Striking Web - Small Business Affordable Web Design Company » Website Tips

SEO Tip of the Day

Striking Web, Inc. — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:13:25 +0000

Forget about keyword density. Instead, create a page for each keyword you want to rank for and then write for your website visitor!

The best way to rank for a competitive keyword is to create a page on your website focused on that keyword.

Why building backlinks to your website = More Website Traffic!

Striking Web, Inc. — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 04:57:21 +0000

Link building is a way to build backlinks to your website.

Building backlinks is one of the major pieces to the SEO puzzle that will help drive traffic to your website and also help your website rank much higher on the search engines.

But why is it important to build backlinks to your website?

Think of a backlink to your website as a vote.

The more websites that link to you the more votes your website gets. Google’s algorithm takes into account how many links are coming into a website and a website with many incoming links is viewed as a valuable resource.

So what can we do to build backlinks to our own websites? Here are THREE things you can do to start building some back links to your site.

Submit one article a month to an article submission website. A good Article Submission website will let you include a link back to your website in the Article. If your article goes viral you will generate a ton of website traffic.
Requests links from other websites that compliment your business. Ask them to place a link back to your site in exchange for you placing a link on your website back to their site.
Spend some time on blogs that interest you and when you leave comments be sure to always include your website address.

Building backlinks to a website is very time consuming and a game of patience.

Here are some tools I would recommend that will help you with your backlinks building campaign:

Like I said building backlinks to a website is very time consuming and a game of patience. So don’t get discouraged if you are not seeing results from your efforts. It takes time and effort!

Good Luck!

What is your websites Unique Value Proposition?

Striking Web, Inc. — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 18:57:29 +0000

A “Unique Value Proposition” (UVP) is something free or low cost designed to engage users on a website. It’s a way of giving something away for free in exchange for a person’s name and email. Examples of UVP’s are Contests, free white papers, free calculators, free newsletters, and free brochures.

A UVP is a great way to capture website visitor names and emails to build a database of website visitors. This database will become your most powerful marketing tool. With these emails you can send your prospects and clients’ newsletters, offers, surveys, and much more. The result will be a two way communication with your prospects and clients, which can later translate to more business.

Some items to think about:

How are you capturing visitor names and emails?

What Unique Value Proposition can you use on your website to engage your prospects and clients?

Let me know if you have any questions and I will be more than happy to give you some ideas and suggestions.

Hector Moran
Striking Web, Inc. – Small Business and Affordable Website Design Company
Remember! If you don’t have a website, you don’t exist!
866-960-9197

10 Guiding Tips to Building a Successful Website

Striking Web, Inc. — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 23:12:39 +0000

One of the most challenging tasks that most small business owners have is making time to write down on paper what they want in a website. Here are 10 Tips that will help you gather your thoughts.

Before you even start to work with a web design company have a list of the types of websites you like. This will be important information for the web designers and the project managers working on your project.
Think about what function your website will serve for your business. For example will your website be a place for your visitors to come and view your catalog? Or will your website be a source of information about your services and products? Or will your website be an online store?
If you don’t already have a logo start to think about colors for your logo. It always helps if you have a hand drawing of an idea for a logo. We can turn hand drawings into beautiful logos.
Make a list of how many pages you will need for your website. For example the common pages on a website are the Home page, About Us page, Services Page, Blog page, and Contact Us page. Having an idea of how many pages you will need for your website will also give your Website design company an idea of what your project will cost.
Think about a budget, how much you are willing to invest in your website. Remember that this is a marketing investment in your company and your website is your presence on the web. Work with your Web design company if you have a low budget so that they can give you an idea of your options.
Start thinking and start writing the content you want for your website pages. If you need help with your content talk to your web design company. They can refer you to a content writer.
Make a list of keywords and key phrases that you know people will use when searching for your services online. Also, be sure to ask about Search Engine Optimization for your website. Some web design companies also offer this service but if not they can refer you to an SEO company. Keep in mind that this service requires a good budget and a commitment of at least 4 to 6 months.
Think about a Domain Name you want for your website. Try to keep the name short and simple, but also make sure it relates to your business. Keeping it simple will help people remember your website. Good examples of short and simple domain names are names like google.com, yahoo.com , msn.com, facebook.com, etc.
Be sure to ask your web design company how long your project will take. This will give you an idea of when it will be completed so you can plan accordingly.
Last but not least, if a relative tells you they can do your website, unless that relative is me, I would suggest you contact a professional web design company. My point is that if you want your website completed in a few weeks you really want to work with professionals that create websites for small businesses!

