Mobile Websites – Building Websites with Multiple Screens in Mind
Posted by Rory Martin in Web Design and Development on April 5, 2013
Mobile websites are popular, and a lot of web traffic originates directly from mobile devices including tablets and smartphones. While building a mobile site is definitely a great option, having your Seattle web designer build a responsive website that shows up differently to each type of device might also be a great way to go. This post follows up on the previous post about deciding if mobile web is right for you, and if so, how much it is worth to you.
A Look at the Statistics
According to Google a massive 27% of all searches on Google (that’s about 70-90% of all search depending on the given day) are from a mobile device. That includes tablets, e-readers, tablet PCs, phones of all shapes and sizes, game consoles, and even smart TVs. Essentially, some 15-20% of all web search is mobile driven, and maybe more.
What is Responsive Web Design?
If you ask your Seattle web designer ‘what is responsive web design’ we would say, it’s the process of using one URL, one web page, one HTML page, and two or more CSS pages. This allows the page to appear differently based on the capabilities and dimensions of the device listed so that an iPad user sees the website in perfect size on an iPad, and a Blackberry user sees the website perfectly on their Blackberry. There are pros and cons to responsive web design but most of them have to do with SEO. Responsive web design is most beneficial because it uses a single URL rather than redirection via canonical URLs.
What is Dynamic Web Design?
Dynamic web design is the second option for anyone who would like a mobile compatible site. Dynamic web design is different from responsive web design in that it uses one URL but different HTML. Dynamic design uses a server directs to push multiple devices to different variations of the site without using a different URL. This is preferential to canonical URLs because it allows web users to easily go to a different page without switching site. This is different from a mobile website in that it still uses the same URL rather than a completely different one.
Which Mobile Web Design is Right for You?
While mobile web design is great for anyone who has a large percentage of mobile traffic, it isn’t right for everyone. You can decide this on your own, or ask a Seattle web designer like Rory Martin about it. After deciding you need a mobile website, you have to decide between the many different types of websites suitable for mobile. Dynamic web design, a full mobile site, or what is quickly becoming the most popular option, responsive web design are all great choices, and each suitable for a different type of website.
Responsive web design is usually the most popular option but there are a couple of other considerations to include, no matter what you choose. For example, you need a font that works on both computer browsers and mobile, you need images and video tagged and situated for mobile, and most importantly, a quality SEO strategy for both mobile and standard web.
Are you ready to start integrating mobile into your website design? Contact us today to learn more about mobile web design, and how it benefits you.
SEO vs PPC – Where Should You Be Spending Your Time and Money?
Posted by Rory Martin in Search Engine Marketing on April 2, 2013
Most websites require some form of marketing, and for most, the decision comes down to PPC (pay per click advertising) or SEO (search engine optimization). There are many benefits to both, but most webmasters should learn best policy for each tactic including how, when, and where to use them. Before going into detail, you can compare the two marketing options.
SEO
SEO or Search Engine Optimization is the easiest way to get natural and organic clicks. Studies show that between 40 and 60 percent of searches end with clicks on organic results, mostly because buyers are more likely to trust unpaid options. However, Google and other search engines have been inserting paid ads into search results so these numbers are going down.
SEO requires that a site have a quality social program, good usage of keywords related to their topic or niche, and plenty of quality backlinks. The basic points of SEO include:
- Relatively affordable
- Offers unlimited return on investment
- Is constantly changing
- Allows websites to rank for quality content
- Is reputation based
PPC
Pay per click advertisement is the most popular form of advertisement because you literally get what you pay for. You bid on the click and then you pay that much each time someone clicks on your ad and visits your site. What they do once they reach your site is entirely dependent upon how targeted your ads are and the content or products you have on the site. PPC can be cost effective for small campaigns but also very expensive for larger campaigns. The pros of PPC include that if you spend the money, you are guaranteed traffic in return.
