Web Design

Writing the right words for your website

The information you place on your website has become quite the hot topic in recent years. Use of websites for the dissemination of knowledge has come a long way since the days when putting text on your page was never guided by any type of considerations. All that has changed. Your content is the absolute number one priority that should be focused upon when not only creating your website, but updating and maintaining it as well. Your website words need not only be written well, but your words have to be chosen in such a way that makes your site much more effective.

Here are a few tips to follow:

Choose Interesting Words – Decide what information on your website is the most important for your visitors to see. Always make sure that your content copy is written toward your visitor’s interest.

Use The Right Search Phrases – Every person using a search engine has in their mind an image of what they’re looking for when they type in a keyword or phrase. This is sometimes called a ”trigger.” This is where the seeker inputs a word or combination of words into a search engine such as Google or Yahoo. Typically, most seekers use words that are intuitive. The same word should be ones that are used in your content copy-writing. A good example might be if someone uses the search phrase such as ”wine glasses” and you do offer these on your site, but you have categorized them as ”alcohol beverage containers.” Research the words people are using to find the same products and services you offer and employ these in your content copy.
Use words that focus on localization- If you run a Jewelry Store in Delaware, you should focus on creating content that emphasizes that your store is located in Delaware. Chances are, people will search for a local business first to meet their needs. We did this for one of our clients and it’s made all the difference with their website traffic.

If you do not feel comfortable creating your own content copy, employ a professional such as Sour Dough Communications. Your words are extremely important and you should provide only the best, professionaly written content.

Search Engine Optimization Do and Don’ts – Part 2 of 2

There’s a great need for even the so-called experts to develop better SEO skills and knowledge. Many of the supposedly “good” SEO tactics when employed will actually get you penalized by the search engines. Here are a few more tips in this two-part series to get you on the right SEO road:

Do Keep a Uniform URL Structure.

You need to modify the URL structure of you web pages when presenting a dynamic site. Maintaining a uniform approach allows for easier indexing by those pesky crawling spiders. It is relatively easy to maintain URL structure in dynamic sites especially using platforms like WordPress which provides permalink options. Otherwise, use a URL rewrite in the .htaccess file.

Don’t Link with Poor Quality Websites.

It is a critical aspect concerning correct search engine optimization (SEO) efforts you include incoming links from very popular sites in your quest to raise your own ranking. Newbies seem to either fail to do this or do not recognize the importance having links from authoritative sites. Linking to poor quality or extremely unpopular sites can cause a loss or lack of credibility and could, indeed, get you banned by some engines.

Do Complete a Competition Keyword Report.

Visit competing websites ranking on the top results page to gain the answers to these questions: What is the number of sites using the same keyword? Can you determine the age of the sites appearing in the top results? What is the number of backlinks found in top-ranking sites? Do these sites use social media?

Do Create New Content Regularly.

Never ever use duplicate copy because search engines will penalize you severely. If you buy fresh content from an outsource, make sure it passes a plagiarism check such as Copyscape. Adding fresh, relevant and useful content regularly helps attract visitors and build credibility with search engines.

Do Use Google Analytics.

Web analytics gained a great deal of use in 2009. Google developed advance metrics combined with intelligence reports that energized free analytic tools. Use these in 2010 to build a plan for increasing site traffic and conversion rates.

Get a quote today for your Search Engine Optimization needs!

Search Engine Optimization Do and Don’ts – Part 1 of 2

Unfortunately, there’s a great lack of SEO skills and knowledge floating about. Hopefully, it isn’t contagious because there are some supposedly “good” SEO tactics that when employed will actually get you banned from search engine indexing. Here are a few tips to get you on the appropriate SEO path:

Never Use Flash for SEO Purposes.

Search engines cannot read and index this type of content. Avoid creating a Flash-only site because the search engine spiders will ignore it. If you have to use Flash, use it sparingly, for example, in the header of your website or to call attention to an offer. You should also offer an HMTL version.

Don’t Use a Lot of JavaScript.

JavaScript code also cannot be read by searchbots. Unfortunately, even a few lines of code may compel the search engine spiders to ignore the entire text block where the snippet is located. Search engines ignore JavaScript menus. If you must use JavaScript, place it on the server as an external file.

Do use a Robots.txt File.

Webmasters can gain complete control concerning how data is indexed by search engines through use of a robots.txt file. Also, using a robots.txt file will allow you to deny access to pages you do not want indexed. The file must be placed in the website root folder.

Do Target the Right Keywords.

One of the more common mistakes made by Internet marketers is targeting the wrong keywords, choosing ones that are believed to be associated with a website but actually are not employed by an average search engine user. Choosing the appropriate keywords will help increase traffic to your site. Make use of a keyword selection tool such as the one provided by Google as part of your successful SEO campaign.