Hector Moran

Latest Website Design Trends For 2010

Striking Web, Inc. — Mon, 17 May 2010 13:30:05 +0000

You have already witnessed all the excitement and happiness of the first two months of 2010. Have you been able to stand by your New Year’s Resolutions? People make new resolutions to have some change with the start of a new year. Same goes for website designers, as now is the time when you can see them devising different website designs. If you are conducting online business, you need to pay attention to these latest website design trends. Here are a few of them for you to understand the change.

Oversized Headers And Logos:

In this year, things are big and so are the headers and logos. These oversized logos and headers is that they help create a better impression on visitors and work extremely well for brand recognition.

Hand-Drawn Designs And Sketches:

Another latest trend is to have hand-drawn design. The big reason behind the growing popularity of these designs is that they look personalized and allow a personal interaction between the site and its visitors.

Interactive Designs:

In 2010, you will find many sites with interactive designs based on Flash. The advent of sIFR, swfobject2.2, and other specific Flash technologies has made Flash-based sites accessible for search engines. So, be ready to see designers making use of more redeeming Flash elements now.

Typography:

Although many trends have just started capturing a large market, few trends from 2009 are still going strong. Typography, for instance, is one such trend that was extremely popular in 2009. You will again find new websites with typography as their basic design element in the year 2010.

In addition, you will see more and more websites with Modal Boxes, Minimalism, Hub Images, Intro Boxes, and Oversized Footers. However, these are only few of the very best and latest website design trends. All of them are growing in popularity and that’s the reason why you should keep them in mind when designing a new website. In fact, it is a better idea to hire an experienced website designer, as he is updated with all these trends for designing a new site or redesigning an old one with the latest website design.

I can build my own website using a site builder service; I don’t need your web development expertise!

Striking Web, Inc. — Sun, 09 May 2010 21:22:11 +0000

There are many companies that offer you the ability to create your own website at a low cost using a step by step site builder application. These companies give you the option to pick from many pre-designed templates, they allow you to change the color schemes of the template, they allow you to upload your own logo, and they allow you to add your content. Essentially you are given the tools to create your website and then put it on the web. This is a great service if you have the time to spend on learning how to edit and tweak these templates to make the website to your liking. If you know nothing about creating a website then you could spend more time trying to figure out how to tweak the templates than you want. It’s like everything in life; you can do it yourself, or pay someone to do it. Personally, I leave the work to the experts. My time is too valuable!

Let’s take a look at the Pro’s and Con’s of using a website builder service.

The Pro’s of using a website builder service:

Low cost to build the website
You get to choose from hundreds of pre-designed templates for your website look and feel
You get a simple website ready to go in a short period of time
Great for companies that just want a website on the internet and are not concerned about search engine optimization (SEO) of their website.

The Con’s of using a site builder service:

With low cost template site builders you usually have to put up with banner ads. These companies know they are offering the service at a low cost so they use your website real estate to place banner ads that make them money.
You can’t get a custom template. You have to choose from the templates offered to you.
Someone else can get the same design that you choose and then you won’t have a unique website design.
Because you are using a website builder application to setup your website you may not have the ability to make your website SEO friendly.

I could spend more time on the Pro’s and Con’s but the bottom line is that you get what you pay for. Web developers are experts at building websites to your needs. Let us do the work for you and we can save you time and a lot of headaches!

Website Design – Some Factors To Consider

Striking Web, Inc. — Sat, 01 May 2010 13:06:43 +0000

When you talk about online business, you need to ensure that you have the right type of website to convince people to buy your products. Many people think websites only provide information about products, but in reality, a website acts like a sales person and encourages people to proceed with their buying decisions. However, usefulness of your site is based on its website design. If you have drafted your site keeping a few specific factors in mind, then you will see your business growing at a rapid pace.

What are those factors? Enumerated below are a few of them, some more important than others.

A perfect website design will always have the right type of keywords fitted in right places. It is due to this important fact that you should proceed with designing only after conducting a thorough keyword research. Check for the keywords that your competitors are using, and then devise a better plan.

Directory Structure:

For a better website, you should never overlook the importance of having an accurate directory structure. It is a good idea to plan a horizontal directory structure, as it provides quick access to the search engines to pick up different files.

Optimized Images:

One important factor to consider is the type of images that you have on your site. Images enhance the visual appeal of your site, and make your site more informative, but optimize them for size. Avoid making them look blunt, or that will hamper the downloading speed.

Flash Files:

Flash files help to design a mesmerizing site, but it is advisable to avoid them. It is true that search engines are now in a better position to crawl and index these files, but never let your love for flash block quick access to the text.

