Why Update Your Website?

Your website is the cornerstone of your marketing.  Keep presenting the fresh face of your business by updating photos. List new products or services; add new staff members photos and bios. Consider adding information pages or a “What’s New” page to show off your latest projects or products. If you’re ready to move beyond your cell phone camera or point and shoot camera give us a call for professional photography.  Time for a major website overhaul?  Redesign your website.

Email continues to shine as a marketing tool.  97% of cell phone users read email on their phone.  Let your website help you collect email addresses, if you’re using an email client (MailChimp, iContact, etc.) add their website widget to your desktop website, mobile site and blog.  Otherwise collect email addresses as you invoice, or have a signup sheet available.  When you’re ready to announce a special you’ll be ready.  I manage email newsletter campaigns as a service.

Social media is the choice many potential clients use to engage with businesses.  Every business needs a Facebook page and Google+ page. Photographers and artists make use of Pinterest, Flickr; home construction or remodeling try Houzz and Pinterest; auto lovers frequent Instagram.

When you’re ready move into video and make use of YouTube, Vimeo and more.  For help read about my Webmaster Services.

97% of cell phone users go online with their phones.  The single biggest impact for your internet presence is a mobile website.  Make it easy for mobile users to receive your message. Reach people on the platform they choose.

Read more  http://www.pewinternet.org/fact-sheets/mobile-technology-fact-sheet/

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Fresh Content via Blog or New Web pages

Clients want their websites highly ranked. If not using Adwords, or another Pay Per Click ad campaign there are a lot of ways to “work” your website.

Blogging can be the simplest. Have a blog installed ON your website. The free blogs can point links to your website, but if your goal is to drive your website – the maximum value is gained by keeping your blog on your domain. Search engines see your activity and the addition of fresh content to your website. The movement on your site, and increasing the size of your website factor in search engine results. Google still sings” content, content, content…” – so keep adding.

Change your website pages. Add new ones. Every industry has “news”. Add new pages and expand your web presence. Not only does Google see the expansion and new content, but your web designer has an opportunity to drive one page for a new keyword. Think of it as a footprint – you want a BIG footprint online for your business.

Don’t let it overwhelm you – find your target: once per month/quarter or semi-annually, just don’t leave your website stagnant. It didn’t matter when I began designing websites in 1999, but with so many sites competing, the cost of adding a few pages to your website is a small investment in your advertising campaign. You may enjoy a refresher for your industry, too!

Local Search

Local Searching has become the focus of search engines.  They’ve learned people expect to get results in their geographical area and Google is accommodating.  It happens without you realizing it. Until you try and force the issue you may not have noticed this change.  You would need to clear the browser cache to wipe the slate clean.

Google is learning what you want as you search. It’s goal is filling the user end of search – giving you what it THINKS you want. For businesses it means SEO is more complicated as you try to target the visitors you are seeking, and work within the user search.

Businesses are trying to compete in this change  in a number of ways. In an effort to expand a business’s service area they might set up phone numbers with specific area codes. Have you noticed a local search returns a company 75  miles from your area, or a national company?

Another solution is multiple websites. If your target is teens – the site reflects their interests through content and design. If the target is a specific location – likewise. This is a bit aggressive for the average small business, but you get the idea of this strategy for search engines.

Still “content is king” and posting fresh relevant content is a huge factor for your website.  Search engines love to see daily changes.

As a small business owner the choice is how much time and where to put it. You can blog, tweet or use Facebook. Don’t feel compelled to take on everything. You don’t need to be a slave to your website and online presence. There is a happy balance.

To blog or not to Blog

Blogging is a great way to drive your website. The biggest reason is this provides new content to your website regularly which is something Google is fond of.

Not all blogs are equal: a blog residing on your website gives more weight to your website, than an offsite/free website. Give thought to this before creating your first blog.

Free is easy and simple to get up and running, but won’t give you the greatest value. You can post links back to your site for some help in driving your website. Keep in mind it isn’t easy to move your blog files, and with some services you won’t be able to do this. If you have an existing blog there is a lot of value in the followers you have gained and all your postings. It is something to consider before moving to your website.

In deciding whether to take up blogging you will want to weigh the time factor. It can take 15-30 minutes easily, depending upon the depth of your articles. Do not consider copying and pasting from other blogs or web pages, not only is this copyright infringement, but duplicate content works against you with Google, and you’ll defeat the purpose of blogging.

Your blog can serve to educate your web visitors, or connect with others in a community of blogs. Your contributions to other blogs serve the online community at large. We all benefit. That is really the point of blogging.

My own blog makes it easy for me to pass on new information as the Internet changes without updating my web pages. Trends come and go and it is information I want to get into my clients hands so they can drive their websites.

You can keep it simple and effective!