- You only pay for traffic you receive
- Ads are posted in search, on websites, or on social
- Pay how much you want per click
- Run ads for as long as you want
PPC vs. SEO
SEO and PPC both have their benefits but for most websites, SEO definitely has an advantage over PPC in that it can offer more clicks and traffic for the same or less money. A good SEO campaign can direct thousands of visitors to a site for one small flat rate price while PPC costs more per extra visitor. For budget purposes, SEO definitely has an advantage.
Long term SEO programs that are intended to increase ranking and SERP (Search Engine Results Page) ranking can also be more effective over time than PPC. However, SEO is a long term strategy and can take weeks or even months to show quality results. PPC usually shows results within a few hours of the campaign being launched.
Choosing Between PPC and SEO
Many webmasters think that they have to choose between SEO and PPC but for most websites, choosing one or the other can be a mistake. SEO is a great way to build long term results and should have the majority of focus for most websites, especially those on a budget. However, including PPC campaigns can be beneficial as well, especially for sales, special occasions, or any time when a little extra traffic, more interaction, or even more sales are needed. SEO is definitely the better choice for anyone on a strict budget, and for anyone looking for long term results, but PPC definitely has its advantages as well.
Author
This is a guest post.
Brandy Cross is a full time tech and SEO blogger for The High Tech Society. Catch her on Twitter @MissBCross or leave a comment here to talk about your SEO.
Mobile Is Taking Over the Web – Are You Ready?
Posted by Rory Martin in Web Design and Development on March 29, 2013
If you’ve ever stopped for a moment to look up a website, store, or restaurant on your phone or tablet, then you’re not alone. Statistics show that more and more consumers are using their mobile phone to research and purchase items online, while websites aren’t really catching up to the trend. In fact, a study in early 2013 shows that 51% of people are more willing to make a purchase from a site with mobile optimized content, but only about 4.8% of applicable sites actually have mobile optimization. With this in mind, jumping on the mobile bandwagon could benefit you more than you might think. Mobile web development services are often more affordable than original website creation, and you can likely use most of your original web design.
Mobile Search to Surpass PC Search by 2014
Experts in mobile and standard search have been saying it since 2011, and are still saying it now in 2013. Mobile Search is expected to surpass computer based searches by 2014, even if it is as little as 1%. Currently consumer based searches on mobiles are at 41% compared to 59% on computers, meaning that mobile doesn’t have too far to catch up. Combined with the eye opening stats on purchases and research, going mobile could be very important for your site.
What is a Mobile Website?
So what is a mobile website? Chances are if you’ve ever taken a moment to research something on the web and you came across an impossibly small website with floating social share buttons in the way, or popup ads that were impossible to close, then your immediate response was to leave. Chances are that this site looked great on a web browser, but on your phone, it’s almost impossible to read.
A mobile website is one that has been designed with mobile use in mind. Typically there are no sidebars and are optimized for smaller screens with single row wider text that can be read more easily. Ads, if any, should be inserted between lines of text rather than on the side, and anything that floats should typically be removed.
If you aren’t sure how to go about creating a mobile website for your site, you can check with a web developer and ask about using canonical URLs to ensure there is no duplicate content on your site.
Is Mobile Optimization Right For You?
While only about 4.8% of websites have mobile optimized pages, mobile optimization isn’t for everyone. Not every site can benefit from utilizing mobile search, so it is always important to look into the facts before spending your time and money. Popular tools such as How to Go Mobile can be used to calculate how much each mobile click is worth to you, so that you can decide whether or not optimizing for mobile use is good for you. For example, a study by Adidas showed that every mobile search was worth $3.60 because 1 in 5 searchers ended up as a customer.
10 Ways Connecting on Social Sites Benefits Your Business
Posted by Rory Martin in Social Networking on March 26, 2013
Social sites were originally designed to be social. With the idea of allowing friends and family to talk to each other, see what the other is up to, and even play games online, many businesses ignored them at first. Now, we all know that social is a great place to advertise your business, host a free business page, and collect fans. But many businesses actually create a social page and then ignore it. Whether this is because of a lack of the free time to handle posting to social, a lack of anything to say, or because it is seen as a ‘waste of time’ can vary from page to page. Unfortunately this means that a lot of companies are missing out on some of the best benefits of social. The following include just some of the benefits you (or anyone) can get from networking and connecting via a social account.
