Shopping on line is the wave of the future. I don't think anyone in today's business world will dispute that. More and more stores are closing and moving their operations exclusively on line. Don't believe me. Well, just look at what happened to Toy's R Us. And there are more and more examples like this happening every week. And you certainly can't blame people. The deals are much better, the shopping experience is better, and you don't have to leave the comfort of your residence.
However, despite the huge explosion in E Commerce there are still certain items/products bought on line where a personal relationship with the seller is is needed. Products like websites for small designs (one of our specialties), certain consumables that are frequently reordered, and much more. And because many of these products can only be purchased on line having someone to talk to and work with becomes that much more important. I have several customers we've built website solutions for that said the number one reason they went with us was because we met and shook hands with them. And as great as the internet is, there's still something to be said for a handshake and a smile. It shows that you genuinely care and are looking out for their best interests. Most consumers who frequently order from a particular business would love a personal shopping consultant to take care of them when they have a question or concern. As great as Amazon is how often do you hear of complaints and how their customer service is awful. And if that's not addressed it's only a matter of time before they're replaced as the big dog on the internet.
Now don't get me wrong, I know there are many scenarios where's this is just not possible. However, how many local businesses are missing out on the opportunity to take their business to another level because they're not engaging their customers with someone who's going to assure them that they will be taken care of? Think about it. As old fashioned as it sounds it's just good business.
Ron Catron
President/Moneynet Marketing
www.moneynetmarketing.com
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
What is good content for your website?
What is “Good Content” Anyway? 繁體中文
by Blogmawebcenters • • 0 Comments
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
What you need to know about Google's Recent Phantom Update
On April 21, Google unleashed its mobile-friendly update on the online world. However, most businesses and entrepreneurs were in the loop and had sufficient time to react and take appropriate measures.
More recently, there have been rumors flying about a new "phantom" algorithm update, which was presumably applied towards the end of April or the beginning of May. As it turns out, if you've been noticing changes to your -- or anyone else's -- search rankings as of late, you aren't out to lunch.
The reason some have been referring to it as the "Phantom Update" is because there was no advance warning with this algorithmic revision, and Google wouldn't readily admit to it either. It did confirm it eventually, but wouldn't provide a lot of specifics on the changes. Google may try to play it down, but the overall impact appears to be significant.
In essence, this new update is a quality update. How Google assesses quality is sometimes a thing of mystery, but we do know that it wants to provide users with the best information possible. By developing high-quality content and websites, you can continue to rank for your terms and drive traffic to your site. It may be worth reviewing Google's post about high-quality sites from when it applied the Panda update as well.
With context now in tow, let's take a closer look at what you need to know about this update.
Don't panic!
First, you must realize that Google will be updating its algorithm on a regular basis to serve more quality content to searchers. This isn't really the first time Google has done this -- remember Panda? -- and it's unlikely that it will be the last time.
In other words, if you've been consistently producing content with the best interests of your target users in mind, you're still on the right track. There's no need to make any drastic changes to your strategy. If you do happen to see a decline in your organic search traffic, however, there may be a need to address some of your on-page SEO.
We may not have a lot of new information on Google's quality signals, but we do know what was said in the past. Here are several important things to keep in mind:
- Duplicate content and redundant articles are a no-no.
- Avoid creating thin content.
- Prioritize user experience. For example, too many ads on your site can create a negative visitor experience and have an undesired impact on your rankings.
- Your content should be trustworthy. Visitors that land on your site should feel comfortable giving you their credit card information.
- Are you exercising quality control with your content? Your articles should be free of spelling and factual errors.
- Are you striving to give your target users an in-depth look into the subject matter? Does your content meet their needs?
This is just a quick overview of what Google expects from you as a content creator. From a user experience perspective, it makes a lot of sense. The idea is to answer questions posed by visitors, provide them with the best information possible, examine issues from different angles and share insights into topics you're passionate about.
It's all about content.
Content is really all we're talking about here. If you're still trying to catch your breath from the previous mobile-friendly update, that's all good and well, but if you're already caught up in that regard, then the issue to address now is content. There's no need to focus on anything else at this point in time.
If Google has gone on record to say that certain factors are important to search rankings, it's not likely to change its tune all of a sudden. The most recent update reflects ongoing efforts to rank sites based on the quality of the content offered.
There are some theories out there about this being a domain-level penalty. In other words, if Google finds low quality content on your site, it'll demote your entire website. However, this is merely speculation. If your website happens to have a significant amount of "low quality" content on it, then you may see a considerable decrease in organic traffic. This wouldn't necessarily indicate a domain-level demotion, because it could be just your lower quality content that's being affected. This would explain the overall decrease in search rankings and traffic.
