Why do I need a website for my business?”

If you are a business owner and have done well for the last 10 years, you might never have bothered getting a website for your business. So, how do we respond to this question? Here is our answer…

The reason you want a website for your business involves the same decision you make to market your business with coupons, giving out business cards or placing ads in newspapers; to gain potential customers, increase sales and grow your business!

Here are five reasons why you need a website for your business:

1. You can be “open” 24 hours a day!
2. You can get ahead of your competitors through search engine optimization.
3. You own your website vs solely using social media sites. (They can eliminate your content anytime!)
4. You can have several “stores”  (websites) and have more opportunities to be in search results.
5. Millions of people are searching and shopping on the internet instead of using local stores.

If you have finally decided to create a  website for your business, here are five basic internet marketing musts!

1. Create a website with a SEO foundation.
2. As a business, join popular social media websites such as: Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, Pinterest, Youtube, and Google+.
3. If you have an a physical storefront, add it to local directories such as Google local or Yahoo local.
4. Ask clients to review your business on review websites such as Merchant Circle, Linkedin and Yelp.
5. Measure your progress by using search engine analytics.

In this 21st century, there has been an explosion in social media, reviewing products online and getting the latest news updates!  Don’t you think it’s time your businesss is found in users’ search results?

A warm brownie made with Ghirardelli chocolate-fudge sauce. Topped with vanilla ice cream, caramel and pecans.”

Literally, the sauce was IN the brownie, not on top of it!  But since we love Ghirardelli chocolate, the popularity of the keywords (brand) connected to us and we chose to order it. (Ching-ching $ to Friday’s!)

In society, you see people marketing their product in stores as well as drawing readers to books, etc…  Using words with popular adjectives describing the keyword  is common to see. That is the same principle with the popularity of keywords that you should use on your website or blog post.

Commonly called long tail keywords, a keyword phrase has three to five words in the phrase. A website page needs to refine search terms to the web page, as well as when the searcher is looking for something rather specific. Long tail keywords will narrow in on a market that might be smaller than normal, but the people searching for this product/service  have a greater potential for a conversion then does one simple word.

For example, let’s say you are a Realtor and sell condos.  You want to make unique keywords for every blog post you write. You wouldn’t use the keyword ”condo” each time. You might write a simple keyword phrase like “condo for sale.”  Better yet, you could narrow in to the people searching for more!  Here are some better examples of longtail keywords you could use. Remember: each of your web pages and posts need unique tags.

~ South Florida condo for sale
~ Coral Springs, FL lakefront condo
~Viewpoint of Margate condominium for sale

Note how I describe a condo. By location, by different factors and specific associations. If I am a Realtor  I will draw the people I really want vs. someone searching to rent a condo, or buy a condo in Colorado!

By integrating long tail search keywords, you are much more likely to draw targeted traffic to your website.”

The popularity of choosing keywords for marketing in business and on your website is an important aspect!  You want to get customers into your doorway, to your website, in addition to optimizing your website pages for search engines.  If you own a blogging website, apply this concept to your writing concepts and get started today!

Many times, business owners come to SEO specialists for complex problems with their company website.

• Their website doesn’t rank well in search engines. (Google, Bing)
• They don’t get qualified prospects or leads.
• Their conversion rate on their sales website is low.

When asking for a SEO price, there are a number of variables the SEO specialist needs to know, which will then determine what needs to be done for the client.

• What does the client want? (Goal)
• What are the SEO needs to search and find the client’s services and products?
• What keywords and phrases are  used in search engines to find products and services the client is offering?
• Will the potential client benefit from additional SEO?
• How much time and effort do you want an SEO professional to put into SEO services?

There is no “one size fits all” SEO package. Every client is unique and different.  That is why many times when talking to a  SEO expert you don’t get a simple reply. There are many variables that need to be addressed in order for us to know how much work and effort will be involved to get the outcome the client is hoping for. Many times search engines can change their algorithms (the way the search engines determine how search results are created.) As a SEO company, we need to diagnose what is wrong with the website to know how to treat the problem. Sometimes there are quick-fixes and many times there isn’t a quick-fix that will add value to your site.