Free Traffic – Want traffic to your website or blog but don’t know how to find it? If your SEO or marketing strategies have been turning around less traffic than you would like, you might want to turn your focus to social media. Studies show that a good social media account with active users and planned content can drive as much as 40% or more traffic towards a blog. If you want to see results, you can use Google Analytics to watch and track your social driven content so that you can see the exact metrics for your social efforts
Networking with Other Businesses – Networking is one of the most powerful tools any online business has, and social is the only way to achieve it online. Networking allows you to connect with business owners, find opportunities, and even find employees. For example, you can connect with high level industry people, meet with people who need your services, or meet valuable connections in the same field who turn into business partners, or just friends.
Promotion for Blogs – Social is one of the easiest ways to promote a blog, especially since it is easier for your fan base to follow than to visit your website. Because you cannot rely on each of your fans to consistently visit your website, you can direct them towards each post by telling them about it on social. Promotion for your blog is similar to the ‘free traffic’ benefit, but in this case can uniquely affect the SEO and buzz about your blog.
Free Branding Tools – Your brand is your business and social accounts are very powerful free branding tools. Anything from Twitter to Pinterest can be used to tell people who you are, and you shouldn’t be ignoring it. Increasing brand awareness means increased exposure, increased customers, and more reminders of your business when someone needs your services.
Doubled Exposure – Doubled exposure, or double the exposure, quite literally means that you are being exposed to twice the number of people as you would without social. A Facebook post is visible to 15-20% of your fan base, which is actually about on par for the average number who see a standard blog post or we page. This means that you can literally increase the number of people who see your content to begin with by sharing it on your social.
Brand Reminders – A brand reminder is a reminder that your brand is there, and any social account is a great reminder of this. Brand reminders can include photos, status updates, or tweets, so long as they are out there, and remind your clientele, customer base, or fans, who and what you are. Of course, the golden rule of social is that no more than 1 in 5 posts should be promotional, so don’t go overboard.
Consistency – What does consistency do for your business? A lot more than most people think actually. Did you know that consistent marketing or posting means that more people regularly see your content? Consistency tells your fans that you are a constant source of information or products that can be relied upon which can benefit your traffic, your sales, and your revenue.
A Voice – If you don’t have a blog then you could be lacking an internet personality. Unfortunately for you, much of the web is now all in favor of sites that are personal, real, engaged, and interactive rather than just professional. You can use your social sites to show your fans who you are as well as your business policies. But don’t take it too far, studies show that keeping your business and personal social sites as separate as possible actually benefits you.
Perceived Authority – Social sites give businesses a huge advantage with perceived authority. This authority is based on the number of followers or likes that you have as well as the amount of social interaction you have. Usually the higher these numbers, the more authoritative you are seen. While you can achieve high perceived authority with good networking skills, you can also achieve it by actually being an authoritative source of information.
Increased Influence – Last but not least, you can actually use social accounts to increase your brand and marketing influence. Whether to increase sales, increase traffic, or conversion, your social presence helps you to interact with people. Typically, interaction leads to sharing, visits to your site, and purchases.
Social can benefit your business in more ways than the ten listed above. Whether you have an account and simply aren’t paying it that much attention, or worse, don’t have one, you should start posting, updating, and interacting with your social. While not all of the benefits will be immediate, you can see them all in interaction, sales, and traffic results.
Online Reputation Management and how it Can Benefit Your Social Media
Posted by Rory Martin in Social Media Marketing, Social Networking on March 14, 2013
Anyone with a business should invest in some form of reputation management, even if it is something as simple as starting and keeping up a positive blog or social site. Reputation management begins in creating a positive media buzz around your website or company for positive media attention, brand awareness, and customer awareness. Despite its origins in covering up negatives about a company, brand management doesn’t necessarily have to be for hiding negative media. In fact, you can utilize it now to positively increase your presence on the web.
What is Reputation Management?
