ForumsInternet/eCommerce

Spot on buybigtires! Nice outline and advice above.

As for negative keywords, keep in mind that negatives can also have match types. So using -dirt bikes would negate misspellings, etc. But -"dirt bikes" will knock out all potential matches with those words in that order from showing.
Cliff

There's a fast and easy service called Breez-e.com (http://www.breez-e.com) where you can get a great website for only a few dollars. The results are great and customer service, if needed is excellent.

I think before building a web presence you must read a lot of tips online from different sources, most of them are webmaster forums.

Avoid all SEO (Search Engine Optimization) companies whom claim they can put your site on the top 10 with guarantees, there is no guarantee with search engines changes.

I did the SEO myself, because the cost could be very expensive from a good SEO compagnie. We are talking about a few thousand dollars, perhaps if you are good enough you won't need this kind of services anyway.

Back to the topic, there are many ways to build a web presence, you just need to find wich one work best for your business.

I head many people I know of, saying build an e-commerce, wait a little and make money. That is so wrong...

To Build a web present, you need to submit your site to directories, social bookmarks, forums, search engines, and the most important writing articles on your site. As far as I am concern, recipro links should be use carefully, and corresponding to your topic.

Good luck !

Google search refers more visitors to all of my websites more than any other search engine, so I would focus more energy on their SEO practices. Use lots of text in your website, but not in a spamming technique. They can actually tell the grade level of the context writing on your website. Flash is pretty, but doesn't end up on search engines like text.

One of the most important things people often leave out is "link backs". The more websites (related to your business) that link back to your website, the more relevant you become in a search engine. Some people say this is how Google determines how important a website is. So if you run a window company and there are a thousand New Window product websites linking back to your "window manufacturing" company website, then you must be a pretty good "window manufacturing" company. Getting links from myspace, press releases, and non related websites will get you in the search engines, but not at the top if someone searches "window manufacturer".

You are right backlinks are very important for all search engines, particularly Google.

Did anyone say use the Google Webmaster Central tools? Upload Google XML sitemaps, social networking and best of all em images

David

http://www.vivawebsitedesign works wonders for me and you get a $10,000 looking website for $399

Nice templates, yes lol but I stay away from this kind of kit, because once you buy it:

You cannot master your domain
You cannot choose the hosting company you want
You cannot take your site if for whatever reason you want to leave this people, etc...
You don't have full coding access

I have one friend who sign up for this kind of kit, they make it easy to use for main purposes, but for accuracy technics, no.

This is just my opinion, I am sure it is working for some people

PR is just a gadget, I am more concern about serps and traffic