It doesn’t matter if you have a website or only use e-mail. If you are doing anything requiring any level of professionalism and business savvy, you need to have your own domain.

While it may seem like a daunting technical task, companies like Mad-EZ domains are making it, well, “Mad EZ” to get your domain name registered in no time flat.

What’s the Process?

It’s fast and easy. Visit the domain registrar’s website, choose the domain you want, pay a small fee and you’re done. Most of the time they can also point the domain to your web or e-mail host if you have that information. If you don’t, there is typically some sort of technical support available with your host to get it done.

“OK, I get it. It’s not hip to not have my own domain… but why do I really need one?”

Here’s the thing: everything you say or do is establishing some form of brand identity with your clients. If you are hoping to develop a brand that sticks, you need to have your own domain, at the very least.

Ideally, your domain would be your company name. Sometimes it isn’t feasible because your company name is too long, or maybe someone else took it a long time ago. If that’s the case, try to think of something else that will help to brand your business.

For instance, if you are a writer, you might want to buy a domain like, fastaffordablewriting.com.
If you are a carpenter, you might want to register a domain like, solidqualitycarpentry.com.
If you own a sandwich shop you could use superawesomesandwiches.com.

Use this concept to come up with an idea for your business if the business name is already registered as a domain for someone else.

Why Can’t I Just Use a Subdomain?

A subdomain allows a visitor to navigate to your website, but it provides nothing memorable. Having your own domain name helps to ensure the customer will know exactly who you are. When you brand it as suggested above, it also lets them know exactly what you do.

In the early days of the Web, companies were scrambling only to register their domain name. Domain squatters snatched up thousands of these domains and made it impossible for some to claim them. That is what started the branded domain trend. Today, companies like Verizon, Comcast and even the United States Government are using branded domain names to make an impact.

The bottom line is clear: if you don’t get a domain name of your own, no matter what it is, you are going to look like an old “fuddy duddy,” out of touch with the times.

One thing is for sure – if you pass your business card my way and it has an aol.com e-mail address it will end up in the circular file.

If you aren’t using press releases in your SEO campaign, however, you are definitely missing out.

How Does a Press Release Differ from an Article or Blog Post?

A press release is informative in nature. It usually announces the development of a new, breakthrough product, a major change at a local company, or some other newsworthy bit of information.

Do you think you can’t use these sorts of articles for your website? Well, you can use a press release for just about any topic you choose, as long as you make it relate to a current event.

Examples of Mundane Topics Being Turned into Press Releases

1. A business owner starting a new company issues a press release to let the public know.
2. A small-time celebrity visits a local comedy venue, and uses press releases to spread the word
3. A T-shirt company spreads the word about its bold wares, claiming to have a new take on urban fashion
4. An affiliate marketer spreads the word about the new information resource he has created for those interested in his niche

It doesn’t matter what you’re trying to promote, you can turn it into a press release. So, just how does a press release help your SEO campaign?

Media Syndication

Press releases are typically distributed to thousands of media outlets. Many of these exist only online. When the press release is picked up and published online, it will usually link back to your website. A quick, cheap press release can result in hundreds of high page rank backlinks pointing to your URL.

In some cases, press releases even make it to the larger news venues, like The Associated Press, Reuters and others. These sites have huge authority and, when they send a link to your website, it will help boost you up in the rankings.

How to Get the Most Out of Press Releases in Your SEO Campaign

Make sure you publish press releases on a regular basis. You need to maintain some level of consistency so the search engine algorithms don’t find anything suspicious. A good rule of thumb is one press release per week. This might be tough, but even the silliest business can find occasions to publish press releases monthly.

Find a good writer who can craft any topic into a press release and your life will be much simpler. Don’t hesitate to allow him or her to get creative. Ultimately, the goal is to have the piece accepted by the press release distributor.

With your press release hitting hundreds, and maybe even thousands of pages, how can it not boost your SEO campaign? With just a few dollars and a couple of minutes of your time, a press release can help garner the search engine results you need.

Here are some great press release websites:
www.prlog.org
www.prnation.org
www.pr.com