If you’ve ever lived in a small town then you know that saying something you shouldn’t can get you in trouble. You probably also know that doing something good can get you talked about in a positive way. Your Seattle social media, and website brand management, operate under the same premises. The internet is essentially a very small place because while spanning the world, it allows information to be exchanged instantaneously. This means that a potential shopper in Boston could read about how great your online shoe store is and buy shoes or a Seattle restaurant critic like Providence Cicero might see your restaurant online and decide to pay a visit. Reputation management is about controlling and managing the information that goes out about you online so that you create a positive vibe online.
Four Basic Online Reputation Management Tips
Your online reputation starts with your SEO, your blogging, and most importantly, your social media. While any DIY technique isn’t going to mimic the in-depth management of a professional, you can get a good start on your own, especially if you don’t have a lot of negative content up about your site. Here are four easy tips for reputation, and brand management for your Seattle SEO.
- Keep a Blog – SO what does a blog have to do with your reputation management? A lot actually. The thing is, the more you are saying about your business, the less room there is for other people on the first page. Another good thing to keep in mind is that a blog can draw traffic to your site, especially if you take the time to write high quality articles that reflect your site and your content. If your website is a blogging site then obviously you don’t need this advice, but it is important to remember that a regularly posted blog can do wonders for your social, your traffic, and your reputation.
- Take Care of Your Social – Your social is the hub of what people say about you online, so you should take care of it. Talking to people on your social, taking the time to create real working relationships, and making connections can really help to get positive word out about your website. On the other hand spamming people with links to click on and expecting them to automatically like your business won’t get you anywhere. Usually it’s a good idea to approach your social with care, and remember that each person who ‘likes’ ‘follows’ or +1’s your pages is a human being as well as a potential client, customer, or subscriber.
- Resolve Problems – So what next? You might not have any problems yet, but you’re likely to get some eventually. One of the hardest parts of online reputation management is resolving issues as quickly and efficiently as possible, and without getting into arguments. Making customers or clients feel like they are important is the easiest way to create positive brand awareness, so make sure you handle issues effectively. For example, were you the shoe store listed above and someone commented on your social, or left a review on Yelp, that their shoes had fallen apart, you would want to respond with an apology, and perhaps the offer of a new pair of shoes or a refund. While giving out the money might hurt, it will hurt less than the irreparable damage a bad review can do to your reputation. Likewise, a restaurant or even a freelancer with a bad review could
- Watch What You Say – Did you know that comments you leave on a blog can come up in search if someone searches for your email? Or that those comments will be there for years into the future? Everything from a tweet to a comment can come up for literally years into the future whether you like it or not, so watch what you say. Anyone who works extensively with their social should attempt to keep personal and business social accounts as separate as possible, and potentially even consider creating a personal Facebook that is private to all but close friends and family. An unintended joke or photo of a night out with friends can look bad to a professional, especially if you depend on your reputation for work.
The good news is that once you get the hang of managing your online reputation, you shouldn’t have that many problems with it. Key issues are keeping up with your social, creating a positive buzz through articles, blogs, and networking, and resolve any issues as quickly as possible. Remember that the internet can turn a city as large as Seattle into a very small place information wise, so taking care of your reputation can be one of your best business strategies.
What is an Interactive Website (And Why You May or May Not Want One)
Posted by Rory Martin in Web Design and Development on March 7, 2013
Interactive brings to mind a lot of positive ideas including communication, but what is an interactive site? According to the definition of the term, an interactive website is any website that uses plugins, features, or add-ons to allow visitors to directly interact with your site. For the most part, this is a very good thing but let’s take a look at the pros and cons of interactive websites before you choose to have your Seattle web designer work on yours.
Pros of Using an Interactive Website
The most complicated interactive websites allow visitors to locate themselves on the map, see where other customers and clients have come from, submit to polls, and even leave comments. Technically most websites are interactive in one way or another, but mostly to small extents. One of the most popular forms of interaction is via social plugins and extensions that allow visitors to share, tweet, +1, or even comment via their social platform.