There are three main points you should take from this article:

1. There is always changing growth with search engine optimization, social media and the technology of speed and precision from the internet.
2. SEO is very unique and detailed.
3. Your company’s website can get more sales and leads from search engine results.

Contact SEO Does Matter, Inc. today for free internet marketing consultation!

First,  look at your website  from the point of view of your customers. What would they expect to find? How easily can they navigate the website? Is it simple to make a purchase? Does everything on the site work correctly? I know I have experienced going to a website for the first time and when I click on a tab, I get an “error” message or “not found” message. That is frustrating for me as a consumer! Do you think I will return or move on to another website that has a better layout? Your potential customers will do the same on your website!

Second, you need to remember to take search engines into account and look at some basic SEO tips. Here are a 10 things to consider when optimizing your website for a good layout:

1. Check the website navigation. Customers will give up if they cannot find their way around easily. The best place for navigation tools is at the top or on the left hand side, which is where people expect to find them. Also include additional navigation features at the bottom of the page and include a search box. In sites with lots of pages it is also helpful to include “breadcrumbs,” which show the user’s current location. (An example of a breadcrumb would be:  Home > Flights > Europe > Paris.)
2. Keep your pages clean and simple. Make sure there is not too much clutter on the pages. Home pages in particular often contain too much information, making them difficult to read. Similarly, be careful with the color scheme, which could be a turnoff.
3. If your site only uses Flash, it may be difficult for search engines to index it. It may also cause viewing problems for customers without the right technology or software.
4. Do not expect your customers to contact you for additional details. Give them all the information they need, including prices, product information and returns policy. If I don’t see a price on a website, I leave and go to another one. What will your potential customers do? Do include a contact page with your address, phone and email address with an optional contact form. If a visitor does like your product, you want all options to be available to them if they choose to contact you.
5. Use real pictures of real people. Add your professional photograph on your “about us” page. Keep things real. Everyone knows what stock photos look like and no one want to see these fake images. Connect to your visitors by letting them see you!
6. Check your spelling and grammar throughout your website. A poorly written website looks unprofessional and drives away customers. It is always worth asking someone else to proofread your website for you. If you don’t have anyone to do this, come back a few hours later with refreshed eyes and read the content out loud to catch mistakes.
7. Make sure you do not have pop up boxes. Many people use pop up blockers since many solicitors use them for advertisements. Your visitors may not see the extra pop up window. Pop up boxes are an old style you shouldn’t use anymore.
8. Look for broken links on your website. A good way to achieve this is by checking your website in Google Webmaster Tools.
9. Check the download time. If your website takes too long to load, people will not wait around. I know I won’t!
10. Music that starts playing as soon as visitors enter your website can be a major turn off. Many customers will immediately leave, especially if they are at work, or if they do not like your choice of music.

Finally, updating your website is not something you do once. What makes a good website layout includes a continuous process of updating and checking feedback. Search engines want to see unique content written about the service you provide or the field you are an expert in. Search engines will value your website more if you add unique and fresh content. Let your visitors know what is cutting-edge  in your industry. What’s new in your company? What’s the latest products? Your visitors will enjoy your current material and will soon share it with their social media friends!

Google picks up RSS feeds quickly. Optimizing RSS feeds is easy with the help of a site named Feedage; it is an RSS directory site! You can add multiple websites after creating an account with them. To gain more information, read the post, “How to Get the Most Benefit from Feedage.com” on the feedage blog. Once you promote your web content, you will observe the difference and the importance of RSS for SEO.

It is not uncommon to find sites without RSS feeds. Hence, I wish to inform all website owners about the importance of RSS for SEO online. If you integrate RSS feeds on your site, it will be noticed and picked by search engines easily and frequently. Incorporating RSS feeds is simple and can be done quickly in no time.

Still, many businesses don’t add RSS feeds to their sites solely due to not being made aware of the opportunities! Some businesses might not be familiar with the SEO advantages of RSS feeds for their site. This post will assist you in getting familiar with RSS feeds and help you in taking a vital step to make your website more SEO-friendly!

