One scenario we often run across is when the client already has a website but the site is not converting as much as they would like. We first review the website to look for visual conflicts or browser specific problems that would exclude users from viewing the message that the client is trying to portray. We will also look for positions of key elements on the website and calls to action. A call to action is very important on a website. It prompts the user to give a call, fill out a form, send an email or whatever the goal may be.

When we redesign a website, we always design with the user in mind. It is necessary to incorporate all of the features that the client has in mind for the website. Even more important is to make it easy for the user to convert to a goal for the website project. Another item we look for online conversions is the website hosting that the website is built on. We have run into cases where the client was running their website with an outfit that supplied cheap hosting. They were on a server with many other websites as well and the speed of the website suffered as a result. When their customers went to view their website, the pages would time out and the potential customer would leave the site and go to another competitor. Did they lose money? Oh yeah. We set them up with our business quality hosting, tweaked the website and they are now receiving inquiry after inquiry. So there are many items to consider when improving your website conversion rate.

Making sure our clients are getting a healthy ROI is something that we constantly strive for. We are always optimizing our website as well and researching what tactics work best. So if you have a website and you would like to increase its online conversion rate, get in touch with us and increase your ROI!

Many small businesses today are just starting to realize the potential that search engine optimization can have on their businesses. Everyday more and more people are turning to search engines to conduct research on local and national topics, and the searches are very user specific. This is the main reason why the search engines are getting as much publicity as they are. It is almost impossible to pick up a publication and not read an article that mentions blogs, websites or search engines.

It is important to make sure that your investment in a website is used to its fullest. Investing in a company that offers search engine optimization can return many times over what was actually paid initially, and this is why optimization services are so popular. Our advice to all of our clients is to invest in their websites. Leave the optimizing to the professionals and have the tool work for you.

Minnesota startup businesses need a website and a budget for online advertising. Having a website is one of the most cost effective forms of advertising. This makes a website a great business tool to invest in. Minnesota startups need to leverage the power of the internet to help grow their business and get the best bang for their buck in advertising expenses.

Stay On Budget

It is critical for new businesses to find the best means of rolling out the business while staying within budget. This can prove to be a difficult task, but one piece should be set aside for the website and advertising budget.

Invest Wisely

A professionally designed website for a Minnesota startup business can help make or break a business. Everyone knows that more and more people are searching online rather than going to a big phone book. This is a great opportunity for business startups to take advantage of the search engines and get in front of customers without paying phone book front page rates. In order to get front page space on the search engines, it is critical that all of the website pieces are in place. If a startup is serious about getting found online, we would recommend going with a professional web design company. Let the pros do their job, so you can focus on your business. After all, the only way your new startup will survive and thrive is if the business model is scalable and people can get tasks done for you.

Online Advertising Budget

If you conduct some advertising research, you will find that businesses are turning away from the traditional large phone books and pumping more dollars into online advertising. It is hard to blame them too. When you can put your business in front of motivated buyers, what is that worth to your business? Answer: as much as you can afford! Another reason that startup businesses should take a look into online advertising is that they can set their budget as to how much they would like to spend. Minnesota startup businesses should definitely take a look at an online advertising budget.

Anyone who has been involved with a startup knows the importance of keeping within a budget and spending their money wisely. In today’s business market, one of the best places to invest is in a website and online advertising.

Being a local Minneapolis web design company that offers a wide spectrum of services, businesses can benefit from our experience in the web design field. Whether your business is looking for:

• A local Minneapolis web designer
• A professional website appearance
• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Pay Per Click (PPC) website campaigns
• Cross browser compatibility (viewers see the same website in Internet Explorer or Mozilla, etc.)
• Website content creation
• Maintenance to most, already built websites
• Help with emails
• Increase targeted traffic to your website
• Optimizing images for the web
• PDF creation
• Complete consulting solutions for your website
• A specific multi-micro website solution for multiple products

Midwest Web Design can help you realize the potential your business can have online.

We have talked to many businesses that would love to have a website presence, but may not have the large budget to accommodate. This is the type of client we love to help and have helped since 1998.