- Promotes engagement and increases visitor time on website
- Increases visitor to client or customer turnover
- Offers visitors a more dynamic and enriched experience
The real advantage of using an interactive website is that you get to directly interact and engage with each visitor, either via comments and social, or via games, forums, or polls. To many websites, this is a huge plus.
Cons of Using Interactive Websites
There are also many cons to using interactive websites but most revolve around the time spent on the website, how the result (which is user engagement) is realized, and how it affects the website. One of the biggest concerns of using interactive websites is that mostly they require flash type plugins, customized loading options, and quite frequently take longer to load, break up SEO content, and can direct attention away from content and towards engagement which might not always be a good thing.
- Takes more time to manage
- Can be achieved in other ways
- Can affect SEO
Choosing an Interactive or Non-Interactive Website
For the most part, interactive websites are a good thing and you can tell your Seattle web developer to go full steam ahead on building one for you. For example, a website with recipes could greatly benefit from allowing visitors to vote and review recipes, by allowing them to share recipes to their social sites, or even by allowing them to use an app to find grocery stores with the ingredients needed for the recipe. This type of engagement increases website value which is always a good thing.
On the other hand a simple business website with content aimed to make a sale might not benefit from engagement because social shares and polls can lead the visitor away from the website and towards another business. Importantly some apps, ad-ons, and even built in code to allow user engagement can actually slow a site down as well, which isn’t usually a good thing.
Another consideration is that while a forum or chat section on your website might be useful in some cases, you can usually achieve the same results by directing them to Facebook or Google +, if you don’t necessarily need interactive features on your website, you can usually direct visitors to a social site which is very interactive.
So what’s the bottom line? Usually interactive sites are beneficial and will increase conversion and lower bounce rate. However, they aren’t necessary for everyone. Consider talking with your Seattle web designer for a consultation about what sort of website features might benefit your business before you get started building.
WordPress vs Joomla: Choosing a CMS Based on Your Website Needs
Posted by Rory Martin in Web Design and Development on March 1, 2013
If you’re looking for a Seattle web designer then one of the first things you should be considering is which CMS you should be using. For most, the decision is as simple as looking at the features offered by WordPress and Joomla and then choosing one that suits your business based on performance, capabilities, and options. For the most part your Seattle designers at Rory Martin will be able to tell you what will and will not work for your site, but this guide can help you to see the advantages of each CMS for yourself.
First a bit about CMS
Before you get choose between WordPress and Joomla, you might want to take a minute and learn a little bit about CMS. A CMS or Content Management System is used for publishing, managing, and editing the content created by your Seattle web designer. Most of the time a CMS is much easier to learn and to use then by doing the same tasks by modifying code via the hosting end of the website. WordPress is currently the most popular CMS but Joomla is also quite popular. Both are suited to slightly different types of sites and the following information should tell you why.
WordPress
WordPress was founded in 2003 and has since become the most popular CMS on the planet. The site functions as a free blogging application as well as a website CMS and is the single best CMS choice for bloggers who want a website. WordPress can be moved from server to server relatively easily, can be used for simplistic or intricate websites, and can be used to host single page or thousand page sites depending on your needs. Contrary to popular belief, WordPress does not necessarily have to be a blog website as it can be used to create solely static pages. You can see a WordPress website in action by visiting Time Magazine online. The benefits of WordPress include:
- CSS Theme Design which is easy to edit and modify
- Low learning curve
- Thousands of Useful Plugins
- Built in Blogging Interface
- Can be Used as a Web Forum
- Can include static pages and blog posts
- Works excellently for e-commerce sites
Joomla
Joomla was founded in 2005 and currently controls about 8% of the CMS market. The platform features a steeper learning curve than WordPress but most experts say that it is better for designing complex websites with multiple pages, but no blog. Joomla is perfect for large complex systems and in fact, eBay uses Joomla for their employee social portal. Joomla offers about 6,000 extension models which is about half the number offered by WordPress, but still quite a lot of tweaks and options. Joomla is highly customizable but requires more knowledge of code and technical tweaks than WordPress which is why fewer people use it. Visit iHop’s website or Linux.com to see a Joomla website in action.
