Keys to effective copy on your website revolve around how quickly and easily visitors can read it. If your copy does not grab visitors' attention within the first several seconds of their entering your site, they are far less likely to read the text you spent so much time on already.
A very effective element in your text (especially if you have a lot of it) are headings. Headings help in two important ways:
1. Headings Help Visitors Understand What You're Saying
Most importantly, they provide important snippets that summarize your text and grab attention. They act as a window to the paragraph(s) below, letting visitors peek in before they jump into your entire text. Also, even if they do not read beyond the heading, they still have a good summary of what you wanted to
2. Headings Can Help Your Rankings with Search Engines
While some experts say headings are diminishing in importance, they still play a role in increasing your rankings with search engines. As search engines (like Google or Yahoo!) crawl through the Web to see what's out there, they give more relevance to headings that provide relevant descriptions on the purpose of the site.
You can designate headings and their importance in the HTML code of your site. The primary heading is designated as “H1,” and subsequent headings diminish in importance (H2-H6). Your H1 heading should summarize the main purpose of your site—products, services, information, etc. Learn more about using headings effectively.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
What does Google’s Favorite Places mean for your small business?
Window shopping is the practice of the discerning shopper trying to find the best possible deal or trying to make the most informed purchase. The Internet has made “window shopping” even easier through our ability to quickly compare prices between different online stores and find information about companies and products. Google is now improving the process of actual window shopping through Favorite Places on Google.
Based upon the amount of searches through Google's Local Business Center and Google Maps, Google has designated over 100,000 local businesses throughout the US as Favorite Places. Each of these locations will get a sticker which includes a unique bar code (QR code) which can be read by mobile devices. When scanned you will be taken directly to that business Place Page. In other words, potential customers see the sticker, take a picture with their phone, and have instant access (through Google) to information about the business.
What does this mean for your business?
If you are not currently a part of Google's Local Business Center you should be. It is a free service that can be a great way to advertise your business locally. Your Place Page can have information about your business, pictures of your business or products, reviews from customers, links to your actual website, and more information that can help bring a window shopper through the front door.
If you are using Google's Local Business Center you should keep your information updated and encourage people to post reviews. The more active your Place Page, the more likely your business can become one of Google's Favorite Places.
Simply having the sticker in your window from Google will show window shoppers that many people are interested in your business. It's free advertising from Google, one of the most recognized names out there.
This simple bit of advertising creates more interaction and potentially stronger relationships between customers and local businesses. As a customer you may be more inclined to leave a comment or review of a business if it has a Favorite Place sticker, or if your favorite spot is not listed as one of Google's Favorite Places, you can try and help promote it by going and leaving a review on their businesses’ Place Page.
This increased interaction between businesses and consumers in turn will create more valuable information which will help Google further their philosophy of providing the most relevant, personalized search results.
To learn more about Google's Favorite Places check out Google's Blog.
Based upon the amount of searches through Google's Local Business Center and Google Maps, Google has designated over 100,000 local businesses throughout the US as Favorite Places. Each of these locations will get a sticker which includes a unique bar code (QR code) which can be read by mobile devices. When scanned you will be taken directly to that business Place Page. In other words, potential customers see the sticker, take a picture with their phone, and have instant access (through Google) to information about the business.
What does this mean for your business?
If you are not currently a part of Google's Local Business Center you should be. It is a free service that can be a great way to advertise your business locally. Your Place Page can have information about your business, pictures of your business or products, reviews from customers, links to your actual website, and more information that can help bring a window shopper through the front door.
If you are using Google's Local Business Center you should keep your information updated and encourage people to post reviews. The more active your Place Page, the more likely your business can become one of Google's Favorite Places.
Simply having the sticker in your window from Google will show window shoppers that many people are interested in your business. It's free advertising from Google, one of the most recognized names out there.