So, if you have been thinking about how your business can benefit from having an online presence, get in touch with us today to find out how we can use our experience to help build your business.

In today’s economy, it is very important to have a source of leads for your business. Many businesses that help other businesses grow become a huge asset, especially during a down economy. Minneapolis lead generation can be a huge benefit to local businesses within the Minneapolis area. With the growing number of people conducting online searches for local businesses, this opens up great opportunities for companies seeking to take advantage of local lead generation.

There are many ways to generate leads for your business. A few of the ways are:

• Build a website that is search engine friendly and updated often
• Pay Per Click (PPC) search engine campaigns
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for “organic” search results
• Send out a mail flyer to a specific industry you are targeting and follow up with a phone call
• Write an online article featuring a company that you would like to work with and in the article show how the company could benefit from your services
• Ask for referrals

These are just a few of the ways leads are generated. It is very important to look at all of the options and choose the best one to fit your business’ particular needs and/or budget.

Online Lead Generation Minneapolis

Generating leads from online sources has proven to be a great way to help increase a business’ bottom line. This is also one of the main reasons why Google is as large as they are. When it is possible to give searchers relevant information according to what they are looking for, the possibility to make a great connection is opened. Online lead generation is a very affordable way to see if online searchers are interested in what you have to offer. Online lead generation is far less expensive than more traditional forms of advertising (phone book, TV, newspaper, local magazines, etc) and it is possible to track ROI much better with an online lead generating advertising system.

One quick search for a given industry with a “Minneapolis” location tagged on the end of it usually produces a great wealth of information in a local area. This shows that other businesses are taking advantage of lead generation in Minneapolis and that it is working for their businesses.

Start generating leads for your business today

Another great feature of generating leads online is that you can start and stop when ever is convenient for your business. It is possible to set your own budget. This makes generating leads from online sources a huge, affordable benefit and explains why it is growing so rapidly. Set aside a budget and a time frame and start taking control of the leads being offered to your business.

Now more than ever, business owners trying to find ways to make money to stay in business. A website that is built with the search engines in mind can definitely help in a business trying to build their bottom line. So, when we hear the question, “Does my business need search engine optimization?”, then we like to ask the question, “What is your website trying to accomplish for your business?”.

If the business owner says, “Our website is just to portray an image.”, then search engine optimization is usually not a big concern to them. However, if you are the business owner that says, “I would like to use our website to generate business.”, we would highly recommend search engine optimization for your website.

What are the benefits of search engine optimization?

There are many benefits to search engine optimization.

• Higher rankings in the search engines
• Website easier to navigate for users
• Easy to scan and read text
• Website images optimized for faster web page load times

Obviously higher rankings in the search engines is one benefit, but also websites built with search engine optimization in mind are usually easier to navigate because of a more structured website navigation hierarchy. Text on each page of a website with search engine optimization is structured in a way that is easier to read, with headlines and html “H” tags (H1, H2, H3 etc.). Images on the website are optimized for faster viewing and enhanced with html “alt tags” that help with ranking in some regards and image searches that online users may use.

Ultimately, search engines and your online visitors make a decision about your website and where to rank your website or whether or not to do business with you.

When should I start with search engine optimization?

As soon as possible. Of course we are going to say that, right? We are in the business! We all know that it will require a decision to spend some money. We recommend that you talk search engine optimization over with your business partners or decision makers and come up with some questions that you may have. As we all know, it is better to make an educated decision than to jump right on the bandwagon.

However, finding out information as soon as possible so you can make a decision is highly recommended. The faster a business makes a decision to implement search engine optimization the better. It can have a drastic effect on generating leads and ultimately more business.

So if your business has been hearing more and more about:

• online advertising and being found out on the search engines
• increasing conversions from online visitors to customers
• having your website being more effective for your business

Get in touch with us today!

