Welcome to Netconcepts’ Learning Center. These articles, tutorials and presentations are designed to help you learn more about topics close to our heart.

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For Immediate Release

Netconcepts® Vice President of Search Brian Klais Among Panel of Experts Discussing Paid & Organic Search at shop.Org Online Marketing Workshop

Brian Klais, Netconcepts Vice President of Search, will be among a panel of experts discussing Improving ROI of Paid & Organic Search at the shop.org Online Marketing Workshop 2007, continuing today in Hollywood, Florida. Panel members will be sharing specific tactics used to improve website performance and maximize profitability.

Hollywood, FL April 19, 2007 – www.Netconcepts.com – Netconcepts®, LLC., the premier natural search firm enabling a leading tier of the top 200 Internet Retailers to “get found” online, will be represented today at shop.org’s Online Marketing Workshop 2007 by Vice President of Search, Brian Klais.

Mr. Klais will be among a panel of experts discussing Improving ROI of Paid and Organic Search. Other speakers, including Ice.com founder Pinny Gniwisch, Commerce360 Founder & President Craig Danuloff & Geary Interactive SEO Manager Andrew Rodrigues will be discussing specific tactics used to improve performance and how to maximize profitability by properly analyzing the results.

As Vice President of Search for Netconcepts, Brian Klais is a recognized expert in the area of search marketing, and currently oversees one of the leading natural search marketing practices devoted to helping retailers, brands, and media portals optimize their natural search performance.
Under his leadership, Netconcepts has become one of the leading voices for search engine ready e-commerce with clients such as REI, Kohls, HSN & Cabela’s.

“I am pleased to be able to share ideas my ideas on paid and organic search with such an esteemed group of peers to the shop.org audience,” states Klais. “By discussing tactics developed from our combined experience, we hope the audience leaves inspired to improve their ongoing search campaigns.”

Mr. Klais can be seen on the panel discussion Improving ROI of Paid and Organic Search at 1pm on Thursday, April 19th at shop.org’s Online Marketing Workshop 2007.

Netconcepts® is committed to arming top Internet retailers with online strategies and technology platforms designed to increase online sales. With proprietary technology and processes including GravityStream™ and GravityMarket™, online retailers will “get found” on the search engines. Online retailers succeeding with the aid of Netconcepts, include Discovery Communications, Northern Tool, Home Shopping Network, Kohl’s Department Stores, REI, and Cabela’s among other brands. Netconcepts is based in Madison Wisconsin with a production facility in Auckland, New Zealand.

For Immediate Release

BETA VERSION OF WORDPRESS SEO TITLE TAG PLUGIN MADE GENERALLY AVAILABLE TODAY BY NATURAL SEARCH ENGINE FIRM, NETCONCEPTS

SEO Title Tag Plugin Version 2.0 is Available in Beta and Absolutely Free to all Who Wish to Easily Optimize Title Tags across a WordPress Blog

NEW YORK – April 10, 2007 – www.netconcepts.com – Netconcepts®, LLC., the premier natural search firm enabling a leading tier of the top 200 Internet Retailers to “get found” online, today announced the general availability of its SEO Title Tag 2.0 beta version plugin.

Download the freeware WordPress SEO Title Tag plugin today and help your WordPress powered blog or Website avoid Google’s dreaded Supplemental Index by assigning every URL its own unique tag.

“Title tags are arguably the most important of the on-page factors for search engine optimization (SEO),” said Stephan Spencer, NetConcepts president. “Netconcepts is proud to have developed the SEO Title Tag 2.0 WordPress plugin as an open source solution.”

The plugin makes it dead easy to optimize title tags across a WordPress powered blog or website. Not just posts, not just home pages, but any and every title tag on the site.

Ultimately the plugin enables more traffic to be driven to the site because it:

• Shows the search engine a unique title for each page
• Decouples post titles from title tags, and
• Helps prevents routing to the “Supplemental Index” in Google

SEO Title Tag Plugin capabilities include:

• Custom title tag override of pages and posts
• Mass title tag editing of all posts, static pages, category pages, tag pages, tag conjunction pages, archive by month pages and any URL
• 404 error title tag definition capability
• Title tags for internal search results
• Custom title tags on tag pages, and on tag conjunction pages when used with Ultimate Tag Warrior

Online comments about the free SEO Title Tag plugin include:
“Great plugin! I had used a large custom tag script to do this before.”
“Thank you for sharing for a wonderful Wordpress SEO-Title-Tag plugin, this is truly the most easy and effective way for creating a better title for the homepage and post.”

Download and test the freeware WordPress SEO Title Tag plugin yourself.

