Time to get sentimental (hold back the tears). The end of 2006 is upon us and it's time to reflect on all of the great articles and posts we have read and discussed with each other over the past year. For me, it seemed like there was an abundance of Top 10 Lists popping up all over blogs, which is great! I love Top 10 Lists! They're direct, straight to the point - I can skim through them and read the points that catch my eye and I'm done! So with that, I (and others) thought it would be beneficial if someone compiled a list to remind us of all of the great Top Whatever's of the past year related to the industry (if it wasn't, this list would be chock full of Letterman jokes). I'm happy to present my Top 10 List of (but not limited to) Top 10 Lists of 2006 + 2, or as it is known in Europe, Listmania Haus 2006.

1.) 12 Different Types of Links and How to Get Them by Stuntdubl.
What better way to start a Top 10 list post than with the king of Top Whatever/Reasons, Stuntdubl. As someone who knew the benefits of linking, I didn't quite know alternative ways to go about getting actual quality links from web sites other than sending out blind emails begging for a link (exaggeration). This post is an excellent guide to have on hand on not only showing what kind of links to aquire, but also what to look for to identify a particular quality link, examples, and additional notes on how to go about getting this link.

2.) Top 7 SEO Mistakes For New Site Owners by Mr. SEO.
This is an excellent list of SEO Mistakes that new site owners should have folded up in their back pocket. Simple and easy for the newest of newbies to understand, he outlines many of the things I tell my clients to avoid or should be doing at the very least. This is a list anyone can do and should be doing.

3.) 101 Ways to Build Link Popularity in 2006 by Andy Hagans and Aaron Wall.
The mother load of linking tips. Broken up into categories and sections, this list is an invaluable resource of knowledge and ideas. It is so huge and such a great resource that ANYONE should be able to pull at least ONE great idea from it and act on it. In fact, I'm acting on the first category right now: "Love for Lists." Print this baby out!

4.) 10 Remarkably Effective Strategies for Driving Traffic by randfish.
The team over at SEOMoz does an excellent job of cranking out useful, informative post after post that you would have to think they are in fact not humans but Data-like characters who sit 24/7 writing posts to make benefit glorious industry of SEO (a Star Trek and Borat reference all rolled into one.) Seriously though, this list outlines different ways you can drive traffic to your site through the use of either great design, a creative Keyword campaign, or simply attending your industry events and writing about it. When you read it, you can realize how you can use the tools around you to actually improve your site easily.

5.) Top 10 Business Mistakes Search Marketing Firms Make by Marketing Pilgrim.
Maybe a lot of us search marketing agencies spend so much time improving the quality of our clients businesses that we forget to update our own businesses ways of operation! Here, Andy details how Search Marketing Firms may be missing the boat on how to effectively benefit their business, which in the long run, will make you and your clients more successful. Not only can this list come in handy for Search Marketing Firms, but you can most likely apply it to any business.

6.) Do Your Users Trust You?: 21 Tips for Improved Website Credibility by stuntdubl.
In this list, Todd outlines different ways any online business can give themselves the credibility they need to attract more business. It is so easy to be a fly-by-night operation on the internet that savy customers are now looking for ways to make sure you are a credible business they can safely transact with. For instance, by simply adding an 800 number with your business hours, or by adding a physical address you can build some confidence within your customers. What have you done to improve your customer confidence?

7.) 7 Reasons Why You Should Add More Content to Your Website by Jim Boykin. Conference after conference, agency after agency, you are told to add content to your site, and here is why in 7 sweet and short reasons. Let's do some role playing, I'll be Jim, you can be an inquiring mind.

You: "So Jim, why do you think my site isn't showing up in Google?"
Jim: "You've got the same content on your pages as 50 other sites have."
You: "And this is a problem how?"
Jim: "Google will try to choose the 1 page it thinks is the 'real' one, will it be yours? Or will yours go supplemental?"

Read the rest of his reasons to find out why you may not be showing up on the SERPS.

8.) 11 Best Practices for URLS by randfish.
If you're thinking about adding a whole new product line to your web site, or are in the process of developing a new web site, then this post is a must. Your URLS are important in not only that search engines are becoming pickier and pickier about what they'll like better but they also can improve your click through rate. For instance, if you're URL is http://www.example.com/acf934.html and the URL right next to your listing is http://www.example2.com/product-i-want.html, which would you be more inclined to click on? This list outlines many more ways to make the most of your websites URLS.

9.) The 12 days of Christmas by Paul Boisvert.
Ok, ok, maybe this isn't exactly along the same lines as the other posts, but it is still a list and an excellent one at that. Paul from the official Yahoo! Store Blog gave 12 great tips on how to maximize the effectiveness of your Yahoo! Store. Start implementing these tips into your store and I'll bet you'll see some vast improvements in your store through the year.

10.) 99 Branding Tips for Poor Web Startups by the Aviva Directory.
You know what's great about the internet? Is that anyone can pretty much start up their own business from the comfort of their own home. You know what isn't so great about the internet? Is that not everyone can afford to market their web site from the comfort of their own home. Check out this list for 99 different ways you can market your web site with even the smallest of budgets.

Bonus!

Jill Whalen's 10 Signs That your SEO is a Quack! If your SEO mentions the items in this list, then maybe it's time you moved to a new agency.

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While doing my research for this post, I came across a post by Neil Patel who did a post on his Top 50 Favorite Blogging Resources. He lists some great web sites where you can get the know-how and find the resources you need to create a successful blog.

Bonus Bonus!

While Karl didn't want me to mention any of his posts in this article because it would look bad (and I think he only did one list post anyway), he did do an excellent article: How to Attain Repeat Business. He offers some great ways you may not have thought of to keep customers coming back to your store. For instance, by simply adding your business card with your order or offering free samples with each order, you can increse the chances of your customers returning to your site. It's worth a read.

So this concludes my Top 10 List of Top 10 List posts of this year. Do you agree, disagree? Who and what did I miss? Does this even matter because it'll all be irrelevant in a few months anyway? :P Please share your thoughts - and have a great New Year!