Local Web Design Hints & Tips

Local Web Design

If you own a business in a specific geographical area, we have some tips for your website. These hints and tips are focused to help your website in the search engines and make it easier for online visitors to find out more about the products or services you have to offer.

Place a Google Map on your website

It is a well known fact how helpful Google can be. Their Google Map program isn’t any different. It can help online visitors get directions to your business and show them where you are located. Just a word of caution, make sure that when you type in your address, that it is in the correct location. We have had instances of the map data not being up to date!

List the names of the cities where you conduct business

This can be good information if you drive as part of your service and drive only to certain areas within a 30 mile radius. Naming the cities you conduct business in is also good information that Google likes to see. You may rank high in the search engines by just naming a small city you can do work in!

Link to other local businesses that compliment your specific business

This is a great way to build some trust with online visitors. Listing other businesses that compliment your business gives the user a little more information about other services you work with. When that user contacts you, they know they are dealing with a company that is experienced in the industry.

Write an article about how you helped a local business or consumer

This is great information to show your online visitors and it looks good to the search engines. Not to mention, customers that are featured somewhere like to brag that they are featured and it may drive traffic to your website.

List testimonials of your work on your website

This is great information for online visitors to see. Consumers like to see that the company they are dealing with has a good reputation to work with.

List your business address on each page of your website

Having your website address on each page is great information for online visitors and for the search engines. When your contact information is listed on each page, an online visitor has instant information. This can be a critical component for your website. It is also a great way to help your website appear in local search engine results.

Place pictures of your work online or of local businesses or consumers that you’ve completed work for

As stated before, online search engines like to see instances of city names somewhere in your web page. Having a picture and a description not only shows online visitors where you’ve conducted work, but also is another instance of a local city name where you conduct business.

Now get out there are let your customers know where you are so they can do business with with you!

Tags: get found in Google, Local business, relevant website information, website services
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Local Minneapolis Web Designer | Picking the right one for your business

Minneapolis Web Design

When looking for a Minneapolis web design company, it is important to look at many factors so you can find a good fit for your company. Finding a web design company that is a good fit will benefit your company in the long run. Be sure to keep the following factors in mind:

1) How long has the web designer been in business?
You would be surprised how many “web design” shops have popped up and dropped off. Even in the Minneapolis area. Now, that is not very “Minnesota Nice”. We have seen and heard of companies looking to make a quick buck and then leave businesses high and dry when they cannot fulfill their empty promises. Do a little bit of research on how long the company has been around. You will thank yourself in the long run.

2) Give them a call.
Don’t just sign up because they have built up hype on their website. Give them a call and see how you get along with them on the phone. How do you feel after the initial conversation? Is this someone who you would like to work with? If you decide to go with this company, you will probably be with them for a while, so it would be in your best interest to see how they relate to you. Another factor to keep in mind is if they even pick up the phone. You may have experience with companies that give the complete “song and dance” and then when it comes time to get back in touch with them (after they have your money, of course) they are impossible to get a hold of.

3) Are they in the search engines?
Now, there are many reputable web design companies that do not rank highly in the search engines for the popular terms. After all, there are only around 10 spots, right? However the ones closer to the top probably have a little more experience/expertise in structuring a website so that it can be displayed higher in the search engines. They know a few processes that have proven themselves successful in getting a higher placement in the search engines. You should at least be able to search for their company name and their website should be listed. After all, wouldn’t you like to see your business higher in the search engines?

4) What is the budget range?
Most of us have a budget range we would like to stick within for anything we go out and buy. Want a car? Chevy Cobalt or Bentley? You get the idea. Most Minneapolis web design companies are the same way. We have heard some agencies charging $20,000 plus for a relatively simple website and we have also heard very low prices. Wow, that is quite a range. We would recommend finding a Minneapolis web design company that you feel comfortable with and can get what you want for a relatively good price. I don’t think any web design company would like to build a site that was way under priced for the work involved. As you are already aware, most of the time, you get what you pay for!

5) View their website portfolio.
Do you like some of the work they have completed? I know many Minneapolis web design companies that have killer portfolios. Do you really need a complete knock out website? Or do you need more results from your website? Either way, view their portfolios and see what they are capable of and see if it fits in your budget range.

6) Look for testimonials.
Past clients and their experience is a great way to see how others have been treated in the past. You can learn much from a few testimonials listed on a Minneapolis web design company’s website. We know it works! Come to think of it, I look at testimonials on every website I plan on buying from. Look for the testimonials!

So, before you jump right in and get that website built by the first company that crosses your screen, follow these tips and see if you can hone in on a Minneapolis web designer. You will thank yourself in the long run. You will end up saving money and build a better relationship with a company that you will do business with for a long time.

Tags: choose a web design company, how do we get this process started, minneapolis web design, website design process, website services, website tips
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Search Engine Optimization: Let your business stand out!

Search Engine Optimization

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.

Tags: Increase ROI, relevant website information, search engine optimization, SEO (Search Engine Optimization), website services
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Getting a Poor Return on Your Website? Try SEO or Internet marketing!

Website ROI

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.

Tags: Increase ROI, increase website conversions, SEO (Search Engine Optimization), website optimization, website process, website services
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Can your company afford not to have a website?

Affordable Web Design

No. Of course we are in the business and this is how we choose to make money, but when you really sit down and think about if your business can afford not to have a website, a few ideas come to mind:

More and more people are using the internet

Everyday, more and more people are turning to the internet to find out more information about services or products that they are looking for. It is easy to see the reason why. Where else can you find just about everything you would want to know? You may have to wait for the commercial break to see what is fed to you, or you could just log on to the internet and find the best local deal. This is one of the reasons why search engines have seen such a high growth rate over the past 10+ years. It is easy to type in a few words of text and have the results brought to you rather than lug out the ol’ phone book and guess where you should start first.

Your competitors are getting all the traffic

Another reason your company should be able to afford a website is that your competitors already have! Odds are that your competition is already enjoying a nice spot in the search engines and getting phone calls and email requests for their services. Now why would you let your competition have it so easy? Even if you don’t rank #1, online searchers will still go though a couple of listings until they come across something that makes sense to them and trust. But without a website to speak of, your business isn’t even in the running!

Relatively speaking, it’s very inexpensive when compared to print, TV, and radio advertising

If you thought your business count afford a website, is it really necessary to talk about affording print ads, television commercials or radio spots? I’ll give you a little piece of advice. More and more large businesses are shifting dollars away from those types of advertising and funneling them into more effective kinds of advertising, a.k.a websites and internet marketing.

Simply speaking, a website can have a dramatic effect on your business.

How much are you losing by not having a website?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/amagill/ / CC BY 2.0

Tough to say, how much is it worth to close a sale? If your competitor is on the top of the search engines for an even remotely popular term, he is getting at least phone calls. Wouldn’t you like customers to be doing the same to you? Even simple websites are found locally very well in Google. It is possible to build a quick website and have it give enough information to spark a visitor’s interest and have them contact you.

Also, a website helps to advertise other services or products that your current clients aren’t aware that you offer. We have had many people come to us and have a website built and then say, “Oh, I didn’t know you did ______. Sign me up for that.” There are people searching right now for the services you offer. Give them what they want! Many people today are reaping the benefits and giving customers exactly what they need.

So what are you losing from not having a website? $3,000? $15,000? $128,000? Figures such as these are not uncommon for companies to be losing from not having a website presence.

So I ask the question again. Can your company afford not to have a website?

Tags: afford a website, affordable web design, company affordable website, company website, professional website, targeted traffic to your website, website services
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