Stand out from the competition

Everyone today uses the search engines to find what they are looking for. Search engine optimization helps the pages on your website rank higher, closer to the first position for some desired keywords. This allows your website content to be found by online visitors who will then get in contact with you for the services you provide. The key factor is being able to show close to the top, if not at the top. This will set your business apart from your competition and give you a competitive edge. Search engine optimizing your website will also make the code cleaner and give your visitors a more consistent look throughout the website. This is important when the visitor comes to the website and is trying to gather information in order to find out if you are a trustworthy business. Online, it is important to fit all these pieces together to help stand out from the competition.

Showcase all of the services/products that you offer

Over the years, we have seen many businesses that do not place all of their products or services they offer on their website. This is a huge mistake. Many of today’s online searchers use a variety of keywords to help them locate information. We have had experience with businesses who put product ID numbers on their websites and then get found when a searcher types in the information because they need to repair that specific product. Just for having that information listed on their website! We have other clients who place terms of other services they provide on their websites and get business for that service a couple of days after they post it to the web. Now, this does not mean that you should stuff all sorts of keywords on your website page and then you will rank #1 for all of them. Google is a little smarter than that, but placing references to other services you provide with as much relevant information is a great way to get higher placement. Placing more information about all of the services your business offers is a great way to let your business stand out from your competitors.

Use targeted keywords that online searchers may use

It is possible to conduct some research to find out which keywords people are using to search. Binding this information with some creative thinking can open up keyword possibilities that searchers may use to find your services. For example, if you are in the business of landscaping and you would like to use more targeted keywords to help increase business, you may choose to include the name of a city close to where you do business. So maybe you will setup a web page for “landscaping Fort Lauderdale Fl” and fill it with relevant content. This should give you some decent ranking for this particular term if there is not a surplus of competition for that particular term. Then it is a matter of checking your analytics package and seeing if traffic is being generated for that particular term.

Analyze traffic with a website analytics package

Analyzing traffic is a great way to generate ideas about future content to write about and try to optimize your website for. Generate content and then look at your analytics package to see what keywords searchers are typing in to see your page. This can also be used to write separate content for the same main topic and keep the user on your website. Website analytics packages contain a wealth of information and can also tell you where users are coming from, how long they stay on specific pages, and what page they left your website. This can help you to see the visitor’s path and place more relevant content to where your visitors are gravitating on your website.

Search engine optimization can help your business stand out from the competition and help online visitors get the information they are looking for. This can then have a positive effect on your bottom line and help your business increase sales. For more information about how search engine optimization can help increase your business, give us a call at 1-877-977-9327.

We hear it all the time. Companies contact us and say, “My website is not working, can you do something about it?” We then go out to their website and it is a horrid mix of broken links, missing images, misspellings and multi-colored font sizes and colors all over the website.

“Yes, we can help.”

We usually end up starting from scratch and discussing with the client what the goal of the website is. Then we explain the process of SEO and internet marketing and what kind of effects it can have on a customer’s business. Almost immediately, the client’s eyes open wide and they say, “Yes, we should go that route.”

SEO and Internet Marketing Effects

The effect that SEO and internet marketing can have on your website also is dependent upon your budget. These campaigns are time intensive, but can have a significant impact on your bottom line. We have seen clients rank #1 after just an initial clean up on their websites. We have also worked to get high rankings a little farther down the road. Either way, it is invaluable to start building your website base as soon as possible.

Climbing the Search Result Ladder

As an SEO and internet marketing campaign is being executed, you should be able to see your listings climb up for the targeted keywords. This will allow more people to come across your website and learn about what you have to offer. In our experience, we have seen many sites climb the rankings and then fall, but usually they end up closer to the top in the long run. This is in part to Google sifting through what you are offering them in accordance with relevant information for the particular search query. I believe it also has been termed the “Google Dance”.

That’s all great, but can I really see results?

Yes. Will it make you a millionaire immediately? Probably not, but it can definitely help with increasing sales from the internet. The more places your website comes up in front of searchers, the more likely they are to learn more about your business and do business with you. More often than not, it is important to rank highly to get in front of the searcher so they can quickly solve a problem that they have.

