AND SERP IS-S-S-S WHAT? SERP is an acronym for “search engine research placement” and “search engine results page;” this meaning is obvious in direct ratio to the term(s) searched. Said another way, you open a popular search engine, type in your keywords and a webpage full of results pops up usually 10 links at a time. The list can range from a few websites to millions--common knowledge now.

BUT: Your name is Author Widget. Your new book is called Widget Magic; you open a search engine and type in the word widget. Where does your book or name appear on the search engine results page? This is the real intent behind the acronym SERP and a rapidly growing, in-demand discipline.

Both SERP terms hide under the umbrella of SEO (search engine optimization) and have now become a marketing must-have. Search, as you may have already guessed, has morphed from traditional search into certification programs for different SEO disciplines, Web-related media and marketing software programs, even into the media classrooms at universities and colleges.

INCREASING BOOK SALES: But this level of search-sophistication comes with a price tag called time. You can climb the learning curve yourself to learn how to setup criteria for a specific search or hire a search fulfillment company to do it for you. If hiring a company, check the credibility for a number of companies on—where else—search engine research. Plan on a budget here and then spend some time speaking with or emailing the ones you like which leads us to the hundreds of search engines available.

PRIMETIME SEARCH ON 200+ SEARCH ENGINES: A quick way to discover the niche that complements your book is to visit Wikipedia and type in “list of search engines” although it doesn’t always link to the right page on Wikipedia. If not, try this link.

Investing an hour here will provide a working knowledge about “web search engines, metasearch engines, desktop search tools, web portals and vertical marketing websites that have a search facility for online databases.” It saves time and money to be conversant in any subject before speaking with and then choosing the professional and/or company you want to handle your author’s platform business.

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FREE - Lame Brain 2009: A Dictionary for the Technically Challenged – Over 1000 definitions in plain English with nearly 500 text messaging terms.

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