Build trust.
Is there a reason why some sites can publish a new article, have it crawled and indexed within minutes and have it ranking in search too, while others struggle to do the same? Fundamentally, it's all about trust. If there's anything that's being looked at on a domain-level, it would bethat.
Are you consistently creating and serving quality content to your users? Are you striving to make their experience the best that it can possibly be? Are you building a solid reputation that appears trustworthy in the eyes of Google?
Again, think about what Google is looking for when it is crawling your content. The search giant wants to see original, trustworthy, error-free, visitor-centric, value-adding, comprehensive, substantial content. As a website owner, it's a long-term play, but you have to be willing to invest the time and not cut corners.
You can build towards becoming a recognized authority on a subject, but this is not done by guessing at what SEO plays are going to generate your next viral article. This is done by paying attention to the real human needs that exist in the online world. Future updates are going to take this human element into account more than anything else.
Final thoughts.
If you're interested in finding out whether your site has been affected, make sure to take advantage of our Google Penalty Checker. Google rolls out hundreds of minor changes every single year. Some are major and can have a significant impact on your website's rankings -- sometimes without you even being aware of it.
If your low quality content has been affected, it's time for a new strategy. Quality signals aren't anything new, but you can rest assured that Google is only going to clamp down on inferior content with greater force in times to come.
*Article by Thomas Smale
Contributor/FE Internationals
Contributor/FE Internationals
Monday, October 13, 2014
Sticky Websites
Why People Return to Websites
When you think of the word “sticky,” what comes to mind? A spilled soda, the surface of something you bought after you removed a sticker, or your hands after you peeled some fruit?
In the Internet industry, sticky refers to something that makes a person want to come back to a website. A sticky website stands out above the many thousands of other websites because it offers something unique and valuable.
Here are some ways to make your site sticky:
- Make your site clear and navigable. Have a short paragraph near the top introducing yourself. Make your best pages available with prominent links. Use an image of yourself and have your phone number, email and other contact information in a place the visitor can easily find them.
- Write an FAQ. It stands for Frequently Asked Questions and it is standard on all major websites. Don’t be intimidated, you can have an FAQ too. Think about what most people ask you most often. Write in clear terms and provide plenty of contact information where visitors can contact you for more information.
- Set up blogs and social media accounts. Blogs and social media accounts breathe life into your site, provide fresh information, and engage your readers. Plus it’s a lot of fun. Answer questions, start new discussion topics, and state your opinion about recent news. People will notice, and the search engines will too.
- Make sure your website reflects your personality. Are you a practical joker? Are you committed to your church? Maybe you are dedicated to making your community a better place. Giving your audience a window to your soul will make them want to do business with you.
- Get into video. That new cell phone of yours has incredible video capabilities. A YouTube account is free and super easy to use. Call a friend who will be your videographer and make some two-minute videos introducing your business.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
The Power of Infographics
A picture is worth 1,000 words so using infographics can get you more real estate for your posts. We’ve compiled a few tips for you to get started with creating quality infographics:
Define your Target Audience
Many businesses have multiple audiences for their services and products. To get the biggest response, define a single audience for each infographic you create.
Many businesses have multiple audiences for their services and products. To get the biggest response, define a single audience for each infographic you create.
Craft a Clear Message
Is your infographic saying too much? Define your purpose and then craft a clear message that both offers professional insight / advice while also promoting your product.
Is your infographic saying too much? Define your purpose and then craft a clear message that both offers professional insight / advice while also promoting your product.
High Quality Images & Smart Sizes
Want people to read and share your infographic? Make it easy to read and share!
Want people to read and share your infographic? Make it easy to read and share!
Logical Layouts
Break your message out into a logical, easy to read layout.
Break your message out into a logical, easy to read layout.
Brand It
Don’t forget to brand your infographics. You are giving free and valuable infomation to the end-user to build brand loyalty AND to create awareness around a product or service that you offer.
Don’t forget to brand your infographics. You are giving free and valuable infomation to the end-user to build brand loyalty AND to create awareness around a product or service that you offer.
Share It
Don’t forget to share your infographic on your social media platforms, on your website and in your email campaigns. Make sure to include your website link when sharing as this will both drive traffic to your site and increase your SEO value!
Don’t forget to share your infographic on your social media platforms, on your website and in your email campaigns. Make sure to include your website link when sharing as this will both drive traffic to your site and increase your SEO value!
Posted by: Sarah Rose Stack
Thursday, August 21, 2014
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