For Immediate Release

Fortune 500 Company Adopts WordPress To Answer Credit Questions

Countrywide’s CreditDemystified.com Isn’t a Blog, or Is It?

MADISON, WI (Janaury 17, 2007) Web development companies are increasingly recognizing the potential of WordPress as a content management system (CMS). CreditDemystified.com, an educational site developed for Countrywide Home Loans, illustrates how a corporate microsite can successfully be adapted to the blog platform.

The microsite, developed by Netconcepts, is designed to help visitors become credit savvy by providing simple answers to credit questions. Although the microsite’s platform is WordPress, CreditDemystified.com is far from a traditional blog.

Countrywide Home Loans chose to work with Netconcepts because of the company’s experience developing search engine optimal sites (SEO).

“The SEO benefits of WordPress are obvious,” said Stephan Spencer, Netconcepts’ Founder and President. “‘Powered by WordPress’ is a phrase seen on millions of blogs. But one wouldn’t normally associate that phrase with any other type of website other than a blog. I predict that’s about to change as search marketers begin to appreciate the SEO benefits of running WordPress on microsites.”

Netconcepts’ own corporate site switched from a home-grown CMS to WordPress in August 2006 and showed a significant increase in traffic in the following months. Based on this experience, Netconcepts designed CreditDemystified.com to take full advantage of WordPress’ SEO power.

“We’ve equipped the site with all the SEO goodies like a tag cloud, tag pages, RSS, my SEO Title Tag plugin, and Technorati tags. One breakthrough was adapting the Ultimate Tag Warrior plugin to handle static pages, and not just posts,” Spencer continued.

The directive for Netconcepts’ website and SEO design team was simple, create a search engine optimized site using WordPress that doesn’t look like a blog.

CreditDemystified.com, designed to make credit information accessible and easily understood by visitors at a glance, has a wealth of credit related content covering credit repair to debt management. For many consumers, the topic of credit can be dull or intimidating, so the site includes fun and quick review elements such as the Credit Intelligence Quiz (CQ Quiz). The quiz provides a score, and includes useful information for participants to improve their credit knowledge.

For Immediate Release

Lost Shoppers Found by E-retailers Using Long Tail Dynamics

MADISON, WI (December 21, 2006) Lost shoppers are being found through unbranded keyword searches by the e-commerce clients of Netconcepts, a global Web technology company specializing in natural search optimization consulting and search-friendly E-Business design. Netconcept’s clients are increasing their e-retail traffic through natural search optimizations that don’t depend on “brand name” keywords.

Netconcepts released a white paper last month, “Chasing the Long Tail of Natural Search,” which details the dynamics of the long tail phenomena and how e-commerce marketers can capture unbranded keyword searches. The study reveals the compelling truth that the unbranded market opportunity is 40 times richer than branded searches.

“Chasing the Long Tail of Natural Search” provides a framework to help merchants answer questions such as: how to capture this market, what type of traffic they should anticipate, and how to estimate the “unbranded keyword” market potential. The white paper is available at no charge on the company’s website.

“Consumers searching the Internet for products frequently know what they want to buy, but don’t include any particular brand in their search query. They often enter basic keywords such as ‘athletic shoes’ or ‘gift baskets,’” said Brian Klais, Vice President, Search. “For the average merchant we studied, there are roughly 7,000,000 unbranded keyword searches conducted per month. To capture these searches, we work with our clients to optimize their websites using long tail dynamics and a new set of key performance indicators (KPI). Our white paper details the concept of the long tail and provides the who, what, where and why this is important to marketers.”

For Immediate Release

PartStore.com Foresees Market Share Growth From Partnership with Netconcepts

MADISON, WI (October 23, 2006) – Netconcepts, the Madison-based Web site development agency specializing in natural search optimization, announced today that PartStore.com will be consulting with Netconcepts to maximize their E-commerce potential.

PartStore.com, America’s largest source of electronic, appliance, computer and wireless parts and accessories, chose to consult with Netconcepts because, as Jack Matarasso, PartStore.com Director of E-Commerce states, “When it comes to natural SEO, they provide successful results for many leading companies. Netconcepts’ SEO suggestions for PartStore.com will greatly increase search engine visibility as well as improve usability for our customers and visitors.”

To optimize PartStore.com’s E-commerce potential, Netconcepts will be reviewing and revising PartStore.com’s current Web site to include best of practice SEO methods.

Netconcepts is looking forward to working with PartStore.com. Brian Klais, VP of Search for Netconcepts stated, “It is exciting to work with a new client whose e-commerce potential spans over 7 million products. PartStore.com has many opportunities for site optimization and usability.”

After three months of discussion and evaluation, PartStore.com signed a 12-month Web site optimization consulting engagement with Netconcepts.