This simple bit of advertising creates more interaction and potentially stronger relationships between customers and local businesses. As a customer you may be more inclined to leave a comment or review of a business if it has a Favorite Place sticker, or if your favorite spot is not listed as one of Google's Favorite Places, you can try and help promote it by going and leaving a review on their businesses’ Place Page.
This increased interaction between businesses and consumers in turn will create more valuable information which will help Google further their philosophy of providing the most relevant, personalized search results.
To learn more about Google's Favorite Places check out Google's Blog.
Top 5 Reasons Why Links are Essential for Your Website
When Search Engine Optimization (SEO) experts were asked to weigh in on the most important elements of getting good rankings on search engines, they said it was links...and links, and links. Seomoz.org, a leading resource on SEO information, used a panel of 72 experts to determine what search engines look for when ranking sites well in 2009. The top five overall factors are:
1. Keyword Focused Anchor Text from External Links – 73%
2. External Link Popularity (quantity/quality of external links)– 71%
3. Diversity of Link Sources – 67 %
4. Keyword Use Anywhere in the Title Tag – 66%
5. Trustworthiness of the Domain Based on Link Distance from Trusted Domains – 66%
Links came up as four out of five most important factors. Though nobody knows for sure, it appears that Google and other search engines are trying to rank sites based on how popular they are among Internet users, not just how optimized they are for search engine crawlers. A good way to measure how relevant others think a website is can be the amount of other sites that link to it.
If search engine crawlers can get to your site directly from sites they already consider highly relevant, then you're in good shape. But therein lies the trick—getting good sites to link to yours. The best way to get other sites to notice you is, frankly, creating a good site that others want to link to. You can do this by regularly updating and adding relevant information to your site and through blogs that link to your site, among many other tactics. Spend some time on building links to your site.
1. Keyword Focused Anchor Text from External Links – 73%
2. External Link Popularity (quantity/quality of external links)– 71%
3. Diversity of Link Sources – 67 %
4. Keyword Use Anywhere in the Title Tag – 66%
5. Trustworthiness of the Domain Based on Link Distance from Trusted Domains – 66%
Links came up as four out of five most important factors. Though nobody knows for sure, it appears that Google and other search engines are trying to rank sites based on how popular they are among Internet users, not just how optimized they are for search engine crawlers. A good way to measure how relevant others think a website is can be the amount of other sites that link to it.
If search engine crawlers can get to your site directly from sites they already consider highly relevant, then you're in good shape. But therein lies the trick—getting good sites to link to yours. The best way to get other sites to notice you is, frankly, creating a good site that others want to link to. You can do this by regularly updating and adding relevant information to your site and through blogs that link to your site, among many other tactics. Spend some time on building links to your site.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Preparing Websites for Mobile Device Users is a Top Priority
Mobile technology is fast becoming a primary tool of accessing the Internet for many. That's good because it lets Internet users access online sites more often regardless of location. A website that is optimized for mobile users opens itself to a growing and very promising market.
Capitalize on the Mobile Trend
As the recent post-Thanksgiving Black Friday and Cyber Monday testify, mobile Internet use is surging. Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Sears, and Macys saw four- to eight-fold increases online among shoppers using mobile devices on Black Friday alone. Gearing their websites to accommodate such traffic allowed them to reap from a market that may not have been able to tap otherwise.
How Do I Make My Site Work Best for Mobile Users?
Because mobile technology is still catching up to traditional computers and laptops, not everyone will have a device that can manage complex graphics and animation. Some mobile devices may only work with text. That means that simple is better. Keep in mind that mobile visitors will have a smaller screen size and possible limited navigation tools, so make sure your mobile-friendly site allows visitors to easily move around—especially for shopping.
Also, remember that people may have to use other means than a mouse or touching the screen to click buttons and navigate your site. Try to make your product browsing and purchasing steps as simple as possible. Consider giving your website the ability to detect users who are using mobile devices so it can display a smaller pixel version for their mobile device screens.
Chances are you're not a designer, so optimizing your site for mobile users might be difficult. Have a professional help make your website mobile friendly. It will be worth the investment if you want to make your site available to a market that shows every indication of becoming a mainstay in e-commerce.