If you are unsure or need assistance about RSS for SEO, just call or email us and we can walk you through the process. RSS feeds are a basic yet important step for novice as well as intermediate web business owners to take. If you grasp the importance of RSS for SEO, create an account today! It’s free! Don’t let another year pass you by with a great opportunity for SEO.

Answer: Previously, SEO and social media were considered to be two separate things. SEO assists people in finding your website through search results, while social media help you to keep them engaged. It was believed by SEO pursuits that both the aspects had no impact on each other. However, that’s not true today!

Social networking has a significant impact on search results; it directs traffic to a site and the more the traffic it draws, the greater the impact on search ranking of a website. However, social media has much wider impact on the success of a website beyond drawing traffic- people use the search function of their favorite social networking for finding any business.

The following  are important handy tips to optimize your internet business presence for social networking search.

Build your Brand on Major Social Networks

Social SEO tips are not useful unless you have a brand profile on major social networks. Millions of people search for businesses each day while they are logged into their preferred social networks. If they do not spot you there, they will find your competitor. The most popular social media sites great for businesses include:

• Google +
• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Youtube (for videos or presentations)
• Pinterest or Instagram (for images)

If you do not have your profile page on each of these social sites, create a business page for each one.

Put the icons of each social network on the home page of your website. Besides enhancing public visibility that you have social media in place, search algorithms love to identify that your site – the most dependable representation of your brand — is guiding and directing to your social media brand pages. Don’t forget to put social media links on your site’s homepage as well as other pages under your site’s menu.

Place Social Sharing Plug-ins on Your Site

Allow visitors on your site to comment, share, follow, +1 and like on all pages of your site using social media plug-ins provided by all major social networks. The traditional comment box has been replaced by Facebook comments. The greater public interaction about your brand on social network, the higher will be the chances of being found on social networks.

Get Liked, Shared, Followed, Repinned

It is important to get likes, followers etc; many businesses think that setting up their social media presence is sufficient. Getting likes, shares and followers is necessary in order to get fruitful results from your social media search. Invest in adding images, calls-to-actions, adding links to your website and keeping your comments simple to comprehend. Smart social media marketing will benefit your business!

Conclusion

Strengthening your foundation by optimizing your social network for search will not only enhance your search rank in social networks, but it will also improve your site’s overall search engine results. Improve your social SEO  and you will see your website’s ranking improve in search engines!

If you have not updated your SEO status to agree with the current Google updates, you noticed a drop in your ranking in search results. You need to know that it is vital to have great ranking for your website. If you do not have this, it will definitely affect your online business prospects. Take note of the following recommendations:

Links Used Correctly:
The concept of link building has really changed. In 2011 and 2012 , Panda and Penguin updates effected link building. The point is that the quality of your link is more important than the quantity of links you have. This means that if you have too many irrelevant links, Googlebot spiders can spot these links and ignore them or even penalize you for trying to play games with links.

Links from article directories will not do you much good and neither will links from link farms and paid link builders. What you really need to rank high are links from reputable sources and the links need to be relevant to the content of your website.

These days, Google promotes natural links. If you have a habit of stuffing your content with links and keywords, change this practice or you will be penalized. An article laced with keywords may be good for search engines but it is not good for the reader. Google prefers to rank articles high if articles benefit the reader and not just to the search engine. Penguin updates do not favor content which Google thinks is mis-using the concept of links and link anchor texts because such content will be considered an abuse of the system and penalized.

Guest Blogging for Linking:
How does Google feel about guest blogging? Recently, Matt Cutts shared Google’s current rules and recommendations in a Youtube video:

Understand Quality Content:
Before Panda updates, a lot of published articles published online were senseless. These articles preferred quantity to quality and used the keyword stuffing to get visibility from search engines and, at that time, it worked. These days, keyword stuffing will not work because Google has a desire to index valuable content.

SEO is not dead….but  the game has changed! Be smart. Use good material and linking practices so Google robots can “read” your blog posts. Give websites value and write articles for your readers instead of search engines!

Website Copyright Laws Explained

Everyone who deals with content creation, reuse and distribution should brush up on intellectual property rights and its difference with patents. All original creations automatically get copyright from the time they get made. No official application is required to guarantee that right under law unlike the case with patents. The details can get complicated and are definitely beyond the scope of this article.