Matarasso adds, “The recommendations provided by Netconcepts just make good business sense.”

Founded in 1995, Netconcepts is a Web technology company specializing in natural search optimization consulting, including the industry’s only performance-based Proxy Optimization TM Service. Netconcepts offers search-friendly E-Business design and development services for such successful retail brands as Discovery Communications, Northern Tool, PartStore, Home Shopping Network, Kohl’s Department Stores, REI, and Cabela’s among other brands. Netconcepts has offices in Madison, Wisconsin and Auckland, New Zealand. For further information, visit: www.netconcepts.com or call 1-888-207-1109

PartStore meets all of your replacement part and accessory needs with one stop shopping for all the products in your home. They are America’s largest source of electronic, appliance, computer and wireless parts and accessories. PartStore is committed to helping you extend the life of your products by delivering the parts that will restore your products back to their original condition. PartStore offers superior customer service through live personal assistance, real-time order tracking, easy returns and the largest selection of parts available anywhere. Visit PartStore online at www.PartStore.com or call their parts experts, toll-free, at 1-866-925-PART (7278).

For Immediate Release

Netconcepts finds Write Niche for Web Authority, P.J. Fusco

MADISON, WI (September 20, 2006) – P.J. (Patricia J. Fusco), established best-practice Web authority and author for ClickZ.com, joins Netconcepts as Lead U.S. Search Consultant and online marketing strategist.

Netconcepts, a global Web technology company specializing in natural search optimization consulting and search-friendly E-Business design, welcomed Fusco in early September. It’s rare that a search engine optimization (SEO) agency can land someone with Fusco’s quality experience.

For Fusco, it all goes back to developing her first search engine marketing program for web hosting clients back in 1996-97. Working for JupiterMedia, in 1998, put her in SEO boot camp with Danny Sullivan. Fusco then began doing in-house SEO for JUMP, the previous owner of Search Engine Watch, Click Z, and SES.

“Netconcepts’ dedication to providing and delivering only best practices to clients is what sets Netconcepts apart from other search engine optimization (SEO) companies,” stated Fusco

A veteran of the online publishing industry, Fusco served as SEO Manager for JupiterMedia - a network of more than 120 Web sites that included Internet.com, Earthweb.com, and Graphics.com. More recently, she served as Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Manager for an international health and beauty dot-com corporation with more than $1 billion in annual E-commerce sales.

Fusco added, “Netconcepts’ has experienced tremendous growth over the past 6 months and their enthusiasm is visible in their client services. I was impressed with the caliber of Netconcepts’ work, especially in their success with Cabela’s and Discovery Communications.” Now a part of the Netconcepts’ Search Team, she will serve as client counsel on the latest online marketing plans and best practices for SEO strategy.

“Fusco joins our team with a great reputation in the industry, and with her SEO background, she will make an impressive addition to our valued team,” stated Brian Klais, VP of Search for Netconcepts.

Fusco speaks about industry trends at Search Engine Strategies (SES) conferences, which helps keep clients informed about search engine marketing and optimization issues. She is also a columnist for ClickZ.com, sharing her experience and insight with the online public as a search engine marketing authority. She continues to write for ClickZ.

For Immediate Release

Netconcepts Broadens E-business
For Leading Outdoor Outfitter

MADISON, WI (August 24, 2006) – Netconcepts, the Madison-based global agency specializing in natural search optimization and Web site development, has added Cabela’s to its growing roster of multi-channel marketer clients.

Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter® of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, already works with Netconcepts for various E-Commerce development projects. However, Cabela’s will now begin work with Netconcepts in further developing and expanding search engine optimization for Cabela’s primary Web site.

“While currently working with Netconcepts, we learned of their leading SEO solutions,” said Tom Rosdail, Cabela’s Director of Catalog and Internet Operations. “Their work will allow us to present more pages than are currently being shown in search engines and will provide us with many additional sales opportunities.”

Netconcepts’ GravityStream™ proxy optimization solution was chosen by Cabela’s to optimize thousands of their Web pages on a real-time basis. The GravityStream technology will work with Cabela’s existing Web site to focus SEO opportunities where they will provide the most success. Brian Klais, Vice President of Search for Netconcepts added, “We are looking forward to adding a new service to our relationship with Cabela’s and furthering their success with our trusted SEO leadership.”

To learn more about Cabela’s hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, please visit: Cabela’s

Cabela’s Incorporated, headquartered in Sidney, Nebraska, is the world’s largest direct marketer, and a leading specialty retailer, of hunting, fishing, camping and related outdoor merchandise. Since the company’s founding in 1961, Cabela’s has grown to become one of the most well-known outdoor recreation brands in the world, and has long been recognized as the World’s Foremost Outfitter. Through Cabela’s well-established direct business and its growing number of destination retail stores, it offers a wide and distinctive selection of high-quality outdoor products at competitive prices while providing superior customer service. Cabela’s also issues the Cabela’s CLUB VISA credit card, which serves as its primary customer loyalty rewards program.