These basic, but extremely important factors can have an impact on the site you design, to represent your business. However, there are other factors that keep changing due to a change in SEO rules and search engine preferences. That is why it is better to call in an experienced designer to help you have a quality website design.

Picking A Domain Name You Can Live With

Striking Web, Inc. — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:00:17 +0000

If you have a website or are planning to create one, you will definitely want to make your presence felt on the internet. You may want to promote your business through your website. To a certain extent, the domain name of a website determines its popularity. This name becomes the identity of your business. Today the internet is a huge market. You have to personalize your website in order for it to stand out, and this personalization should also include the name of your website. You don’t have to choose a domain name that is the most clever name ever. Rather, just pick one that is easy to recall. The internet is brimming with so much information that in order to create an impression, you must have a good short name. If users can remember your name, your website will attract more visitors.

To ensure that the website name you have chosen generates traffic, you have to connect the name with keywords that people can relate to. You must understand that the name that you choose and purchase will stay with you. For that reason, make sure that the domain name is one that is not trendy but rather something that will withstand the test of time. It will prove to be beneficial for your business and will help establish credibility. Businesses that change names every year fade from memory. You cannot afford to have that happen if you are serious about your business or promoting your website.

It is simple to create a name for your website, but make sure that the name is available with the domain registering authority. You can check to confirm its availability. Often, you can register your first choice. If it is not available, try something else that is close to it until you find one that no one else has. The next step is to ensure that the name does not violate any trademark. Once you have decided on the domain name, get it legally registered. Now you are ready to launch your website.

Initially, you may have to spend a lot of time choosing a business name, but never create something in a hurry. This name will be the brand of your company, so pick one with care so that you can live with for the rest of your life.

Signs it’s time to redesign your website

Striking Web, Inc. — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:08:25 +0000

Designing your first website is a stressful undertaking. It requires you to dig deep into your business in order to write the copy for your site. You need to work with a designer and go through the process of creating a site that looks unique and works well. Plus you’ll end up investing a lot of time, energy and money. And finally, after all that, you’re finished and it’s time for the site to go live. What a relief!
Many business owners go through this same process. By the time the process is finished, many entrepreneurs are very glad that it’s over – and don’t want to do it again anytime soon.

Unfortunately, websites don’t last forever. Even if you plan your site to work for the current vision for your business, you can’t accurately account for the entire future of your business.

Eventually you’ll have to make some changes to your website. Some of these changes can be accomplished with simple maintenance, and by making updates to your site. But there’s only so far that patching and revising your current site can go. If your site is particularly outdated, or if it’s not working well for you, it’s probably time to consider a full-scale site redesign.

Some signs that it’s time to redesign your site include:

Your Business Has Changed or Grown

If your business is no longer the same as it was when you designed your site, chances are that you should redesign your website to reflect that. If you’ve only had a few small changes, you might be able to just update your current website. But, if you’ve changed your business direction, decided to offer new products or services, or if your company has grown significantly, it will pay off to redesign your site. Reconsider how the changes to your business should be reflected or addressed in the structure, design and strategy behind your website.

Your Site Looks Like It Was Designed in 1995

Some signs of an outdated web site include: chunky, slow-loading graphics, old-style “framed” coding, where the site is divided up into panes that load separately, little animated cartoon clip-art throughout the site, and text created as images instead of in HTML. Having any of these on your site could reflect poorly on your business, making you look ‘behind the times’. It can also make you look like you don’t care enough about your
business or about technological advances to keep abreast of them. Keeping your company’s website looking modern will increase its credibility.

The Information on Your Site Isn’t User-Friendly

If you cringe when you read your site text, or if you regularly get questions on your site text from visitors, re-structuring your copy or rewriting it can help to fix these problems. If you’ve been adding to your site over time and the navigation has become unwieldy or confusing, restructuring your navigation could be another pressing reason to redesign your site. You want visitors to be able to easily find their way around your site
and to be able to access all the information you have within a few clicks. Laying out your site to make that possible can make your visitor’s experience on your site a lot easier.

You Apologize for the Site When Referencing It or Handing Out Your Business Cards

Your site should be a source of pride. It should offer your clients and prospects an easy way to get a lot of information about your business. And, if you have to apologize for out-of-date information, broken images, poor design, difficult navigation or anything else on your site, it makes you look unprepared and unprofessional. Make sure your site is in top shape and looks impressive, so your clients believe your business is in good shape too.

You’re Not Getting Good Results in the Search Engines

Poor rankings in the Search Engines can be a result of not optimizing your site well. Poor search engine ranking can also be a result of bad design choices or coding on your site. Make sure that your site isn’t designed using frames and that the text is coded in HTML. Flash sites are also more difficult to optimize for Search Engines.