Joomla vs. WordPress
Choosing between Joomla and WordPress is not quite as simple as saying ‘pick one’. For the most part, any blogging website can greatly benefit from using WordPress. With built in blogging functions, an easy to use CMS, and plenty of adons and options for SEO, it’s a great choice. WordPress is also easily customizable, great for adding plugins and social, and relatively easy to learn from the ground up.
Joomla is excellent for anyone who wants a more complex website with different features. Options including e-commerce sites without a blog, business websites, and unique websites with in-site functions all work well with Joomla.
Want to know more about the differences between Joomla and WordPress? You can discuss your website needs with your Seattle web designer and then work with us to choose a CMS that works for you.
Web Design Layout Techniques That Work
Posted by Rory Martin in Web Design and Development on February 27, 2013
Creating your website is about more than using code and pictures to create a final whole. If that were so, you could create your website yourself, or you could if you know code. But the real reason that prompts most people to hire a Seattle web design company is the fact that real web design is about creating a work of art that utilizes every bit of space and color to its best advantage. From layout design to text and images, every bit of your website is thoroughly thought about and designed. The following includes just some of the attention to detail that the web designers at Rory Martin in Seattle put into your website.
Background
Your website design starts with the background. Studies show that a uniform color background allows text and images to be more readable, so that is the best place to start. While it is possible to use an image background, a simple solid color can provide much better results. Style also plays a factor in your web design. Studies show that light colors such as white and grey are associated with professionalism, while darker colors such as black are associated with modern and alternative. Most of the time subtle light colors such as white or grey, or a subtly patterned backgrounds show the best results. While you can use a standard white background, many businesses prefer to show a bit more personality and utilize subtle coloring in their background.
Consistency Provides Better Results
Another thing that you might notice about a website is that a consistent design will help to improve results. Consistency looks good which means that it looks professional. Most customers and readers appreciate professionalism which will earn you recognition for that professionalism. Importantly, you can use differentiation in a consistent website to make certain items stand out.
Large Images
Images help to draw attention, and keep interest, especially around blocks of content. Most experts recommend using large images combined with small blocks of text to tell your readers what you are about in as few words as possible. Short and sweet text combined with a visually rich website can create a great deal more impact than a long bland text with little to no visual impact. Your website should be about imagery as well as the written word so consider incorporating it with large photos, photo sliders, and other rich visual content.
Broken Grids Draw the Most Attention
An organized website on a grid layout can draw a lot of attention, but by slightly breaking up the grid, or highlighting one or two blocks from your grid, you can create a lot more visual impact, and change the way people look at your website. Organization is important and grids and broken grids are the easiest way to get there. Depending on website style and methods, either could be great for you. A couple of tips that can help with your Seattle web design include that smaller blocks of text create the most impact, large visual images are better than small pictures, and design and pattern matter. If you want to know what might work for your website, consider asking one of the Seattle web design pros at Rory Martin for a consultation and free estimate on your website.
Five Things a Great Web Developer Will Offer Your Seattle Business
Posted by Rory Martin in Web Design and Development on February 24, 2013
If you are planning on hiring a Seattle web designer to work with your website then you have to know that you are getting the best services for your money. Anyone can mock up a website using a WordPress template, but what you need is a truly beautiful and unique website. Finding a web developer in Seattle who provides that isn’t always easy, but the following tips can help you find someone who will suit your needs and create the website of your dreams.
Courtesy
While it might not sound like the most important thing for your Seattle web designer, a courteous professional tells you several things. The first is that this web designer respects you meaning that they are more likely to pay attention to your wants and needs, and therefore create a website that you actually love. The second is also a direct result of respect, you are more likely to get the value or more than the value of what you have paid. If you want a beautiful website from someone who paid attention to what you want, then courtesy, professionalism, and politeness are the first things to look for.
A Strong Portfolio
You don’t want to hire just anyone to do your Seattle website, so don’t hire anyone without a portfolio. A good portfolio includes a range of different websites that you can see screenshots of, and visit the links. What you want to look for is variety, versatility, and of course, beautiful designs. Remember to look at the portfolio, note things you do and do not like about each design, and discuss them with your web designer before having them begin to create your website. This lets the designer know exactly what type of website you like, or don’t like.
