So let me get to the point:

1. Think about what your website represents to the website visitors that are looking for your services. For example if your website offers vacation rentals make sure that your website has the correct look and feel so that when you get a visitor to your site they get a good first impression. – Really understand your audience!
2. Make sure you have good content and good keywords setup on your website. Do spend some time making sure your website is optimized for the search engines.
3. Find out how your competition ranks so that you know where you stand with keywords you want to pursue.
4. Get other websites to link back to your website one way. The more good relevant links that you have coming to your website the better you will rank. This can take 2 to 3 months to create but well worth your investment.

Come back for the next blog posting that will have more information and tips on how to rank better on the search engines.

1. 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.
2. 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?
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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. 
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9.  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.
10.  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

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.

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:

1. Low cost to build the website
2. You get to choose from hundreds of pre-designed templates for your website look and feel
3. You get a simple website ready to go in a short period of time
4. 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:

1. 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.
2. You can’t get a custom template. You have to choose from the templates offered to you.
3. Someone else can get the same design that you choose and then you won’t have a unique website design.
4. 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!

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.

If your website is not designed according to the SEO principles and rules, then you are not going to see many people coming to your website. This is so because a web design for SEO is going to help search engines to index your pages, which in turn helps buyers and searchers to find your website. However, the burning question is, how on earth can a person choose a web design for SEO? In order to solve this issue, you need to choose a design that complies with the following factors.

Code Optimization:

When selecting a design, make sure that you check its code, which should be optimized. For a fully optimized code, you should also pay attention to W3C compliance.

Pay Attention To The Visual Appeal:

Make efforts to enhance the look of your site, but don’t go overboard with the use of flash and heavy graphics. This sort of web design is not suitable for SEO purposes.

Font Size:

Most people overlook this important point and end up designing a website with unsuitable font sizes. The font size should neither be too big nor too large. However, make sure you choose a web design with such a font size that is suitable for your target audience. For instance, if your website sells insurance products to retirees, it is important to have a larger font size. The font should be smaller if your website is geared towards young audience.

These are just a few important features to consider for a better web design for SEO, but there are many others as well. Due to the complex nature of SEO web designing, you should try to get in touch with professional and experienced designers. That is a better way to put up a website that lures a lot of visitors.

Facebook History:

Founded in February 2004, Facebook is a social utility that helps people communicate more efficiently with their friends, family and coworkers. The company develops technologies that facilitate the sharing of information through the social graph, the digital mapping of people’s real-world social connections. Anyone can sign up for Facebook and interact with the people they know in a trusted environment.

Facebook Figures

• More than 400 million active users ( growing at about 50 million users per month)
• 50% of our active users log on to Facebook in any given day
• More than 35 million users update their status each day
• More than 3 billion photos uploaded to the site each month (Amazing!)
• More than 3 million active Pages on Facebook
• More than 1.5 million local businesses have active Pages on Facebook
• More than 20 million people become fans of Pages each day
• Pages have created more than 5.3 billion fans

Facebook Users

• Average user has 130 friends on the site
• Average user spends more than 55 minutes per day on Facebook (Wow, incredible!)
• Average user clicks the “Like” button on 9 pieces of content each month
• Average user writes 25 comments on Facebook content each month
• Average user becomes a fan of 4 Pages each month
• Average user is a member of 13 groups

Facebook Mobile Users

• There are more than 100 million active users currently accessing Facebook through their mobile devices.
• People that use Facebook on their mobile devices are twice more active on Facebook than non-mobile users.

Ok, now that you have some facts about Facebook and its users.  Wouldn’t you say that it would be wise to represent your business on Facebook with a business page?  Who wouldn’t want to have the possibility of exposing their business to millions of users?  Who wouldn’t want to have their business take advantage of the viral nature of Facebook?

Seriously, if you own a business and you are not taking advantage of the exposure Facebook is offering your business then you are missing out on a HUGE opportunity.

If you get it and you need help setting up your Facebook page, and you’re ready to get some training on what to do, then give us a call!

The correct logo design is vital to a company’s success. As an asset, good logo design leaves an imprint on the memories of those who see it. Most people do not recall actively memorizing the logos of companies like Nike or Coca-Cola. The symbols are so unshakable because of their outstanding quality that consumers are able to recognize the logo signatures of these companies even if the actual names are not present.

There are many rules behind the successful design of a logo. Most companies have their logos designed in the colors of the company.  A common trend in logo design is to have a logo that represents a vital message related to the theme and vision of the company. The “swoosh” of Nike is intended to be an official endorsement of the quality of the product, while the green planet often found in the logos of environmental companies is intended to signify their commitment to a greener and healthier planet.

Another important rule in the design of a good logo is that of simplicity. Logos are not meant to be masterpieces of art; instead, they should be simple and clear while retaining significant aesthetic appeal. It is the simplicity of a logo that makes it easier for people to remember it. A look at most of the major logos available today will confirm this fact. It is therefore a good idea that companies entrust the design of their company’s logo to professional graphic artists who understand what is required for an effective logo. These professionals may be somewhat expensive, but the end design will be worth it in increased recognition, brand loyalty and profits.

These days, almost all businesses have their own websites for promoting their products and services.  Companies that do most of their business online are involved in what has been termed “e-commerce.” The success of an online business depends on how much traffic a website can generate. If a business is promoting a product through a website, then it must have maximum visibility. However, just ensuring visibility is not enough. Your product or business needs to be visible to those people who are your potential customers. A social network, which links those with common interests, is the perfect venue for finding your target market. Indeed, social networking sites are a marketer’s dream.

Reaching out to more and more people is the main objective of all businesses. Choices have always been limited by the boundaries of the available communication networks. However, social networking sites have made things easier and more cost-effective too. Organizations of all sizes have realized the potential of such sites and how they can transform any business. Just imagine the effect of reaching out to millions and millions of “friends” on a global platform – increased visibility, a rise in sales and, best of all, profits through the roof!

There are so many sites that you may get confused. Choose one based on its popularity. Create a profile and register yourself. Social networking sites have different forums. Get yourself established and as you connect with people start promoting your business. Your effort, creativity and liveliness will bring in unimaginable opportunities for your business. Gradually your business transforms into a global phenomenon. Many have done that so why not you?

1. The Image:  Before planning, you should understand the kind of image that you want to project in front of the viewers. This is important because internet makes it easy for people to research and study your profile and the associated pages. Furthermore, this is the step where the proprietor needs to decide the detailing that he or she is willing to provide. A properly detailed plan would include profiles of the product, service or business, and also a profile of the owners.
2. Target Audience:  In any kind of marketing plan, whether it involves conventional media or new media, knowing the target audience is imperative. The strategists need to analyze the kind of people who are most likely to take interest in their client’s line of business, and then work towards reaching them in a way that will be compelling and attractive to them.
3. Targeting: Once the target audience has been identified, the next step is to figure out their preferences with respect to websites and timings.
4. Competitors: Keeping an eye on one’s competitors also leads to epiphanies for the client. Sometimes, a competing company may already have implemented a similar strategy, providing you with the lessons to be learnt from their mistakes.
5. Feedback: The social media marketing plan should also put into place a method to monitor and judge the impact of the plan. Furthermore, a feedback process should be introduced for the creators and clients to analyze the success of the plan and make required modifications.
6. Track: Last but not least; track the performance of your marketing plan.  Be sure to implement an Analytics tracking system to track the traffic and goals.