Do Use Long Tail Keywords.

There are millions of websites struggling to compete for short search terms. This competition is extremely tough and can take more than six months of hard enacted SEO efforts to get ranked even in the tip 20 for short keywords chosen. Use long tail keywords where you can include product names or event use geographic-centric phrases along with short terms like tampagoldfish. You will find it much easier to gain higher ranking using long tail keywords.

Get a quote today for your Search Engine Optimization needs!

Design basics of a good website

Since I am a website designer, I am also often asked what makes for a good website design. Think about it for a second, especially if you either are looking to build your own site or find someone who actually knows how. When you visit a site and find that you are staying for awhile, how come? The number one factor that keeps visitors on a site is accessibility.

As web design developed throughout the 90s and early turn of the century, both Netscape and Explorer had many people convinced that these were the only browsers that would view pages properly. In many instances, web designers lured by the supposed popularity of these two browsers had to embed on their pages somewhere the admonishment, “These Pages Are Best Viewed in Either Netscape or Explorer.”

Fast forward to 2010.

As long as you employ standard HTML (we’re on version 4–soon version 5), you should have no problems with any browsers.

Furthermore, a good website provides a service to any visitor by giving something away, even if it is but a good time reading content on your landing page. I always enjoy reading copy that makes me chuckle. Some web content writers have that ability to grab visitors and while entertaining them provide valuable information. Information is the most popular giveaway on the Internet today. Other sites might provide valuable advice or some type of free product like software, a game or other commodity that will entice people to show up.

Never charge for admission to your website. Not only is it arrogant, the prevailing feeling is that the Internet should remain a free range for the exchange of information. It’s one thing to create an e-commerce site to sell goods and service, but, wait a minute, you want to charge me to visit your site.

Additionally, a great deal of what actually makes a good website comes down to common sense. Many site owners in attempts to keep production costs to a minimum, overlook the most manageable aspects about website presentation that do make a difference. These overlooked areas include:

Lack of original content
Overuse of data instead of information
Inability to provide credible and useful information
Obsolete or dated information – lack of frequent updates
Presence of poorly written copy
Presence of typos indicating poor editing
Over use of external links
Overuse of graphics and Flash elements
Non-intuitive internal navigation

As you can readily see, much that can be controlled is content. Although many visitors to a website might say, “Wow. What cool graphics. Check out the Flash!,” these sites confuse appearance with substance. In fact, recent interviews at webreference.com, web designers stated that Flash is definitely abused because many people will misuse it because design clients think it is cool and creative when, in actuality, it is often inappropriate as well as extremely annoying.

How often do you hit the “Skip Intro” button when landing on a Flash Intro page? Information should always reign over the bells and whistles accompanying cool-looking Flash. Make it easier on your website visitors by creating a website that’s easy to navigate, loads quickly and is aesthetically pleasing.

Use More than Just Your Brain to Choose a Domain Name

Purchase your domain name through Nuts and Bolts Web Design for $14.99/yr.

Thousands of articles have been written about marketing – both online and off. None have offered a 100 percent for “dummies only” process that anyone could easily follow and implement correctly. Many overlook the most profound and fundamental SEO technique that sets you apart from other site owners who overlook this step – choosing a good domain name.

What’s in a Name?

Hey – this is an important step on your road to millions. (Visualize the mansion, cars, planes, boats, etc.) Don’t worry if it takes a while to arrive at the right domain name and, do not attempt going it alone. Have a conference. Invite your peeps and your peeps’ peeps. Have a kegger and the only entry ticket is people have to contribute a suggestion for a killer domain name. Use what your friends and relatives throw up on the wall looking to see if any stick.

Go Generic

Place your primary keyword in a generic-based domain name so if, for example, you are selling pets in San Francisco, try SanFranciscoPets.com or BayAreaPets.com. Choosing a generic name will fulfill two purposes:

It attracts a more focused targeted audience. Targeted audiences produce greater conversion rates that allows you to make better use of the traffic you do get.
Generic domain names using primary keywords help induce higher search engine ranking.

Creativity May Be The Key

There are so many domain names on the Internet today that you may have to crank up a little more creative process so you can use your keywords in your choice. Let’s say, for example, SanFranciscoPets. com is taken already – play around with a number of different versions. Try, for instance, PetsinSanFranciso.com or PetsofSanFrancisco.com. Keep in mind you can use hyphens in your choice of domain names. This may allow you the opportunity to always use a keyword and, an important point, allows use of the much preferred suffix, .com. Always use .com because 99 percent of searchers will type it in even if presented by a search engine with a different suffix.