Just because there is no official paper declaring a piece of work as having copyright does not it anyone can copy it with reckless abandon.

Even if people have posted their content in publicly accessible sites to share with others, the work remains their own and any attempts at reproduction should have their express consent. The gist of the copyright law is that no one can reuse content unless authorization from the creator has been obtained. Some think that proper attribution is enough but this is not true in all cases. The lack of permission still invites a host of lawsuits, more so for highly popular content that is instrumental in increasing the number of page views and similar commercial endeavors.

License to Copy Sites

There are certainly a lot of people who find it flattering and even useful for others to copy and re-purpose their works. It is for these authors that  some websites have been developed.  People can go to  some websites to search for articles, images and videos that content creators have made publicly reproducible. However, those who plan to use these must read the license carefully and honor its limits.

There are numerous websites which provide various works for members who pay a certain fee or for authors who want their work to be copied.  These are some popular sites that would fit under this category:: Creative Commons,  GettyImages, Corbis, iStock Photo, Copyright and iCopyright.

When In Doubt

Always err on the safe side of the law. Pause to acquire the creator’s consent before proceeding, especially if the online content got attention for its commercial value. After all, it is only basic courtesy and should rightly be observed. It also protects the commercial project by ensuring that legal requirements have been complied with to the letter. All authors are unique in their views about content reuse and will set their limits accordingly. And remember: It is best to ask their input on the matter so that their wishes are respected!

Many businesses ask us how can social media benefit their business. The key to success in social media (Sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter,Youtube, Pinterest or Google+) is interacting with individuals, listening to them and helping them see that they are important to you.

Here are several tips when using social media:

• Connect and build strong online relationships
• Write interesting content which excites the reader to click and share
• Add photos or videos – graphics are appealing to your readers
• Encourage comments, discussions and perhaps debates among your readers
• Always include share buttons on your blog posts and website content to make it easy for those using social media
• Get employees to engage on your social media sites so others can see the connection of your company

Often, your business needs to slow down and take the time to listen to what customers are trying to tell you. Make the best use of social media in your marketing strategy, and it can be a great asset to you! If you haven’t starting using social media, now is the time to start!

To start, marketing basically refers to the entire management process of making products and services readily available to customers in a satisfactory manner. The end in mind of this activity is income or profits. Simply put, marketing is everything that an individual does to place his goods and services in the hands of his customers.

From the definition, it is crystal clear why marketing is important. Without it, potential clients would not be aware of the existence of a particular commodity or service. Marketing provides the perfect avenue for consumers to know and enjoy these manufactured articles and services. No matter how useful a product or service may be, if people do not know about it, the wares and merchandise will remain on shelves and just gather dust. People will never buy the goods. Companies and firms will not be able to earn income and generate revenue.

After the general public becomes mindful of the commodity, there is a greater chance that they will buy the same. It cannot be overemphasized just how much marketing can make a business grow exponentially. At this point, new consumers and loyal ones start spreading the word about how satisfied they are with their purchases. They share their new discoveries to their family and friends. As a consequence, sales will continue to increase steadily. Without marketing, these transactions would not have happened. Without the exchange, companies will ultimately close down.

Marketing leads to product recall and brand recognition. When an organization’s article or service exceeds the expectations of the community, it builds up the image that the company is of good repute. It differentiates the establishment and giving them the advantage of having a unique selling point. This is particularly true in very competitive and oversaturated industries such as clothes and sportswear. Getting a product noticed is definitely not an easy task.

The benefits are not just limited to the company. From a consumer’s point of view, marketing aids him/her to make better choices because he/she is well-equipped with information about the products and the prices. Potential purchasers have data to support their decisions on why they buy brand A instead of brand B. This leads and fosters an atmosphere of healthy competition in the economy. No dominant company can monopolize an industry because of marketing!

When you finish this article, I want you to leave with one major point: Marketing plays an extremely crucial role in a company’s success! And this is why marketing is important! If you have specific questions on the importance of marketing or how it relates with your business, contact us today and we can help you get your foot in the best direction for your goals and business needs!