I believe everyone by now has heard of the recession that we are all in. Some businesses have fared just fine. Some have gone out of business but one thing is certain, it is not pretty out there. We have also felt the recession mainly because we work with businesses of all shapes and sizes and some have been hit pretty hard. Lately though, we have seen some light on the horizon and it seems as though things are picking up out there.

What we have noticed

The time frame I’m speaking within is about January 1, 2009 through August 24, 2009. We talk to many businesses and early this year we heard many stories that businesses were cutting back. Any B2B (business-to-business) can most likely agree that it has been a little slower lately. Lately though, the business owners we have been chatting with are opening up to the idea of spending more money and increasing their business. This is a great sign for anyone in the advertising industry, partly because in a recession scenario, advertising is one of the first things to be cut.

What you can expect

While businesses deal with the current economic conditions, you can bet they are looking for ways to stay in business. This usually means that businesses that can help them spend less and be more efficient will be in demand. You can also expect that most of the businesses that are choosing to do nothing during a recession will be going out of business. This will also mean that the customers that those businesses served will be looking for other companies to complete the work. If your businesses is able to pull through these tough times, I imagine the internet and a great sales staff will be key to the survival. You can also expect the internet to grow, even through the recession. People will tend to stay at home and use tools that they are already paying for. They will also be looking for additional ways to save money, ways to educate themselves, cheaper products and services and coupon shop. All of this brought to their doorstep by the internet, courtesy of web designers everywhere.

Bootstrap marketing ideas

If your business is in rough shape, you may find help on the internet for some ways to get the word out about what you offer. I would recommend sitting with key decision makers in your organization and brain storming for ideas that could help you get the word out. Here are a few:

• PPC (pay per click) search engine campaign
• SEO (search engine optimization) optimize your business for the search engines
• Write articles for your website
• Restructure your website
• Keyword research
• Call your current clients and ask how they are doing and if they need additional services
• Add some additional services to your business
• Go to a few tradeshows and strike up conversations with business owners that could use your services
• Send out a mailer to businesses you’d like to work with. Add on a great offer.
• Think of where your potential customers might go to find more information about the industry you serve. Send an article to a magazine that they read.

Chin up! Charge the mountain!

Staying motivated is necessary in a recession climate. Keeping all sales staff on top of their game and looking at the bright side of what is happening can have a positive effect on your business. Recessions are part of today’s economy. If you structure your business the right way, you will roll right though a down economy and be in a position and pick up business that your used-to-be competitors dropped.

Many companies today are currently using PPC campaigns to bring in jobs from the search engines. It is a great way to immediately get in front of potential customers and see if there is a demand for your product or service. It is also possible to closer track where those visitors came from and make a decision to continue with the campaign or to move dollars to other forms of advertising.

It’s working for others…and it can work for you

Many businesses have already taken the plunge and are grabbing clients that could have been yours. There is a reason that it is almost impossible to pick up any publication and not see some article talking about the search engines and how your business should be in the listings. It is a valuable tool to get in front of prospective buyers and let them know what you can do for them.

Immediately get in front of searchers

With a PPC campaign, it is possible to run a campaign with your ad at the top of the search results for a couple of months and see what type of conversions you get through the website. This is a great way to see if it is worth it to get into the top spots in the “organic” search results that appear when an online visitor searches the search engines. It is also possible to switch text in the ad and test different variations to see if one ad has a higher conversion rate. It is these characteristics of a PPC campaign that keep companies coming back to the search engines for sales increases.

Tracking Sales

Tracking sales from a PPC campaign is one of the reasons why so many companies are switching to online advertising with the search engines. It is possible to see what the user clicked on, how long they were viewing your website and the pages they went to on your website. Another great part of a PPC campaign is that if it isn’t working, you can stop after the initial campaign and use those dollars for something else. Tracking all of these factors can give the owner a better understanding of where their website stands in the buying process and what to improve to turn visitors into customers.

So, if you have a marketing budget and are willing to give internet marketing a try in the search engine realm, take the plunge and see if your business has what it takes to increase ROI with the help from the search engines.