Capitalize on the Mobile Trend
As the recent post-Thanksgiving Black Friday and Cyber Monday testify, mobile Internet use is surging. Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Sears, and Macys saw four- to eight-fold increases online among shoppers using mobile devices on Black Friday alone. Gearing their websites to accommodate such traffic allowed them to reap from a market that may not have been able to tap otherwise.
How Do I Make My Site Work Best for Mobile Users?
Because mobile technology is still catching up to traditional computers and laptops, not everyone will have a device that can manage complex graphics and animation. Some mobile devices may only work with text. That means that simple is better. Keep in mind that mobile visitors will have a smaller screen size and possible limited navigation tools, so make sure your mobile-friendly site allows visitors to easily move around—especially for shopping.
Also, remember that people may have to use other means than a mouse or touching the screen to click buttons and navigate your site. Try to make your product browsing and purchasing steps as simple as possible. Consider giving your website the ability to detect users who are using mobile devices so it can display a smaller pixel version for their mobile device screens.
Chances are you're not a designer, so optimizing your site for mobile users might be difficult. Have a professional help make your website mobile friendly. It will be worth the investment if you want to make your site available to a market that shows every indication of becoming a mainstay in e-commerce.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Black Friday andCyber Monday: People are Using Mobile Devices
Black Friday and Cyber Monday: People are Using Mobile Devices
After putting down the turkey knife, people picked up their mobile devices for a surge in holiday shopping, according to a study by Novarra, which showed that mobile web traffic went up by a whopping 1,209 percent during the shopping frenzy of Black Friday and 110 percent on Cyber Monday.
The study's findings suggest just how vital mobile technology is becoming as a marketing and commerce medium.
"This is further confirmation that consumers increasingly rely on the internet via mobile phones for their daily habits and routines," said Scott Cotter, senior director of marketing of Novarra in a December 1 press release. "For many shoppers, browsing special deals, comparing products, pricing and other information while they are on the run—even at a retailer's location, has become second nature."
Several of the top retailers saw large spikes in mobile device shopping on Black Friday, the study found. Mobile device users shopping on bestbuy.com jumped by 792 percent. On walmart.com, 740 percent; sears.com, 492 percent; and macys.com, 447 percent.
As these indicators suggest, businesses who have not made their online marketing and stores compatible with mobile devices will be at a distinct advantage in the coming holiday shopping season.
Learn more about how HIT Web Design can help you optimize your website for mobile devices.
After putting down the turkey knife, people picked up their mobile devices for a surge in holiday shopping, according to a study by Novarra, which showed that mobile web traffic went up by a whopping 1,209 percent during the shopping frenzy of Black Friday and 110 percent on Cyber Monday.
The study's findings suggest just how vital mobile technology is becoming as a marketing and commerce medium.
"This is further confirmation that consumers increasingly rely on the internet via mobile phones for their daily habits and routines," said Scott Cotter, senior director of marketing of Novarra in a December 1 press release. "For many shoppers, browsing special deals, comparing products, pricing and other information while they are on the run—even at a retailer's location, has become second nature."
Several of the top retailers saw large spikes in mobile device shopping on Black Friday, the study found. Mobile device users shopping on bestbuy.com jumped by 792 percent. On walmart.com, 740 percent; sears.com, 492 percent; and macys.com, 447 percent.
As these indicators suggest, businesses who have not made their online marketing and stores compatible with mobile devices will be at a distinct advantage in the coming holiday shopping season.
Learn more about how HIT Web Design can help you optimize your website for mobile devices.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Google Wave May Become a Powerful Tool for Small Businesses
What is it?
Google Wave appears to be a natural evolution of previous efforts to combine communication media into one comprehensive package. Launched on September 30, Wave—what Google calls an “online communication and collaboration tool”—promises to be a powerful tool for business use.