A Strong Grasp of Graphic Design
You can notice this on the Seattle web designer’s web page as well as in their portfolio. Graphic design is about color, use of space, use of content, and placement. If the person designing the website does not have a strong grasp of these elements then your website will not utilize each bit of space to its best advantage. Everything from color, to font, to empty space will affect how people perceive your site so you want to use each element to its best advantage.
Questions
While it might be annoying to answer hundreds of questions, a good web designer will do just that. Rather than just reading your bio and looking at your pages, a real Seattle web designer should ask you about your personal beliefs, your company motto, how you want to be presented, and why you got started as a business. There are many questions that can be asked by a web designer, but usually the more the better.
Professionalism and Services
Last but not least, you want to look for a professional attitude and great services. Look for companies that offer strict deadlines, have great reviews, and the services you need. Some web designers can purchase and register a domain to set up your entire website from scratch, others won’t bother with this so you should look around to see who offers the services you need. If they site does purchase the domain for you, make sure it is in your name so that you can move the site at a later date if you like. Some great services you can look for include web design, web hosting, programming, SEO (to rank your site later), and any website specialties such as e-commerce, blogging, landing pages, or email marketing design.
No matter which Seattle web developer you choose, make sure they have the skills and the services to create a truly brilliant website.
Is Your SEO Still on Track with Google?
Posted by Rory Martin in Search Engine Optimization on February 20, 2013
SEO is a rapidly changing business for international and local Seattle industries. Google, Bing, Yahoo, and other search engines are constantly updating their policies, but Google, which controls more than 70% of traffic, updates most of all. If you haven’t been keeping up with Google’s SEO trends your website might not be on track, which means that you could begin to see your ranking and your traffic drop whenever your website is scanned! Check your Seattle SEO against these recent SEO changes to make sure you are headed in the right direction.
Images No Longer Help With SEO
In the first month of 2013, many website owners saw their traffic soar as Google’s new image search policies directed more and more visitors to properly tagged images. As a result, many SEOs began using targeted photos as a form of SEO. Now, Google has changed their image policy so that the searcher does not actually have to visit your website to get the full size image. This change took place during first week in February and it’s definitely a game changer. While you can still benefit from having keywords as your image title and alt tags, it probably will not increase your SEO.
What about Headers?
Headers are great to include in your blog because they help organize it (and Google loves organization), but they don’t help with your SEO very much. The old rule of putting one keyword in the title and one in a subtitle no longer works because Google isn’t really paying attention. Using the right keywords in your content lets Google know what it is you are talking about without using it in a header. Importantly, your title should include your keyword or a variation of your keyword. However, this is for the readers benefit, not Google’s.
How is Your Social Doing?
If you really want to dominate Google in today’s market, you have to pay attention to your social. New updates are placing even more focus on social responders including how much, and how quickly, you get social shares and likes. While a good post doesn’t necessarily need a lot of attention from social to come up in search, it does help if you have a competitive keyword. Look around, check anyone competing for your Seattle SEO keywords and see how they are doing. If their SEO is as good as yours and you are doing worse than they are, the answer is likely in social. Similarly, if you aren’t participating in Google’s Authorship program, you might want to start because it makes your post larger in search and can help you to get more prominent positions once you start to build your author rank.
Backlinks
You might already know this but now, more than ever, a surge of artificial backlinks can kill your ranking. Google has caught on to spam techniques like automatic link building, link submission, and even mass guest posting on low PR blogs. Now if you want your backlinks to be beneficial to your site, they must publish quality content, not have a history of spam, and usually be at least PR2 or hire. While there are a lot of variables, the moral is that you should choose your backlinks slowly and build to your site from quality links and articles.
Want to know more? Keep following Rory Martin to stay on top of the latest Seattle SEO that will affect your ranking. Google is changing quickly which means that it is important to stay on top of the factors that affect your SEO.
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