Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Is your Website Content Outdated, Irrelevant or Misleading?

The Internet became accessible to the general population in 1989. Since then, the Internet had been inundated with outdated, irrelevant and misleading content. SEO, the new structure and procedures for the web design field is a constantly evolving game. That is why it is so important that web designers and SEO designers utilize the most up-to-date, relevant and legitimate content on the Internet. To keep the site content relevant, there are 4 standard practices that come into play to improve the site and the work of SEO strategies. It is important to take into account the practice, which is more suited to your Web site, and the overall objective of your website.


The first option is to leave the content up as, but users must be able to switch to the new updated content. This practice will help ensure that you do not lose all the traffic to your website, and will not be removed from the search engine results. This is not a permanent fix, outdated content will eventually catch up to you and your users will go else where to find update, relevant content, without having to deal with redirects. Outdated content will drive traffic away from your site and future visitors.
The second option is to 301 the content, which involves redirecting URLs to a page with relevant content that the user might be seeking. This new page must be very precise and relevant to the previous URL content. Do not send a user to a new page that is unrelated to the content they want. Also, keep in mind that some frown on the search engine redirects.

The third option is 404, deleting the content and its page from your server; however this is not a good SEO practice and eventually leads to the search engines penalizing your website. The last thing you want to happen is for users to get a broken link.

The fourth option is to modify the content, which is the best solution for Web design and SEO practices. Modification of the content will improve the design of web sites, and SEO. This option will help in the retention of the classification of pages, and every new page that your link has won without having to waste stale content. First you create a page to stale content to change the direction, then change the current page with new content. This practice is SEO friendly.

Remember that it is important to update, and have relevant content from the perspective of both users and SEO. It shows that the content you give your visitors is important to you and your business.

A.Stewart,
“SEO and Webdesign for Austin Texas”
Designer / Content – Business Communication Solutions-SEO

Monday, November 29, 2010

Basic Website Types


Here are the basic steps in creating a successful web presence on the Internet. First, to develop an understanding of what your site market is, such as selling a product, supplying information etc.

This site may be used for products or services. These sites are created a professional web developer with the e-commerce software, which includes shopping carts and payment processing.

Such sites are used to for personal or business blogs, and share personal photos or business photos.

This type of website will be used for community groups, nonprofit organizations or groups of individuals in a social type or amateur clubs.

This site should be used in educational institutions, businesses related to schools or government agencies to disseminate information of an educational or training.

The site could be used to promote types of entertainment or to provide online entertainment, including games; music downloads, or promotes entertainment events.

This type of website provides information on current events, and local, state or national news. These sites are generally operated by legitimate news organizations.

This type of site is usually operated by a person or group of individuals who want to document their daily lives or thoughts online for the public to read and comment about.

This type of site is generally for large companies and organizations. To create a hybrid website companies generally hirer a professional web designer. A company may use personal web pages to keep your employees interested in the business and encourage teamwork. Can have an organizer page to promote events which your company is affiliated with. Education web page can be created for tutorials or manuals for technical support of goods or services. Companies can have a website to publish their social events entertainment business, office parties or fundraisers. New web pages can be used to spread news about corporate profits, loses, or market share. Or to promote new office locations and coming changes to the business.

A. Stewart,
“SEO and Webdesign for Austin Texas”
Designer / Content – Business Communication Solutions
http://www.bcs-seo.com

Web Site Maintenance, Reasons Behind It!



Web site maintenance is an important condition for maintaining a website created for top level search engines. It is essential that you hire a web development company to keep the site updated in a timely and professional manner. Your business website is your business card for online visitors, with updates on current information; these visitors will become customers and clients. Websites should also be maintained to ensure that cyber-crime (hacks) do not occur. Websites that are not updated with new technologies or the code are likely to be hacked. To ensure that your site is safe, it is recommended that reliable web development company be hired to keep your site free from errors and to keep information up-to date. To find a web development company, search Google, Web-Design SEO Austin.

Web site traffic:
Web traffic is analyzed using the online software, provided by the hosting company or a third party site. The software keeps track of various statistics, the number of visitors, pages searched, and how long visitors view your site. Based on this information, the development team can determine which pages should be amended or updated to ensure that your site is found in search engines, and visitors receive information they need.

Link Validation:
Websites must have valid links. Links that are broken or incorrect, links that lead your visitors to wrong information or send your visitors on a detour to another site not relative to their search gives visitors an impression of your site is not professional.

Revising Content:
The content of your website is required to be updated regularly. Any minor or major change in your business products, services, contact information, etc. should be updated. Just as you update your catalogs, business cards, brochures, fliers and content of your website should be updated at the same time to ensure continuity of your business information.

Optimizing the Images:
If pictures are too large, they will require a long download time. Optimization of images and lower resolution is essential to maintain fast download times, and make sure visitors do not leave your site due to slow download speeds.

Link Popularity:
SEO is the process where you are ranked with search engines, it is important that you create external links to your website. This can be done by creating external web page for free on sites like Google.com. If you hire an SEO web Development Company such as Business Communication Solutions BCS SEO.com developers specializing in SEO will automatically create a links to your website as part of their SEO services.

Basic Objective of Web Maintenance:
The goal is to keep your website updated with new content, images, and security to ensure your site is attractive to visitors. This is done with the knowledge, tools and a professional Web Development Company.