Google Wave is still on an invitation-only basis, and some say the limited amount of users currently is its biggest limitation now. Thus, it is probably still too early to tell how widely the technology will be adopted and how business will end up utilizing it.
Google Wave and Small Busineses
Technology writer Karisha Prescott suggests 10 ways that Wave can help small businesses.
Among them is cost—it's free. Also, it's open-source, meaning businesses have free access to modify in ways to help them.
Also important are Wave's communication and collaboration tools, which allow businesses to streamline in-house document sharing and project organization. Not only can this save time and expense, it helps managers keep track of who is contributing to the project and how.
Prescott also says that Wave enables businesses to communicate with their customer base on a targeted level. They can increase visibility among other Google Wave users with profiles and surveys, and they can create waves specifically to inform users of special offers and other general information.
As the business world waits to see just how businesses begin to use Google Wave, it might be a good idea to scope it out and see how it will fit into your business and online marketing strategy.
Google Wave appears to be a natural evolution of previous efforts to combine communication media into one comprehensive package. Launched on September 30, Wave—what Google calls an “online communication and collaboration tool”—promises to be a powerful tool for business use.
Google Wave is still on an invitation-only basis, and some say the limited amount of users currently is its biggest limitation now. Thus, it is probably still too early to tell how widely the technology will be adopted and how business will end up utilizing it.
Google Wave and Small Busineses
Technology writer Karisha Prescott suggests 10 ways that Wave can help small businesses.
Among them is cost—it's free. Also, it's open-source, meaning businesses have free access to modify in ways to help them.
Also important are Wave's communication and collaboration tools, which allow businesses to streamline in-house document sharing and project organization. Not only can this save time and expense, it helps managers keep track of who is contributing to the project and how.
Prescott also says that Wave enables businesses to communicate with their customer base on a targeted level. They can increase visibility among other Google Wave users with profiles and surveys, and they can create waves specifically to inform users of special offers and other general information.
As the business world waits to see just how businesses begin to use Google Wave, it might be a good idea to scope it out and see how it will fit into your business and online marketing strategy.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Custom Website Design and Templates Pros of Both
For small and emerging businesses, finding the most economical way to launch a website is crucial. Many turn to the large variety of web templates (sites with mostly pre-designed features) that require little or no design knowledge. However, templates can be restricting, and they might be inadequate for someone looking to give their site a specific look and the ability to do specific things. Here are some factors to weigh if you're trying to decide whether a template or custom website design works best for you:
Custom Website Design – The Advantages
A custom design gives you the ability to control the entire design—layout, colors, font, picture placement, etc. (ensuring that your look and product remain unique).
You have more freedom to add specific applications, databases, and other functions that allow your site to provide a specific service to your visitors. Templates can be very difficult to add unique features—especially if you have little or no design experience.
Chad Brubaker, CEO of emochilla.com, suggests that custom sites allow you to design your site to be consistent with the logo, letterheads, and other elements that already make up your brand image
Having a professional designer build your site ensures that proper design elements are employed and saves you time. They can be very affordable for the quality of work and amount of time they save you.
Custom-built sites also offer the distinct advantage over some template sites of being able to better accommodate important search-engine features (meta tags, page descriptions, page titles, etc.). Template sites sometimes use more generic, and therefore more restrictive, coding that limits search engine access.
Template Website Design – The Advantages
Often free or fairly inexpensive, a template site provides many professional, inviting designs that require little know-how or time to build.
For some businesses, a simple design is all they need. They might simply need to get their information out there—no fancy features.
Brubaker notes that template sites are becoming more advanced and provide more features that previously were only available through custom design.
He also mentions that many templates are industry-specific, providing applications and software with the purchase of the template.
Custom website design can be very affordable, and it might be the most cost-effective approach for those who cannot afford to spend the time working on a template site. Time is money, and if you're trading valuable time to create your own site, you might be better off spending a few hundred dollars to get a professionally designed custom website.
However, if you have the time or can put one of your employees on the task, you can save money and develop valuable in-house expertise that will serve you well in the future.
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