Netconcepts is a global natural search optimization agency providing best-of-breed consulting, technology, and site design services to leading multi-channel marketers. Since its founding in 1995, Netconcepts has designed innovative search-ready web solutions, and has been recognized as one of the leading authorities on search engine friendly e-commerce architecture and design. Client brands include Home Shopping Network, Verizon Superpages, Discovery Communications, Kohl’s Department Stores, REI, Northern Tool, and Cabela’s among others. Netconcepts is headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin with regional offices in Auckland, New Zealand. To learn more about Netconcepts, visit: www.netconcepts.com

For Immediate Release

Webinar Offers Insider Look Into Search Engine Research:

MADISON, WI (August 21, 2006) – Netconcepts’ recent research paper, “Chasing The Long Tail of Natural Search” has generated tremendous interest within the world of search engine optimization and E-Commerce. As a result, Netconcepts is presenting a free Webinar open to the public. This Webinar will focus on its research and how newly found search engine research results can be used to strengthen E-Business sales. The Webinar will be held Thursday, September 7, 11:00 a.m. CST. It offers a first hand look at actual data taken from over one million search terms used with leading retail companies. Register online at: www.netconcepts.com/chasing-the-long-tail-webinar.

Leading this groundbreaking Webinar will be Brian Klais, Vice President of Search for Netconcepts and author of “Chasing The Long Tail of Natural Search.” Experience this new Webinar and be one of the first to fully understand the ‘long tail’ of search and how to make it work to improve your search engine visibility. For those unable to attend, look for the archived webinar at www.netconcepts.com following the event.

Attendees of Netconcepts’ new Webinar will:

• Discover the potential of long tail sales opportunities - and how to leverage these opportunities.
• Learn how multichannel merchants leverage brands into unbranded “long tail” keyword markets.
• Uncover the results of Page Yield Theory - and its power to dramatically grow E-Commerce sales.

For more information, contact Netconcepts at 608-285-6600 to participate in this free Webinar on September 7 at 11:00am. Or, visit Netconcepts’ Long Tail Webinar to sign up for this event.

For Immediate Release

Capturing The Long Tail

MADISON, WI (August 8, 2006) – Leading the way into search engine marketing, the Madison based global search firm, Netconcepts, just released its trade secrets on the growing phenomenon of “long tail” searches.

Netconcepts recently authored and released the white paper, “Chasing the Long Tail of Natural Search,” which sheds new light on upcoming search industry trends. In the white paper, Netconcepts explains the “long tail” of natural search and its growing importance to E-Business.

“The ‘long tail’ in the Netconcepts study refers to how different terms reflect search engine results.” said Brian Klais, Vice President of Search for Netconcepts. “We found that unbranded, multiple term searches are more effective for E-Business than branded, one term searches.”

In graph form, branded searches spike very high but are only contain one or two terms. There are many more combinations for unbranded terms. These unbranded searches slowly thin and decrease to the right of the graph (the long tail portion).

Branded and unbranded search terms are used daily to help search engine users find what they are looking for. For example, a branded term is Nike; whereas, an unbranded term is Blue and green cross trainer shoe. (Branded: Honda, Unbranded: two-cycle 100 horsepower engine) (Branded: Microsoft, Unbranded: text based documentation software) (Branded: Oakley, Unbranded: red lens lightweight sunglasses) According to Netconcepts’ white paper, unbranded terms are used 38 times more often than branded terms. This data was defined by over one million different search terms and 25 Netconcepts websites.

“The average website in Netconcept’s study had less than one quarter of its individual website pages visited by people using search engines,” Klais highlighted, adding, “we see a direct relationship between the number of individual pages getting traffic, and the amount of brand vs. unbranded search traffic received. Long tail size is driven by individual pages and the page’s ability to use specific terms.”

According to Netconcepts, average successful E-Commerce websites receive over three quarters of their search traffic from brand terms and less than one quarter from unbranded terms. Increasing unbranded traffic could expand a company’s client base and further their revenue. Klais commented: “It would take a lot of work for an E-Business to increase their ratio to half branded and half unbranded. They would need over half of their individual pages receiving visitors. This is not a small feat. It requires various search engine optimization approaches, affecting many pages with little effort.”

To download the complete “Chasing the Long Tail of Natural Search” white paper, visit http://www.netconcepts.com/long-tail-of-natural-search/. Contact Netconcepts at 608-285-6600 or via email at .