A.Stewart,
“SEO and Webdesign for Austin Texas”
Designer / Content – Business Communication Solutions
http://www.bcs-seo.com

Friday, November 12, 2010

Local Optimization

What is local optimization?
 Local optimization is similar to search engine optimization or SEO, but it is on a local level, focusing on prospects in your surroundings.  Local optimizing can be most beneficial to businesses that are dependant on local traffic or requiring face to face interacting, such as nail salon’s, doctor’s offices and your mom and pop shops.
When optimizing locally focus on local search engine traffic as well as local traffic not associated with search engines. When using Google to search local businesses you will notice the first 7 listings will pop up next to a map locating them on that map. This is Google’s 7 pack, and it is where you want to be.  Next to those listings you can access reviews, links to the businesses website and other information inputted either by Google or the owner (if they claimed their site).  It is best to do a little research to see what else is out there in your area and how they are promoting themselves as well as utilizing those customer reviews and hearing what patrons had to say for themselves, this will help you choose specific tags and titles and business description to associate with posting your local business. Here are some steps to help you with local optimization.

Steps

  1. Claim your business listing. This gives you a little more control in your context and reputation.  Google allows you to do this for Free! Even if you already have a website, this can be another avenue for traffic.
  2. Fill in as much information about your business that will be beneficial to users trying to find your business; such as the category you are associated with, a brief description of the business, hours of operation, a link to your website if you have one and you can even upload photos/video’s and coupons/promotional offers. Other information that pops up in Google places are reviews about your business as well as a map and directions on how to get there.
  3. Encourage customers to write reviews. They can access reviews from Google, yellow pages and a number of other review sites.
  4. Periodically go back and check your business listing in Google places, then you can make necessary tweaks and updates to your business if needed.


Lynn Thomas,
“SEO and Web design for Austin Texas”
Content/Admin – Business Communication Solutions
http://www.bcs-seo.com

Optimizing For Keyword Competition

Reviewing keyword phrases while performing a particular search will help you in determining the different levels of competition. The larger the number of search results returned means that there is more competition out there for that particular keyword phrase search. By performing an exact match search will also help in narrowing down results as well as provide a better idea of which words to choose for association with your site. Getting listed on our free Texas directory at www.freewebsitedirectoryaustin.com will increase the number of times your business comes up for local search inquires.



Lynn Thomas
“SEO and Web Design for Austin
Business Communication Solutions
Content/Admin
http://www.bcs-seo.com

What is SMM & How Does It Benefit You?

SMM stands for Social Media Marketing; this is simply another way to communicate with your audience by participating in relevant web 2.0 communities and conversation forums, such as twitter. These applications allow a direct channel of communication from your business to the target market.  Creating links that are necessary in promoting your organization successfully will open up your business for more people in the target audience to like. People do business with organizations that they like; so not only are they buying from you, but, they will promote and recommend your services to others in the online community. Social Media Marketing is not to be used as a substitute for SEO. Even though it can provide traffic spikes SMM links are not direct links so they are not included in search engine popularity algorithms. SMM is a great way to monitor and keep track of the information people are sharing about your organization. Whether it is positive or negative feedback, you have opportunity to respond and clarify certain uncertainties and create ways to avoid the dislikes of the users.



Lynn Thomas
“SEO and Web Design for Austin
Business Communication Solutions
Content/Admin

Techniques for SEO Success

        When optimizing your site keep your Target audience in mind and focus on them; not search engines.

        It is important to research your keywords. Use the most relevant keywords and phrases for your business.

        Classify your site and its navigation. Making it easy to use and important information easy to find. Use the most descriptive anchor text with your keywords.

        Do not put important information about your site in flash or Java links. This will make your site crawler friendly.

        Keep target keyword phrases in your Meta descriptions and title tags.

        Creating useful information on your page for your audience will serve as link bait.  Keeping your information accurate and easy to comprehend will make your site link worthy.

        Remember not to measure your success based on search rankings.

        Build and upkeep your link partnerships. Participating in Social Media Markets to promote your business will help to improve your status.

        Keeping track of and reviewing your web analytics and conversions will keep you on point with what is working and what isn’t. This allows you to troubleshoot problems when they start.

Lynn Thomas
“SEO and Web Design for Austin
Business Communication Solutions
 Content/Admin
http://www.bcs-seo.com

Generating Keyword Phrases for SEO

Looking for new ways to generate additional keyword phrases for Search engine Optimization? Conducting research and keeping your target audience in mind will help. Knowing particular keywords associated with your product or a service is a great start but is it enough? In order to improve your sites hits you should aim for keyword relevancy by brainstorming and categorizing. Try conducting your own search using phrases related your business and see exactly what comes up. After this you will have a good idea of where to start on using more effective keyword phrases. You can always check keyword relevancy using a few different sites including http://keyworddiscovery.com . Google is a widely used search engine that is free and offers their own; you can check it out at https://adwords.google.com/select/keywordtoolexternal.  Another way to increase hits to your site will be by advertising in a directory for your area such as www.freewebsitedirectoryaustin.com .  Other things to consider for Search engine optimization or SEO are your competition and their keyword phrases.


Lynn Thomas,
“SEO and Web design for Austin Texas”
Content – Business Communication Solutions
http://www.bcs-seo.com


Keyword Phrases in Content Pages

When deciding which information to include on your site it is best to take the assumption that site visitors know nothing about you. This way you will be including more information as opposed to leaving more information out.  A visitor’s first glance at your site should be easy to navigate, making it easy to find information that they are searching for. Keeping keyword rich content out of graphics and flash files will be beneficial for the users seeking the information. Using alt text and alt tags for this type of content is better, because it is on your page, but, it is not viewable to search engines. Good site content will be consistent with the regular pages of your site; it will also solve problems, answer questions and provide information. Refrain from using doorway pages that are not apart of your site. Keeping site content balanced and geared towards the users and search engines will make your site content king.



Lynn Thomas
“SEO and Web Design for Austin
Business Communication Solutions
 Content
http://www.bcs-seo.com