It’s Not Bringing in inquiries and Helping You to Make Sales

If your site was designed long ago, then there’s a good chance that it was designed as “brochureware”. This means that the site was designed just to act as an online brochure. This was very common a few years ago, when websites were new. But recently businesses have realized that a website can do a lot more than
just impersonate your brochure – it can help you close sales, bring in new prospects and make your business easier to run. To bring in more inquiries and make more sales include the following when you redesign your site:

- Calls to action to encourage your visitors to take specific actions – like purchasing something, contacting you, or signing up for a newsletter.

- Forms, scripts, or programs to make your business easier – like contact forms, project estimating tools, and an autoresponder email series that can help you keep in touch with your clients and prospects. Including a shopping cart or Paypal buttons on your site can also help you to make more sales without any additional work.

- Downloadable information packets, articles, questionnaires and white papers can answer a prospect’s questions about your products or services and help them to move closer to buying. And, if you require the prospect to enter their email address or other contact information, it can help you to grow your prospect
list as well. These are just a few of the functions that your site can perform for your business. To get ideas for other ways that your site can help you increase your business, look at the other sites that you visit and note the functions they perform.

Your Site is Costing You a Fortune to Update

If you’re racking up huge bills because of changes and still have a lot to go, it might be time to consider a whole site redesign. Make a list of everything that you want to do on your site and consult a web designer about redesigning your site with those changes in mind. Often, if you have extensive changes to make to your site, it can be less expensive to just start over.

If your site is designed in Flash or coded in such a way that you can’t maintain it yourself, redesigning and re-coding your site could allow you to do so. Having the ability to make changes and update your own text will let you make revisions quickly, at no cost. And you can play with your site and make revisions to see what will work best for your business and clients.

If your site has any of the problems mentioned here, it’s time to redesign. The steps needed to update and revise will differ depending on the problems and issues that your site has – you may not have to start from scratch. But, do make sure that you address all of the problems that your site has so that you won’t
have to redesign again any time soon!

Get Your Website Tuned Up for the New Year – 10 Tune Up Tips for 2010

Striking Web, Inc. — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:44:49 +0000

One: Check all your website links (menu and content) – It is very important that all the links on your website work! If you have any broken links you need to update them or get them fixed. Links can become broken because sometimes the pages they link to change. So, why is it important to fix them? Broken links can prevent Google, Yahoo, and Bing from indexing your pages – Thus affecting your website ranking!

Two: Review your website statistics for the last 12 months – This will give you an idea of the traffic your website got month to month. Ideally, you should be checking this monthly to check that your marketing efforts are driving traffic to your website. You can also find out what keywords people typed in to find you! Google Analytics is a great tool you should have to help you with this in 2010. Give us a call for a setup quote.

Three: Update/Add Client Testimonials – It’s important to include all the great testimonials from your clients. One good testimonial can help sell your service.

Four: Update your Portfolio – Remember to show your work and successes! This will help sell your service and show how good you are at what you do.

Five: Update your website content – Be sure to review your website content for information that has changed or simply for information that needs to be added. Remember Google, Yahoo, Bing, and all the rest like websites with updated and fresh content.

Six: Review the purpose of your website – Here are some items to ponder:
- If the purpose is to generate leads -> then be sure to have a landing page with a leads form
- If it’s to sell products -> then be sure that your website has a functioning shopping car
- If it’s to share information -> then be sure that your website has a blog

Seven: Do you have a link on your website to your Facebook and Twitter accounts? – Social Media sites are here to stay and they offer a viral marketing benefit. Social Media is “The new word of mouth”. Don’t have links going to your Facebook and Twitter page? Give us a call for a quote. And if you need our service to setup your Facebook and Twitter page give us a call for a quote.

Eight: Have you reviewed what your competitor’s website looks like? – Check how you compare to your competition. It may be time to update/revamp your website.

Nine: Review your marketing efforts for 2009 – Check to see how much website traffic you received from the expensive ad in the paper, Yellow Pages, Yahoo, Google, etc. It may be time to adjust your marketing dollars. By the way, did you know you can track how much traffic you get from a Yellow Pages ad and any offline marketing? If you don’t know how to track offline ads give us a call and we can service your need. I bet you want to know if your offline marketing budget is giving you a good return on your investment (ROI).

Ten: Finally, review your 2009 website goals and write your goals for the next 12 months – What do you want to get from your website in 2010? Be sure to write a minimum of two action items for each goal. Remember Dreams are nothing but Goals with deadlines!

Wishing You a Happy and Successful 2010!