls gathered their gear along the sidelines and headed in groups of two and three to the school. Megan watched Jeanne until the last possible moment. No one had noticed her watching the game. And certainly no one knew that she had contracted to fund Jeanne’s tuition at L’Ermitge, a seven-day, twelve-month boarding school, through the end of her twelfth year, a sum that would eventually exceed $90,000. Most of this money she had already extracted from the by now desperately-in-love Alain Tillinac, and given it with special instructions to Pictet & Cie.

On the short train ride back to Paris, Megan watched the small towns and countryside roll by for a while and then, images of a happy and healthy Jeanne fresh in her mind, allowed herself to recall her first, and last, meeting with the child, who was at the time chained to a filthy bed in the rear of an apartment in a housing project in the Paris suburb of Florentin.

* * *

“We have your man,” Sky had said over the phone, giving her the address. “Do not delay.” In thirty minutes, she was there. Boiko Jeritza was there as well, sitting in a stuffed chair in a dark living room, his mouth duct-taped shut, his hands tied behind his back. Boiko’s wild eyes followed them as Sky led her into the grimy kitchen where he showed her the photographs, sixteen in all: of children — boys and girls — naked or half-naked, some forlornly posing, some having sex with men. One of the men was Boiko. In the same folder that had held the photographs was a list of customers, some highlighted in yellow, some with amounts in euros next to their names and addresses. Before Megan could speak, they heard a noise from a back room and there they found Jeanne.

The plan was to frighten Boiko into submission, but Megan now believed he was dead. Was, in fact, sure he was dead. She had been to visit Annabella a half-dozen times since, and not seen Boiko once. Two weeks earlier, she summoned the courage to ask the old gypsy about her son. They were drinking tea laced with whiskey late one night in Annabella’s back room. The old gypsy’s face had healed but occasionally Megan would see her lightly brushing the back of her fingers across one cheek or the other. Annabella had put down her cup on the oilcloth covered table between them, and said, “He is in hell.”

“In hell?” Megan had asked.

“With Satan, where he belongs, and can do no more harm”

“He’s dead?”

Annabella smiled before answering, looking Megan in the eye for a second or two. A long second or two.

“Yes, but you know that he is,” she said finally.

It was Megan’s turn to be silent. Missing, gone away, did not mean dead. Was she fishing? Tying to confirm her suspicions? Or did she, as Megan more and more was coming to believe, have the second sight that gypsies spoke of quietly and revered?

“How did he die?” she asked, at length, returning her friend’s stare with equanimity. She had not survived the last nine years on her own in Europe and Africa by giving any cards away.

“He was slain by St. Michael, the archangel.”

“At your request?”

“Using his instruments on earth.”

“Annabella, you’re scaring me.”

“God’s warriors do not always appear to be so.”

Megan sat back in her chair and shook her head slightly. Sky had disappeared for a while as well, but he had soon returned to his office at the pizzeria, keeping his beautiful eyes on his whores and their customers. He had asked for another two thousand euros, for expenses, but he seemed unchanged, his usual breezy and menacing self.

“Who are they?” she asked.

“I don’t know, but once they are chosen, they are apart. They have one foot in another world.”

Megan picked up her cup and took a sip, feeling the fire in her throat as she swallowed Annabella’s concoction, hot and soothing, like the gypsy herself. Her hand was steady as she replaced the cup on the table, her heartbeat normal.

* * *

Megan was still in her reverie as her train neared the Gare de Montparnasse. Once they are chosen, Annabella had said, they are apart. It would be one thing to have a conscience, bad enough, but to be chosen? To be apart? She shuddered at this thought. Sky had been chosen, not her. She did not mind not liking herself. What was there to like? It was liking herself, or rather attempting to behave in such a way as to create this feeling, that troubled her. That would mean an end to her life as she knew it. There was Jeanne of course, but that was a special case. A child so abused, a young girl with no family, had to be helped. She did not even know her last name and did to want to know. Sky, and her bankers, had made all the arrangements. She had made the trip to Maison-Lafitte out of curiosity, a natural curiosity under the circumstances, but would never see the girl again.

On her recent visits with Annabella, the old woman had taken to holding Megan’s hand, occasionally turning it over and rubbing her thumb across the palm as if to erase the future she saw there. Yes, but you know that he is, her friend had said, and Megan had not denied it. Perhaps retribution was in store for the part she had played in Boiko’s demise. How ironic that she should be punished for so just an act.

Megan smiled to herself at this thought. Cause and effect and moralizing were not her cup of tea. Tomorrow she would spend the day with Alain at the Ritz; it was his birthday. She would tolerate Alain for a while longer. He was very handsome and quite energetic. Why not? The train’s low hissing as it came to its full stop seemed to emphasize this thought. Why not? Nothing need change, nor will it.

The above is an excerpt from the book A World I Never Made by James LePore. The above excerpt is a digitally scanned reproduction of text from print. Although this excerpt has been proofread, occasional errors may appear due to the scanning process. Please refer to the finished book for accuracy.

Copyright © 2009 James LePore author of A World I Never Made

Author Bio
James LePore, author of A World I Never Made, is a powerful, incisive writer with a sparkling future as a novelist. He is an attorney who has practiced law for more than two decades. He is also an accomplished photographer. He lives in South Salem, NY with his wife, artist Karen Chandler. A World I Never Made is his first novel. He is currently at work on his second, which The Story Plant will published in spring 2010.

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